Moonsighting for Muharram 1440
1440 AH
 MUH  SFR  RBA  RBT  JMO  JMT  RJB  SHB  RMD  SHW  ZQD  ZHJ 

Al urjoonul qadeem of Dhul-Hijjah 1439: September 9 and September 8, 2018

Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory, Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia: This is decreasing (waning) moon that was sighted in Indonesia after Fajr before sunrise on September 8, 2018. Click on the photo to see full size.

On left is the waning (old) crescent moon Dhul-Hijjah 1439 Al Urjoonal Qadeem like phase of waning moon seen at 05:18 IST today - Saturday 28th of Zul Hijjah1439 (8th Sep 2018) from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India) by Br. Mohamed Lat: 08�42'51"N :& Long: 77�44'26"E; Time: 05:18 am IST. The illumination was 4.5%; the Altitude was about 10� & horns were at 4 & 8 positions. Click on the photo to see full size.

On left is the photo of waning (old) crescent moon Dhul-Hijjah 1439 provided by MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha, Saudi Arabia on the morning of September 8, 2018. Click on the photo to see full size.




New Crescent Moon of Muharram 1440:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on September 9, 2018 (Sunday) at 18:01 UT. On September 9, the crescent may not be visible anywhere in the habited world. On September 10, it may be seen with binoculars in South East Asia and Middle East. On September 10, with naked eye it can be seen in all Africa and Americas (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on Sep 10, 2018 (Monday) from Mauritius.


September 10, 2018 (Monday):

  • Australia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Monday) 10th of September, the Hilaal of Muharram 1440 has NOT been sighted anywhere in Australia. Hence the month of Muharram 1440 will commence from Wednesday 12th of September 2019.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: Moon was not sighted anywhere in the Australia on Sep 10, 2018, therefore Inshallah tomorrow 11th September Tuesday will be the 30th of Dhulhaj. Inshallah 12th September Wednesday will be the First Of Moharram ul Haram 1440 AH

  • Barbados:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Mohammed Patel from Bridgetown reported: Today, Monday 10th September, 2018, the crescent was SEEN at approximately 6:10 p.m. local time. Orientation 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock. Therefore we had 29 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Insha'Allah, the 1st of Muharram will be on Tuesday, 11th September, 2018.

  • Canada:


    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr Nuh ibn Zbigniew Gondek from Ottawa Ontario reported: Local Sunset time for Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for September 10, 2018 was 7.23 pm EST. Due to overcast skies this evening no moonsighting was possible with the unaided eye or binoculars. Sighting location: Mud Lake (near Britannia water filtration plant). Temperature: 12�C.

  • Egypt:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: I tried to see the new crescent from Ma'adi (29.96�N, 31.249�E), South Cairo, Mon. Sept 10th, 2018. Apparent Sunset was at 18:07. The temperature, pressure and relative humidity were: 31�C, 1012mB, 46% respectively. As expected, the Hilal Did NOT appear. Best time was 18:28, and I started my observation session at 18:26, just after Maghrib prayers. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars were all very clearly visible.

  • India:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Rasheed Usman, Kozhikode, Kerala reported Hilal of Muharram sighted at Kozhikode Kerala today Monday evening, Sep 10, 2018 and confirmed by Khazis. Ashura on 20th September.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Seen by others: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory in Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java reported: We were Team of CASA from Assalaam Observatory in collaboration with Team of Ministry Religious Affairs of Karanganyar District at Sukuh Hill Ngargoyoso Karanganyar tried to observe the new crescent of Muharram 1440 AH on Monday, 10 Sept 2018. The waxing crescent of Muharram 1440 AH was not sighted on Monday, 10 Sept 2018 from Sukuh Hill Karanganyar Central Java Indonesia as the sky was cloudy and hazy.
      The new crescent was seen by mr. Hendro Setyanto from ImahNoong at Lembang Bandung West Java and by mr. Joko Prasetyo from AlBuruj Observatory at Kudus Central Java. The 1st of Muharram 1440 AH in Indonesia will start on Tuesday, 11 September 2018.

  • Kenya:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Mahmood Essa from Mombasa reported: I tried to look for the new crescent on Monday 10/09/2018, here in Mombasa, Kenya, but I was not successful. However, the Cresent was seen in other places in Kenya, so today Tuesday 11/09/2018 is the first day of Muharram.

  • Mauritius:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: Alhamdulillah The New Moon of Muharram 1440 has been sighted tonight Monday 10 September 2018 in several localities in Mauritius. First reported visibility was at 6.19pm. Sunset was at 6.03pm. Moon set was at 6.51pm. Sky was mostly clear. Wish you all Happy Islamic New Year 1440 Hijri.

  • Morocco:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Zakaria Guelzim from Rabat reported: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Morocco informed the citizens that they observed the moon of the month of Muharram 1440 AH, after Maghrib of Monday, 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1439 AH, 10 Septemer 2018. It has established the vision of the crescent. The beginning of the month of Muharram for the year 1440 AH will be on Tuesday 11 September 2018.

  • Nepal:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Aamir, Vice Secretary Nepali Jame Masjid Committee, Kathmandu reported: On Monday, Sep 10, 2018, the SKY CONDITIONS: Partly Cloudy and hazy, we tried to see Hilal from 18:15 pm to 18:45 pm The Hilal of Muharram was not sighted anywhere in Nepal. So 1st day of Muharram will be on Wednesday, Sep 12, 2018.

  • New Zealand:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Abid Jafery from Auckland reported: There has been no sightings in NewZealand and Fiji anywhere at the sunset of Mon 10 Sep 2018 (29 Zilhijjah 1439), Hence Tue 11 Sep 2018 will be 30 Zilhijjah 1439. Wednesday, 12 Sep 2018 will be 1st Moharram 1440 Hijri InshAllah.

  • Nigeria:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Oyeyemi Oyewo, Ilorin, Kwara State reported: The consistent rain in Lagos Nigeria since last week Monday (4/9/18) till today (10/9/18 ) has made the sighting of the moon very difficult. The NSCIA, the apex body of Islamic affairs declared today 11/9/18 as 1st Muharram 1440.

  • Pakistan:


    1. Not Seen: News Media in Pakistan reported: Rooyat-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Munibur-Rahman announced that the Hilal of Muharram was not seen on Monday, Sep 10, 2018. So 1st day of Muharram will be on Wednesday, Sep 12, 2018.

  • South Africa:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Monday 10th September 2018, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Therefore Muharram 1440 will commence on Tuesday 11th September 2018 in South Africa.

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Abdurrazak Ebrahim from Cape Town reported: The Muharrum Hilaal was sighted last evening (10/9/18) throughout Southern Africa. The 11th September 2018 corresponds to the 1st Muharrum 1440 H

  • Sri Lanka:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th. Du-Hijjah(10/9/18) evening I wen to Lowbagathala Road. Masjid (located at Colombo3 seaside) for Maharrib & to observer the Moon sighting the western horizon was clear with some peaches of clouds I witness the Sunset clearly & waited till 7pm.(sunset 6:13pm) couldn't see Hilal of Muharram and The Colombo Grand Mosque also not received any positive report from anywhere from Sri Lanka. InShaAllah month of Dul-Hijjah will be 30days and 1st. Muharram 1440H will start on Wednesday 12th September 2018 in Sri Lanka.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The Hilal was sighted in tiny island of Zanzibar, Tanzania 10th September and tomorrow Tuesday 11th September 2018 marks the first of Muharram and the beginning of the 1440 AH. The Mufty offices have confirmed the beginning of the month of Muharram on 11th September 2018.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Muharram 1440 AH was looked for after the sunset of Monday 10th September 2018. Reports from all committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was SIGHTED. We have accepted these reports and has declared that the month of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH will complete 29 days. Therefore the 1st night of Muharram 1440 AH will be the night of Monday 10th September 2018, and the first day of Muharram 1440 AH will be the day of Tuesday 11th September 2018. Location: lat : 10 35 long: 61 21: Time of Sunset: 18:10:42: Time of first appearance of the crescent: 18:17: Pressure: 1011 mb: Temperature: 28�C : Relative humidity: 79%

  • UK:


    1. Not Seen (Dense clouda): MCW member Mr Juned Patel from Bolton Lancshire reported: On Monday, 10th of September 2018 (29 Dhul-Hijjah 1439 AH) between 20:00 to 20:30 UTC (Sunset 19:38 & Moonset 20:22 UTC) at Bolton, UK the Crescent has not been sighted and the sky was completer covered with very dense clouds.

    2. Not Seen, but seen eelsewhere: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: Moon was not sighted anywhere in Britain but it was sigfhted in Morocco and South Africa. Wifaqul Ulama have therefore decided that 29 days of Dhul-Hijjah will be completed and Muharram 1440 will begin from Tuesday, the 11th of September 2018.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announced: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that Tuesday, September 11th 2018, will be the first day of the month of Muharram, 1440 A.H. for the entire region of North America. Therefore, the Day of Ashura will be on Thursday, September 20th, 2018. This determination is based on the fact that there were reported sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye during the sunset of Monday, September 10th, 2018, from many locations.

    2. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Monday, Sep 10, 2018), the moon was not sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived at my sighting location at 7:59 pm EDT (sunset: 7:39 pm). Hoping to have an opening in a cloudy sky, I stayed there for 30 minutes. No opening occurred (moonst: 8:34 pm). At 8:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 71.0 F, 66.0 F, 86%, and 27.9 in, respectively.

    3. Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that it has received confirmed reports of the crescent moon being sighted on the evening of Monday , September 10th, 2018. Therefore, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Muharram, 1440 AH.

    4. Seen: MCW member Mr Mirza Shahid Basravi from Irvine CA reported: Today, Sept 10th 2018, I was able to see the new crescent of Muharram 1440H from the street where I live in Irvine, California, at 7:12 pm with 10 x 50 binoculars, and then immediately with regular glasses, and by 7:14 pm I was able to see it without my glasses. The tips of the new crescent were pointing at 2 O'clock and 6 O'clock.

    5. Seen: MCW member Mr Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago IL reported: Based on Hilal sighting reports from multiple locations across Mainland USA on the 29th of Zul Hajj1439H - Monday, September 10, 2018 Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal declares that the 1st of Muharram 1440H will be on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 in North America. As such Ashura is on the 10th of Muharram 1440H i.e. Thursday, September 20, 2018.

  • Zimbabwe:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ayub Mahomed from Harare reported: Moon was sighted in Zimbabwe on Monday, Sep 10, 2018. Tomorrow 11september will be 1st Muharram inshallah.


September 11, 2018 (Tuesday):

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Falak Raja from Sydney, NSW reported: Today 11th Sep 2018, I tried to observe moon on 5:55pm but could not see it. At 6:03pm moon was visible at Auburn Sydney Australia. Moon is very thin and clear. Moon's orientation is from 4 to 10.

top Back to Top