• When to Observe Ramadan Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?
• Ramadan Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results
• The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries
• ICOP Official Statement Regarding Ramadan
• ICOP Comment on Ramadan's Saturday Beginning
• Saudi Will Look for The Crescent on 28 Shaban!
• Officially Ramadan on Sunday 24 September in Turkey
• When to Observe Shaban (OLD) Crescent ?
• Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

Sighting the new crescent on (Friday 22 September 2006) and on (Saturday 23 September 2006) is shown in the below graphs using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

• It is impossible to see the crescent from the areas located under the red color. Because either the Moon on this day sets before the Sunset and/or the topocentric conjunction occurs after the Sunset.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid only from the areas located under the blue color.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid from the areas located under the magenta color. In these areas the crescent could be seen by naked eye if the atmospheric conditions are superb and the observer is experienced.
• The crescent is expected to be easily visible by naked eye from the areas located under the green color.
• The crescent can not be seen from uncolored areas, even though the Moon sets in these locations after the Sunset and the topocentric conjunction occurs before the Sunset, but the Moon is not sufficiently illuminated in order to be seen as crescent even by optical aid.
• Kindly notice that the below graph shows the possibility of seeing the crescent from areas between 60 degrees north of Equator down to 60 degrees south of Equator.

Friday 22 September 2006

Saturday 23 September 2006

According to the actual sighting of the crescent, the start of Ramadan should be on Sunday 24 September 2006 in most parts of the world, or on Monday 25 September 2006 in some northern parts of the world.

- Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of the month in different countries will be added here Inshalla as we receive the reports from ICOP's members. If you wish to be a member in ICOP, or to know more about it, kindly click here.

• Australia:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Salah Sukkarieh said: "Despite clear skies, a telescope, theodolite and power zoom camera, the new Moon could not be seen."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Sam De Francesco said: "Sighting was attempted at the Sydney Observatory using their 16" Meade LX200. Despite a clear horizon, the crescent was not sighted." Mr. Francesco added "In regards to Australia, The ICOP page has listed Saturday and Sunday as the official starting dates for Ramadhan in Australia. The situation here is that the community is roughly divided into two groups, those that follow "calculation" which began on Sunday, and those that follow moonsighting which began on Monday. There is only one small minority group that began Saturday (based on what, I'm not sure - in Australia, conjunction had not even occurred here by Maghrib on Friday night). I believe it really should be Sunday (Calculation) and Monday (Moonsighting), based on the majority of Muslims here in Australia."

• India: ICOP member Mr. Mohamed Amin said: "The Crescent could not be seen anywhere in India by Naked Eyes on 23rd September 2006. As per aanouncement from the Major cities the Ramadhan 1427 may Insha Allah begin on the evening of 24th September 2006 and first fast will be on 25th September 2006. Ramadhan Mubarak to all the Muslims."

• Sri Lanka: ICOP member Dr. Aqil Ahmad Sharifuddeen said: "This sighting was claimed by the people of Nigombo and Kinniya. Accepting these claims The Authority to declare the starting the new islamic month in Sri Lanka Announced that Ramadan will commence this night. Fasting will be in 24th day time. I was participating the decission taking meeting in Colombo Grand Mosque."

• Pakistan:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Shahid Iqbal mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eyes. Mr. Iqbal added: "According to the official statement of NWFP Government, the First of Ramdan in NWFP will be on Sunday 24 September 2006, on the basis of a large number of sighting claims received from different districts of the provence. "

  2. ICOP member Mr. Saiful Islam said: "The month of Ramadan started on 25th September 2006 in Pakistan as annouced by the Central Committee for Hilal Sighting. I think we must appreciate the work of Pakistan Hilal committee for its correct annoucements for many years despite tremendous pressure it might be having from various quarters specially from premature annoucemnets of hilal sighting in Saudi Arabia and ulema in NWFP. The annoucements are in agreement with predictions made by various astronomical agencies and also in accordance with the actual sighting."

• Iran:
  1. ICOP member Mohammad Zahed Aram said: "I didn't see the crescent!"

  2. ICOP member Mr. Majid Marzani said:
     - Crescent was not seen by 20*120 and 40*150 binocular in Asad abad –Hamedan- Iran.
     - Location: Asada bad (Hamedan) (34:49N - 48:11E), Elev : 7522 ft.
     - Observers : Majid Marzani – Amir Allahmani – Zohair Ahmadi – Vahab Nemati.
     

  3. ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani said: "For the three successive years, I had an especial flight for observing the Ramadan Crescent (September 23, 2006). By the path that we had determined, the observation was possible through the window, which was in front of the Capitan. Out height was from 35000 to 39000 feet (from see level) and our speed was from 700 to 850 km/h. In spite of our height, there was dust in the horizon. At the suitable time, I sat on the Capitan seat and began the observation. By a 15x80 binoculars (I) and by 15x70 & 20x80 (my colleagues) observed Mercury easily. We tried to find crescent, but it was not possible because of the dust. Our observation was on the north part of Iran. Maybe the little moon's altitude was another cause of this unsuccessfulness. This was the first time that I could not observe the crescent by aircraft. In 2004, we observed the Shawal Crescent. In 2005, we did not observe the Ramadan Crescent, but took photos of it. On October 23, at the end of Ramadan, we intend to have another flight for observing the Shawal crescent."
     Saturday 23 September 2006
     
     Mr. Mehrani Tries to See the Crescent From the Plane!

• Iraq: ICOP member Mr. Bacil Moudhaffar said: "The new crescent of Ramadan was not seen on Sat. 23/09/2006 from Baghdad by naked eyes nor by binocular."

• Oman: Mr. Mohammed Al Bussaidi said: "For two days we tried to sight the crescent Moon from northern Oman using telescope and binoculars, there was a slight clouds on Friday 22 Sep, but the moon was not sighted. Similarly on Saturday 23 Sep, we tried again but this time the evening horizon was slightly more cloudier but again we could not see the crescent Moon."

• UAE: ICOP member Mohammad Odeh said: "Went early to Al-Ain city to observe the crescent from the top of Hafit mountain (Longitude: 55:47E , Latitude: 24:04N, Elevation: 950 m), I had 10" LX200R computerized Meade telescope. I was able to do the alignment before sunset and I observed Arcturus, Jupiter, and other stars. The weather conditions were acceptable, with haze near the horizon. Mr. Khalfan Al-Noimy (Chairman of Emirates Astronomical Society) joined the observation. After Sunset I tested the accuracy of the alignment, and the telescope pointed successfully at Jupiter, Spica and Mercury, where all were in the center of field, however, we were not able to see neither Mars nor the crescent!"

• Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Sat 23 sep 2006 I and a group of 60 persons could not sight the crescent even with 20*60 binocular fixed on tripod. The western horizon was clear exept last 4 degrees of haze above horizon."

• Saudi: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "I just wanted to say: Happy Ramadhan for you and your families, asking Allah to help us and accept our good works. Please be sure that none of the six comities has seen the crescent on Friday, they started the month according to other people. Thanks to ALLAH they did not start it Friday."

  Jordan: ICOP member Ms. Basma Dhyab reported that more than 40 observers from JAS and locals tried to see the crescent, but none of them was able to see it.

• Lebanon: ICOP member Dr. Ahmad Raad said: "Observation was done from 18:16 till 18:50 on Saturday 23th September in Baalbeck (east of Lebanon). The sky was very clear, no cloud at all, but the crescent was not seen neither by naked eyes nor by binocular."

• Libya: ICOP member Mr. Salem Sahid said: "We know that we will not see the cresent but as members of ICOP, we have duty to do, to observe the cresent." Mr. Sahid mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eyes despite the superb sky!

• Tunis: ICOP member Mr. Sahli Taieb mentioned that he along with another two observers were not able to see the crescent by binoculars after thorough search, and the horizon was clear.

• Algeria: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "More than fourty persons were prensent in Merkiche station. Ramadan 1427 crescent was not seen nor by naked eyes neither by binoculars (06). The western horizon was partly cloudy and hazy. Other groups in Ghardaïa region didn't see the crescent."

• Morocco:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Othman Fadli mentioned it was cloudy.

  2. ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti said: "Not seen from Fez. Negative sighting. I am not able to perform the sighting in Oxford but I will report for Fez, Morocco, which is in the sighting zone [matla'] that can be relied upon for those in the UK. The moonspotters there could not sight the crescent. However, the Moroccan authorities have declared that tomorrow (Sunday) is Ramadan, based on earlier positive sightings in the East including in South Africa. Additionally, I have also received news that moon-observation stations in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia could not sight the crescent on Friday, 22 September, but have sighted it today on Saturday 23 September; and consequently, the respective religious authorities in those countries have declared Ramadan to be on Sunday. This news of a positive easterly sighting - even if physically not possible to sight tonight in the UK itself - like Morocco - is sufficient for us to establish the new month [thubut al-hilal] of Ramadan in the UK to be tomorrow, Sunday, the 24th of September; by default, following the rule in Fiqh: whenever the crescent is sighted during the night in question anywhere in the East, its sighting follows without doubt in the West, but not the other way round. Ramadan Karim!"

• Senegal: ICOP member Dr. Abdoulaye Gaye said: "We have experienced a partial Solar eclipse in Dakar, Senegal (14° 36 N - 17° 43 W - 5 m above sea level) from 9:10 am to 11:10 am. Friday, 22nd September 2006. A crowd of more than 250 people observed this phenomena. Moonset occured 6 minutes after sunset with a percentage of 0% of illumination, therefore the hilal was not seen. The new crescent was seen in many parts and sites in Dakar, Thies and in the countryside, Saturday 23rd september 2006. The entire Senegalese Muslim community: Tijaniyya, Mouridiyya, Khadriyya and Layene is beginning this Sunday, 24th of September as the official first day of Ramadan 1427 A.H. Thanks to Allah Who made that possible and Happy Ramadan for the entire Ummah!"

• Tanzania:
  1. ICOP member Mr. Zaffar Sheriff said: "Thirteen of us were present on an eight storey building searching for the crescent, but cloudy conditions low over western horizon deprived us to observe the hilal. We gave up the search about 7pm moonset time. However confirmed reports were received within an hour of sunset from Mwanza (Tanzania) 32.30E/2.30S. Other cities in Madagascar and Mauritius also observed the crescent."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Hamzah Rijaal said: "In a tiny island of Zanzibar we begun the Holy mmonth of Ramadhan today 24 September. It was cloudy yesterday however our brother in sister Island of Pemba they are the first to report that Moon was sighted in 5 different spots, however in Unguja, Moon was sighted with difficulties. As usual contradiction and disputes arise for the Hilal of Ramadhan and Dhul Hijja, a small group of believers they have started to fast on Saturday."

• Nigeria:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Shuaib Abdul Raheem Agbarere said: "As a reasult of heavy rain fall in Ilorin at the time of sighting all the members of Lajinatul Hillal Al-islamyat were not able to see anything. But information from other member in ZAMFARA AND KANO STATE said they sighted the moon easyly at around 6:45 pm. Moreover Lajinatul_Hillal decleared Yaomol-Ahad 24/9/2006 as the first day of RAMADAN. May ALLAH acept it as Ibadat."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Oba Ibrahim said: "Sighting was tried again today but the western horizone was very cloudy moreso there was heavy rain fall. However informations received from brother Luqman a native of ilorin residing in Maru Zamfara state Nigeria, he said he and some brothers sighted it arround 6;45pm. Mallam Mujadeed also sighted it at Kano. Hence Lajnatul-Hillal, Ilorin will commence Ramadan 1427 insha Allah on Sunday 24th Sep. 2006."

  3. ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: " The hilal of Ramadan is not visible here at Abuja due to cloud sky, also report from Ilorin is negative due to Rain at the time of observation. However, report from Zamfara is positive. Ramadan kareem to all Muslim and Icop memebers in particular."

  4. ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "I was visiting my relations at Dukku, my place of birth. Though I planed to organise a sihgting trip, the plan had to be cancelled as a result of clouds. Howerever, the following morning (Sunday 24 October 2006) there was the news that the crescent was sighted the previous evening at Yado, a village southeast of my location. I then drove to the village wherein I confirmed that the moon was sighted by four experienced men of repute and many children."

  5. ICOP member Mr. Yusuf Lambat said: "In Blantyre, Malawi, we also sighted the crescent very clearly on Saturday evening."

• South Africa: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The Ramadaan Hilaal was sighted this evening (Saturday, 23 September 2006) at the end of the 29 Shabaan 1427 AH in many parts of South Africa. I sighted the Hilaal at local time 19h14 from the Green Point lighthouse in Cape Town. The official first day of Ramadaan will correspond to Sunday, 24 September 2006. Best wishes for the month of Ramadaan to all Muslims, and especially our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Cechnya and Kashmir. Let us not forget the plight of our brethren who are being coerced into observing Ramadaan on the last day of Shabaan."

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "Totaly cloudy sky over the Bosnia and Herzegovina. Crescent was not seen. The first day of Ramadan SHOULD START in Bosnia at Monday, after completition of 30 day of Sha'ban, as Resulullah a.s. teached us."

• Spain: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad del Pozo said: "The Amir of the Jama´a announced the beginning of Ramadan on Sunday 24 September based on the Ulama of the Maliki School in Morocco and Spain."

• Germany: Dr. Joachim Schulte in den Baumen and his team in Sonneberg Observatory were able to capture the crescent on CCD using their "Professional Lunar Crescent Observation Telescope". More surprisingly the picture was taken at broad daylight time, that is at 13 UT! Dr. Joachim and his team will give a talk in the First Emirates Astronomical Conference about the "Professional Lunar Crescent Observation Telescope", below is the image taken by the CCD.
  Image of lunar crescent of waxing moon taken on Saturday 23 September 2006
  
  
  Taken by Sonneberg Observatory in Germany at 13UT.

• UK:
  1. ICOP member Mr. AbdurRashid Ayoubi said: "Western horizon was cloudy. Crescent not seen."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Baig said: "Despite the declared policy of the London Central Mosque to follow Saudi Arabia, a very large majority in the UK have rejected Fasle Saudi sighting and have started Ramadan on Sunday. In my home town, all four mosque have gone for Sunday together for the first time in many years. Hope they can retain this unity at the end of the monthy too. From what we can gather from ICOP reports, it seems that Saudis and their followers now make up less than 10% of the Ummah in starting Ramadan on the wrong day - this is a major victory for us and we should thank Allah for it and carry on our work until we fully resolve this issue which is still problematic for many due the false sightings in Saudi Arabia."

• Canada: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "I tried to see the crescent, in Hamilton Ontario Canada but western horizon was totally cloudy. Hilal Committee of Metropolitan Toronto & Vicinity (GTA) CANADA which has over 75 Islamic organizations is waiting across Canada and the United States to obtain latest news on reports of sighting. Yesterday The Imam of Hamilton Mosque declared, Saturday is Ist of Ramadan because Hamilton is well known in this region for following Saudi's blindly. Yet he preached whole Khutba on starting Ramadan with sighting the crescent, if not complete 30 days. Ramadan mubarik to all the members of ICOP and their families."

• Guyana: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "The Hilaal was seen in Guyana as was reported by several Islamic organisations including the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana. Unfortunately, due to rain clouds on the horizon we were unable to observe the Hilaal on Saturday, 23rd September, 2006 at the Rose Hall Town Masjid. The first day of Ramdan in Guyana will be on Sunday, 24th September, 2006."

• USA:

  1. ICOP Member, Ms. Mary Singer said: "The new lunar crescent was NOT seen on Saturday, September 23, 2006 in Spokane, WA. (USA) Mary Singer."

  2. ICOP member Dr. John Caldwell said: "Could have seen it sooner: bystander effect. Never quite easy. Easiest was about 20:10, but then it disappeared quickly, masked by some small spotty clouds. When seen in binocs, I could find it by eye. First eye sightings were "glimpsings" (= no shape information). Looking away for 15 sec and the trying to find it again independently is a good practice. If you CAN'T do this 3 times, I would say that you have "glimpsed" the crescent instead of seen it, qualitatively different from "seeing" and from "not seeing."

  3. ICOP member Mr. Ahmad Raza Khan mentioned that he didn't see the crescent by naked eyes or by binoculars, and the sky was partly cloudy.

  4. ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad said: "This evening (Saturday, September 23), I tried sighting the moon in Christiansburg, VA, without success. The sky was partly cloudy and the western horizon was covered by haze. Soon after my arrival at the sighting location (before sunset), I started scanning the western horizon, using a pair of 7x50 binoculars. I scanned the horizon till the time of moonset (7:44). I could not see Mercury either."

  5. ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh said: "Alhamdulillaah the Hilal Sighting Committee of North America (www.HILALSIGHTING.org) has announced the start of Ramadan on Sunday, September 24, 2006, based on confirmed Hilal sightings tonight in Houston, Dallas, San Diego and elsewhere. Ramadan Kareem! Also attached below is the analyses of the claims to date. The Saudi claim of 4 people was not possible because the moon set before the sunset in Makkah. Further the 6 Official Hilal sighting Committees of Saudi Arabia, each including a scholar and an astronomer (see www.jas.org.jo/hilaal) did NOT see the Hilaal on the evening between Sept. 22 and 23. The Houston and Denton claims from yesterday are analyzed below and refuted due to incorrect shape of crescent or other issues. Further, expert observers west of these locations could not sight the Hilaal. Even after crossing the International Date Line, the Hilaal could not be sighted in Australia and Asia which are starting Ramadan on Monday Insha'Allaah. The first sighting of Hilaal today (Saturday) was from South Africa, then also from South America (Guyana) and our own in Texas, California and elsewhere. The Hilal sighting Committee www.hilalsighting.org announcement is also backed by Shariah Board (www.shariahboard.org), ICNA (www.icna.org), North American Ulema Council www.ulemacouncil.com/ Hilal Committee of Chicago, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad Community, Imam Jameel AlAmeen Community, Zaytuna Institute (Imam Zaid Shakir, Imam Hamza Yusuf), Hilal Committee of Canada http://www.hilalcommittee.com/ Jameatul Ulema Canada (Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians) http://www.jucanada.org/ Darul Uloom AlMadania, Buffalo http://www.madania.org/english/article_ramadan_moonsighting.php Committee for Crescent Observation International (CFCO) http://www.islamicmoon.com/ Dr .Mohib Durrani http://www.hilal-sighting.com/ Ulama Association of North America http://www.ulamaassociation.org Ahle Sunnat wal Jama’at of America, Islamic Shari’ah Council of California, Hilal Committee of Greater Austin, TX, Islamic Shari’a Council of British Columbia, Canada and many others, Alhamdulillaah."

  6. Dr. Youssef Ismail said: "A large group again came out to search for the new moon of Ramadan at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. We had clear skies, but a thick marine layer which resulted in a dark haze on the horizon. The new moon was not seen by us this evening."

  7. ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said: "Three observers picked up the crescent with a 20 cm telescope at 18:00 Saturday evening, 23 Sep 2006. Binoculars captured the image at about 18:30, and there was one positive naked eye observation and one possible naked eye observation at about 18:40. The crescent was followed to the horizon at 18:51 with the telescope. Details below:
     Weather Conditions for: Tucson, Tucson International Airport, AZ (KTUS)
     Elev: 2641 ft; Latitude: 32.13139; Longitude: -110.95528
     23 Sep 5:55 pm 81°F 34% RH 1010 sea level pressure
     Haze and one large cloud hindered the observations."

  8. ICOP member Mr. Isa Alsup said: "USA divided ... ISNA finally stopped pretending and revealed intention to abandon the Prophet's orders and follow their desires. Many other organizations refuted. Our local Imam (one of larger Masjids in area) announced Friday 22 Sept. was 28 of Shaban due to no reported moonsighting on 29 Rajab. Moonsighting was not attempted on 28 of Shaban. Local moonsighting was attempted by many people. Not seen. Based on verified reports of moonsighting by 4 persons in San Diego, we began Ramadan at Magreb on 23 Sept after 29 days of Shaban and 30 days of Rajab."

Sunday 24 September 2006:

• Iran: ICOP member Mohammad Zahed Aram mentioned that it was seen by naked eyes.

• Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Sunday 24 sep 2006 I sighted the crescent in the following order first sighting of the crescent immediatly after reaching the site at 17:29, Sun disc disappeared from view at 17:40, our local sunset time at 17:43, first seen with naked eyes at 17:49, last seen with naked eyes at 18:16, last seen with binocular at 18:22, our local moonset time at 18:36. So although the crescent was of 50 hours old, 23 degrees of elongation and 10 degrees of altitude it took 5 minutes after sunset to be seen and it disappeared 20 minutes before its actual setting due to the haze.Sat. 23 sep 2006 was first day of Ramadan for some pepole and on Monday 25 Sep 2006 for some other pepole."

• Saudi: ICOP member Mr. Waheed Younis said: "I live in Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I tried to see the moon on Friday evening and Saturday evening but couldn't see any. Today, Sunday evening, I was able to see it. The sunset was at 6:07PM; I spotted the moon at 6:25PM and kept seeing it until 6:45PM. It was quite thin and faint. I showed it to some other people too. Most of them agree that it could either be of 1st or at the most 2nd but for sure not 3rd night. So, the start of Ramadhan on Saturday was absolutely wrong; Sunday is also difficult; Monday is most likely the correct one. It is hard to believe that it is just an honest mistake. There must be something deep behind all this mess."

• Germany: ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann said: "Already half an hour before sunset, the sun disappeared behind a thick layer of clouds at the western horizon. This was a pity, otherwise it would have been still a challenging observation of the crescent with a lag time of only 23 minutes."

Kindly Click Here to download ICOP official statement regarding Ramadan's Saturday Beginning (Arabic Version).

In a surprising announcement, the official authorities in Saudi asked the people to look for Ramadan crescent on Thursday 21 September 2006, which is 28 Shaban 1427 AH in Saudi. The announcement is really strange especially that it is impossible to see the crescent from Saudi even on Friday 22 September 2006, where the Moon will set one minute before the Sun, moreover, even on Saturday the crescent can be seen form Saudi by optical aid ONLY, and it will not be visible by naked eyes! So we wonder if the crescent can't be seen on Saturday except by optical aid, then why should the people look for it two days ago!

Sighting the OLD crescent on (Thursday 21 September 2006) is shown in the below graph using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

• It is impossible to see the OLD crescent from the areas located under the red color. Because either the Moon on this day rises after the Sunrise and/or the topocentric conjunction occurs before the Sunrise.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid only from the areas located under the blue color.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid from the areas located under the magenta color. In these areas the crescent could be seen by naked eyes if the atmospheric conditions are superb and the observer is experienced.
• The crescent is expected to be easily visible by naked eyes from the areas located under the green color.
• The crescent can not be seen from uncolored areas, even though the Moon rises in these locations before the Sunrise and the topocentric conjunction occurs after the Sunrise, but the Moon is not sufficiently illuminated in order to be seen as crescent even by optical aid.
• Kindly notice that the below graph shows the possibility of seeing the crescent from areas between 60 degrees north of Equator down to 60 degrees south of Equator.

Thursday 21 September 2006