Moonsighting for Rajab 1427

SIGHTING IS NOT EXPECTED FROM AUSTRALIA, ASIA, EUROPE, AND AFRICA

Shahid Iqbal (MCW member) from Swabi, Pakistan: Not Seen
The sky was completely cloudy with intermitant monsoon rain here in Swabi (1043 feet above sea level) alongwith northern and most of south eastern parts of Pakistan at local sun set. There were no positive sighting reports from areas of the country having clear conditions due to low altiude (4.7 deg) for a narrow rel azmuth (-1deg), short age (9.77hrs), small sun set-moon set lag (27 min), low magnitude (-4.1) and poor luminosity ( 0.28 %). altitude at best time , 14:33 UTC, was 0.5 Deg.

Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (MCW member) from Oxford, UK: Not Seen
Negative sighting. I attempted a sighting at the end of the 29th day of the preceeding lunar month (Tuesday, 25 July 2006). The horizon is clear, but there was no sighting. The difference between the moon and sunset [tafawut al-nayrayn] had already been determined to be approximately 39 minutes. I waited until moonset and prayed Maghrib at the site. I received news from Morocco that the new crescent was also not sighted by moonspotters there and their authority declared that the month of Jumada al-Thani is to complete its 30 days. This news and the expectatation that there will be no possible sighting east to our longitute is sufficient for us to complete this month and establish the new month [thubut al-hilal] of Rajab in the UK to be on the day after tomorrow, Thursday, the 27th of July. Consequently, the Night of Mi'raj or the 27th of Rajab, in the UK as in Morocco, should also be after the sun sets on Monday, the 21st of August.

Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg, Virginia: Not Seen
This evening (several minutes after the sunset), using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I spent a limited amount of time scanning the western/northwestern horizon which was partially covered by clouds. In addition humidity was very high and clouds covered the lower portion of sky. I was unable to sight the moon.

Shahnoor Syed (MCW member) from Chicago, Illinois: Not Seen
On the 29th of Jamadi-us-Sani i.e. Tuesday, the 25th of July, 2006. New Moon of Rajab was not sighted in Chicago due to light clouds on the western sky.

Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi (MCW member) from Austin, Texas: Not Seen
Few of us attempted to sight the Hilal of Rajab in Austin, TX. We did not see it.

Hadi Jaafar (MCW member), Ph.D. from Gallup, Mew Mexico: Not Seen
Due to the cloudy Horizon in Gallup, NM, I did not attempt moon sighting tonight.

Paul Burnham (MCW member) from Chino Valley, Arizona: Not Seen
I regret to report that no crescent moon was observed this evening of July 25. Seasonal thunderstorms completely dominated the western horizon from 5PM MST to well after moonset.

Abdul Sattar Ridhan (MCW member) from Hayward, California: Not Seen
We tried to sight the moon after maghrib; were not able to sight. We did not have Binocular, so we were just trying without it.

Dr. Youssef Ismail (MCW member), Windy Hill, San Francisco, California: Seen
This evening, July 25, 2006, at 8:42pm I sighted the new moon of Rajab 1427. It was extremely thin with its limbs at 3 O'clock and 6 O'clock. It was approximately 3 fingers above the horizon when first seen. I was unable to see it with the naked eye, but it was clearly visible with 10x50 power binoculars.
Moon First sighted with 10x50 Binoculars at 8:42pm PDT at an Azimuth of approximately 293 degrees True North, at an altitude of about 3 fingers above the horizon. The limbs were at 3 O'clock and 6 O'clock. It was not visible with the naked eye. My location was 37 degrees 18 minutes North Latitude and 122 degrees 12 minutes West Longitude at an elevation of 2050 feet above sea level. Weather conditions were perfect, with clear skies out to the horizon, able to see the fog over the Pacific Ocean. Marine layer was about 200 to 500 feet thick. Small about of haze on the horizon which obscured the moon just moments before it set at approximately 9:07 pm PDT.
Unfortunately I was the only adult there to see it. But I did photograph it from its first sighting until I lost it in the haze on the horizon. The films have been dropped off for processing and I will have them digitized by Wednesday evening July 26th. Expect another email tomorrow night.

July 26, 2006 (Wednesday)

Gulam Qutbuddin Siddiqi, Member Ruyah Hilal Committee, Sydney Australia: Seen
Please be informed that the Hilal was reported to be physically sighted on Wednesday 26 July 2006 {29 Jamaadiyul Ukhra 1427 AH} in the capital cities of DARWIN and PERTH, Australia. Therefore the month of Rajab 1427 AH commences from Thursday 27 July 2006.

Shahid Iqbal (MCW member) from Swabi, Pakistan: Not Seen
Despite very high chances of visibility with naked eye, new moon was not observed from Swabi, Pakistan, on the evening of Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 due to dense clouds and poor weather conditions canopying all the South Asia. Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan also announced in Karachi, later tonight, about negative sighting of new moon, all over the country on Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 and declared Friday, July 28th, 2006 as the First of Rajab 1427 Hijri.

Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait: Seen
In Kuwait on Wednesday 26 July 2006, I could sight the crescent only with 20*60 binocular in the following sequence: sun disc disappeared at 18:36 behind haze; our local sunset at 18:45; first seen the moon with binocular at 18:51 until last seen with binocular at 19:21; our local moonset was at 19:48.

Hamza Rijaal, (MCW member), from Island of Zanzibar, Africa: Seen
Moon was sighted locally in tiny island of Zanzibar at about 18:35 local time (15:35 GMT) moon was extremly thin at the begining on clody evening. Visual sighting was confirmed by all viewers. I am glad to find out that moonsighting conscious is gaining momentum to the hearts of many young Muslims in the islands.

Yusuf M. Lambat, Malawi: Seen
We in Malawi also sighted the moon clearly after Magrib Salaat.

Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban, South Africa: Seen
The Hilaal for Rajab was seen this evening in SA - many places. It was an easy sighting.

Ebrahim Senior (MCW member) of Cape Town, S. Africa: Seen
I was on holiday in the Kwa-Zulu province of South Africa and viewed the Hilaal by naked-eye at Scottsville, a suburb of Pietermaritzburg, which is approximately 2000 km north-east of Cape Town. On Wednesday evening, the 26 July 2006, and the 29 day of Jamadith Thani 1427 AH, I sighted the Rajab Hilaal at 17h35 (10 minutes after local sunset).

The Hilaal was also sighted throughout Southern Africa and the official first day of Rajab corresponded to the 27 July 2006.

Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (MCW member) from Oxford, UK: Seen
Positive sighting. On the last day, i.e., the 30th, of Jumada' II, the two of us attempted to sight the hilal of Rajab from the top of the mosque's minaret. Alhamdulillah, we sighted it with the naked eye at 21:20, left of sunset, with its orientation of 120 degrees (horns at 1 and 7 o'clocks). Allahu akbar...hilalu khayrin wa-rushdin! Allahumma barik-lana fi-rajaba wa sha'bana wa balligna ramadana! May Allah accept our fasts and our magfiras in this beautiful month!

Muhammad Hafiz (MCW member) from Guyana: Seen
Myself and the members of the Rose Hall Town Masjid and Islamic Center observed the Hilaal at 6:30 PM on July, 26th, 2006 in Guyana. The Hilaal was easily seen.

Gulamabbas A. Khakoo (MCW member) from Buena Park, California: Seen
Unable to sight the crescent on Tuesday, July 25th, 2006. Sighted the crescent for the month of Rajab on Wed. July 26th, 2006 here in Buena Park, California. Local time 8:25pm. The sighting was with a naked eye and very clear. The top horn was between 12 and 1 o'clock and the bottom horn was between 7 and 8 o'clock. Temperature: 80°F 27°C Conditions: Fair; Winds: SSW 5 MPH SSW 8 KPH; Relative Humidity: 64%; Barometer: 29.82 Rising; Visibility: 9.00 Miles 14.48 Kilometers.

Mary Singer (MCW member) from Spokane, Washington State: Not Seen
The new lunar crescent was not seen from on Wednesday evening, July 26, 2006. Western part of the sky was very cloudy.