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Last Updated: 07 January 2023

[This is the web version of the paper from 2007, reproduced with permission - edited by Qamar Uddin]

Alhamdulillaah. WaSalaatu WasSalaamu Ala Rasoolillaah.
Aooothobillaahi MinasShaytaanirRajeem. BismillaahIrRahmaanIrRaheem.
RabbishRahli Sadri Wa Yassirli Amri WahlulUqdatan Millisaani Yafqahoo Qauli.

1. Abstract

This paper investigates different options proposed for determination of Islamic dates including: Global vs. Local sighting; Sighting vs. Calculations; Calculations for Dark Astronomical New Moon vs. Calculations for Visible Crescent (Hilal); Telescopes vs. Naked eye; Saudi sighting process and its implications; Issue of Eid ul Adha date; Group vs. Solo sighting ; Number of witnesses required, Size of Matla etc. Based on discussions with Scholars and Astronomers world wide, including Saudi Arabia simple solution is promoted in harmony with both Shariah and Science Insha’Allaah. May Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive, guide and help us all. Aameen.

2. Basic Information

2.1 Hilal is typically a day (or more) after the Astronomical New Moon (No Moon)

The Qur’aan states in Surah YaaSeen (translation): "And the Moon, We have measured for her mansions (to traverse)till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk".

As the Moon revolves around the Earth, the light of the Sun reflected off the Moon reaching the Earth is seen as Phases of the moon. As shown in Figure 1 [above], when the Earth, Moon and Sun are roughly in a Straight line, it is the instant of “Conjunction” or the “Astronomical New Moon”. This is completely Dark / Invisible / “no-moon”. This is not the Hilaal. When the moon moves further, the reflected sunlight appears as the Crescent shape Hilal.

Also, the Astronomical New Moon (No moon) or Conjunction corresponds to the Eclipse. Despite more than one eclipses occurring during the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), no evidence exists that the Prophet (ﷺ) asked the Sahaba to start the next month based on the 'eclipse'. Thus arguments of those who want to start the month a day or two early based on Conjunction or the completely dark Astronomical New Moon (No moon) are a misguided innovation, which changes the dates.

As the Moon moves along further, it appears to lag behind the apparent motion of the Sun, thus causing the Moonset to be become later and later compared to Sunset as apparently referred in the next verse of Surah Yaseen: It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). [Quran 36:40]

Eventually the Moon reaches the other side of the Earth (opposite to the Sun) thus showing as a “Full-moon”. If we were to start the Islamic month with the Astronomical New Moon (No moon), this Full-moon would be close to the 14th, 15th, and 16th of the month. But since the Islamic month starts with the visible crescent Hilal, which is typically ad day later, the Full-moon phases correspond to 13th, 14th and 15th month, which are reported in the Hadith as “Siyam Abyad” or “White Fasts”. This is another Daleel (proof) that the Islamic New Month starts with visible Hilaal and not with the Astronomical New Moon. The Qur’an talks about the visible Hilaal with the characteristic shape and NOT “Qamar Jadeed” nor “New Moon” nor “Iqtiran/Mahaq” (Conjunction) nor “Wiladatul-Qamar” (Birth of Moon). As the moon moves further, the shape stars waning, until we see the “reverse crescent” at Fajr. Then it disappears completely, typically for two [and half] days until it reappears as the Hilaal and the cycle repeats.

2.2 Where on Earth would the Hilaal first be seen?

Some people think that the Hilaal will always be seen in the “Eastern” Countries before the “Western” Countries. But since the Earth is not Flat and instead it is roughly Spherical in shape, “East” and “West” are only relative terms. In reality the Hilal can be seen first in just about any country (usually in tropical zone) around the Globe. Once it is seen in one location, then as we go West, the Sunset time would be later and later, thus making the Hilaal bigger and bigger and hence easier to be seen. Eventually when we cross the artificial International Date Line, the Solar conventional date changes and the Hilal is seen “next day” in the countries beyond the International Date Line. Thus the Hilal would typically not be seen on a single date all around the world!

3 Saudi Arabian Hilal Sighting Process

Alhamdulillaah I got the chance to live 5 years in Saudi Arabia, meeting Scholars like Sheikh AlOthaimeen and Astronomers including the makers of UmmUlQura Calendar. Here are my findings:

3.1 UmmUlQura Calendar is Simplistic and Ahead of Hilal Sighting Possibility

From 1950 to 1972, the UmmUlQura calendar was based on the following: If at sunset on 29th of the month, the moon is at least 9 degrees above the horizon the new month starts the next day. This was very close to actual visibility of Hilal! [17] Then in 1973 it was changed to the criterion: if conjunction occurs before midnight at Greenwich, the next day is the new month! This was very very far from the visibility of the Hilal. Then in 1998G / 1420H, KACST (King Abdul-Aziz City for Science & Technology, Riyadh) changed it to the criterion: if the Moon sets after the Sun (even by just one second), the next day is new month. Finally, in 1423H / 2002G, the criterion was slightly modified to: if the Moon sets after the Sun and conjunction has occurred (even if by just a second), the next day is new month. This is still quite simplistic and often ahead of Hilal Sighting Possibility by one or two days and sets early expectations. It is substantially worse than the 1950-1972 criterion!

The authors (Dr. Fayez AlHargan in KACST) knows that even after the astronomical new moon is born, it must reach a certain age (and other factors), to be visible to naked eye. But they say that UmmUlQura Calendar is only for Civil use and hence need not be accurate. The religious dates go by actual sighting of Hilaal. But since UmmUlQura Calendar sets the expectations of when to sight, it promotes errors and hence should be updated to reflect the current best models like Odeh criterion (www.astronomycenter.net).

3.2 Official Saudi Hilal Sighting Committees

I was found that due to the Saudi Government becoming aware of the complaints of errors in the announced dates, around 1419H, the ruling council ordered the formation of Hilal sighting committees. Each such committee includes:

• one member of Qada (Islamic Scholar/Justice department),
• one member of KACST/Astronomer,
• one member of Imarah (ruling council of the city), and
• volunteers.

There are currently at least six [nine] such committees in Saudi Arabia - near Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Tabuk and Asir. While they may carry a telescope with them, the official sighting of the committee is with naked eye only.  Saudi scholars like Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) are against use of telescopes. Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) for example indicated that using telescopes increases the “Takalluf” (Burden) on Muslims, which Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) does not want. [The Sheikh seems to have changed his position from 2009 - see his later fatwa titled, "Telescopes & sighting the new moon" - Editor].

These official committees are excellent but the problem is as follows:

3.3 Majlis AlQada AlAla ignores the Decision of Official Hilal Sighting Committees

The problem is because even though these 6 [nine] official Hilal sighting committees exist, the Justice department still accepts the witness of “any” Muslim and not just the 6 official committees mentioned above.  Thus, often the new month is declared while NONE of these 6 official Hilal sighting committees saw the Hilal. In fact, most people, including scholars are unaware of the existence of these official committees. In the case of EidUlFitr 1420H, I myself went with the Makkah committee to a sighting point on a hilltop of Shamesi outside the city of Makkah Mukarramah on Thursday evening. Neither we, nor the other 5 committees sighted the Hilal. But we came back to the Haram Shareef and were astounded to hear the announcement that EidUlFitr was next day (Friday). In fact moonset was before sunset in Makkah for Thursday evening.

3.4 Shaikh AlQaradawi asked people who broke fast following Saudi erroneous announcement to make up for the missed fast

In this case the error was quite brazen. Later I learned that Sheikh Yusuf AlQaradawi issued a Fatwa indicating that Muslims who celebrated Eid 1420H on Friday following the Saudi announcement should make up one missed Ramadaan fast.

Sheik Qardawi: Friday is the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.

Taking the confirmed astronomical calculations, Sheik Yousof Al-Qardawi has casuist that Friday, Jan 7th is the 30th day of the holy month of Ramadan. And that the Muslims in the countries that announced Friday to be the first of the Eid like Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, UAE, and others should start Eid on Friday, and fast a day later instead of it. Previous astronomical calculations have confirmed without a shadow of a doubt that sighting the crescent on Thursday was impossible. Consequently, if the calculations showed that there is no Moon to be seen, people should not be asked to fetch it, and no testimony of sighting it should be accepted. Sheik Qardawi has manifested that if a country should announce a day as the first of Ramadan or Shawwal, then it is held responsible. And the citizens of that country must oblige to that. Because there shouldn't be two parties in the same country, one is fasting, the other is feasting. If it's hard or impossible for the whole nation to meet on the same feasting day, then it's not hard for the people of one country to do so. Finally Sheik Qardawi stated, "He who believes in the credibility of the astronomical calculations and feasted on Friday, should fast a day instead of it".

Further, the Solar eclipse of Feb 5, 2000G also proved the mistake in Eid date, according to Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH)’s Fatwa on Solar Eclipse which implies that if there is a solar eclipse anywhere in the world after sunset in your city, then next day is not the 1st of lunar month for your city. The solar eclipse implied that if the Saudi announcement for EidUlFitr 1420 was correct, then Shawwal 1420 would be 31 days which is impossible. This Fatwa of Sheikh AlOthaimeen is shown later in this paper.

3.5 Saudi Media reports the errors

Biggest English language Saudi News paper “Arab News” of  Feb. 11, 2000 also acknowledged the mistake, but there was no official correction by the Saudi authorities. Subsequently I also saw nice articles in Arabic in AdDawah magazine, 6 Shawwal 1420H etc., and the article of Sheikh AlManea (of Makkah AlMukarramah) in AlJazeerah, December 12, 1999. I also learned that apparently it is the same few people at certain locations (in Tabouk, Hareeg and Hawtah Sudair ?), reporting on those occasions when the claims are extraordinarily early in Saudi Arabia, year after year. Wallaahu A’alam! I wonder if the presence of numerous objects in the sky today could cause errors. (E.g. see Airplanes, wisp of clouds, crescent of planets, satellites, or even a white hair in the eye, etc.). I was also told by more than one knowledgeable local brothers that there have been some claims to journalist of Hilal sighting BEFORE Maghrib from one of these regular extraordinarily early Hilal sighter! Then in 1425 H, for that year’s Dhul-Hijja, when again the start was much earlier than possible, the Saudi  Al-Watan Newspaper of Thursday, 10 Dhû-l-hijja 1425 AH reported that the KACST Astronomers checking on the reported witnesses found them to be more than 80 years old. The news from the error of Ramadan 1, of 2006 is that again, the annoucement was made though the Moonset was before Sunset and the 6 offiial Saudi Hilaal sighting committes gave negative report. This time apparently the witnesses have been asked not to speak with media! Suadi televesion reported the Head of KACST Astronomy Dept. Dr. Zaki Mustafa saying why it was impossible to sight the Hilaal on evening of Sept. 22, 2006. Also I learned from reliable sources that for Eid UlFitr 1421H, several “early witnesses” in Saudi Arabia were turned down due to the Solar eclipse. This is perhaps the first occasion I hear of “witnesses” being turned down in Saudi Arabia due to contradiction with basic scientific facts. But apparently they will still accept witnesses from the same people next year! Also see Arab News, Monday 1 October 2007: Eid Al-Fitr Will Be on Oct. 13, Say Astronomers (inspite of this, Saudis declared Eidul Fitr  to be October 12,  2007!).
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=101915&d=1&m=10&y=2007
Also see AlManea article: http://www.alriyadh.com/2007/10/21/article288058.html

3.6 Meeting with Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) in Unayzah

Alhamdulillaah Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) welcomed us at his big Masjid in Unayzah after the Friday prayers on 15/02/1421H (date per UmmUlQura Calendar) and gave us a special private audience after the ‘Asr prayers. We found that Alhamdulillaah Sheikh AlOthaimeen was himself aware of some of the errors from other complaints, including one where a person saw the waning crescent at Fajr and the same day evening, Hilal sighting was announced! But he indicated it would take time for most scholars to understand and fix the problem. He asked us to write a letter to the Majlis AlKabair AlUlema (Council of the Senior Ulema), which I believe meets twice a year in Taif. I personally did send a letter, but somehow did not receive any response. I also learned that scholars like Sheikh Abdullaah bin Sulaiman AlManea (Makkah Mukarramah) support using calculations to reduce errors.

So we should write to the scholars of Saudi Arabia that since there are numerous possibilities of errors, perhaps due to so many artificial objects in the sky today, the people who want to sight the Hilal should accompany one of these official Hilal sighting committees which include scholar, astronomer, and local official. This would help check the testimony and reduce the errors. Also we should support scholars like Sheikh Abdullaah bin Sulaiman AlManea (Makkah Mukarramah) who are in favor of using calculations to reduce errors. [It is believed the UmmUlQura calendar psychologically biases the early-sighters - Editor]

Sheikh AlOthaimeen also gave us Fatwas for using local sighting for all months including DhulHijja which I have mentioned in a later section.

4. Local vs. Global vs. Saudi Sighting

4.1 “Only follow Saudi sighting” is neither Local, nor Global sighting and hence invalid

Ikhtilaaf AlMataale – Multiple Horizons – Local sighting and Ittihaad AlMataale – Single Horizons – Global sighting are two well know Fiqhi positions. However these days there is a 3rd new position being promoted i.e. “Follow Saudi Arabian sighting”. This position is different from Ittihaad AlMataale which would accept the first sighting report whether from Nigeria, Egypt or America etc., without restricting that report to be from Saudi Arabia. This new position of “Follow Saudi sighting” has no basis in Shariah, and can be proved wrong with the following very simple argument:

Let us at Makkah Sunset time, the Hilaal was too small to be seen. Now after about 11 hours you happen to be in California where the Sun is now setting. In these 11 hours, naturally the Hilaal would become bigger and let is say it becomes big enough to be visible. I am sure no Scholar can justify saying that you ignore your own sighted Hilal and wait for next day’s announcement of Saudi sighting! This is a simple proof that “Only follow Saudi sighting” for countries other than Saudi Arabia is an invalid position.

Previous Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Bin Baz is reported to have ruled:

“As for those who say that it is necessary to follow the sighting of Makkah, then let it be known to them, that there is no proof or basis for this in the Qur’aan and Hadith”. (Sheikh Abdullah bin Baz RA, AlBa’ath ul Islaaami, Zil Hijjah 1399 Hijri).

4.2 The chances of the Hilal being seen in California before Saudia are quite high

The time difference between Saudi Arabia and California is 11 hours, while the total time around the world is 24 hours. Thus the chances that the curve for first visibility of Hilaal falling between Saudia and California is about 11/24 = 45%. Thus for little less than half the occasions, California should sight the Hilaal one Date BEFORE the Saudi! In reality this does not happen because of Saudi errors as explained later. In fact this is a simple proof without resorting to complicated calculations that the Saudi dates are very often incorrect!

4.3 Ittihad AlMataale corresponds to “Flat Earth” and is impossible to implement

If the Earth were Flat instead of Spherical, there would be One Matla or Single Horizon. Then the Hilaal would have been seen at the same time all over the world. Also there would be no time zones, and the Prayer times would also be same everywhere. But due to Spherical Earth, there are differences in time zones. Thus when the Sun sets in California and if the Hilaal is first seen there, it is already about Fajr time in Makkah and next day around ‘Asr in Indonesia. How can Makkah or Indonesia start fasting by California Hilal Sighting? It is impossible to implement Ittihaad AlMataale! Also it is difficult to authenticate far away sightings, and Ittihaad AlMataale (Global sighting) makes us prone to the frequent errors in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.

4.4 Ikhtilaaf AlMatale is supported by Astronomy and by Scholars world wide including Saudi Arabia

Since the Earth is spherical, the Horizons are multiple (Ikhtilaf AlMatale) and Local sighting if Hilal is as natural as Local sighting of Sun (shadow) for local Prayer times. Shafi, Maliki and Hanabali Jurists support Ikhtilaaf AlMataale. (Ref.: Bidaytul Mujtahid v.1 of Imam Ibn Rushd (A Maliki Qadi, and a prominent Islamic philosopher, of Spain). While some of the early Hanafi jurists, at a time when it was thought that the Earth was flat, supported Ittihaad AlMatale, it was for short distances and not for the whole world. Today for example, in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where Hanafi Fiqh is dominant, Ittihaad AlMatale is not practiced. Saudi Arabia also practices Iktilaaf AlMataale as mentioned in this Fatwa by Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) in the book: Fatawa Islamiya (Sheikh Bin Baaz, Sheikh AlOthaimeen & Sheikh AlJibreen - DarulWatan LilNashr and reproduced below. Saudi Arabia itself follows Ikhtilaaf AlMataale, not even accepting sighting from next door Yemen!

One Islamic basis for Ikhtilaaf AlAMatale comes from “Hadith Kurayb (رضي الله عنه)” where the report of Hilal sighting from Damascus was not used by Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) for Medina. Indeed calculations show that sometimes it is possible to see the Hilaal in Damascus and not in Medina!
The Hadith of Kurayb (may Allah be well pleased with him!):

[I saw the crescent [of Ramadan] on Friday night while in Damascus. I arrived at Medina at the end of the month and Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with both of them!) asked me: “When did you see the crescent?” I said: “We saw it on Friday night.” He said: “Did you see it yourself?” I said: “Yes, and the people saw it, and they and Mu‘awiya fasted.” He said: “But we saw the crescent on Saturday night. So we will not stop fasting until either we complete thirty [days] or we sight the crescent [of Shawwal].” I said: “Is Mu‘awiya’s sighting and fasting not sufficient for us?” He said: “No, this is how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him!) ordered us.”] (Related by Ahmad, the Famous Five except al-Bukhari, and by al-Daraqutni and al-Bayhaqi, with variants).

Also, the Hadees 'We are Ummi we do not write or calculate' ends by saying 'month is 29 and 30'. 'Haakaza wa Haakaza'. So that means month will be 29 and 30 (in different places). The Hadees does not say 'Hakaza aw Hakaza' which would then mean month is 29 or 30.

Also following Fatwa supporting Ikhtilaaf AlMataale:
ISNA's Eid al-Adha Evaluated by A Renowned Scholar (Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani)

Astronomy supports Ikhtilaaf AlMataale since the First Hilal Sighting (“Lunar Date Line” for a month) can occur anywhere Around the Globe for a particular month, and divides the world into different parts which see the Hilal on different days. See figure below for Hilal visibility model using Mooncalc written by Dr. Monzur Ahmed of UK.

So much of the populated world should start Ramadan, Eid ul Fitr etc. within about 24 hours, but TWO Solar dates because of the artificially fixed International (Solar) date line. Note that even at one moment of time there are two Solar dates in the world. E.g. if it is Sunday evening in America, it is Monday morning in Indonesia!

Later I also found the following very illustrative Fatwa of Sheikh Al Uthaimeen (RH) Ref: Al-Aqalliyaat Al-Muslimah - Page 84, Fatwa No.23, supporting Ikhtilaaf AlMataale from the Qur’aan, Hadith, and Qiyas (Analogy).
Fatwa: Should we fast and end our fast according to the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia?

Prof. Muhammad Ilyas of Malaysia, a pioneer in the calculations of Hilal prediction, Masha’Allaah has hence proposed for civil use, a Tri-zonal Hejiri calendar: dividing the earth into 3 zones: Americas; Europe-Africa-West Asia; Asia-Pacific and calculating Hilal visibility separately for each region. This Tri-Zonal Calendar concept has also gained support in the Jordanian Astronomical Society (Mohammed Odeh et.al) and elsewhere Alhamdulillaah. Please see MoonCalc program by Dr Monzur Ahmed for details. Thus for example, sometimes Hilal sighting in North America can be One Date Before Hilal sighting in Saudi Arabia, e.g. see projection from MoonCalc in Illustration 8 [above]. Also see www.moonsighting.org.uk for more details.

Also see Arab News: Monday 11 September 2006:
Beginning of Ramadan: Following the Saudi Moon Sighting. Edited by Adil Salahi
http://www.arabnews.com/node/288782

4.5 Ikhtilaaf AlMatale is applicable to all 12 months, including Dhul-Hijja (Eidul Adha)

Having had a chance Alhamdulillaah to personally meet Sheikh AlOthaimeen in Unayzah, Saudi Arabia, I asked him about Muslims worldwide following Saudi announcement for start of Dhul-Hijja for Eidul Adha. He mentioned that all 12 months follow the same ruling, and there was no exception for DhulHijja. He advocated Ikhtilaaf AlMataale for all 12 months. Attached is the Fatwa he gave on this.

 

Translation:
BismillahIrRahmaanIrRaheem
Respected Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh AlOthaimeen, May Allaah protect you.
AsSalaamu Alaykum waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh.
We have observed the Fatwa from your respected self, in the book “Fatawa Islamiya” relating that the sighting of Hilaal in one country does not obligate all other countries to abide by (it’s date). Is this also applicable to Hilaal sighting for EidUlAdha (month of DhulHijja)?
Please benefit us (explain to us). May Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) reward you.
Jazakum Allahu Khayr AlJaza

BismillahIrRahmaanIrRaheem
Wa Alaykum AsSalaam waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh.
For Hilaal the Matale (sighting) are different from one place to other – for Ramadaan as well as other months. The same rule for Hilaal applies for all the months. However I view that the people should agree on one thing, and follow the resolution of the Ameer of the Islamic society in their non-Muslim countries. Since this matter is wide (multiple views) Insha’Allaah. i.e. some scholars say: once the sighting of Hilaal is confirmed in any one Islamic country or state, it obligates all Muslims in all Islamic states to abide by (its date).

This is written by:
Muhammad bin Saleh AlOthaimeen on 15/02/1421H (19/5/2000G)

Similar Fatwa from Sheikh AlOthaimeen: Saudi Alim Asks Muslims in North America NOT to pray Eid on Day after Arafah

Further evidence on celebrating Eid ul Adha by local 10th of Dhulhijja instead of Saudi announcement comes from the following:

• We do not see any evidence from Seerah that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) ever attempted to synchronize the Eid ul Adha date in Medinah with the Hajj date in Makkah ? (Please note that 10 nights and 9 days were enough to send a messenger from Makkah to Medinah with the news).
• On the contrary, Sheikh Ibrahim Memon, Principal of Darul Uloom AlMadania, Buffalo, New York, USA has proven in his paper (from www.madania.org) that during the last year of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the Dates of Makkah and Medinah were different.
• We do not see any evidence of the Khulafa Rashideen doing this synchronization between Makkah and Medinah or elsewhere
• For over a 1000 years of Islamic History it was impossible for Muslims in far-away countries like Indonesia to find the Hajj date in time for Eid ul Adha? How could Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) ask us to do this synchronization, which was impossible for over a 1000 years?
• As explained earlier in this paper, "Following Makkah sighting for World wide dates" is NEITHER Ikhtilaaf AlMataale - Local sighting, NOR Ittihaad AlMataale - Global sighting - which means follow FIRST report worldwide - whether Saudia or Nigeria or Fiji etc.?
• As mentioned in another section, it can be possible in certain years to see Dhul-Hijja hilaal in North America one date BEFORE Saudi Arabia. Following Saudi announcement for Dhul-Hijaa would then mean we ignore the Hilaal if seen locally and wait an extra day for Saudi Arabia sighting! This can’t be justified in Shariah.
• Hajj became obligatory in 9th Hijri year, while EidUlAdha was instituted soon after Hijrah. (We find in Tirmidhi: Reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه): Rasulallah (ﷺ) lived in Medina for ten years and made sacrifice each year). Furthermore Eidul Adha prayers are not for the Hujjaaj.
• In addition to Fatawa above of Saudi Scholars like Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH), other major world scholars like Mufti Taqi Usmani (Deputy Chairman of Islamic Fiqh Academy, OIC, Jeddah), and the Annual Session of Fiqh Academy, held in Jordan, October 11-16, 1986 attended by more than 100 outstanding scholars of Shariah adopted a resolution recommending that all Muslim countries should determine all the lunar months including Dhul-Hijjah on the same basis for both EidulFitr and EidulAdha.
• There are frequent errors in the Saudi Announced date due to reasons explained in another section and hence better to go by local sighting anyway.

4.6 Way for Unity of Muslims for Eid ul Adha

An argument often presented to “follow Saudi announcement” is “Unity of Muslims”. First of all, Unity has to be based on Qur’an and Sunnah. We can’t say that the whole world should pray Fajr by Makkah time for unity! Furthermore, if we want unity locally, - isn't it permissible for those who believe in the incorrect early date to still delay and pray Eid on "their second day" Insha'Allaah, since the Eid prayers are permissible on any of the 3 days? But those who follow the correct date can't pray a day early and accept an unfounded innovation (since it is neither Ikhtilaaf AlMataale nor Ittihaad AlMataale).

5 Sighting and Calculations are complementary and BOTH are needed

5.1 Use Calculations for Hilal Visibility, NOT for Astronomical New Moon (No Moon)

The Qur’aan states in Sura ArRahmaan #55, Verse 5: (Yusuf Ali translation): "The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed." The time of conjunction or completely dark Astronomical New moon can be exactly computed. But the Calculations for Islamic Dates should be for the Visible Crescent by naked-eye from the surface of earth in local Matla, and not the calculations for the dark invisible astronomical new moon (no moon), which is typically one day before the Hilal. Similarly Moonset after Sunset does NOT mean that the Hilal will be visible. (So current UmmUlQura Calendar does not work). Likewise the age of the moon is NOT the main criterion (hence the 2006 criterion of ISNA/FC is incorrect). The main criterion for Hilal visibility is the angular separation between the Sun and the Moon at sunset. There are excellent models for predicting naked-eye visibility of Hilal now available including Odeh criterion at www.astronomycenter.net Alhamdulillaah and CFCO etc.

5.2 Zone of Uncertainty (ZOU) in Calculations

Looking at the Visibility curves shown earlier in this paper, we find that the models can give 3 answers. Either the model can tell for sure that Hilal would not be visible in our area. Or they could tell for sure that the Hilal would be visible. Or in about 25% of the cases, when the Western part of our Matla is in the “Zone of Uncertainty”, the Calculations can NOT give a definite answer. This uncertainty is due to variations of atmospheric optics etc.

Dr. Mohammad Ilyas of Malaysia, the founder of modern day Hilal visibility models, in his book "A Modern Guide to Astronomical Calculations of Islamic Calendar, Times and Qibla" (Page 69), cautions readers on the limitations of science (and scientists) by pointing out that: "there are numerous ill informed astronomers assuming the role of experts who on occasions have made claims about astronomical calculability of the visibility far beyond the limit permitted by the then status of our standing of the underlying physical phenomenon...the ability ‘to land man on the lunar surface’ has been wrongly assumed to be a valid defence of the astronomical calculability. This reflects the lack of understanding of the physical aspects of a New Moon’s first visibility as distinct from locating the body accurately".

5.3 Use Calculations to Negate False sighting, but NOT to completely Replace Sighting

Thus if the calculations say with Certainty that Hilaal can not be visible, then we should Reject / Negate the False sighting and reduce errors. But when we happen to be in the Zone of Uncertainty, then we should use actual sighting only. We should keep on refining [visibility] calculations models using worldwide data, and atmospheric optics research, as being done at www.astronomycenter.net so that they become more and more accurate and the move to replace sighting completely with calculations could become as natural as using calculations for Salaah times. Until that stage comes, we still need to use sighting. According to the 4 dominant Madhabs (Ref. Kitaab al-Fiqh alal Madhahibil Ar’b’ah), and according to Imam Nawawi (Ref. Sharhul Muslim) and Sheikh Ibn Taimiyah (Ref. Majmu' Fatawa) etc., Calculations can NOT replace sighting.  I feel that we may use [visibility] calculations for affirmation too, but ONLY outside the Zone of Uncertainty. Past Islamic Scholars like Imam Taqi al-Din al-Subki (d.1355 GC) said in one of his rulings on the subject: “Calculation provides certain and confirmed information, while testimony based on sighting provides only probable information. What is probable cannot counterbalance what is certain, let alone be preferred to it.

Evidence is accepted only if what is testified for is possible physically, logically and legally. If we assume that calculation indicates with certainty the impossibility of sighting, then a testimony of sighting must be rejected because it testifies to what is impossible. Islamic law does not make impossible requirements.” (Source: Arab News, 05 November 2002). Also, Sheikh Ibn Taimiya has written on how long it takes for the Hilal to appear after the “old moon” (seen at Fajr) disappears. Ibn Taimiya has also given a Fatwa that if the Altitude of the Hilal at Sunset is less than a certain degree, it is impossible to see and if it is more than another limit, we can see it easily, if there are no physical obstacles. However in between these limits there are differences, and we can not be certain one way or another. But of course none of these support calculations to completely replace sighting. Besides Zone of Uncertainty in Calculations makes it necessary that we continue using Hilal sighting in with Calculations in a complementary fashion.

Sheikh AlOthaimeen RH of Saudi Arabia has given a nice Fatwa about Solar Eclipse and Islamic dates [Arabic]

I repeat for emphasis from this Fatwa of Sheikh AlOthaimeen RH: "As for the belief in the power of the Almighty Allah, there is no doubt that the Almighty Allah is Capable to do anything. And He is also capable to combine the two moons, and to separate them and to dim them or to make them shining in their light at any time. … But the rules that the Almighty Allah laid down concerning the sun and the moon of this world are fixed, and do not change, except in case of a miracle for a Prophet or in the honor of a Wali."

This fatwa is also published in: Al-Daawah Magazine, Issue No. 1725, Dated: 6 Shawwal 1420, Saudi Arabia.

The Second Islamic Astronomical Conference, in Amman, Jordan, October 29-31, 2001, jointly organized by the Arab Union of Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS) and the Jordanian Ministry of Islamic Affairs, where I presented a paper, there were some excellent resolutions, including:

• REJECTION OF THE CLAIM OF SIGHTING THE CRESCENT, IF IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONDITIONS FOR A POSSIBILITY OF SIGHTING THE CRESCENT.
• Verification of the meticulousness and the honesty of the witnesses to a sighting of the crescent, and not only the honesty.
• Consultation of an astronomical adviser in every committee being entrusted with the determination of the beginning of months in the Islamic countries.
• Providing the Muslim scholars of the fundamentals of sighting the crescent, as well as providing the astronomers of the information about sighting the crescent from Shari'a perspective.
• Encouraging the Muslims in different countries of the world to do a monthly observation of the crescent.
• Support of the Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP).

This ICOP – www.astronomycenter.net has had a great role in ongoing education and correction of Islamic dates worldwide, with input to publications and online magazines etc.

 6 Use Naked-Eye Sighting instead of Telescopes

Arguments are made to use telescopes for Hilal Sighting. But firstly, these instruments do NOT reduce the Uncertainty, since behind the telescope eventually is still the naked-eye! Thus two people could look through a telescope – one able to see the Hilal and the other not able! Furthermore, Using a telescope may result in seeing the Hilal one day earlier on many occasions. (See MoonCalc picture - Areas between Curves C and D would see Hilal only by telescope. Naked eye visibility for this area would be next day). Adding the possibility of using Telescopes also increases the Zone of Uncertainty, since now there is an added element of telescope being present or not present. Using naked eye sighting also appeals to the logic that whatever criterion we use today should back calculate to the same dates that were likely decided at the time of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Thus for example Br. Yaser ElMenshawy, Chairman of the Majlis AshShoora (Council of Masajid) of New Jersey, USA, supports naked eye sighting, as this would result in the Hilal (Islamic New moon Crescent) being typically One Day After the Astronomical new moon (Dark moon / Invisible / No moon) and thus makes 13,14,15 of month as “white fasts” (full moon) as mentioned in Seerah and explained earlier in this paper.

As mentioned before, scholars like Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) support naked eye sighting rather than using telescopes. He indicated that using telescopes increases the “Takalluf” (Burden) on Muslims, which Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) does not want. Thus even though the Official Saudi Arabian Hilal committees may carry a telescope, the official witness is only on naked eye visibility. Other scholars also cite Surah Al Baqarah, verse 189 which refers to the Hilal as a definite sign that ushers in each new Islamic lunar month and a sign is something that is visible to a common person. This also makes Islam easy for ordinary Muslims, no matter where, since the ordinary Muslim does not have a telescope. If the telescope criterion was used, the majority of Muslims would be effectively excluded from the Hilal sighting process.

Of course I do not equate eye-glasses to telescopes. Since eye-glasses are meant to correct the vision, and make it equivalent to the normal naked eye. Further, the use of correctional eye-glasses does not introduce the “Takalluf” / burden (as referred to by Sheikh AlOthaimeen (RH) above). Rather I feel that dis-allowing eye-glasses may introduce a burden. The unaided (naked eye) sighting has proved to be a method that is, straightforward, pure and not complex, used successfully and correctly by overwhelming majority of the Muslim Ummah Alhamdulillaah year after year (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia which comprise about 70% of the entire Muslim population).

However, telescopes can and should be used to refute erroneous naked-eye sightings.

7 Use Group Sighting, and establish Hilal Sighting Committees

7.1 Replace Hilal-Fighting with Hilal-Sighting

Insha’Allaah we should encourage the Sunnah of Naked-Eye Hilal Sighting. After seeing the Hilal, the recommended du’a is: “Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar. AlHamdulillaah Aladhi Khalaqani Wa Khalaqaka, Wa Qaddara Laka Manazil Wa Ja’alalaka Ayatna Lil Aalameen” (Translation: Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest. Praise be to Allaah who created me and you and decreed for you the phases and made you a sign for the universe). Those countries where Hilal-sighting is common in the masses, e.g. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. the errors are rare. On the other hand, in countries like Saudi Arabia, most of the masses never consider trying to sight the Hilal.

7.2 Use “Group Sighting” to reduce errors.

Research shows error in reports of (honest) solo observers. Further, we observe from the times of our Pious Predecessors the following incident: It was puzzling when Hadrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) (very old age) claimed to have seen a crescent moon when everybody else, at the same location could not see the crescent moon. Then on removing the white hair from the eyebrow of Hadrat Anas (رضي الله عنه), he was asked to see again. Now he could see no ‘crescent moon’. (See Aujaz al Masalik v.5, p.21, Tantawi’s Irshad p.154, Bain al- Sunnah wal Ijtihad by Nimr p.50 etc. Similar cases where Qadi rejected the claim of sighting/Shahadah of very prominent people only because others did not see any crescent from the same location. (Shuraih, etc.)”. Many of the Ahadith referring to Hilal sighting also apparently indirectly imply that it was a group of Muslims who did the sighting.

Following the same principal, for improving the process in Saudi Arabia too, Insha’Allaah, I suggest that we write to the Ulema, Ambassadors, WazaratulAdal, the Crown Prince, Majlis AlQada AlAala, Masjlis AlKabair AlUlema etc. of Saudi Arabia, and support that all who wish to sight the Hilal in Saudi Arabia should accompany one of the several existing Official Saudi Hilal Sighting Committees which include Scholar, Astronomer & Government representative, and thus use group sighting to reduce human errors Insha’Allaah.

7.3 Require large number of witnesses

It is reported that Schools of Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad required a large number of witnesses (for a town, not a continent) when the sky was clear. Hanafi jurists refer this requirement to “Jamme Ghafir” or a large number. Shafi'i accepted one witness for Ramadan and two for Eid. But their Matla was about 48 miles only – the travel distance for shortening prayers – Qasr: al-Fath al-Rabbani v.9 p.271 . Also, Al-Fiqh 'ala-l Madhahib al-Arb'a v.1, p.550 states Shafi'i position in more precise "Farsaks". The distance (between two places X and Y) less than 24 Farsakh will determine the two as having the same Matla. A farsakh was a measurement of distance in old days. It is close to 1 1/2 to 2 miles. Hence 24 Farsakh may be as little as 36 miles and as much as 48 miles (as mentioned in al-Fiqh 'ala-l Madhahib al-Arb'a.
[Note: the Hanafi School rulings were practically applied by a number of sultanates/dynasties/empires throughout Islamic history. As a result, the incompetences of people became evident and hence the rulings were made accordingly (e.g. Jamme Ghafir) to deal with such problems - Editor]

Imam Abu Yusuf is reported to have required 50+ in Baghdad of his time (He was the Qadi). Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad required a group from each mosque in town. (Such a large number that it is difficult to discredit them). Imam Khalf b. Ayyub asked for a minimum of five hundred in Balkh (He was Qadi, and false witnesses for Eid became common by then). Hadrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) as Khalifa did not accept the claim of sighting by some if the moon was not visible to others, including him, at the same spot. I believe one basis of these rulings is that the Hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) accepted the Shahada Hilal sighting of a beduin coming from outside Medinah also mentions the it was cloudy in Medinah in that evening: (Ibn Majah: Kitab Saum: Narrated by Umair bin Anas bin Malik): “The hilal of Shawwal was clouded/covered to us; so we fasted. Then came some riders at the end of the day and they testified to the Prophet (ﷺ). Indeed we did see the hilal yesterday; and then the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered for the fast to be broken and to proceed for Eid next day”.

Mufti Taqi Usmani has said [in Moon Sighting Announcements in Saudi Arabia fatwa]: … about the issue of sighting of moon at the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and about the acceptability of evidence despite its being impossible according to the astronomical calculations.…. I personally believe that if it is certainly proved that the moon is not yet born and its sighting is not at all possible on a particular evening, the evidence of only a few persons should not be taken as a proof of existence of moon at the horizon and the Ramadan or Eid should not be started on that basis alone unless there is evidence of people in overwhelming numbers that they themselves have seen the moon in which case it may be said that there was something wrong in the astronomical calculation. But in the absence of such an evidence, the only evidence of two or some more persons should not be relied upon. This view of mine is based on the ruling given by a large number of jurists that if the Horizon is clear the evidence of two persons is not enough for proving a crescent moon unless it is established by the evidence of a great number of people about whom it is not is not imaginable that they may have connived to give a false evidence. The requirement of such an overwhelming evidence in this case is based on the common sense that if the horizon is clear the moon must have been seen by a large number of people and merely the evidence of two persons is doubtful. By the analogy, if the astronomical calculation proved that new moon cannot be sighted on a particular day the evidence of a few people should not be relied upon.

7.4 Hilal sighting committee of North America (www.hilalsighting.org)

Recognizing that our pious predecessors also saw the problem of erroneous sighting, and required large number of witnesses to solve this, the Hilal sighting committee of North America has also adopted this approach and recommends this. It also requires that if Hilal sighted at a place, then it should also be visible west of it if the weather is clear. Further it cross-questions witnesses, especially in cases where Astronomy indicates that sighting is improbable. Experts are also deputed to critical sighting points.

7.5 Size of Matla

One important [point] is the size of Matla. Imam Shafi’i’ is reported to have accepted cities whose boundary is within the Qasr distance (48 miles) of the city which sights the Hilal. Most jurists today support a bigger Matla. But clearly the Matla sizes should not be so wide (latitude) that it becomes a problem for people on the Eastern part of the Matla to wait late in the night for news to arrive after sunset in the Western Part. Also the longitude distance should not be too much since the seasonal variations have a large effect on Hilal visibility. After all, one of the main basis of Ikhtilaaf AlMataale is Kurayb Hadith, where Damascus sighting was not accepted for Medina. Note that the difference in location of Damascus and Medina is more of Latitude than Longitude. During winters in the Northern Hemisphere (and hence summers in the Southern Hemisphere), the Hilal is more easily visible in the Summer [side of] Hemisphere. So for example, North America should not include South America in its Matla. [The same argument applies to UK Matla being limited down to Morocco only and no further south - Editor]

My view is to use the Hilal visibility Curves to decide Matla. Thus if Hilal is sighted at a location then all locations having a similar or higher probability of sighting should accept this sighting. This also implies that all locations west of a sighting location will accept this sighting (providing of course that the sighting was authentic and not astronomically impossible).

8 Conclusions

1. Visible Hilal with its characteristic Crescent shape is typically a day (or more) after the completely dark/invisible Astronomical new moon (no moon). Qur'aan & Hadith refer to Hilaal (visible crescent) and NOT  to “Qamar Jadeed” (New Moon) nor “Iqtiraan/Mahaq” (Conjunction) nor “Wilaadah” (Birth).
2. Any place around the earth (closer to the equator) can be the point of first visibility of Hilaal. Then as we go west of this place, hilaal should be bigger and easier to be seen. Thus often Hilal could be seen in California one date before Saudia.
3. “Follow Saudi announcement for world wide date” is neither Ikhtilaaf AlMataale (Local Sighting), nor Ittihaad AlMataale (Global sighting - which means follow first sighting no matter where, without restricting to Saudia), and hence it is not a valid Shariah position. This is also obvious from the case where say California sees the Hilal one date before Saudia (chances are about 45%). Then California can’t be expected to ignore its own sighting and wait next date for Saudi sighting.
4. Ittihaad AlMatale (Single Horizon / Global sighting) would be valid if the earth were Flat. Because of Spherical shape of Earth it is impossible to follow say California sighting in Indonesia where it is already next day afternoon at the time of California sunset.
5. Ikhtilaaf AlMatale (Multiple horizons / Local sighting) is supported by Astronomy and by Scholars world wide including Saudi Arabia and is as natural as using local time for Salah (daily prayers).
6. Ikhtilaaf AlMatale (Local sighting) also applies to DhulHijja / Eid ul Adha per Sheikh AlOthameen of Saudi Arabia, Mufti Taqi Usmani (Deputy Chairman of Islamic Fiqh Academy, OIC, Jeddah) and scholars worldwide. Following Saudi announcement for Eidul Adha e.g. in California means a 45% chance that California has to ignore its own hilal sighting and wait an extra day. Further, we see no attempts of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) trying to synchronize Eidul Adha of Makkah and Medinah even though 9 days and 10 nights were sufficient to send a messenger from Makkah to Medinah.
7. Much of the populated world should start Ramadan, Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha etc. within about 24 hours, but TWO Solar dates because of the artificially fixed International (Solar) date line.
8. Those who believe in the wrong early Saudi date can pray Eid ul Adha on their second day for unity, while those who believe in the correct later date can’t pray a day early.
9. UmmUlQura Calendar is Simplistic and ahead of Hilal Sighting Possibility. It is meant for civil use but sets the expectations and hence promotes errors in religious dates. KACST should be asked to update it to reflect the current best models such as Odeh criterion on www.astronomycenter.net Insha’Allaah. The single biggest factor in predicting Hilal visibility is NOT the time after astronomical new moon birth, nor the moonset – sunset lag. Instead, the single biggest factor is that the angular separation between moon and sun at local sunset must be at least the Danjon limit for Hilal to be visible.

10. Majlis AlQada AlAla of Saudi Arabia ignores the Decision of 6 Official Hilal Sighting Committees and accepts impossible claims. They should ask the extraordinarily early  Hilal sighters to go with these official committees to reduce the errors.
11. Saudi errors are acknowledged in Saudi Press such, AlWatan newspaper, Arab news, AdDawa magazine and in AlJazeera and Saudi Television, and are criticized by scholars like Sheikh AlOthaimeen, Sheikh AlManea (Makkah Mukarramah) and Sheikh Yusuf AlQaradawi.
12. Calculations should be used for Hilal Visibility, NOT for Astronomical New Moon (No Moon).
13. Calculations for Hilal visibility have a Zone of Uncertainty and if the western part of our Matla is in this zone, calculations can’t give an answer and sighting is the only way.
14. We should use Calculations to Negate False sighting, but NOT to completely Replace Sighting
15. We should promote refinement of calculations models by joining and reporting sightings to www.astronomycenter.net
16. We should use naked-eye sighting only, since telescopes change the date, while not reducing the uncertainty, since eventually behind the telescope is still the naked-eye which brings back the uncertainty. But telescopes can be used to negate errors in naked-eye sighting.
17. We should encourage Hilal sighting and establish Groups of Hilal sighting committees to reduce errors.
18. Hilal sighting committee of North America (www.hilalsighting.org) requires a large number of witnesses for confirmation following precedent from earlier scholars who require “Jamme Ghafir” in case of clear skies.
19. Size of Matla should not cover “too many” latitudes or “too many” longitudes. Ideally the city (or town or village) could be the unit and visibility curve be used to define Matla.

Please continue the efforts and du’as and forward / translate / publicize any information from this paper as appropriate. May Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive, guide and help the entire ummah in every issue. Aameen. SubhanAllaahi Wa Bi Hamdihi. SubhanakAllaahumaa We BiHamdika Nashhadu AlLaa ilaaha Illa Anta, Nastghfiruka Wa Natoobu Ilayk. Aooothobillaahi MinashShaytaanirRajeem. Subhana Rabbika Rabbil Izzati Amma Yasifoon Wa Salaamun AlalMursaleen WalHamdulillaah RabbilAalameen. Aameen.

 9 References

1. Islamic Crescent Observation Project www.astronomycenter.net
2. Hilal sighting committee of North America www.hilalsighting.org
3. Hilal sighting process in Saudi Arabia and its implications worldwide  - Salman Z. Shaikh – 2nd ICOP Conference, Amman, Jordan www.jas.org.jo/hilaal
4. Moon Calculator (MoonCalc), Dr. Monzur Ahmed www.mooncalc.talktalk.net/
5. Cesarean Moon Births By Shaikh Hamza Yusuf www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=100
   http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/moonsighting/Cesarean_Moon_Births_Pt_1.pdf
   http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/moonsighting/Cesarean_Moon_Births_Pt_2.pdf
6. Moonsighting for the month of Ramadan By Shaikh M. Ibrahim Memon, Darul Uloom AlMadania, Buffalo, NY, USA  (from www.madania.org)
7. Islam, Astronomy, Hilal, New Moon and Cyberspace – Dr. Mohibullah N. Durrani www.hilal-sighting.com/
8. Moonwatch, an Einstein year project: http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/moonwatch/report.html
9. Committee for Crescent Observation International Dr. Omar Afzal, www.islamicmoon.com/
10. Muslims are united to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah, Br.ZaheerUddin, Chairman, Hilal sighting committee of North America www.hilalcommittee.com/articles/MuslimsUnited.doc
11. Response to ISNA’s wrong position by Hafiz Aejaz www.hilalcommittee.com/articles/Response_to_Dr_Muzammil_Siddiqui_s_FAQ.doc
12. Axing of Methodology, By: Dr. Hafiz Abdur Rahman Aejaz  www.hilalcommittee.com/Axing_of_Methodology_rev1__2_.pdf
13. A Refutation to ISNA/Fiqh Council’s Decision To Disregard the Qur’an and the Sunnah and to follow Astronomical Calculations for Beginning an Islamic Month. www.hilalcommittee.com/A_Refutation_to_ISNAFiqh_Council_s_Decision.doc
14. Position Statement by CFCO Intl. Ulema www.hilalcommittee.com/Moonsighting_CFCO_Position_Statement.doc
15. Sighting the Hilal (crescent) for the Holy Month of Ramadan – Jameatul Ulema, Canada www.jucanada.org/sightingmoon.htm  http://ccmt.jucanada.org/?p=1255 
16. DHUL HIJJAH & 'EID AL-'ADHA - Zaytuna Institute, By Imam Zaid Shakir (pdf article link)
17. Z. Al-Mostafa & Y. Hafiz, “Taqwîm Umm al-Qura” (“The Umm al-Qura Calendar”), 2001;  http://www.astronomycenter.net/pdf/almostafa_Hafize_2001.pdf
18. Presentation video (ViewGraph) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9iUiqdmxO0

10 Appendix

1. Arab News: The sighting of the Moon and the start of fasting, Edited by Adil Salahi (11 Feb 2000)

Q:  According to reliable data concerning the birth of the new moon of Ramadan and Shawwal this year, it was clear that the new moon could not have been sighted anywhere in the Middle East on the evening of Dec. 8. Nor the new moon of Shawwal could have been sighted on the evening of Jan. 6. However it was announced in many Arab countries that Ramadan started on Dec. 9 based on sighting the moon the previous night, and it ended in Saudi Arabia and other countries on Jan. 7 based on eye sighting. May I ask how is this possible and why are not astronomical data taken into consideration in these matters?

A. A. Maeernai
Pakistan

A:  This is only one of many letters I have received on the subject of confirming the beginning and ending of the fasting month on the basis of the sighting of the new moon. Practically all these letters refer to the accuracy of the astronomical calculation of the birth of` every new moon and the fact that this could be done well in advance. In fact it can be calculated many hundred years in advance. Hence the writers question the wisdom of sighting the new moon with the naked eye as the sole method of confirming the beginning and end of lunar months. Indeed the question is raised practically every year, because there is seldom a year when the sighting of the new moon is not subject to controversy.

Scholars differ markedly over the question of using any method to sight the new moon and confirm the beginning and end of any lunar month, particularly Ramadan. Those who have a good idea of the modern science of astronomy and the accuracy it achieves in calculating the position of stars and planets so much in advance have no qualms about relying on this science to determine the beginning of each lunar month. This is not new in Islamic scholarship. Leading scholars of older times, such as Imam  As-Subki,  acknowledged  that knowledge gained through astronomical calculation is certain, while that gained through observation with the naked eye is assumed.

However, many scholars, particularly those who have the noble attitude of strict following of the Sunnah, maintain that it is necessary to sight the moon with our eyes, and not rely on astronomical calculation accurate as it may be. They cite in favor of their argument the Hadith: "We are an unlettered community, not versed in writing or arithmetic. Therefore, fast when you sight the new moon and end your fasting when you sight it (again)." They insist that such sighting is the only way of following the Prophet’s instructions. Hence. When people come forward to testify that they have sighted the new moon, they have no option but to act on their testimony. A number of points may be raised in this connection. The first and most valid is that it is wrong to ignore completely the information gained through astronomical calculation in favor of sighting with the naked eye. Indeed, the two methods can easily be employed together, without fear of contradiction, particularly when we take into consideration what scholars like As-Subki have said. What the authorities concerned with issuing Islamic rulings, or fatwa, should do is to assign the task of sighting the moon to a number of committees, with three people in each committee, working in different areas of the country and sending information on the results of their mission directly to Dar Al-Ifta. If no committee is able to sight the moon in the area assigned to it, then no other testimony should be entertained. If the committees are briefed about the calculation of the birth of the new moon, they will be able to combine that knowledge with the results of their own missions. Thus we avoid any mistakes in the sighting and benefit by astronomical calculation. Our fasting would be more accurate than it is the case at present.

The Hadith quoted above has a clear indication that calculation has a clear role in the determination of the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan. The Prophet says, "We are an unlettered community, not versed in writing or arithmetic." He then explains how to determine the beginning and end of Ramadan. The Hadith specifies the condition of the Muslim community at the time of the Prophet. It does not make the state of being unlettered a permanent one which the Muslims must always maintain. In fact Islam encourages learning and makes it a duty of the Muslim community to acquire knowledge in every field. Therefore when the community is no longer unlettered, it should resort to the two areas which help it in its affairs, writing and arithmetic. When we know that astronomical calculation provides us with certain knowledge, it is not right from the Islamic point of view to ignore it in favor of the method which gives us only assumed knowledge.

What happened last Ramadan was that it was absolutely confirmed on the basis of astronomy that the new moon was impossible to sight anywhere in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe on the evening of Jan. 6. Yet that evening it was declared  that witnesses have testified to sighting it. and Ramadan was ended that night. Here we have a case of "assumed" knowledge contradicting "certain" knowledge. The first should have been tested thoroughly and rejected, like a court may reject the testimony of a witness after cross-examination. The point is that it is perfectly possible not to see something when it is present, but it is impossible to see something when it is not there. If the moon is not born yet, how can it be sighted? To end such cases of wrong testimony, the authorities concerned should play a more active part in the process and assign the task of sighting the moon to commissions as has been explained. This method is followed in some countries and it has proved to be far more reliable method than leaving the matter open for anyone to come froward to testify. After all we have no way of ascertaining that what such people say is correct. It remains the duty of the concerned authorities to employ the best available means to ensure the correct start and finish of one of the most important acts of worship in Islam.

Ref. See scan of original article

 2. Al-Watan: Testimonies of the Impossible (10 Dhul Hijjah 1425H/ 21 January 2005)

Al-Watan Newspaper
Thursday, 10 Dhû-l-hijja 1425 AH
Testimonies of the Impossible
Hamza Q. Al-Muzainy (King Saud University, Riyadh)

The issue of the crescent continues to stir widespread debate, especially for the beginning of the month of Ramadan and its end. However, this time it has been raised on the occasion of confirming the beginning of the month of Dhul al-Hijja 1425 AH. The reason as always is because of, the Supreme Court relying on the testimony of people claiming to have seen the crescent directly with their eyes, contrary to reality.

 On this occasion the Supreme Court originally issued a statement saying that those who’s testimony is relied upon have not witnessed the crescent on Monday night, the reason being that conditions are more cloudy, therefore it has been decided that the beginning of the month will be Wednesday, however thereafter two witnesses came forward claiming to have seen the crescent on that night. This has led the Supreme Court to issue a statement that Tuesday was the first day of Dhul al-Hijja.

 The statement came as a shock to everyone, due to the fact that the ‘King Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology’ had stated that the crescent had set on the Saudi horizon before sunset on Monday, this in turn means that the sighting of the crescent is impossible after sunset on that day for the simple reason of it not being present on the horizon.

Many people were misled when they saw the crescent very high in the sky on Tuesday night believing it to be the crescent of the night before. However the correct scientific explanation for it being so high is that approximately 37 hours had passed since its birth. It is also worth pointing out that Sheikh Salih al-Lahaydan head of Supreme Court had used the height of the crescent as evidence in his statement issued on 9/11/1425. This supported the incorrect view of those people who linked the height of the crescent and the beginning of the month.

In an interview by the head of the Supreme Court to the ‘Okaz Paper’ a number of phrases used by him to describe the witnesses on whose testimony the Court relied upon in determining the crescent on Tuesday night are worth considering such as: “intelligent men of understanding” and they are “Trustworthy, reliable and men of knowledge” and “These men are not children or that the matters of the moon are unknown to them because they are shepherds?”

It is possible to understand from these very strong attestations for the two witnesses that it is evidence that the Court feels that the view of impossibility of seeing the crescent on that night as being a very strong view. Therefore it was forced into giving the strongest possible attestations to the witnesses in view of the strong opposing view. This exaggeration has led to describing the witnesses with every possible hyperbole; otherwise what is the link between them “being shepherds” and the validity of their testimony.

Other sources draw a different picture of the witnesses. Correspondents from ‘Al-Hayat Paper’ went to ‘Al-Rayn’ and endeavored to contact them but they were told that they do not wish to meet anyone “because of their fear of jealousy, and that they are preparing for hajj.” There is also a third reason: they have been prevented from meeting anyone except on certain conditions. The correspondents mentioned some characteristics of the witnesses conveyed to them by some local people, which do not show any extraordinary qualities.

 A group of astronomic experts from ‘King Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology’ went to that area and succeeded in meeting the witnesses. They found them to be over eighty years old…
My intension here is not to throw doubt on their personality or in their honesty in reporting what they thought they saw, but all I want is to point out that more rigor and investigation should have been used when accepting their testimony.

Another point of interest is that the Supreme Court has contrary to what we are accustomed from them, forsaken the literal meaning of the “…fast upon seeing it and end fast upon see it, and if it is cloudy then complete the month 30 days.” The text of the hadith relates to Ramadan but the Court now cites it as evidence for establishing the beginning and end of months other than Ramadan, as Sheikh al-Lahaydan says: “an act of worship connected to a complete month does not end or begin except by the sighting of the crescent at the beginning and the end and also Hajj cannot be performed in the time prescribed except by the practice of sighting and establishing the crescent.”

It was expected that the Court would abide by the letter of the hadith and not generalize for determining the beginning of other months. Sheikh al-Lahaydan’s interview with the ‘Okaz Newspaper’ makes it clear that the Court works with other committees known for determining the crescent and sends with it judges, he says “The many committees and judges responsible for sighting the crescent in their respective regions went out and with them some other governmental organizations, they returned having not seen the crescent on Monday night, therefore the crescent was hidden from us.” He further elaborates this issue: “On the advent of a new month especially a month whose beginning is necessary for us to know, the courts are made aware and judges request people who generally seek the crescent and have good eyesight to go out with a judge and a representative of the region before Maghrib and stay at the specific place to see the crescent and this routine has been followed for a long time.”

Sheikh al-Lahaydan further emphasizes that the committee has been taking into consideration what the observatory says for a long time. However in his interview he indicates that the Supreme Court’s view of the observatory is biased by dislike and distrust. He comments on the view of the astronomy experts about the height of the crescent on Tuesday night: “It is unfortunate that the scientists or as they are known astronomers, have declared, not withstanding this great height,that it would set on Tuesday night before sunset” (thus; although it should be Monday). It is necessary to point out here that Sheikh al-Lahaydan himself had said in his interview that the height of the moon is not proof of its age. When asked by the reporter about the possibility of the astronomers being wrong he said: “We don’t know, but they look at the horizon and in books.” This answer indicates Sheikh al-Lahaydan’s contempt of astronomers or possibly him not knowing what they do, although this comment of his is a judgement of them being non-competent. Sheikh Salih al-Lahaydan’s comments reiterate the fact that the Supreme Court does not rely on the astronomers and the observatory when confirming a sighting.

The question now is: As long the supreme court compels some judges to go out with the committees that sight the crescent with a naked eye, which is wrong in many times. If the Supreme Court wants precision and help from the astronomers, then they should send some judges to ‘King Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology’ to confirm the testimony of the astronomers at the observatories! It is possible for these judges to further confirm it by seeing the crescent by way of telescopes.

Sheikh al-Lahaydan ends his interview with ‘Okaz Newspaper’ by saying: “I advise all to fear Allah and to speak the truth and refrain from interfering in matters that do not concern them, it is possible the supreme court may punish whoever interferes in writing about the determination or otherwise of the crescent because this causes confusion in the public especially when they have no knowledge of this matter.” The frightening thing from this comment is that it strengthens the view of those who claim that the official Saudi religious organizations base their views not on convincing evidence but rather on one single view and on threats, denial and compulsion and suppressing all opposing views & opinions on the matter. We were for a long time victims to these kinds of accusations and now the chairman of major governmental organization confirms it.

Another point to ponder about is Sheikh al-Lahaydan’s expression “to punish” rather than saying, “to prosecute.” This means that the Supreme Court, which is the last point for justice and not to punish anyone until evidence proves one guilty could possibly bypass this noble path and lay down a punishment without prosecution if they hold an opposing view.

Also the statement: “A matter that does not concern public” takes away their right to express an opinion is one, which is wholly uncalled for, because it is manipulating the truth and admonishing the Muslims which stops them from free thinking and expressing their views on matters which they see as concerning them. As for the crime the chairman of the Supreme Court wants to punish the writers for i.e. “confusing the public” although the source of confusion whose contradictory views are based on non scientific foundations.

In conclusion what happened this year at the end of Ramadan with no witnesses for the beginning of the Ramadan and the confusion and contradiction that happened at the beginning of Dhul al-Hijja compels the government to take the same positive steps to resolve this matter which should not continue anymore, especially when we in the Kingdom have means to match precise and correct decisions for determining the beginning & end of months, which will free us from falling victim to impossible testimonies.

Ref. See scan of original article [Page 1] [Page 2] [Page 3]

Details

Last Updated: 06 January 2023

UPDATE: Please see the most recent development (2022): Towards Local Moon Sighting (UK) [Read more …]

This criteria was proposed by Eng Qamar Uddin and adopted by the ICOUK^[1] membership in January 2017 [download pdf]

Related: Regional Moon Sighting Fatwa by Darul Uloom Deoband (English/Urdu)

1. Abstract

This paper discusses the basis for a local moon sighting criteria and for the adverse UK weather conditions, it proposes a regional moon sighting zone (Matla/ المطا لع) to include Western European countries (longitude) down to Tropic of Cancer (23.5° latitude), which includes Morocco. The Sharia basis is explained with quotations from Quran and Ahadith and the Scientific basis are explained with related calculations of prayer times and geographical map boundaries. The result is similar to some existing moon sighting criteria, but not the same.

2. Introduction

The geographical location of the UK is such that adverse weather conditions persist throughout the year (as it’s an Island between oceans). As a result, it is not always possible to sight the first day’s crescent moon (Hilal) every consecutive month. If the months are completed 30-days continuously, then after six consecutive months, it will result in the future months having less than 29-days, which is not permitted in a lunar calendar system. A coordinated effort by ICOUK members since 2008 has proven that it is possible to sight the Hilal on the UK horizons for a few months in a year. However, it has been a custom for the UK Muslims to borrow foreign moon sighting news throughout the year, which leads to divisions, since foreign news are often contradictory.

This paper proposes a lunar calendar based on local sighting with extension of the UK horizon to nearby countries where reliable moon sighting can or does take place, but excluding any locations that are too far East or West (based on sunset to dusk times) and is above the Equator (to avoid change of seasons). The local moon sighting efforts by ICOUK members, together with news from Morocco over past 8 – 10 years has proven this method to work satisfactorily, which also matches the Fiqh rule of Difference of Sightings (Ikhtilaf al Matali’/ اختلاف المطا لع) and Nearest Latitude (أقرب آل بلد)

3. Local Moon Sighting

The importance of starting the lunar months with local moon sighting are given below:
3.1 The order to begin the month by sighting the Hilal comes from the following verse of the Quran when the Jews of Madinah asked the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم), why the phase of the moon kept changing? In response to this question put to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), Allah says:

They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new [crescent] moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj." (Quran 2:189) / http://tanzil.net/#2:189

The Mufassirun (commentators) have stated that there could be two reasons why Allah has used the plural form of the crescent moons (Ahilla/ الاهلة), instead of the singular form (Hilal/ الهلال). It can mean Allah is referring to

(a) every region with their own [phase of the] crescent moons or
(b) all the months of the year with their own crescent moons

The Mufassirun have also stated that based on the above verse of the Quran, it is a communal obligation (fardh kifaya / فرض كفاية) to establish a Hijri calendar based on moon sighting for all 12 months of the year and not just for Ramadan two Eids (as is the common practice in some Muslim communities or countries).
This is highlighted in the following verse of the Quran, where Allah says:

“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year) so was it ordained by Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; " (Quran 9:36) / http://tanzil.net/#9:36

3.2 In the time of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) were instructed to start the lunar month by sighting the Hilal from their own horizon. This point is supported by the following Hadith.

Kuraib (رضي الله عنه) reported that Umm Fadl, daughter of Harith, sent him (Fadl, i.e. her son) to Mu'awiya in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month. Abdullah b. 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) asked me (about the new moon of Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said: We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: (Did) you see it yourself? I said: Yes, and the people also saw it and they fasted and Mu'awiya also fasted, whereupon he said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we will continue to fast till we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has commanded us. Yahya b. Yahya was in doubt (whether the word used in the narration by Kuraib) was Naktafi or Taktafi. (Muslim/1087) / http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/34

In 1981 the Muslims World League (MWL) Fiqh Council in Makkah organised a conference with many eminent scholars of the Muslim World (including the Saudi Scholar, Shaykh Abdul Aziz Bin Baaz and the Indian Scholar, Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadawi) to discuss the moon sighting issue and they all signed a declaration in support of local moon sighting for all 12 months of the year, including Dhul Hijjah (for Eid-ul Adha) – see Reference 3.

3.3 Muslim historians have recorded that the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hujja-tul Wada’ /حجة الوداع) of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was on Friday 9th Dhul Hijjah 10 AH in Makkah and his demise was on Monday 12 Rabi-ul Awwal 11 AH (3 months later) in Madinah. Noting that a lunar month is either 29 or 30 days, it is not possible to synchronise the calendar of Makkah with Madinah, even if all three months are made 30-days, as the Madinah calendar still becomes 1-day short (demise falls on Sunday) with that of Makkah. This difference was resolved by the Muslim historian Mulla Ali Qari (رحمة الله عليه), who stated that people of Madinah started the month of Dhul Hijjah 10 AH 1-day after that of Makkah. The calendar diagram below illustrates this point (and also the fact that a lunar month did not start on the day of a Solar Eclipse/New Moon in Madinah (29 Shawwal 10 AH).

This calendar proves beyond any doubt of the point that people of Makkah and Madinah carried out local moon sighting at the time of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and they did not borrow the news from each other.

3.4 A few years ago (c. 1998) the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) decided to follow local moon sighting for Ramadan and Makkah (Saudi Arabia) for Dhul Hijjah (Eid-ul Adha), instead of local moon sighting for all months. When a renowned scholar (Mufti Taqi Usmani) was asked to comment on the validity of the above criteria, he commented that both Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah should be started according to local moon sighting since following Makkah by foreign countries has no basis (or precedence) in Islam. He also pointed out the unanimous ruling of the world Muslim Scholars on the same issue more recently (see Reference 2) and also pointed out that Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Adha were celebrated by the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in Madinah from 2 AH when Ramadan became obligatory, which was 7 years before Hajj became obligatory in 9 AH and he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) never attempted to borrow the moon sighting news from Makkah to Madinah for Eid-ul Adha, even though 9 days and 10 nights were more than enough time to send a horse rider with the news from Makkah to Madinah.

Note that the distance between Makkah and Madinah is about 270 miles between mountain passes, which now has modern highways (avoiding shorter distance over mountains). The mode of travel at that time was by horse (30 mph) or camel (24 mph). So the total time to travel will be approximately 9 hrs by a horse or 12 hrs by a camel. Even if overnight rest was included in the journey, a horse or a camel rider could easily reach Madinah from Makkah in under 24 hours. There is no evidence in Islamic history for past Muslim khulafah, leaders and governors to attempt to synchronise the calendar of Madinah with Makkah, since local sighting was the standard.

This malpractice by foreigners have only started with the advent of modern telecommunication from 1980’s when International telephones became available and Muslims going on Hajj/Umrah calling back home with the news of the lunar date declared from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). The scholars of Saudi Arabia follow strictly local moon sighting news and they have publicly stated for foreign countries to follow their own horizon and not Saudi Arabia. This is found in the fatawa of Shaikh Saleh Ibn Uthaimeen (رحمة الله عليه) and mentioned more recently at the Istanbul Conference in Turkey (28 – 30 May 2016) by one of the scholars from Saudi Arabia.

4. Global Moon Sighting

The concept of global moon sighting has never been practiced in the past 1400 years, so what does it mean.

4.1 Some Muslims in the UK consider that it is not necessary to make any efforts to sight the moon locally, since it is now possible to obtain the news from anywhere is the world regardless of how far it is to the East or to the West. This opinion is based on a unique interpretation of the following hadith:

Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنهم) reported Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has said: “Observe fast on sighting it (the new crescent moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new crescent moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty)”. [Muslim] / http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/21

The [only] Hanafi Jurist, Imam Ibn Abedin As-Shami (d.1252 AH/1836 CE) stated in Radd al-Muhtar ala Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar that the command to “observer fast / صُومُو”) is to the whole Ummah, so anyone who receives the news (from East or West) should follow it. If this interpretation is applied to the whole world, it seems to go against the noble practice of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) as mentioned earlier and hence other scholars interpret that command to means “regional sighting” and not “global sighting” (see below).

If we were to consider the above interpretation as “global sighting” then it has two problems in practice and only works in one direction, i.e. if a location in the West is following a location in the East (and not the other way around). For example, (1) if the moon was reported to have been sighted in Brisbane, Australia (GMT+10 hrs) then all locations to the West following the above opinion would most probably make the declaration after their Dhuhr or Asr prayer and local moon sighting would be abandoned; (2) if there were no moon sighting in the East and they were waiting for news from the far West, until California, USA (GMT – 8 hrs) claimed a sighting then it will be past their Fajr time and possibly past mid-morning in far East location such as Brisbane. Even if UK was to wait for news from USA (California), it will be past Fajr time (4 am) next morning, apart from additional problem of verifying foreign news.

Therefore, this opinion of following moon sighting news from the West adds undue hardship, which is against the principles of Shariah (“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship”, Quran 2:185). So, global sighting is impossible due to the Spherical Earth with Time-Zone differences.

This problem can be visualised by looking at the world as a Globe/Sphere and not as a flat-map (see diagram).

5. Regional Moon Sighting

5.1 There was an occasion when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) accepted news from a distance place, as below.

Narrated Ikrimah (رضي الله عنه): Once the people doubted the appearance of the moon of Ramadan, and intended neither to offer the tarawih prayer nor to keep fast. A bedouin came from al-Harrah and testified that he had sighted the moon. He was brought to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and He asked: Do you testify that there is no god but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes; and he testified that he had sighted the moon. He commanded Bilal (رضي الله عنه) who announced to the people to offer the tarawih prayer and to keep fast. (Abu Dawud)^[2] / http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/29

Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated: ‘A Bedouin came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said, ‘I have sighted the crescent (of Ramadan). He then said to him, "Do you testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah?” The Bedouin said, ‘Yes.’ He asked him again, "Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?” The man replied, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) there upon said, "O Bilal! Announce to the people to (start) fasting tomorrow." Related by the five Imams. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih. (Bulugh al-Maram) / http://sunnah.com/urn/2059050

Note that the above incident happened when it was cloudy in Madinah at the end of Shaban and the people did not see the Hilal. So when a Bedouin from outside (Al-Harrah) came with the news, it was accepted. Al-Harrah is a high place about 3 miles (5km) North East/West of Madinah and hence the Bedouin could have come on foot.

5.2 The first day’s crescent moon always stays a short time on the horizon after sunset (Maghrib) and most certainly sets before dusk (Isha). The time difference between Maghrib and Isha in Madinah is about 1:20 hrs. Therefore, even if the Bedouin came on a horse, he could not have travelled more than 30 – 40 miles from outside Madinah. Note that in the UK, the Maghrib to Isha time fluctuates between 1 hr to 1.5 hrs (Summer – Winter)^[3] .

Therefore, it is recommended that the UK Muslims should not extend the boundaries of moon sighting news from abroad any more than 1.5 hrs to the East or West from a central location (eg. Bradford, West Yorkshire). It means, when it is Maghrib in the UK, it would be Isha time in the Eastern boundary and when it is Isha time in the UK, it would be Maghrib time in the Western boundary (see boundaries map).

Since the earth rotates 15° longitudes every hour (i.e. 360° every 24 hrs), it means the sunset 1.5 hours before UK time will be the longitude of near Berlin (Germany) and 1.5 hours after UK sunset time would be longitude of Dakar (Senegal). Given the usual cloudy weather condition of UK, it is recommended that a Regional Moon Sighting rule based on the above Hadith and the Fiqh interpretations should be applied, limiting how far East or West from the UK the news can be obtained from (between Maghrib and Isha prayers).

Furthermore, the opposite Hemisphere must not follow each other because when the Hilal rises over Northern Hemisphere, it is usually moonset-before-sunset on the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa, whereas it should be opposite (Quran 91:1-2). Also, when it's Summer (longer days) in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere (shorter days) and vice versa. Hence, artificially changing the season for moon sighting must be avoided.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in his infinite wisdom has chosen the lunar year (354 days) to be shorter than the solar year (365 days), so the lunar months (Ramadan) rotate through all the seasons (Winter, Spring Summer, Autumn etc). Note also that borrowing news from opposite Hemisphere causes a lunar date change, which is tantamount to intercalation that is forbidden in the Quran (9:37). Hence, it is recommended for the UK Muslims not to borrow news from Southern Hemisphere, but restrict down to Tropic of Cancer (23.5° latitude), which includes Morocco and Algeria.

6. Verifying Moon Sighting

6.1 It is important to verify all moon sighting reports, before they are accepted as explained below.
Moon sighting reports collected by the International Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) since 1998 shows that the Muslim counties have been starting and celebrating Ramdan/Eids over 4 – 5 days, where as it should be over 2 days worldwide, if not in 1 day. It proves the point that all human beings can make mistakes, even if they are honest/pious observers! Psychological studies have proven that when a person has a high expectation to see an object then the psychological bias of the brain may make them think they have seen it, whereas in reality it was something else (e.g. a contrail) instead of the Hilal. Therefore, the group sighting (Jamme Gafir) requirement in Hanafi Fiqh for clear sky conditions is a must, since it is unlikely that a very large group of people will make the same mistake as may be the case with a solo observer. Furthermore, the following verse of the Quran makes it essential to investigate/verify all moon sighting reports for Shariah purposes.

“O you who believe! If there comes to you Fasiq with information, investigate it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become regretful over what you have done.” (Quran 49:6) / http://tanzil.net/#49:6

It is reported that Imam Abu Yusuf (d.798 CE), a student of Imam Abu Hanifa (d.767 CE) required 50 plus witnesses when he was the Qadhi (Judge) in Baghdad. Similarly, both Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad required a [large] group of observers from each masjid in town, i.e. such a large number that it is difficult to discredit them. In fact, the word “investigate/verify” in the above verse has been considered to be a significantly larger number of people until the Judge is satisfied that the sighting claim is genuine and not a mistake (or a fabrication).

6.2 It is reported at the time of Umar (ra), group sighting was able to eliminate the mistakes by individuals.

Anas b. Malik narrated: "We were with Umar (رضي الله عنه) between Makkah and Madina. We looked for Hilal (of D. Hijjah). As I had sharp eyes, I saw it. (But) Nobody other than me could confirm that he (also) had seen it. I kept telling Umar (رضي الله عنه) (the Khalifah and the Qadi): Don’t you see it? He (kept on looking for it but) did not see any. Anas (RA) says that Umar (RA) told him: “I might soon see it ”.... I (Anas) was stretched on my bed listening (to Umar's description of Ahl al-Jannah and Ahl-al-Naar). (Muslim) / http://sunnah.com/muslim/53/91

It was puzzling when Hadrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) (at very old age) claimed to have seen a crescent moon when everybody else, at the same location could not see the crescent moon. Then on removing the white hair from the eyebrow of Hadrat Anas (رضي الله عنه), he was asked to see again. Now he could see no 'crescent moon'. (See Aujaz al Masalik v.5, p.21, Tantawi's Irshad p.154, Bain al- Sunnah wal Ijtihad by Nimr p.50 etc.)

A number of similar stories like the above exists in Fiqh texts to justify group sightings and points out the fact that it is possible for an honest/pious person to make a mistake (human error) in spotting the Hilal (see References).

It should also be noted that in modern times, the sky is not as clear and free from artificial objects as it used to be in the past centuries. This means, it is possible for a solo observer (or even a group of inexperienced observers!) to mistaken something else for the Hilal (e.g. a contrail). Therefore, it is necessary to use a large group of observers from different locations, to eliminate human errors. Indeed, this used to be the case amongst many past Governments (e.g. Ottoman Empire) who used to follow Hanafi Fiqh of group sightings (Jamme Ghafir) in clear sky conditions. Similarly, reports from average eye-sight observers were considered and not for ‘sharp-eye’ observers.

It is also a good idea to use astronomical data to cross-check the position/orientation of the crescent moon with that of any observation report and insist on a very large group if the data shows it’s not possible to be sighted.

6.3 In the night of the Hilal (on 29th or 30th lunar date), the moon follows the sun (Quran 91:1-2) after sunset. Since the sunset in the East is before the sunset in the West and the moon is closely following the sun, any sighting claim from the East must be possible to be witnessed in the West in the same evening, especially on the same latitude with slight North/South variations (within the visibility parabola of the visibility map), but not the other way around. This natural fact of Hilal sighting is also stated in Fiqh texts below (Ibn Taimyyah, Majmua Fatawa, vol.13/p.62):

ان الرؤية تختلف باختلاف التشريق والتغريب، فإنه متى رؤي في المشرق وجب ان يري في المغرب ولا ينعكس
Meaning: If there is a Hilal sighting in the East, then it must be sighted in the West (but not the other way around)

So if there is a sighting claim from the East (e.g. Saudi Arabia), then hundreds of people from the West (e.g. Morocco) must be easily able to sight the moon on the same evening in clear sky conditions (a few hours later) - e.g. see visibility map for Safar 1438 AH.

6.4 It is also important to note that anyone who provides a moon sighting report is someone who actually follows local moon sighting themselves. It is not appropriate to accept moon sighting report from people who do not follow it themselves (as pointed out by Mufti Yusuf Sacha, 2015). For Allah says:

“O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? It is most hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.” (Quran 61:2-3) / http://tanzil.net/#61:2-3

Since the UK is in the same Time-Zone and close proximity to some of the European countries (e.g. Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain etc.) we have been trying to make contacts with any local moon sighting groups within those countries via the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) moon sighting volunteer group.

From our International ICOP contacts, we became aware of some members in Germany (www.mondsichtung.de/) and Algeria (www.siriusalgeria.net/), who carry out regular moon sightings, especially at start and end of Ramadan. Unfortunately, we have not been able to make contacts with any authorities who make monthly Hilal decisions based on their own sighting reports, other than relying on foreign news (e.g. country of their origin). Therefore, it is not appropriate for the UK to relay on any moon sighting news from any European countries until they have been confirmed to follow their own local moon sighting reports for all months. However, the option to send a small group of experienced observers from the UK to those countries at start/end of Ramadan should be considered if there is a good possibility of Hilal sighting on those locations (based on astronomical data).

7. Moon Sighting Calculations

7.1 The Holy Quran clearly states: “The sun and the moon follow course [exactly] computed” (Quran 55:5) /http://tanzil.net/#55:5

Observation experience over many years has also proven the accuracy of the position of the sun and the moon, especially during the times of solar eclipses, which visually shows the accuracy of New Moon Conjunction (NMC).

However, the calculations of crescent moon visibility are very complex and it was not possible until 1990’s when high powered personal computers became accessible to researchers who were able to produce more accurate models that matched the actual sightings and started a revolution in predicting crescent moon visibility^[4].

The ICOP group started collecting actual observation data since 1998 using Dr Bernard Yallop of HM Nautical Almanac Office (UK) visibility model and by 2006, an improved model was published by Engineer Mohammad Odeh^[5], which shows both the waxing and waning phases of the moon to a high degree of accuracy (see below).

From the above visibility maps for waning and waxing crescent moon, as verified with actual observations, the duration of the New Moon Phase (Mahaq) is about 60 hours (2.5 days) long and in extremely rare cases it may be about 36 hours (1.5 days) long if both the waning and waxing crescent can be seen 18 hrs before and after NMC.

Regarding the phases of the moon, Allah says:

"And (as for) the moon, We have measured for it mansions/phases (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk (Urjoonil Qadim)." [Quran 36:39] / http://tanzil.net/#36:39

In the Tafsir Jalalyan^[6] of the above verse it is stated there are visible and invisible phases of the moon (Mahaq), i.e. when it cannot be seen (for 1 or 2 days in each month). Therefore, the predicted crescent visibility maps, simply confirm the visible and invisible phases of the moon, which is consistent with the Quran and Ahadith.

7.2 There are three types of visibility maps that are widely used over past 10 years and while the ones by Eng Khalid Shaukat (USA) and Eng Mohammad Odeh (UAE) are very similar, the one by Dr Barnard Yallop (UK) is slightly different.

The visibility maps by Dr Barnard Yallop of HM Nautical Almanac Office (HMNAO) was first published in 1997 based on naked eye and small telescope sightings. However, due to advancement in technology with improved optics and computerised telescopes, more recent world-record sightings have been incorporated by Shaukat and Odeh criteria in 2005 - 2006.

Dr Barnard Yallop has retired many years ago and the present Head of HMNAO (Dr Steve Bell) was requested by ICOUK (in 2012 – 2015) to make a number of improvements to their old visibility maps, such as to include more recent world-record by Jim Stamm (USA) to make the curves similar to Shaukat and Odeh criteria (see Appendix).

While they accepted the other suggestions and revised their maps accordingly (astro.ukho.gov.uk/moonwatch), they did not consider one or two world record sighting records were sufficient to change their maps. The ICOUK website prefers to use HMNAO maps (Yallop/A+B), since they are sufficient for the UK adverse weather conditions.

7.3 Using the crescent visibility maps for a given location or region, it is now possible to produce a predicted Hijri Calendar for civil purposes (e.g. for Ramadan/Eid holidays), which will also match actual observations, since cloudiness is a local phenomenon and the whole country or the region is not cloudy at the same time. The tables below show the predicted Hijri Calendar based on the “Regional Moon Sighting Criteria for the UK” as examples.

8. Moon Sighting Questions

There are number of historical questions on how the moon sighting criteria evolved in the UK, as given below.

8.1 What was the moon sighting criteria followed by the UK Muslims prior to 1986?

Early Muslim immigrants to the UK used to follow the moon sighting news from their country of origin, but as the community became more established they decided to follow their own local sighting by the naked eye or (in the event of persistent adverse weather conditions in the UK) to borrow it from Morocco, the nearest Muslim country to the UK. This was agreed by in an all-party conference in 1984 at London Regents Park Mosque (see Reference 6).

8.2 What was the moon sighting criteria followed by the UK Muslims after 1986?

The moon sighting news from Morocco used to arrive by fax to a shopkeeper and he used to relay the news to the scholars of the sighting report. Once on 29th Ramadan it arrived very late after the shopkeeper had closed the shop for the night and found it next morning that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in Morocco the night before. There was a dispute amongst some of the senior UK scholars as to break the fast and celebrate Eid on that day or to continue keeping the fast and celebrate Eid on the next day. This was the cause of the split where one party decided to start following Saudi Arabia and the other party continued to follow Morocco as per 1984 agreement.

8.3 Who are the Wifaqul Ulama and what is their moon sighting criteria since 2006?

Since the above split in 1986, the vast majority of the UK Muslims started following Saudi Arabia for convenience as the news arrived well before UK sunset times and a day or two before Morocco. However, due to world-wide moon sighting reports by ICOP members and publication of various subsequent  research papers, it became apparent that the news from Saudi Arabia was doubtful, if not totally wrong. This awareness lead to a few courageous Imams and Scholars to break away from following Saudi Arabia in 2006 to form an organisation by the name Wifaqul Ulama to establish local moon sighting. If it is not possible to locally sight the Hilal, then their criteria is to follow verified sighting reports from East of UK/Morocco on the 29th date, otherwise completing the month as 30-days. This group became known to ICOUK members in 2008 and since then they have been promoted by ICOUK members to revive the Sunnah of local moon sighting in the UK.

8.3 When did Wifaqul Ulama started following moon sighting reports from South Africa?

The initial moon sighting criteria by Wifaqul Ulama was to follow local moon sighting news (and to use astronomical data as a guide) or to follow news from Morocco. However, in 2008 Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa visited various UK cities and was asked to provide moon sighting reports from Jamiatul Ulama South Africa.

There are numerous fatawa from many senior Ulama of the Indian subcontinent for the UK to follow Morocco moon sighting only in the event of persistent adverse UK weather conditions, but not any further. Here is an extract:

“There is a far greater distance between Britain and Saudi whereas Morocco is a lot closer to Britain. To abandon a close country’s sightings and to accept Saudis sighting, is in contradiction with the principles of Fiqh.” [Mufti Habibur Rahman, Mufti Darul-uloom Deoband, 18th of Safar 1424 AH] – see Reference 9.

The distance from London (UK) to Rabat (Morocco) is about 1,660 miles, to Makkah (Saudi Arabia) is about 3,880 miles and to Cape Town (South Africa) is about 8,240 miles. If UK following Saudi Arabia is in contradiction to the principle of fiqh as stated above, how does UK following South Africa become in conformity to the principle of fiqh when it’s more than twice as far from Saudi Arabia?

When Maulana Samiruddin Qasmi, a senior member of Wifaqul Ulama was asked in c.2008 for the reason, he said it was to reduce the differences of 2-days Eid celebration with Saudi Arabia. Since 2012, Saudi Supreme Court has adopted the revised Ummul Qura calendar (2002) as the minimum criteria for witness reports, reducing the difference to 1-day or None.

Therefore, it is most important for Wifaqul Ulama (and others) to review their moon sighting criteria and ignore any moon sighting report from South Africa and adopt a more cautious approach of Regional Moon Sighting criteria as explained in this document. Is it appropriate to adopt a weak method for the sake of possible match with the Saudi Ummul Qura Calendar when in the vast majority of the cases there is no need to consider it?

9. Summary and Conclusions

This paper has tried to explain the important of moon sighting for the UK by discussing the following:

9.1 To establish a lunar calendar by sighting the moon is a command of Allah and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم).

9.2 To start and end each and every month by local moon sighting is also established from the Sunnah, including Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah.

9.3 The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), has always followed local moon sighting and did not borrow the news from distance places (e.g. Makkah to Madinah).

9.4 The concept of “Global Moon Sighting” is a linguistic interpretation, which has never been practiced by the Muslim Ummah for past 1400 years and it is not possible due to the spherical earth and time-zone differences.

9.5 If local sighting is not possible due to abnormal geographical location, such as in the UK, then “Regional Moon Sighting” is probably a more correct interpretation of “Global Moon Sighting” mentioned in Fiqh texts.

9.6 There must be a time-limit by which the news of moon sighting must be considered, which was found to be between Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (dusk), i.e. between 1 - 1.5 hrs (for the UK Summer and Winter seasons).

9.7 In consideration of how far East or West the moon sighting news can be obtained from for the UK, it was found to be between Berlin (Germany) to the East and Dakar (Senegal) to the West for the UK Maghrib to Isha times.

9.8 Since the first visibility of moon shifts in both East-West and North-South directions, any moon sighting news for the UK must not cross the Equator, to avoid the moonset-before-sunset and change of season problems.

9.9 To avoid mistakes from individuals or solo observers, group sighting (Jamme Gafir) is a must for clear sky conditions, especially if astronomical data shows there is very little or no chance of sighting the moon.

9.10 According to our ICOP contacts, there are a few individuals in Europe (e.g. Germany) and North Africa (e.g. Algeria) who may be willing to help any future UK delegation to visit those countries for moon sighting, if needed.

9.11 It is not necessary for the UK to follow Hilal news from far places in the East, such as Saudi Arabia or South Africa, since any moon sighting from the East must be seen in the West, such as on the UK/Morocco horizons.

9.12 The lunar months have some visible and invisible phases as explained in the Tafsir Jalalyan, which can be accurately predicted by the crescent visibility map calculations and proven with actual observation results.

9.13 By defining the “Regional Moon Sighting” zone for naked eye sighting, it is possible to use visibility maps (with consideration of seasons) to prepare Hijri calendars for civil purposes, which will match actual sightings.

9.14 The past Muslims leaders and scholars have made great sacrifices to develop a unified moon sighting criteria to unite all the UK Muslims and this paper has built-on those efforts to suggest an improved criteria for greater unity.

9.15 Regular moon sighting efforts must be continued on the 29th (and the next day) and reported to the Moon Sighting UK website for future analysis with a view to developing a more reliable moon sighting calendar for the UK.

10. References

1. Hilal Sighting & Islamic Date Solutions InshaAllah by Dr Salman Shaikh (2007)
2. ISNA's Eid al-Adha Evaluated by A Renowned Scholar (Mufti Taqi Usmani, 1998)
3. The 4th Meeting of the Muslim World League Fiqh Council (1981) (PDF) – see also Appendix 1
4. Darul Uloom Deoband Fatwa to follow moon sighting news from Morocco (1424/2003)
5. Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Qurtubi, Tafsir Jalalyan and Tafsir Mariful Quran
6. The History of the UK following Saudi Arabia by Mufti Muhammad Yusuf Danka (2010)
7. Email communication between Engineer Qamar Uddin and Dr Steve Bell (2015) – see Appendix 2
8. The Islamic Calendar according to Muslims in the UK by Mufti Amjad Mohammed (PDF)
9. Fatwa Supporting Regional Moon Sighting by Darul Uloom Deoband and many others (PDF)

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11. Appendix 1

The 4th Meeting of the Muslim World League Fiqh Council (1981) on Local Moon Sighting

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

12. Appendix 2

Email communication between Eng Qamar Uddin and Dr Steve Bell (2015) about Visibility Map Differences

Page 1

Page 2

13. Comments from Moon Sighting Researchers

Dr Salman Zafar Shaikh commented: "Your paper looks comprehensive and excellent MashaAllah. Also, you may want to include Shaykh Al-Othaimeen Fatwa for local [moon sighting for Ramadan] and for Eid ul Adha. Also, reference the Shaykh Ibrahim Memon's paper [on moon sighting]".

Dr Mamnun Khan commented: "This is one of the best succinct pieces of work I have yet read on this topic. It is a formidable proposal, a testament to your heavy contribution to this field of research. Allah will surely reward you abundantly".

14. Appendix 3 – Use of Optical Aid

The persistent adverse weather conditions of the UK make it difficult to see the youngest crescent moon (Hilal), which could be easily seen by the naked eye in perfect weather conditions in nearby countries (e.g. Morocco).

However, the excellent improvements made in the manufacture of telescope optics and computerised mounts in recent years mean, it is now possible to see the crescent moon by high-powered optical telescopes well beyond the capacity and capability of the average human eyesight.

The role of the telescope is not to create an object that does not exist (but rather to enhance the sighting of an object by making it bigger and brighter) without causing premature date change (e.g. by CCD imaging) of a visibility-based calendar.

Therefore, it has been recommended to add this guidance note to the ICOUK Moon Sighting Criteria (2017), as stated below.

1. The use of optical aid is allowed in the UK provided the moon is possible to be sighted by the average naked eye of correct vision anywhere within the sighting zone (Matale), but not otherwise.
2. The sighting zone currently agreed includes the UK to Morocco region, which may change in the future as the number of sighters increases to combat adverse weather conditions in the UK.
3. The possibility of the sighting (Imkan Al-Ruyat) by the naked eye is defined as per HMNAO/Yallop Code A (or B above age 24 hrs)*, as informed by UK observation experiences over many years.

*or the equivalent in other published criteria (e.g. Odeh, NACSA, etc).

Note: the purpose of restricting the use of optical aid above is to keep the moon sighting experiences within the reach of the general public (Ruy’yat Ammah) and not just for the selected few (e.g. astronomy experts)!

Related: Is it possible to sight the moon in South Africa before Morocco? | The Theory of Global Moon Sighting And Flat-Earth

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Last Updated: 21 June 2022

The vast majority of UK Muslims obtain the crescent moon (Hilal) sighting news from nearby countries such as Morocco (or Saudi Arabia) due to the adverse weather conditions in the UK. However, some UK Ulama started to follow South Africa a day before Morocco from Shawwal 1430 AH (September 2009) until 1433 AH (August 2012). The Crescent Visibility Map for Shawwal 1430 (September 2009) is shown below.

As from Shawwal 1434 (2013), it was no longer technically possible for the Hilal to be sighted in South Africa a day before Morocco and it will continue to be the case for next 30 years, at least. This is because the Hilal only appeared from Southern Africa region for only few (3 – 4) years when Ramadan is in the Summer/Autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere, while it is the Winter/Spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.

The reason is, the lunar Hijri calendar year (354 days) is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar year (365 days), causing the lunar months to cycle through all the solar seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring) of the year. This cycle is completed once every 33 years approximately (i.e. 365/11). The next time the Hilal may appear over Southern Africa, similar to Shawwal 1430 (September 2009) will be in Shawwal 1465 (September 2042), but even in that year it will also be on Morocco horizon. The Crescent Visibility Map for Shawwal 1465 is shown below.

Looking at future years after the 33 years’ cycle from 2042, it appears the Hilal sighting area (or parabola) will no longer miss Morocco horizon when it’s also over Southern Africa and hence it can be deduced that it is not possible for Southern Africa to sight the Hilal one day before Morocco for another 33 years (or a life-time of 66 years, at least!).

Therefore, it is not necessary for UK Muslims to look for Hilal news from South Africa and limiting to Regional Moon Sighting Criteria for the UK is more than sufficient, which is closer to the Nearest Latitude (Aqrab Al Balad) Fiqh rule for reliable moon sighting reports.

Reference: Accurate Times 5.3 by Mohammad Odeh (ICOP) / Related: Controversy of Moon Sighting in South Africa (2014) (pdf)

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