- ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said:
Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA) Gates Pass
Longitude = 111.10 W
Latitude = 32.22 N
Elevation = 963 meters
Time Zone = -7.0 hours
Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
Sunset (at sea level) = 17:38
Moonset (at sea level) = 18:00
Time from new moon at 17:43 = 22 hr. 10 min.
Moon lag time = 21 minutes
Relative Altitude = 4.00 degrees
Elongation from sun = 11.99 degrees
Crescent width = 21 arcseconds
Illumination = 1.1 percent
Crescent first observed through 8” SC telescope:
Time = 17:43
Altitude = 1.2 degrees
Lots of cirrus clouds interfered with the observation, but they were thinning and there were breaks.
The Moon wasn’t visible through the breaks until 17:43 at the predicted time and position. The image
was dull and smooth, and I didn’t note any other characteristics, because I wanted the others to see it.
However, at least four other people tried, but were not successful. Focus was very critical for this
observation, and I believe that was the reason for lack of success.
- ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I tried to observe the Hilaal on Wednesday, 2nd November, 2005 after sunset from Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA. No Hilaal was observed despite clear skies. The official first day in the USA is divided once more between Ulema Council of North America and ISNA/FC/Saudi followers. Please report the dates as both:
Thursday, 3rd Nov, 2005
Friday, 4th Nov, 2005
I would like to know which astro consultant from within the group accepted the claim and what was the thickness of the lens on the eyes of these observers (obviously it is greater than a telescope). How can they see the Hilaal when North America was not in the visibility curve? I could not see it in Florida under clear skies and yet being closest to the Southern Hemesphere. Why did 7000 observers in South Africa could not see the Hilaal and the hundreds of Muslims in Guyana could not see it when they were in the Hilaal visibility curve? In all my years of monthly crescent observation that I regularly send to all of you, I never could observe the Hilaal in the zone of optical aid using my naked eye under perfect weather condition. ICOP members also have to do extensive preparations (line up the telescopes with the some stars) the night before to see the Hilaal and many times they are unsuccessful. Please say what special preparations were done by these observers with their naked eye when they were not even in the visibility curve? Thanks again for cooking the books as was done for the upside down crescent of last Ramadan 1425 AH. May Allah (SWT) reward all of you in full for last both Ramadan. When Fiqh Coucil satated they will accept sighting from South America (Chile) when we don't have any Muslims observers from that country in moonsighting.com, CFCOI and ICOP, I knew they will cook the books, since their policy was always sighting in North America. They never went with the Hilaal sighting of Muslims in Guyana in the past, how come all of a sudden they will follow Chile. They were looking for a way out and they got it so they can follow Saudi. I must say they are even better than the Saudi's, may Allah (SWT) reward them in full. The comments of ICOP members for the North America sighting is welcomed. The Muslims Astronomers will disect the report."
- ICOP member Dr. Mohibullah Durrani said: "The Fiqh Council of North America, after consultation with its astronomical consultants, who related the credible moon sighting reports, declares tomorrow, Thursday 3 Nov 2005 CE as the first (1st) day of Shawwal (Eid-ul-Fitr). This conclusion was arrived at in accordance with the current Fiqh Council guidelines.
Eid Mubarak!
10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Phoenix, AZ
The following is the Hilal Sighting Report from Phoenix, AZ.
Assalam Alaykum Dr. Durrani,
Here is the report as requested.
Along with large group of brothers, we arrived at the sighting place shortly
before sunset. Mashallah we observed a beautiful sunset on a very clear skies.
at about 5:38pm. There horizon is very clear at the sighting place.
At about 5:42pm I saw the very thin, illusive hilal, to the left of of the
position where the sun had just set -- spanning the the distance from the
seven o'clock and two o'clock hand of an analog clock. The Hilal's elevation
was less than one finger width.
The hilal was indeed very, very thin and illusive as such continous observation
of it was limited to few seconds. I was only able to continually observe it
until about 5:41pm. [should be 5:51 pm. Mohib: this correction is based on
my telephone conversation with the observer and my notes of that conversation.
This correction to the time was done on 3 Nov 2005 at 6:00 am by Mohib.]
One other brother with the group, Brother ----- was able to see it at the point
it was first sighted. Our imam saw it at first sight but because of it's illusive
nature was not certain of his sighting.
I did not observe the hilal setting as it had become illusive once again just as
it neared the horizon."
- ICOP member Mr. Isa Alsup said: "Our local Imam gave a speech before Tarrawih explaining 3 reasons why sighting of the moon tonight was impossible per science in North America. He explained 9-10 criteria effecting visibility. He explained that Imam must evaluate claims based on sharia and science should be used to validate the claims. We prayed tarrawih. Upon returning home I learned the masjid had announced Eid for Thursday. I called masjid and heard recording in the Imam's voice announcing the end of Ramadan, Eid Mubarak. Karamat."
- ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by naked eye, and the sky was hazy. He added: "Ulema Council declared Eid for Friday, while ISNA declared for Thursday!"
- ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Unable to sight the crescent this evening of Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, 2005 from Long beach, California. Sunset 4:58pm, tried with binoculars till 5:45pm. Slight thin cloud at the sighting area. Insha-Allah I will try to-morrow Thursday, Nov. 3rd."
- ICOP member, Mr. Mosleh Ahmed said: "The condition on Nov 2 was ideal - and I had a pretty powerful set of binoculars. But I did not see the Hilal and did not expect to - the difference between sunset and moonset was only 9 minutes - too short. I can claim it was not visible in the east coast. Do you know of any sightings in the west coast? In Los Angeles, the moon was about 24 hours old, and the sunset and moonset time difference was 20 minutes - not fully out of the realm of the sighting if the conditions permitted. In ISNA's announcement, I did not see any report of sighting in North America."
- ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad said: "This evening Wednesday (2nd of November), I tried sighting the moon in Blacksburg, VA, with no success. The sky condition was very good (no clouds and little haze). We arrived at the sighting site at sunset (around 5:23 local time) and stayed till 5:45, well past moonset (5:35). On arrival, using a pair of 7X50 binoculars, I started scanning the Western horizon and was unable to see the moon."
- ICOP member Mr. Salim abu Adam said: "Please understand that although there may have been alleged hilal sightings, no one from ISNA was looking for the hilal. The masajid that regularly follow the Fiqh Council (ISNA) already announded that Thursday would be 1 Shawwal/Eid. Because of Qaradawi's "hilal sighting during the day after noon" opinion, many people were fasting, etc. a day early. They simply completed what they believed to be the 30th day of Ramadan. No sighting necessary in shareah. It's interesting to note that the Sunnah of our beloved Rasululah (s.a.s.) was followed at the end of the month and not at the beginning. As other brothers have mentioned, we are getting used to this in the U.S. I would like to commend the Ullema Council for their correct announcement. In all this negativity, we must identify the positive. I wonder if providing the Ullema Council with a website and specific Astronomers to consult would help to more solidly officiate the Ullema Council's announcements...Volunteers? ma sallam wa Eid Mubarrak!"
- ICOP member Dr. Raza Khan said: "Unfortunately, it was raining when I tried to sight the crescent from inside of my car with both naked eyes and with binoculars." He added in another email: "I would like to point out ICOP page for results for Shawwal crescent for USA which needs some addendum points. I would also appreciate if my comments are added as well as I forgot to add them in my ICOP Observation Report.
As Brother Hafiz requested, the date for the start of Shawwal for USA should be clearly indicated for both Thursday Nov. 3 and Friday Nov. 4. ISNA is not the governing "official" body. It is true that in some countries where people may start the Shawwal on two different days, we as ICOP members, report the day on which the governing body such as Ruet-e-Hilaal Committe in Pakistan announces the start of the month for that country. In this case, ISNA is not recognized by the US Govt as the governing body for the start of the Islamic month. As indicated by Brother Hafiz's comments and mentioned by Dr. Shaukat's comment on www.moonsighting.com, that among others, Ulema Council of North America did not agree with ISNA's results and have declared Friday as the start of Shawwal.
I also believe that the following comments needs to be added on to the ICOP results page.
I hope that I am not mistaken in my following comment. If I am, please feel free to correct me, It is interesting to note that ISNA in the past has not only relied on more than one sighting but also on the fact if a crescent was observed anywhere in USA, it should be been observed in locations west of that lobserved ocation. However, in this case, as far as I know, only one sighting was taken as confirmation in Phoenix, Arizona. I hate to dissect the report but when I did, it even became more mind boggling.
1. Among a large group of brothers, only two have confirmed to see it. That tells me tales!
2. Even the imam was not certain that it was the hilaal that he saw.
I truly await Dr. Shaukat's response (as he is consultant to ISNA) as to why ISNA declared the sighting valid when no other sighting west of it were reported. I note that telephonic conversation with the observer was probably done by Dr. Mohib Durrani.
Also, for me, it would be interesting to see what the visibility of the crescent truly (astonomically) was at Phoenix, Arizona. How likely (as a percentage wise) was it probable for some one to sight the crescent from Phoenix by naked eye? If some can do this, that would be great. Here is the location information for Phoenix:
longitude W112.1 and latitude N33.5. IT follows the Mountain Standard time.