Moonsighting for Sha'ban 1438
1438 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Rajab 1438: April 26 & April 25, 2017

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Rajab 1438 AH), on April 25, 2017 (not the new moon to start the new month), (Photo on the right is taken at 0530 IST today (Tuesday 28 Rajab 1438) from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India) by Br. Mohamed Hussain. Location: Lat: 08�42'51"N :& Long: 77�44'26"E. Time: 05:30 am IST. The illumination was about 3%; the Altitude was 6.5� & horns were at 5-9 O'clock positions. This is waning moon that was sighted at Fajr time. Click on the photo on right to see full size.


On left is the old crescent moon of Rajab 1438. Photo provided by MCW member Mr Auub Patel at Abha, Saudi Arabia on April 25 2017. Click on the photo on left to see full size.


On right is the old crescent moon of Rajab 1438. Photo taken by MCW member Captain Tahir Gul Hasan, flying from Jeddah to Peshawar on April 25 2017.
NOTE: This was an aerial sighting of which I took pictures as well. You may crop them as desired.
LOCATION: Tuesday 25 April 2017, flying from Jeddah to Peshawar (at 37,000 feet)
Coordinates of observation site: N2512.8 / E 04241.8
CONCLUSION: Waning crescent was SEEN (for 27 Rajab 1438 A.H.)
OBSERVATION TIME: 0455 Saudi Arabian time (or 0155 UTC) Click on the photo to see full size.


New Crescent Moon of Sha'ban 1438:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on April 26, 2017 (Wednesday) at 12:15 UT. On April 26, the moon can be seen with difficulty in Polynesian Islands only. On April 27, 2017 (Thursday) the moon can be easily seen in almost the whole world (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on Thursday, April 27, 2017, reported from Brisbane, Australia.

April 26, 2017 (Wednesday):

    No sighting from anywhere in the world was reported.

  • USA:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago, IL, reported: On Wednesday, April 26, 2017 (29th of Rajab 1438), Hilal was Not Sighted at any place in mainland USA, as reported by our volunteers and other sources. As such the 1st of Sha'ban will be on Friday, April 28, 2017 in the USA.

April 27, 2017 (Thursday):

  • Australia:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today is Thursday, 27th of April. The Hilaal of SHA'BAN 1438 has been sighted in Brisbane. A group of people were able to sight the moon. Therefore, the month of SHA'BAN will commence from Friday 28th of April 2017.

    2. Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: The crescent was sighted in Brisbane in Australia on Thursday 27th April evening. Therefore, the 1st day of Shaban 1438 will be Friday the 28th April 2017.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Abbas Aly from Annangrove NSW reported: On April 27th 2017, from Dural, Sydney, NSW AUSTRALIA the Moon was Not sighted, because of Heavy clouds in the direction of moon position. I Waited til 5.53pm.

    4. Seen: MCW member Mr Moussa Khalife from Sydney, NSW reported: Today Thursday, 27th of April 2017 we have sighted the moon in Sydney Australia. We have seen it at 6.01 pm for less than 2 minutes. The sky was partly cloudy and the weather was dry (no rain). The crescent was very very thin so our experience did help to find the moon. So tomorrow Friday 28th of April will be 1st of Shaaban 1438 H.

    5. Seen: MCW member Engr Manzoor A Mian from Melbourne, VIC reported: The Hilaal of SHA'BAN has been sighted in Brisbane. Therefore, the month of SHA'BAN will commence from Friday, the 28th of April 2017.

  • Cameroon:

    1. Seen: Mr Abdoul Karimi Fatihi from Daoala reported: I want to confirm you thant I�ve seen the new moon of sha�ban at Douala on Thursdaay, 27 of April.

  • Canada:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr HiMY SYeD from Vancouver, BC reported: On April 27, Sunset was 8:25 p.m. local time. After praying Maghrib at Ajyal Islamic Centre in Downtown Vancouver, I spent about 15 minutes searching for the new crescent moon. It took that long as we had partly cloudy skies looking west. Alhumdulillah, I eventually spotted the new crescent. Here is the photograph. Click on the picture on the right to see full size.

  • Chile:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: On Thursday, April 27, I have seen Sha'ban moon at local time 19:30. Sky was quite clear.

  • Ghana:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Baba Abdulai from Tamale reported: From Sagnerigu, Tamale on Thursday April 27, 2017. The crescent was sighted. I was at the sighting post between 18:15 to about 19:00 and beyond. I first sighted the crescent at about 18:40 immediately after Magrib prayers. The sky was quite cloudy probably as a result of heavy rains that fell around Tamale. Crescent horns orientation was about 3 o�clock to 8�clock.

  • Egypt:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Giza reported: On Thursday, April 27th, my attempt to sight the crescent failed. The moon had passed through perigee at ~18:19, sunset was at 6:30. I was expecting a super crescent. Despite pointing my telescope at the expected lunar azimuth (18:54), I could see no sign of it, @sunset, 7 minutes past sunset, after returning from Maghrib 9 minutes later, or any time thereafter until 19:10. Apparently, although the horizon looked clear, clouds may have been gathering along the line of sight, so that their collective effect was to obscure the Crescent.

  • Ghana:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Malik Salifu Shaban from Garu Bawku reported: The crescent for Sha'ban was clearly seen today Thursday April 2017 at 18:17 GMT at Garu in the Upper East Region of Ghana. I started sighting efforts around 18:05 and the crescent was seen by me and five others who have been helping me. Though the sky was partially cloudy, the moon was still clear after Maghrib prayer here.

  • India:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Molvi Iqbalhusen Bokda from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Hilal for SHA'BAN has easily been seen here at Godhra today on 27th April (29th Rajab, 1438). Sky was clear. I myself with my friends watched as it was slightly north side from the centre of west. We watched it very soon after Maghrib (about 7:15 IST). Crescent has easily been sighted in most cities of India as I got reports from my friends.

    2. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Today Wednesday, 27-April-2017 = 29-Rajab-1438 Hijri, the moon of Sha'baan-1438 hijri was not seen because horizon was too cloudy. I tried to see the moon at my home from 07:00 pm to 07:20 pm but the moon was not sighted.

  • Mauritius:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: The new moon of Shabaan has been sighted at several localities in Mauritius on Thursday night 27 April 2017. First reported visibility from Flic en Flac was at 18.04. Sunset was at 17.50 and Moonset at 18.54. Sky was partly cloudy. 1st day of Shabaan is Friday 28 April 2017.Shab-e-baraat (Nifs Shabaan) will be on Thursday night 11 May 2017 in Mauritius.

  • Morocco:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Zakaria Guelzim from Rabat reported: This is to inform you that I was able to sight the new crescent of Chaaban, 1438 after Maghrib of Thusday 27 April 2017 in the region of Rabat, Morocco. The crescent was visible with naked eyes at 20:27 and the crescent horns were from 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock. the sun set was at 20:09. Here is the photograph. Click on the picture on the right to see full size.

  • Nigeria:

    1. Seen: MCW member Engr Zaid Ibrahim from Surulere, Lagos State reported: I saw the hilal of Sha'ban with my naked eyes today 27/04/2017 at Satellite Town, Lagos, Nigeria between 7:00. p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The weather is clear and bright. The orientation of the hilal is 2 to 8.

    2. Seen: MCW member Engr Zaid Ibrahim from Surulere, Lagos State reported: I saw the hilal of Sha'ban with my naked eyes today 27/04/2017 at Satellite Town, Lagos, Nigeria between 7:00. p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The weather is clear and bright. The orientation of the hilal is 2 to 8.

    3. Seen: MCW member Mr Jinadu Yunusa from Kisi, Oyo State reported: A few people sighted the new crescent of Sha'aban 1438, today Thursday 27/04/17~38\07\29. Sunset: 6:55pm LT. Sighting periods between 7:00pm-7:45pm LT. Sky condition: very cloudy and reddish horizon. Tomorrow Friday 28/04/17 is therefore declared as first day of Sha'aban

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Seen: MCW memberDr Ayyub Patel from Qooz reported: On April 27, Hilal was Seen from a place near Qooz town Saudi Arabia on the way to Makkah from South along the red sea at 6:50 pm local time. Sunset was at 6:30. It was seen by naked eye for only a few min before it disappeared by clouds.

  • South Africa:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Thursday 27th April 2017, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa (many locations). Therefore Sha'baan 1438 will commence on Friday, 28th April 2017 in South Africa.

  • Spain:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Gabriel Jairod�n Riaza from Madrid reported: From Madrid, Spain, moon of Shaban 1438 was seen, naked eye, on Thursday 27 April 2017, with some clouds around 21:35. The crescent horns were from 3 to 6 o�clock.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th.of Rajab 1438: April 27th. 2017 evening. The New Moon of Shaban 1438 was sighted in several pleases in the country (Bambalapitiya, Galle, Jaffna and Batticaloa) and was reported to The Colombo Grand Mosque Hillal committee. Hence the month of Sha'ban will start tomorrow Friday 28th. April 2017, in Sri Lanka.

    2. Seen at other locations in the country: MCW member Mr Abdurrrahman Razeen from Colombo reported: 27-04-2017CE = 29-07-1438AH is the sighting day for the month of Sha'ban 1438AH in Srilanka. I was in Colombo Grand Mosque.The sky was partly cloudy in Colombo. The parameters are Sun set:6:19pm. Moon set:7:20pm. Lag=61minutes. The prediction of the astronomers=Crescent can be sighted easily. Hilaal sighting groups was arranged around the country. Positive sighting reports was recieved to CGM Hilaal Committee from west coast of Srilanka first from Puttalam at 6:40pm and then from Jaffna, Bambalapitiya and Galle. The orientation was 3-7 o'clock. Hence it was decided at the Hilaal Committee conference at CGM which was presided by the CGMH Committee president Moulana Riyadh (Baari) along with ACJU and MRCA to complete the proceeding month as 29 days and start the month of Shaban on 28-4-2017CE.

  • Tanzania:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The moon for Shaaban was sighted with naked eye on Thursday 27th April 2017 in tiny island of Zanzibar. Friday 28th April 2017 is therefore the 1st Shaaban 1438 AH.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ishmael Khan from Princes Town, Trinidad reported: Ishmael khan, Trinidad and Tobago confirm sighting of the moon for Shabaan 1438 on The night of Thursday 27th April 2017 just after Maghrib being the first night of Shabaan 1438 and the first day Friday 28th April 2017. The local sighting was also accepted by all the local organizations.

    2. Seen: MCW member Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of SHABAAN 1438 AH was looked for after the sunset of Thursday 27th April 2017. Reports from all committees locally and regionally, confirm that the moon was SIGHTED. It was declared that the month of Rajab 1438 AH has completed 29 days. Therefore, the 1st night of Shabaan 1438 AH will be the night of Thursday 27th April 2017 and the first day of Shabaan 1438 AH will be the day of Friday 28th April 2017.
      Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 21: Time of Sunset: 18:16:49
      Time of first appearance of the crescent: 18:32: Pressure: 1,013.6: Temperature: 27.1 �C: Relative humidity: 48.1%

  • UK:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Modoris Ali from Birmingham reported: I had seen the new moon at 8:40pm (UK time) on Thursday 27 April 2017, from Cradley Heath (Birmingham). Friday 28 May 2017 is first Sha'ban for own location moon sighting.

    2. Seen: MCW member Qamar Uddin from York reported: The Hilal of Shaban 1438 was sighted in the UK in many places, including at the York Astronomical Society Observatory, Qamar Uddin, Aqeal Peero, Yusuf Neto and two others at 201:51 hrs BST (through breaks in the clouds), Alhamdulillah. It was totally cloudy before sunset, then there was a break in the cloud after sunset and out-pops the crescent moon (hilal) for few seconds, then it was hidden away again by the clouds. You can observe the moon through the clouds, if you know when, where and how to observe it!

  • USA:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Thursday, April 27, 2017), the crescent moon was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived at my sighting location (the Blacksburg Middle School) at 8:57 pm EDT (sunset: 8:07 pm). I started looking for the moon in a mostly cloudy western horizon. My first naked-eye sighting was at 9:03 pm when the moon appeared in a small clearing. I observed it for a short time before leaving the site before moonset (moonset: 9:39 pm). The crescent was easy to see with its horns at 2:00 and 7:00 O'clock (2:00;4:30;7:00). At 9:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 59.4 F, 57.9 F, 95%, and 29.94 in, respectively.

  • Zambia:

    1. Seen: MCW member Moulana Imtiyaz Husain Misbahi Azhari Imam of Masjid Noor-e-Muhammadi Lusaka reported: Today, April 27, the moon was sighted in LUSAKA ZAMBIA. Tomorrow Friday 28th April is 1st Sha'baan.

  • Zimbabwe:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ayub Mahomed from Harare reported: Today, April 27, the moon was sighted in Zimbabwe. Tomorrow Friday 28th April is ist Sha'baan.

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