International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent (After Sunset) was on Friday by ICOP members Mr. Sam De Francesco and Mr. Afroz Ali from Australia, the crescent was also seen on this day from Sri Lanka, Iran, Oman, Senegal, Nigeria and USA

ICOP member Mr. Jim stamm from USA reported that he was able to see the crescent on Thursday before sunset using 8" telescope, but he was not able to see it after sunset.

Thursday 11 October 2007:

• Indonesia:

  1. Not Seen: ICOP Member Dr. Susiknan Azhari said: "The new crescent of Syawal was not seen on Thursday 11/10/2007 from Tanjung Kodok (East Java) by eyes nor by binocular. MUHAMMADIYAH has announced through its formal announcement letter (Maklumat) number 03/MLM/1.0/E/2007, that 1 Syawal 1428 is corresponding to Friday ("Jum'at Pahing") 12 October 2007.Tariqat Naqsabandiyah and An-Nadzir Goa (South Sulawesi) Idul Fitri = Thursday, 11 October 2007."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said: "We tried to observer the New Crescent of Syawal 1428 H in Syeikh Bela-Belu Parangkusumo Beach Yogyakarta (8deg 00m S, 110d 19m E, 38 meter). The crescent was NOT SEEN even through a Telescope. The first day of Syawwal 1428 in Indonesia will begin on Saturday, 13 October 2007 according to the calender and this 'istikmal'. However, some Moslems in Indonesia (Muhammadiyah organization) have prepared to celebrate Eidul Fitr on Friday, 12 October 2007 since they use 'wujudul hilal' criterion (moonset after sunset) and do not perform the ru'yah. Thanks and Happy Eid al-Fitr. I recieved sms from someone that there are four (4) persons saw the crescent in Cakung the North of Jakarta, and according the this report some orgnizations and boarding schools celebrate Eidul Fitr on Friday, 12 October 2007. May Allah bless us, Taqabbalallahu minnaa wa minkum taqabbal ya Karim. I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope."
     

  3. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha MMC said: "On the evening of 11th October 2007, from Bela-Belu Hill near Parangkusumo Beach Yogyakarta more hundreds of people have tried to sight the crescent for Shawwal 1428 AH. They are from many Islamic organizations like Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, Islamic Boarding Schools guided by Local Committee for Calculation and Crescents Observation. Anyway the crescent was not seen and no sighting reported anywhere in the country because moon altitude very low. After evaluation meeting (itsbat), Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs has officially declared on National TV that Ied al-Fitr celebrate on Saturday, 13 October 2007. However, some Moslems in the country (Muhammadiyah) have prepared to celebrate Eidul al-Fitr on Friday, 12 October 2007 since they calculation (moonset after sunset) and do not perform the ru'yah. Happy Eid al-Fitr, may Allah accept our worship, Taqabbalallahu minnaa wa minkum taqabbal ya Karim. More info http://rukyatulhilal.org."

• Malaysia:
  1. Cloudy: ICOP member, Mr. Abdul Wahid Abdul Majid mentioned that it was totally cloudy.

  2. Cloudy: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The hilal sighting ceremony was held at Khawarizmi observatory, the hilal sighting committe and muslim communities gathered here to observed the hilal but the hilal was not seen.The western sky was cloudy and the sunset behind the clouds. The hilal also was not seen at all the 28 locations in the country. The 1st shawwal 1428 was officially announced by the authority through the radio and TV channels. Happy Eid al-Fitr to all muslim through all the world. May Allah accept our worship, Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum taqabbal ya Karim."
     

• Brunei Darussalam: Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad said: "Syarie Judges and officials of the Syariah Court, officials from the State Judiciary Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Survey Department, Ministry of Development made attempts to sight the 'hilal' or new crescent moon at several vantage locations at Bukit Shahbandar in Jerudong, Bukit Agok Firing Range and Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District and Bukit Lumut in the Belait district. The officials were unable to sight the new moon on the horizon. Aidilfitri celebration in this country will commence on Saturday, 13 October as an official announcement was made through radios and Television."

• Oman: Not Seen: ICOP member, Dr. Sabih Al-Saadi said: "We are in the Sultanate of Oman did not watch the Crescent on the evening of Thursday, and according to astronomy announced a week ago Saturday 13 of October that the first day of Eid Al-Fitr and this is very good gesture for astronomers in the Sultanate."

• Algeria:
  1. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Houcine Chikh Aissa said: "More than sexty (27) observer were present in N'tissa station with 04 different binoculars. The new crescent of shawwal was not seen ,The western horizon was partly cloudy and hazy. The Sun set Behind clouds at 18:14.member of the club CHIKH AMMI SAID AMATEUR OF ASTRONOMIE, Takabal Allah EL siam wa EL kiam Aid mubarek for all Muslimeen."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Jamal Mimouni said: "It was read on national TV the official communiqué of the National Crescent Committee, stating that due to the fact that the crescent was not seen anywhere in Algeria and the scientific impossibility of its visibility the month of Ramadhan will be completed to 30 days, and the Eid will be on Saturday 13 October. Eid Moubarek to all the Muslims."

• Nigeria:

  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "About 30 of us tried sighting the crescent, in a group, in the outskirts of Bauchi but, in spite of the clear skies, we did not see it. However, as usual, Nigeria officially celebrated Eid today following claims of sighting of the moon in the evening of Wednesday. It should be noted that, on the average, the moon set about 30 minutes before sunset in Nigeria on the day in question. Niger, Nigeria's northern neighbour, followed Nigeria and celebrated its Eid on Thursday as well. It should also be noted that only a minority celebrated the Eid with the authorities; the majority of the masses will celebrate theirs on Saturday."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Lukuman Aminu said: "The crescent was not seen in Lagos, Nigeria today [Thursday:11/10/2007]. Several people from different places also report that despite the clear sky, the crescent was not seen. But the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs claimed that the crescent was seen on wednesday[10/10/207] and hence they had commence their Eild on thursday after 29 days of fasting. Some group [like Zumratul Jamiu Mumim Society of Nigeria]that base their fasting on actual sighting of the crescent are expected to commence their Eild either on Saurdat or Sunday."

  3. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "The observation was carry out here in Lagos, but rain cloud which had formed over the city, make observation of new hilal to be negative, also report from Ilorin Kwara state is negative as rain is falling at the time of Magrib, however despite clear sky at Bauchi city,Bauschi state in Northern part of the Country, the new Hilal is not visible. However, NSCIA had already declared Thursday 11 OCT, as first day of Shawwal after "overwhelming people" across three state in the northen part of the country testified that new crescent were sighted on wednesday 10 OCT evening. It may be strange but we are used to this kind of announcement from NSCIA, news report about crescent-sighting that josstle the astronomical community. We hope the expert we come to Northen part of this country to conduct special research that will show the world that special weather sky is available in NIGERIA. But alas, after this pronoucement, 70 days from today marked the day of Eldul Kabir, whether it is the same day with arafat or not. And lastly, those who "sees through the lead" yesternight, are now on vacation for job well done, not until begining of Ramadan 1429 next year before you will heard of any strage news report concerning Crescent sighting emanating from Nigeria"

• South Africa: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "At 7.25 pm local time, the official announcement that Ramadaan will be extended to a 30 day month and Eidul Fitr will be observed on Saturday (13 October 2007) in South Africa was made by the elected Hakim and televised on all local TV stations and relayed via airways per South African radio stations. The crescent was not sighted. A Blessed Eid to all, and especially to Muslim Brothers and sisters, and children, who find themselves in difficult and trying situations and conditions."

• Tanzania:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Zaffar Sheriff said: "Attempt to scan the western sky for a 10+ hour crescent was not made. Alhamdulillah, we will complete 30 days of fasting and celebrate Eidul Fitr on Saturday 13th Oct."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hamza Rijal said: "The Shawal Hilaal was not sighted in tiny island of Zanzibar on 11 of October, therefore we are completing 30 days. The official first day of Shawal in Zanzibar will correspond to Saturday, 13 October, 2007. Kulu Aum Wa Antum Bil Kheyr."

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: " Sky over the Bosnia was totally cloudy this evening, and according to the actual sighting of Sha'ban crescent this was just 28th day of Ramadan, and that was the reason why I didn't even try to observe the crescent. According to moon calculator as well as acc. times the crescent shall be seen from Bosnia at Saturday 13 October."

• UK:

  1. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Sulayman Gani said: "A large group of us (over 50 people) attempted a sighting with the naked eye after the sunset prayer at the Tooting Islamic Centre. The moon set 21 minutes before sunset. It was also cloudy. Not visible to the naked eye."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti from Oxford said: "Negative sighting. The two of us attempted to perform the obligatory sighting tonight for the UK on 29 Ramadan or Thursday, 11th of October, after Maghrib prayers--in spite of the fact that the crescent is not expected to be visible locally. The local horizon is partly cloudy. We received reports of negative sightings from Morocco, Indonesia and Malaysia tonight. The authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia have declared that the month of Ramadan is to complete its 30 days. There is no news of positive sightings tonight anywhere East to our longitude, which means that those in the UK should try to complete the month of Ramadan with the Tarawih tonight, and that the first day of 'Id al-Fitr should fall on Saturday, 13th of October. 'Id Mubarak! "

• USA:

  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mirza Basravi from (Irvine, CA) said: "I went to a vantage spot within Irvine, California, where I could see the sun go down to zero degrees without any obstruction. There was a slight haze in the western horizon but not any more than what it was when we spotted the Ramadan New moon. I had started to look for the Moon crescent with my 7 x 35 binocular, even when the sun was between 1 and 0 degrees above the horizon. The sun disappeared by my cell phone watch at 6:21PM. Per all astronomical reports the moon would set within 5 minutes of the sunset. However, I stayed out there till 6:37PM and scoped a wider area; both vertically and horizontally, just in case the astronomical calculation are inaccurate. After all this effort I was unable to spot the new moon crescent on Thursday October 11, 2007."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdul Rashid Abdullah from (Hawai) said: "Although I have moved away from the Hawaiian Islands, I still have very close ties. It was reported to me by the Amir of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, that spite clear skies, no one on the Islands was able to see the Hilal for Thursday night and al-hamdulillah, they are completing 30 days of Ramadhan with Saturday as their Eid."

  3. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said:
     Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
     Longitude = 110.9645 W
     Latitude = 32.4204 N
     Elevation = 842 meters
     Time Zone = -7.0 hours
     

     Surface conditions at 14:00 Local Time
     Temperature = 90 degrees Celsius
     Relative Humidity = 9 percent
     

     Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
     Sunset (at sea level) = 18:02
     Moonset (at sea level) = 18:07
     Time from new moon at 18:04 = 19 hr. 41 min.
     Moon lag time = 5 minutes
     Relative Altitude = 1.14 degrees
     Elongation from sun = 9.80 degrees
     Crescent width = 13 arcseconds
     Illumination = 0.73 percent
     

     Crescent first observed through 8” SC telescope:
     Time = 14:40
     Altitude = 34.2 degrees
     

     Crescent steadily observed through 8” SC telescope:
     Time = 16:50
     Altitude = 12.9 degrees
     

     I began observing at 13:00 local time, under ideal conditions. There were the usual teasers, and some were convincing enough to keep me at the eyepiece. At 14:40 I saw what looked like a short arc, and when I centered the image, it was still there! However, the image would never stay for more than a few seconds, and at one point when I “positively” knew where it was, it wasn’t there. So I ran through the procedure again, and when the time came (16:50), a ten degree image of the crescent was in the center of the eyepiece. It remained steady. I left the telescope to get this report out.

     When I returned to my scope after submitting the first part of the report, the image was still in the field of view. After a few minutes, it began to fade, and once it was gone, I was never able to acquire it again. I would estimate that time to be about 1710 (Local). I followed the empty field all the way until Moonset.

     The most interesting aspect of the observation was the expected contrast. The atmosphere was exceptionally clear, and I had a deep blue field in my 50x eyepiece at less than 10 degrees from the sun. I used Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Regulus to set the focus on the scope and tweak the setting circles. I then ran through several off- setting sequences with the sun to acquire the precise field of the Moon's crescent. The first couple of runs produced nothing but the "teasers" mentioned in the first part of this report. I don't think any of them were images of the crescent. These observations were when the Moon had an altitude of 35-43 degrees. Only after the Moon had dropped to an altitude of about 34 degrees did I get images that looked like genuine crescent images. This is AFTER the sky color had "degraded" from a deep blue to a silvery blue. During the deep blue phase I had the feeling that the sky was blue, but the "noise" from my retina was more like the gray that I expected the crescent to be. The acquisition of the first images was when the whole field was like the "noise". I had lost the expected contrast with the blue sky that I had aimed for by beginning the observations at 1300. Then after the Moon had dropped to about 13 degrees, I acquired a steady stable image of the crescent. The blue background was gone by then.

     Although this is what I had observed during previous observations, it was contrary to what I expected. The sky was still superb, but I thought that the color of the reflected sunlight against the bluest of background skies would give me the best chance of seeing the short crescent. This is not what happened.

     What did happen? Are the colors deceiving my expectations of contrast? Is there a filter quality of the atmosphere that may be enhancing the contrast at a lower altitude? Is there some kind of relationship between scattered sunlight and the reflected light of the crescent? Help!! Observer(s): Jim Stamm

     Note from ICOP: Kindly highly notice that the observer was able to see the crescent before sunset using 8" telescope, but he was NOT able to see the crescent after sunset even by telescope.

• Canada: Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Maher Nofal said: "I could not see the crescent today Thursday Oct 11, 2007 on Ottawa, Canada. The crescent was not sighted, it was been cloudy and rainy. Here some Masjeds and Islamic Centers in Canada announced that Friday Oct 12, 2007 will be the first of Shawwal following Saudi Arabia. Another Islamic Centers announced Saturday Oct 13 will be the first of Shawwal (Eid)."

• Guyana: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Myself and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjids and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Thursday, 11th October, 2007 in Guyana. As was predicted from the Hilaal visibility curve no Hilaal was observed. I will InshaAllah, try to observe the Hilaal tomorrow on the 30th day of Ramadan. Also, the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana has also confirmed non sighting in Guyana via TV on Thursday, 11th October, 2007 in Guyana, thus as predicted by the Hilaal visibility curve, Eid Ul Fitir begins for the majority of Muslims in Guyana on Saturday."

Friday 12 October 2007:

• Australia:
  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Sam De Francesco said: "The horizon was quite cloudy with only a few small patches of clear sky, and sighting seemed improbable. However around 30 minutes after sunset the horizon became clear. The crescent then popped out from under a cloud band at around 45 minutes after sunset, and was visible all the way down towards the horizon. Therefore Saturday 13th October will be the first of Shawwal. A number of mosques and organisations had already announced 'Eid to be Saturday, and some had already celebrated on Friday. However the majority of Muslims in Australia will be celebrating 'Eid together on Saturday. Eid Mubarak!"

  2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Afroz Ali said: "The crescent was sighted at numerous locations around Australia. The official 1st day of Shawwal (hence the day of 'Eid ul-fitr) is Saturday 13th October."

• India: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Amin said: "All over in INDIA the report of Sighting was totally Negative. The declarations came from Authorities that Officialy Eid will be celebrated on Sunday on account of completion of 30 Days of Ramadhan."

• Pakistan: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Tahir Gul Hasan said: "Between the sunset and the moonset, the crescent could NOT BE SIGHTED! Observed from a height of 32m, from Lahore airport's control tower, in the presence of two witnesses!"

• Sri Lanka: Seen: ICOP member, Dr. Aqil Ahmad Sharifuddeen said: "Shawwal Hillal has been sighted from several regeons of the country such as Dehiwela, Valaichenai, Puttlam, Kattpitty, and Pulmoddai. After confirming the claims by Jammiyyathu Ulama the Official body gathered in Colombo Grand Mosque declared that Eid ul Fithr will be on 13th Saturday."

• Iran:

  1. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani mentioned that it was totally cloudy.

  2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram said: "This crescent was very thin and only 5 people could see by binoculars of about 12 persons"
     

  3. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hossein Janghorbani said:
     "From: The Astronomy and Geophysics Centre Of Shahreza
     Reporter: Hossein Janghorbani, manager of the center
     (This Centre is located in Iran, Isfahan, Shahreza)

     We could see this new moon crescent on Friday Oct. 12th .2007(21/7/1386 according to Calendar of Iran), in a region located 40 kilometers far from shahreza to Semirom called khorusgelu with these geographic coordinates:
     Lat: 31° 38' N
     Lon: 51° 42' E
     Ele: 2581 m
     Tz: +3.5
     

     The observation was started at 16:30
     - Our equipments:
     * four binoculars 15 × 70 installed on tripod
     * one binoculars 30 ×60
     * one binoculars 40 ×150
     * one compass
     

     - Number of our group: 67 persons

     -Sun set according to software: 17:35
     -Sun set observed: 17:32
     

     - The first observation parameters:
     By: two girls, Parisa Naderi and Batul Ahmadi
     Through: 15x70 binoculars
     Time: 17:27 LT ( 5 minutes to sun set)
     Moon Alt: 5.225
     Azimuth: 245.990
     Elongation: 15.292
     

     The sky in the west horizon was semi-cloudy with dust and because of mountains it was hided about 2 degrees, but the two girls observed the crescent among dusts for about 1 minute. The rest of members couldn't see it. I confirmed it and reported to our country's leadership office. "

• Oman: Seen: Mr. Mohammed Al Bussaidi said: "Despite being on 30th Ramadhan on Friday,12 Oct 2007, the slender crescent Moon was barely visible and only lasted for 10 minutes. I tried using binoculars but I could not see it, and through the finderscope attached on the telescope was even difficult to sight but by knowing where the crescent should be then I could see a very very small crescent Moon. EId Mubaarak to all"

• UAE: Not Seen: Dr. Ilias Fernini said: "It has been reported that the crescent was seen at several places in Saudi Arabia this past Thursday (Oct. 11, 2007) and this explain why Eid for us in the United Arab Emirates was on Friday, oct. 12, 2007. The astronomical fact is that the crescent Moon for almost all of the Arab world this past Thursday did set with or before the Sun by a couple of minutes. To translate this fact in a simple english, we should say that the Moon was not up in the sky at the time of these SAUDI sightings. So, definitely these SAUDIS did not see the crescent Moon. The question then to ask is what did they see this past Thursday? Well..........

  Yesterday (Friday ,Oct. 12, 2007), I went to Jabal Hafeet (a moderately high mountain) near Al-Ain armed with a 12-inch telescope with a sophisticated LPI camera to spot the crescent Moon which was about 32 hours old. The sky was perfect for a clear observing session, but the western horizon (the most important spot for the crescent) was awfully dusty. After setting my telescope, time was up to observe. My first target was not the Moon, but Mercury. I locked into it with ease: here is Mercury shining high above the western horizon. With a low power, I was able to see it like a bright spot. If it were not for the wind, I would have tried a high power and see it as a CRESCENT. But it was quite windy and the image was not still even with a low power. Then next, my important target was the Crescent Moon. Impossible to see with a naked eye, I commanded my telescope to go and get it. It obeyed my command within a fraction of a second since the Moon was not very far away from Mercury this past Friday. With a confidence of a dedicated and a professional astronomer, I looked through the eyepiece of my telescope to see the crescnet "et voila": NOTHING. With an age of 32 hours, elevation of 8 degrees, the crescent Moon was impossible to see with a quite sophisticated telescope because of just one reason: the western horizon was so polluted that even the Sun disappeared two minutes before its real setting time. This was the situation Friday while the Moon well up in the sky, but how was the situation Thursday with the moon well below the horizon. I tried several times to spot the crescent Moon, but all trials failed. I decided then to break my fast and be happy that I fasted 30 days. So, the question again is what did these Saudis see? I truly believe that they have seen a crescent, not a crescent Moon but a crescent Mercury. And if they did really observe a crescent Mercury, they must be very good at it and they should share their experience with all of us in terms of always seeing the impossible."

• Kuwait: Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Friday 12 oct 2007, I could not see the crescent even with 8" LX200R MEADE GPS GUIDED TELESCOPE although the telescope was aligned the previous night. I could see Jupiter at 15:00 immeadiatly when I started looking, also I could see Antares and Mercury clearly but was not able to see the crescent. There was some haze the last 4 degrees .The conditions for our crescent was as follows sunset 17:22,moonset 17:47,lag 25 min,age 35:19,elong 15 deg,alt 4 deg ill 1.8 %. We had some claims of seeing the crescent yesterday and today with naked eyes!!!!!!!!"

• Lebanon: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Raad Ahmad mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent even by binoculars, in spite of the clear conditions.

• Tunisia: ICOP member Mr. Dhaker Bin Hammamia observing the crescent
  

• Algeria:
  1. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Yahia Meghnine said: "The western horizon was partly cloudy. The sun set behind clouds at 17:55 LT. More than 40 persons were present in Merkich station. The new crescent of Shawwal 1428 wasn't seen neither by naked eyes nor by binoculas. Takabal Allah wa Aid mubarek."

  2. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Houcine Chikh Aissa said: "The Chawal 1428 crescent was not seen from N'tissa station in Ghardaia. More than (34) persones have tried to observe the crescent used (05) different Binoculars but it was not seen. The western horizon was partly cloudy and hazy. The sun set behind clouds before 17:45 LT;AID Mubarek wa ramadan makboul for all Muslimeen, thank's."

  3. Not Seen/Partly cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Hammouda Bachir mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent neither on Thursday nor on Friday by telescopes and binoculars. He added that it was partly cloudy.

• Morocco: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Othman Fadli mentioned that it was totally cloudy.

• Senegal: Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdoulaye Gaye said: "The Hilal was sighted in many towns and villages Friday october 12th."

• Nigeria:

  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Over 20 of us gathered at the sighting site in the outskirts of Bauchi before sunset. We sighted the moon about 20 minutes after maghrib prayer and it disappeared after about 10 minutes. It was seen through thin clouds an about 5 to 6 degrees above the horizon."

  2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Lukuman Aminu said: "The crescent was seen by some friends at Ajah, Lagos Island in Lagos Nigeria. Myself and several others tried to sight the crescent at differtent location in Lagos, we could not see it due to heavy cloud. Eild- mubarak to all ICOP members."

  3. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bashir Sani said: "Once again the charade called 'Official monsighting' by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islami Affairs has been repeated. The Nigerian moonsighting situation is symptomatic of my sick nation. Nobody pays serious attention to anything that will not ensure financial gains. Muslims in Nigeria are as guilty as everyone else in this blind quest for materialism. With a new Sultan, who is well educated and a former General in the Army, who is reported to be techno friendly, we thought things might change. Unfortunately, two years down, it's the same old story. A confused Ulama continue to peddle the story that even the prophet (SAW) observed 30 days ramadan for only some few occasions, majority of the time it was 29 days. This is because in my 25 years of youth and adult life I have never fasted for 30 days. This year they have decieved Niger into joining this deception.In fact in Nigeria for the past 35-40 years, it has been 29 days of Ramadan year in year out. If this is not insanity, please qualify another adjective for it.ICOP members in Nigeria and around the world have a duty to sensitise people on this danger. We will InshaAllah celebrate eid on Saturday October 13th. Congrats to Oman and her people for the breakthrough. InshaAllah we will someday get there in Nigeria. Eid mubarak to all."

• Spain: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad del Pozo said: "Friday 12 October was 29 Ramadan for us. Hadn't seen the hilal after magrib we were waiting for news about sighting it in southern Spain or Morocco. Around 10 o'clock we got a mesagge from the Amir of the Islamic community in Spain saying that saturday 13 october 2007 is the Id al Fitr. We did it that way having a very beautiful sunny day of celebration. May Allah accept our fast and Prayers. Id mubarak"

• UK: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ahmed Mohammed said: "As the Islamic Centre of London where the sky was partly cloudy failed to sight the moon , Eid for Shia'a in the UK following Ayatullah Sistani and Ayatullah Khamenei will be on Sunday 14 October."

• USA:

  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Pilot Mountain, NC) said: "This evening (Friday Oct 12), using a pair of binoculars (7X50) I was able to sight the moon in Pilot Mountain State Park, NC. The apparent sunset was at 6:48 behind low clouds, close to the horizon. The actual sunset for that location for today was 6:50. I started scanning WSW horizon around the sunset, looking for Mercury when I saw the moon itself for a short time. The crescent was very thin with its horns located around 12:30 and 6:00 O'clock. I could not see the moon with naked eye, however."

  2. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Milad Ali Ershaghi from (Claremont, CA) said: "Local sunset time was 6:21pm and moonset time was 6:54pm. I looked for the new crescent moon between 6:45pm and 6:54pm at the intersection of Baseline and Live Oak Canyon in Claremont, California, but did not see the new moon perhaps due to the presence of clouds on the horizon."

  3. Seen: ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh said: "Based on positive reports of Hilal sighting with naked-eye from Arizona and California, the Hilal Sighting Committee of North America decides that Saturday, October 13 is the 1st of Shawwal in North America."

  4. Seen: Hilal Sighting Committee of North America said: "Based on positive reports of Hilal sighting with naked-eye from Arizona and California, the Hilal Sighting Committee of North America decides that Saturday, October 13 is the 1st of Shawwal (Eidul Fitr) in North America."

  5. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mirza Basravi from (Irvine, CA) said: "I went to the same vantage spot within Irvine, California, where I went yesterday, Oct 11th. I saw the sun go down but not quiet to zero degrees. There was a heavy cloud strip hugging the horizon right up to about 1 degree altitude and then there were somewhat clear strips between strips of clouds. At first the chances looked pretty good that I will be able to spot the crescent between the clear strips. But as time went on by about 6:40 PM only one very narrow strip was left between two masses of what had now become very heavy clouds. At that time my friend Ali Baig called me and reported that the conditions were some what similar at the spot where he was trying to spot the moon (at the base of Mount Baldy). As I was about to give up and go home, I gave one last scan with my binocular along the length of this thin strip between the clouds. Subhaan Allah, I was able to see the bottom tip of the crescent hanging from the upper cloud and moving down fast. I quickly took out my 5.0 mega pixel camera and took a couple of pictures. Since I didn’t have a tripod and very little time to focus the camera, the pictures were pretty out of focus. So, you really cannot see the crescent in the picture. I have still included a picture here to show the location were the crescent as seen. I saw the crescent passing thru the strip between the clouds between 6:41 PM and 6:43 PM local time. The crescent was about 15 degrees south of the point where the sun had set into the clouds just above the horizon. Since I couldn’t see the entire crescent at any point in time, I can only approximate the arc to be 2:00 o’clock and 6:00co’clock. Eid Mubarak!!

• Guyana: Seen: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Myself and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjids and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Friday, 12th October, 2007 in Guyana. As was predicted from the Hilaal visibility curve a very thin Hilaal was seen by myself and others at 5:55 PM (Guyana Time). Eid Ul Fitir begins for the majority of Muslims in Guyana on Saturday. Eid Mubarak to all , may Allah (SWT) forgive, unite and increase us all."

Thursday 11 October 2007:

1. Nigeria (Claim of Sighting)
2. Niger (Follow Nigeria)

Friday 12 October 2007:

1. Philippines (Claim of Sighting)
2. China
3. Taiwan
4. Afghanistan
5. Saudi (Claim of Sighting)
6. Kuwait (Follow Saudi)
7. Bahrain (Follow Saudi)
8. Qatar (Follow Saudi)
9. UAE (Follow Saudi)
10. Yemen (Follow Saudi)
11. Iraq (Follow Saudi)
12. Jordan (Follow Saudi)
13. Palestine (Follow Saudi)
14. Lebanon (Astronomical Calculations and Follow Saudi)
15. Sudan (Follow Saudi)
16. Libya (Conjunction Before Dawn)
17. Tunis
18. Somalia
19. Djibouti
20. Mauritania
21. Turkey (Astronomical Calculations)
22. Greece
23. Czech
24. Luxembourg
25. Norway
26. Sweden
27. Denmark
28. Russia
29. Tatarstan
30. Azerbaijan
31. Georgia
32. Tajikistan
33. Kazakhstan
34. Armenia
35. Kirgizstan.
36. Kosovo
37. Albania
38. Romania
39. Bosnia
40. Montenegro

Saturday 13 October 2007:

1. New Zealand
2. Australia (Actual Sighting)
3. Indonesia (30 days of Ramadan)
4. Malaysia (30 days of Ramadan)
5. Brunei Darussalam
6. Thailand
7. Japan
8. Singapore
9. Suriname
10. South Korea
11. Sri Lanka (Actual Sighting)
12. Iran (Actual Sighting)
13. Oman (30 days of Ramadan)
14. Syria (30 days of Ramadan)
15. Egypt (30 days of Ramadan)
16. Algeria (30 days of Ramadan)
17. Morocco
18. Senegal
19. South Africa (30 days of Ramadan)
20. Tanzania
21. Ghana
22. Namibia
23. Angola
24. Zimbabwe
25. Zambia
26. Mozambique
27. Botswana
28. Swaziland
29. Lesotho
30. Spain
31. Netherlands (30 days of Ramadan)
32. France (30 days of Ramadan)
33. Germany (30 days of Ramadan)
34. Ireland
35. Uzbekistan
36. UK
37. USA (30 days of Ramadan)
38. Canada (30 days of Ramadan)
39. Guyana

Sunday 14 October 2007:

1. India
2. Pakistan
3. Bangaladesh

Kindly note that the beginning of Shawwal is determined based on the OFFICIAL announcements by Islamic countries, or as announced by the major Islamic societies in non-Muslim countries. Other unofficial beginnings by Muslims groups in Muslims or non-Muslim countries are not considered in this map.