Moonsighting for Dhul-Qi'dah 1431

1431 AH
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The Astronomical New Moon is on 7 October 2010 (Thursday) at 18:44 UT. On October 7, it cannot be seen anywhere in the world. On 8 October, in Northern Africa and South America, it can be seen easily, but with difficulty in the rest of Africa and Central America. On the same day it may be seen by telescope in New Zealand, Northern Africa, and North America, while it cannot be seen in Asia and Europe. See the visibility map below:

Sighting Reports

The earliest sighting of the new crescent was on October 8 from Mauritius by binoculars only.


Friday, 8 October 2010:

  • Australia:

    1. Not Seen: Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: The Hilaal of DHUL QA�DAH 1431 has not been sighted anywhere in Australia on Oct 8. After receiving the confirmation of the moon not being seen in any state, the Hilaal Committee and Majlisul Ulamaa� of Australia have hence declared that the month of DHUL QA�DAH 1431 will commence from Sunday 10th October 2010.

    2. Not Seen: Engr Manzoor A Mian (MCW member) from Melbourne, VIC reported: Just to inform you that Dhul Qa'da 1431 crescent was not sighted in Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane on 8th Oct. 2010 Friday evening, Hence the 1st day of Dhul Qa'da is Sunday 10th October 2010 in Australia according to our local moonsighting.

  • Canada:

    1. Not Seen: Baig Muhammad Tamachi (MCW member) from Peterborough Ontario reported: As expected, dispite use of binoculars to observe faily clear skies in the western horizon, the Dhul Qadah Hilaal was NOT SEEN in Peterborough, Ont. today, Friday October 8th 2010.

  • Mauritius:

    1. Seen (Binoculars only): Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Hilal was seen with binoculars only, evening Friday 8 Oct here in Mauritius. As the local authorities acknowledges only naked eye reports, we will complete 30 days of Shawwal & so 1st of Dhu�l Qa�da will be Sunday 10 Oct.

  • Morocco:

    1. Not Seen: Ehsan H. Hajar (MCW member) from Casablanca reported: On Oct 8, I was unable to see Hilal of ZQD in Casablanca WSW horizon very cloudy. No news detected on ministry of Habous website either. Possibility of sighting from southern Saharan region is the only hope.

  • Norway:

    1. Not Seen: Milad Ali Ershaghi (MCW member) from Holmenkollen reported: On Friday, October 8, 2010, sunset time in Oslo, Norway was 6:30pm and moonset time was 5:52pm. So it was not astronomically possible to see the moon. I tried to look for it anyhow after sunset - but did not see the moon.

    2. Official Announcement: Imran Mushtaq (MCW member) from Oslo reported: The offical start of Dhul-Qa�idah 1431 in Norway is on Saturday 9th October 2010.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Not Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: Today (Friday, 08 October 2010 = Pakistan: 28 Shawwal 1431 / Saudi Arabia 29 Shawwal), the conditions of the moon were so defective in many parts of the world specially in whole Asia that according to the all old and new criteria of moon-sighting, there was no solid proof in the history of astronomy to sight such a moon by naked eyes in Pakistan. Moreover, it was 28th Shawwal in Pakistan, therefore there was no need to try to sight the moon in Pakistan, but in spite of these facts, to increase the trust of common people in the Science of Moon-sighting and because the people were confused due to the 29th shawwal in Saudi Arabia, I requested our members to sight the moon today, resultantly, on my request, nearly 30 persons ( members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" + my friends + their companions) tried to sight the moon all over Pakistan at more than 11 places but the moon could not be sighted, as it was astronomically expected tonight. Almost it was clear all over the country.

  • South Africa:

    1. Seen: Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban reported: Today (Friday, 08 October 2010, the Hilaal was sighted this evening in several locations in S. Africa. Easy sightings.

    2. Seen: Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim (MCW member) from Cape Town reported: The Dhul Qada Hilaal was sighted this Friday evening, 08 October 2010 {end of 29th Shawaal], by naked-eye from Signal Hill [Cape Town] and reports of a positive sighting was received from the Waterval Islamic Institute in Johannesburg. The official first day of Dhul Qada in South Africa will correspond with Saturday, 09 October 2010.
      From my sighting station at the Green Point lighthouse [Cape Town - sea level] I viewed the thin crescent per 20x50 binoculars as it slipped behind a cloud bank. A very peculiar shaped crescent (3 o�clock to 7 o�clock � more in keeping with the northern hemisphere). This sighting was at 19h15 local time while Sunset was at 18h55. At 19h19 I received a call from the experienced observers on Signal Hill [elevation 360 m] that they had seen the Hilaal by naked-eye just before it descended behind the cloud bank.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Not Seen: Nular Bary (MCW member) from Colombo reported: Today Friday 29th.of Shawwal 1431H (8/10/2010) I went to observe the Hilal of Dhulkahda, It's been a rainy evening and black clouds in the western sky I couldn't see a thing from 6:05 to 7pm. our sunset was at 5:59pm. Hence our Hilal Committee have call upon us to complete the Month of Shawwal with 30 days and start the Month of Dhulkahda on Sunday 10/10/2010. "INSHAALLAH"

  • Tanzania:

    1. Not Seen: Zaffar Sheriff (MCW member) from Daressalaam, Tanzania reported: On Oct 8, no crescent sighting, due to low lying haze on western horizon.

  • UK:

    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): Mohammad Ali Javed (MCW member) from Luton, Bedfordshire reported: On Friday 08th October 2010, the new crescent was not sighted in Luton today due to dark grey clouds. I will look for the new crescent on Saturday 09th October 2010.

    2. Not Seen (but accepted S. Africa sighting): Qamar Uddin (MCW member) from York reported: On Friday 8 October 2010 (29 Shawwal 1431 AH) many people from UK including York have attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Dhul Qaidah after sunset. Most places were cloudy so none of the groups were able to sight the Hilal. However, we have received reliable sighting news (Muhaqaq Ruyat-e-Basari) from South Africa. Therefore, the Ulama in UK have decided that the month of Shawwal 1431 AH will have 29 days and the month of Dhul Qaidah 1431 AH will start from Saturday 9 October 2010, Insha-Allah.

  • USA:

    1. Seen (Binoculars only): Dr. Hussain Dashti (MCW member) from Clearwater FL reported: Today, Friday the 8th of October 2010, I went to sight the Hilal in Clearwater, Florida. I was able to sight it with my 10X50 binocular only. The crescent's calculations were: - Sunset: 19:08 LT - Moonset: 19:37 LT
      T. Moon Age: +28H 10M Moon Lag Time: +00H 29M
      Moon Altitude: +04�:57':38"
      Elongation: +16�:40':21"
      Relative Azimuth: -15�:38':57"
      Crescent Width: +00�:00':42"
      Illumination: 02.11 %
      The actual sunset was at 19:08. The hilal was first sighted by binocular at 19:17, and was last sighted by binocular at 7:31. This is the first time for me to sight a Hilal with a lag time of 29 minutes.

    2. Seen (during the day by binoculars only): Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg VA reported: Today (Friday, October 08, 2010), my wife, daughter, and I using a pair of binoculars (7X50) were able to sight a very thin crescent in Blacksburg, VA. The first binocular sighting was at 1:55 pm (sunset 6:54 pm EDT; moonset 7:11 pm). My last sighting was at 4:25 pm. To find the moon's location, I used the Sky & Telescope Interactive Sky Chart. Venus which was first observed at 1:06 pm helped me in locating the moon. The crescent was about 12 degrees to the lower left of the sun (the sun was blocked by our house). The horns were at about 12:30 and 3:00 O'clock (12:30;2:00;3:00). At 2:20 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 71.6 F, 44.6 F, 38%, and 30.13 in, respectively. The sky was clear.
      This evening after sunset, I also tried sighting the moon again in Blacksburg, with no success. Soon after arriving at my sighting location, I searched for Venus which was observed first by a pair of binoculars (7X50) followed by naked eye sighting at 6:36 pm (sunset 6:54 pm EDT). Then, I started scanning the west southwest horizon for the moon. I continued this till past moonset (moonset 7:11 pm). The horizon was clear with some haze. At 7:00 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 60.8 F, 50.0 F, 68%, and 30.09 in, respectively.
      The conclusion and the experience is that sometimes day time sighting is easier than sighting after sunset.

    3. Not Seen: Mohammed Yahya Shaikh (MCW member) from Culver City CA reported: I tried to sight the hilal on Friday October 8th, 2010 from 6:35PM to 6:45PM from my place of residence in Anaheim, CA but was unsuccessful. My Uncle Abdul Khaliq also tried from Rosemead CA, but was also unsuccessful. We both tried looking for the hilal without any optical aid instruments. Weather conditions in LA basin appeared conducive for hilal sighting.


Saturday, 9 October 2010:

  • Canada:

    1. Seen: Baig Muhammad Tamachi (MCW member) from Peterborough Ontario reported: My daughter and I were blessed with sighting of DHUL-QADAH HILAAL in Peterborough, Ontario this evening Saturday October 9th 2010. The horns of the moon were pointing between 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock position in the beautiful orange halo of the setting sun. The moon was situated about 10 degrees above the horizon. The observation was made by naked eyes between 7 pm and 7:26 pm. The moon set time as calculated by the US Navy Observatory was 7:25 pm for today.

    2. Seen: HiMY SYeD (MCW member) from Toronto Ontario reported: Today, Oct 9, after praying Maghrib Sunset prayers in the Dawah Centre in Downtown West Toronto, I biked around the neighbourhood looking for a good vantage point to spot the new moon. Within minutes, between Trees, there it was. A wafer thin new crescent moon. It was rapidly setting. I biked over to the highest bridge in the neighbourhood and found it easily on the horizon. Alhumdulillah.

  • India:

    1. Seen: Mohammed Ali Qazi (MCW member) from Mumbai reported: In Mumbai - India- First moon for month of Dhul-Qi'dah is sighted on Evening of 9th October, 2010 - about 10 degrees South (Left of West). However the sky was somewhat cloudy, but as the clouds moved Moon could be observed clearly.

    2. Seen: Shahid Ali Farooqui (MCW member) from Amravati, India At "Amravati, India" on the evening of 9th october 2010 (i.e., 29th of sawwal 1431 hijri), exactly at 18:06 hrs.( IST ) I saw the moon of Zilkad 1431 hijri. I started to see the moon from 17:55 hrs ( IST ). The sky was clear, and the moon's horns were from around 2 O'Clock to around 6 O'Clock of watch dail. The moon was in the sky till 18:35 hrs.

  • Kuwait:

    1. Seen: Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) reported: I Kuwait city on Sat 9 Oct 2010 I could see the crescent on the following order sun disappeard behind haze at 17:15,crescent first seen with 20*60 binoculat at 17:23 (2 minutes before sunset),Sunset at 17:25,first seen with naked eyes at 17:41(16 minutes after sunset),last seen with naked eyes 17:50(32 minutes before moonset),last seen with biocular 17:54(28 minutes before moonset),moonset at 18:22.The western horizon was hazy that I could not see Venus with naked eyes.

  • Malaysia:

    1. Seen: Firdaus Mazlan (MCW member) from Johor Bahru reported: On Saturday, 09 October 2010, my friend (Mr. Saif and his family around 10 people) see the new moon with NAKED EYE at Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (01�28'N, 103�46'E) at 7.14 pm until 7.21 pm. So, tomorrow (Sunday, 10 October 2010) is the first day of Dhul-Qi'dah 1431 H.

    2. Seen: Mohamad Zafir Nadzri (MCW member) from Telok Kemang reported: On Oct 9 (Saturday) I, with my 5 others friend, sayyid fadlie, Ali Jafar, Mohd Shah, Raden Faizol, and Dr Rahid Ahmad have witnessed new moon at Telok Kemang, Malaysia with naked eye. First spotted on 18:55 local time, altitude 18d 52min, elongation 22d 45m. Picture taken by Nikon.

  • Nigeria:

    1. Seen: Sheik A.A. Ishola (MCW member) from Ikorodu, Lagos reported: Alihamudu lilahi the Dhul-qidah hilal was seen clearly today October 9 in Jubilee Estate Ikorodu Lagos. Same Report was received from my Friend Sheik Majolagbe.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Not Seen in Karachi, but seen other places: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: On Saturday 09 October 2010 the moon was not seen by me due to clouds, but sasily seen by others countrywide. On my request, Today (Saturday 09 October 2010 = 29 shawwal 1431 in Pakistan) many hundred persons (Members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" + my friends + their companions) tried to sight the moon all over Pakistan and resultantly as it was expected astronomically, nearly 300 persons easily sighted the crescent at more than 13 places in 3 provinces (Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab). Many places were cloudy therefore moon was not sighted there. It was almost clear in Khyber-pakhtoon-khawa but the moon was not sighted there, whilst it was 30th day as per their provincial announcement of shawwal.
      Note : Chairman of central official moon sighting committee of Pakistan, mufti Munee-bur-Rahman told me on my mobile phone that after receiving the positive reports, he officially announced that 1st Zul-Qa'dah 1431 will be on Sunday 10th October 2010 in Pakistan after ending the 29 days of Shawwal 1431.

  • USA:

    1. Seen: Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg VA reported: Today (Saturday, October 09, 2010), my daughter, and I were able to sight the moon in Blacksburg, VA. My first binocular sighting was around 11:23 am (sunset 6:53 pm EDT; moonset 7:53 pm); naked eye sighting was not possible then. At 11:20 am, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 66.2 F, 46.4 F, 49%, and 30.15 in, respectively. I tried sighting again in the afternoon and was able to see the crescent by naked eye at 2:01 pm. To find the moon location, I used the Sky & Telescope Interactive Sky Chart. The horns were at 11:30 and 3:30 O'clock (11:30;2:00;3:30). At 2:00 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 75.2 F, 44.6 F, 34%, and 30.10 in, respectively. In the evening, my daughter and I arrived at our sighting location prior to sunset. Using a pair of binoculars, I started looking for the crescent and was able to located it at 6:37 pm followed by naked eye sighting. My daughter also was able to see it by naked eye. At 6:52 pm, the crescent was about 9 degrees above the horizon. At 6:53 pm, the horns were at 1:30 and 6:00 O'clock (1:30;3:30;6:00). At 6:40 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 66.2 F, 53.6 F, 64%, and 30.07 in, respectively. The sky was mostly clear and hazy.

    2. Seen: Talib Abu Hamzah (MCW member) from Douglasville GA reported: On Oct 9, Saturday, the moon was sighted west of Atlanta, Ga by myself and my wife.

  • Yemen:

    1. Seen: Mr. Mushtaq Anwer Ali Rashid (MCW member) from Hodeidah reported: Today 29th Shawwal (Oct 9, 2010), I have sighted Crescent for Dhul-Qi'dah 1431 at around 6:15pm (3:15GMT); sky was clear and moon was clearly seen.
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