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Last Updated: 12 August 2022

Crescent Moon Visibility of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH

The crescent visibility map below for Dhul Hijjah 1439 shows that moon will be born on 11 August 2018 at 09:58 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible to the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region on that date. However, on 12 August 2018 it will be easily visible in the UK and in most countries of the world. Hence, the month of Dhul Hijjah is most likely to start from 13 August 2018 (so Eid-ul Adha is likely to be on Wednesday 22 August 2018), InShaAllah. See also: Is Eid-ul Adha Connected with Hajj? | Significance and Virtues of Dhul Hijjah (first 10 days)

When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH

Please look for the Hilal of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH on 12 August 2018 (29th Dhul Qa'dah) after sunset from the western horizon as per Sunnah and report your results (positive or negative) via our website Observation Report Form.

Results of Crescent Moon Observations for Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH

Announcement for start of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH

On Sunday 12th August 2018 (29th Dhul Qa'dah 1439 AH) the Hilal of Dhul Hijjah 1439 was not sighted in the UK due to adverse weather, but it was sighted in Morocco. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).

Therefore, the month of Dhul Qa'dah 1439 AH will have 29-days and the month of Dhul Hijjah 1439 AH will start from Monday 13th August 2018 (making Eid-ul Adha to be on Wednesday 22nd August 2018), InShaAllah.

Significance of Dhul Hijjah (first 10 days)  
1. Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it." (Bukhari, Book 9, Hadith 259)
2. Abu Qatadah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah). He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year." (Muslim, Book 9, Hadith 260)

Note: We have received reliable reports from Saudi Arabia that none of the official Hilal Committee astronomers were able to sight the moon (5 hours old, 2 deg altitude) yesterday (11 August 2018), but the usual early-sighers from near Riyadh (Sharqra/Tomair) have claimed a sighting and the court had accepted it. 
Saudi Scientist believes this is caused by the psychological bias of the Ummul Qura calendar date (running ahead of visibility), creating an image of the crescent moon inside the memory of the witnesses, even though it is not possible to be physically sighted by the human eye.
The advice by Saudi Ulama to Muslims outside Saudi Arabia is they should not follow the moon sighting reports of Saudi Arabia and should make their own arrangement based on the Sunnah of local sighting.
(Ref: Is Eid-ul Adha connected with Hajj?).