Moonsighting for Safar 1440
1440 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Muharram 1440: October 8 & October 7, 2018

On right is the waning (old) Crescent Moon (End of Muharram 1440 AH), October 8, 2018 (Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Mr Irshad Sait from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India). It was seen and photographed at 05:36 IST on Monday 29th of Mwharram 1440 (8th Oct 2018) from by Br. Mohamed Hussain. Lat: 08�42'51"N :& Long: 77�44'26"E; Time: 05:36 am IST. The illumination was I.7%; the Altitude was about 4.5 degrees & horns were at 3 & 7 positions. Click on the photo to see full size.

On left is the Old Crescent Moon (Urjuun Qadiim) of Muharram 1440 H. It was sighted on Monday, Oct 8, 2018 before Sunrise by MCW member Mr Ayyub Patel in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Click on the photo to see full size.




New Crescent Moon of Safar 1440:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on October 9, 2018 (Tuesday) at 3:46 UT. On October 9, it is possible only by telescope to see the moon in Middle-East and Europe; and with difficulty it may be seen in USA, but easily in Hawwaii and Polynesian Island. On October 10, the moon can be seen easily in the whole world (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on October 9, 2018 from Orange County, California, with Binoculars.

October 9, 2018 (Tuesday):

  • Ghana:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Baba Abdulai from Tamale reported: Date of sighting effort Tuesday October 9, 2018. Time of sighting effort; between 17:33 and 18:04. The Crescent was NOT sighted in this location. The sun set around 17:55 behind some clouds which covered the lower portion of the western horizon. Sighting location between Pong-Tamale and Diare (while travelling in a vehicle to Gambaga).

  • Nigeria:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr HabibuRahman Yunus from Yola, Nigeria reported: Here in my location; Aliyu Musdafa College, Yola Adamawa State, Nigeria. I tried sighting the new crescent moon for the month of (Safar, 1440) today Tuesday (Oct 9th) from sunset time 17:56 until 18:16, I couldn't find it. Sky was cloudy

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: Today, October 9, 2018 (29th evening of Muharram) we report negative sighting for Hilal. However we have seen Venus and Jupiter. In particular if we use binoculars and zoom camera we can see a crescent shaped Venus.

  • South Africa:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Tuesday 9th October 2018, the Hilaal was NOT sighted in South Africa. Therefore Safar 1440 will commence on Thursday 11th October 2018 in South Africa.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: On Tuesday 9th October, 2018 I could not sight the crescent, we are completing 30 days in tiny island of Zanzibar�Tanzania for the Muharram. The official first day of Safar 1440 AH will correspond to Thursday, 11 October 2018.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Safar 1440 AH was looked for after the sunset of Tuesday 9th October 2018. Reports from all committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was NOT SIGHTED. So, the month of Muharram 1440 AH will complete 30 days. Therefore the first day of Safar 1440 AH will be Thursday 11th October 2018.
      Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 21: Time of Sunset: 17:51:49

  • USA:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Abid Mirza from Orange County, CA reported: I reside in Orange California and saw the moon with binoculars for about 5 minutes and with naked eye for about 1 second.

    2. Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that there was confirmed sighting of the new crescent for the month of Safar on Tuesday, October 09, 2018.

    3. 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 the crescent moon of the month of Safar, 1440 A.H. was sighted by the naked eye in the south/west region of the United States during the sunset of Tuesday, October 9th, 2018.

October 10, 2018 (Wednesday):

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Wednesday) 10th of October 2018, the Hilaal of SAFAR 1440 has been sighted in Adelaide and Melbourne. Hence the month of SAFAR 1440 will commence from Thursday 11th of October 2018.

    2. Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: On October 10, the crescent of the month of Safar al Muzaffar AH 1440 has been sighted in Melboune and Adelaide. Inshallah Thursday, 11th October 2018 will be the first Safar 1440 AH.

  • Egypt:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: From Ma'adi, South Cairo (29.97�N, 31.25�E), Oct. 10th 2018, Hilal of Safar Appeared. I started my observation attempt a few minutes before apparent sunset (17:31 UT+2). It had not appeared by the time the Adhan was over (~17:34). I went to Maghrib prayers. On my way back, I saw it for the first time, some 23 minutes after sunset (~17:54). The horns were at 3 o'clock and 7 o'clock respectively. The temperature pressure and relative humidity were 27�C, 1007.5 mB, and 43% respectively. It was still visible at 18:20. Mars, Saturn and Jupiter were clearly visible as well.

  • India:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Molvi Iqbalhusen Bokda from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Crescent for the month of Safar has easily been sighted here in Godhra today on 10th October, 2018 (29th Muharram, 1440). Sky was clear. We received positive sighting reports from almost all parts of the country.

    2. Not Seen (CloudY: MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Reporting the moon of Safar 1440 hijri. Today Wednesday 10-October-2018 = 29-Muharram-1440 I & My Family tried to see the moon at my home from 06:00 pm to 06:40 pm the moon was not sighted because the horizon was too cloudy.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from from Assalaam Observatory Central Java Indonesia reported: The new crescent of Shafar 1440 AH has been sighted on Wednesday, 10 October 2018 from Assalaam Observatory, The Modern Boarding of Islam ASSALAAM Pabelan Kartasura Sukoharjo Central Java Indonesia. More than 171 students and teachers of MA Assalaam attended the observation.

  • Kenya:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Mahmood Essa from Mombasa reported: Alhamdullila, the new cresent for Safar was easily visible this evening here in Mombasa , Kenya. Thus tomorrow, Thursday , 11/10/2018, will be the first day of Safar 1440 in Kenya, based on local sighting.

  • Nepal:


    1. Not Seen:, but Seen in other locations: MCW member Mr Muhammad Aamir, Vice Secretary Nepali Jame Masjid Committee, Kathmandu reported: The Hilal of Safar was not sighted on 10 October 2018 wednesday in Kathmandu, but it was sighted in other part of Nepal. So, on the basis of sighting report 1st day of Safar will be on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

  • New Zealand:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Abid Jafery from Auckland reported: There has been verified sightings in Auckland at the sunset of Wed 10 Oct 2018 (29 Moharram 1440), Hence Thu 11 Oct 2018 will be 1 Safar 1440.

  • Philippines:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Jalil Rayhan from Cotabato City reported: On October 10, the crescent moon was seen at 5:50pm, in Cotabato City, Philippines.

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: 10th October, Wednesday from Abha around 6.10pm local time we were able to see the crescent easily.

  • Sri Lanka:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th.of Muharram(10/10 /18)evening the Colombo sky was cloudy I couldn't see the New Moon but The Colombo Grand Mosque have received several positive new moon of Safer sighted reports from northwest, north & east cities of the country Hence committee decided the month of SAFAR 1440 will commence from Thursday 11th of October 2018. "InShaAllah"

  • UK:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Juned Patel from Bolton Lancshire reported: On Wednesday, 10th of October 2018 (1 Safar 1439 AH) between 18:19 to 19:07 UTC (Sunset 18:25 & Moonset 19:29 UTC) at Location: B6226, Chorley Old Road, Bolton, Lancashire, UK +53�35'37"N, -2�29'24"W / Altitude: 220m Height; I attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Safar. The Crescent was sighted first with a binocular at 18:36 and then naked eye at 18:38 to the left of Sunset and orientation was from 1 to 7 O�clock, It was visible till 19:07 till I was there, the sky was clear.

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