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            Shawwal 1428

Eid Al-Fitr Will Be on Oct. 13, Say Astronomers - Arab News

JEDDAH, 1 October 2007 — The first day of Eid Al-Fitr will be Saturday, Oct. 13, according to Dr. Ali Al-Shukri, head of the department of physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran.

"Friday, Oct. 12th, will not be the first day of Shawwal but will be the 30th day of Ramadan," Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted Shukri as saying. He said it would be impossible to sight the Shawwal crescent on Thursday evening. "I say this based on astronomical calculations, and the beginning and end of the months will be determined only after sighting the moon," Shukri said.

The Emirates Astronomical Society in Abu Dhabi echoed Shukri's view saying Saturday, Oct. 13, will be Eid Al-Fitr in most Muslim countries.

Official UAE news agency WAM quoted Mohammed Shaukat Odeh (Awda), a member of the society and chairman of the Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP), as saying that astronomical calculations show that Oct. 13 corresponds to the first day of Shawwal. The ICOP has 350 scientists competent in moon sighting and evaluations as members.

Muslim scholars are divided on whether dates of religious occasions such as fasting and Haj could be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations. While one group says technology could be used for the purpose, their opponents say sighting of crescent by naked eye is a must in the light of the Prophet's instructions.

The Astronomical New Moon is on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 5:00 GMT (i.e., 1:00 am EDT, or October 10, 10:00 pm PDT). It will not be visible on October 11 anywhere in the world, except Southern tip of South America and Polynesian Islands in the South Pacific. On October 12, it will be visible in New Zealand Australia, Indonesia, South Asia, Africa and Africas. In North America on October 12, it can be seen with some difficulty. Look at the visibilty curve below. So, Eidul-Fitr should be on Saturday, October 13 in some parts of the world, and Sunday, October 14, in other parts of the world, Insha-Allah.

Sighting Reports for Shawwal 1428

Thursday, October 11, 2007:

A news has come that Saudis announced Eid to be on Friday, Oct 12. Of course, it is impossible to see the moon in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Moonset was before sunset, and angle from sun was less than 6 degrees, when no light from the surface of the moon can come to earth.

Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis, Mauritius, reported: Not Seen
There have been no reports of Hilal sighting here in Mauritius to-day, Thursday, 11 October 2007. So we are completing 30 days Ramadhan. We will be celebrating EID on Saturday, 13 October 2007.

Hamza Rijal, (MCW member), from Island of Zanzibar, Africa, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
The Shawal Hilaal was not sighted in tiny island of Zanzibar on 11 of October, therefore we are completing 30 days. The official first day of Shawal in Zanzibar will correspond to Saturday, 13 October, 2007

Yusuf M. Lambat (MCW member), Blantyre, Malawi, reported: Not Seen
No sighting of the crescent. Eid will be celebrated on Saturday 13 October 2007.

Ahmed Mohamed, (MCW member) from Windhoek, Namibia, reported: Not Seen
Moon was not sighted on tonight 11 october 2007, however we will complete 30 day of Ramadaam, and Eid Ul fitr will be on Saturday 13 october 2007.

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

Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban, South Africa, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
The Hilaal for Shawwal was not sighted anywhere in SA this evening. Saturday (13th Oct.) has been declared Eid-ul-Fitr.

Amara from SaphirNews, France, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
We are the first webmagazine dedicated to islamic information in France I just wanted to inform you that, officialy, Eid el fitr will take place here on Saturday, Oct 13th, Inch'Allah This is the decision of the French Conseil of Muslim Affairs

Jamal Mimouni, Sirius Astronomy Association, Constantine, Algeria, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
It was read on national TV the official communiqué of the National Crescent Committee, stating that:
1-Due to the fact that the crescent was not seen anywhere in Algeria
2-Due to the scientific impossibility of its visibility
the month of Ramadhan will be completed to 30 days, and the Eid will be on Saturday 13 October.

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

Muhammed Yasin Qamardeen (MCW member) from Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State, Nigeria, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
The Hilal of shawwal was not visible tonight perharp due heavy cloudy at western sky here in Lagos, at the shore of Atlantic. Besides, report from Bauchi city, Bauchi State and Ilorin, Kwara state were indicative of clear sky and heaavy cloud at the time of magrib respectively.

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

HiMY SYeD (MCW member) from Toronto, Canada, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
The Hilal Committee of Toronto has also determined that since no satisfactory moonsighting has been made, they too are completing a full 30 days of Ramadan and Celebrating Eid al Fitr on Saturday October 13 2007.

Amjed Hashmi from Chicago, IL, reported: Not Seen, 30 days will be completed
In Chicago we had our Hilal Committee meeting to gather the moonsighting information.There was no moonsighting in USA yesterday and hence the Committee has decided to complete 30 days.Eid will be tomorrow.Please find the attached announcement with a request to post this news on your web site.

Sharaaz Khan Qadri (MCW member) from Wilton(Sacramento) California, reported: Not Seen
I went out to look for the crescent on Thursday evening but the Sacramento horizon was overcast and I believe it was the same in the Bay Area. Sighting was not possible from Sacramento/Wilton. In the light of the fact that the moon was not sighted anywhere in the US, our local masjid along with many others accross the nation that started Ramadan on Thursday Sept 13, will complete thirty days and observe Eid ul-Fitr on Saturday October 13.

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

Friday, October 12, 2007:

Zail Ali from Fiji Islands, reported: Seen
On Oct 12th the moon was sighted in the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific very clearly without the Use of an Aid as predicted by you. So Eid in the South Pacifc Islands is on October 13th.

Lilik Abdul Hamid, Social Secretary of An-Nur Mosque, Christchurch, New Zealand, reported: Seen
The moon of SHAWWAL 1428H has been sighted on Friday 12th October 2007 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Therefore the hilal committee of New Zealand has declared that the month of SHAWWAL will start from Saturday, 13th October 2007.

Syed Muhammad, Imam Hasan Centre (MCW member), Sydney, reported: Seen
Alhumdulillah today 12 October 2007 at 18:45 we witnessed the New Crescent in Sydney, Australia. Although it was a bit cloudy but we had the opportunity to witness the new crescent with our Jamaat of Prayerees.

Dr. Shabbir Ahmed, (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque, Sydney, Australia, reported: Seen
The Hilaal of SHAWWAL 1428 has been sighted in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and other states. Therefore, the moon-sighting committees of Australia and Majlis ul Ulamaa of Australia have declared that the month of SHAWWAL will start from Saturday, 13th October 2007.

Farooq Dudhia from Brisbane Australia reported: Seen
On October 12 we sighted moon in Brisbane Australia. We used the Mooncalc program by Dr. Monzur Ahmed to determine the times and other criteria for sighting the moon. Alhando-lillah, the data was very useful in determining the direction and altitude of the moon, as well as the most suitable times.

K.A.M.Azizul (MCW member) Huq from Dhaka, Bangladesh, reported: Not Seen
On 12th October ,after Magreb Prayer I was at the valcony of 14th floor of the building looking for new Crescent of Shawwal Moon. But the sky was covered with thin layer of cloud all over western horizon. There was no scope to see the Moon.I waited for information of Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh. They also confirmed that none of 64 observation reports was positive. But several groups already observed Eid on 12th following KSA. TV news has shown the pictures.

Shaikh Altaf Hossain from India reported: Not Seen
We in india no where (hopefully) seen eid ul fitr moon on 12/10/2007 Friday the 29th day of ramazan ul mubarak. We will keep 30th day of ramazan roza (fasting) on 13/10/2007 Saturday. So we indian muslims will insha-allha will have eid ul fitr on 14/10/2007 sunday.

Mohammad Farookh from Mumbai, India reported: Not Seen
We have tried to see the new crescent from the top our building located in Vashi New Bombay today with members living in our building about say 10 people. Regret to inform that we were not able to spot the same. We were able to see one planet about 30deg from top of our head southwest. The sky was clear though slightly hazy at the horizon. Since the sunset was at 18:18 and moon set was at 18:48, we were hopeful of seeing the crescent. But none appeared. The local mosque and most of mosques and TV channel announced that crescent was not spotted over India and hence the Eid Al Fitr will be on Sunday, 14th.

Captain Tahir Gul Hasan (MCW Member) from Lahore, Pakistan, reported: Not Seen
The Shawwal moon was NOT sighted at Lahore on the evening of 12 October 2007, in the presence of two other witnesses.

Danish Siddiqui from Karachi, Pakistan, reported: Not Seen
We are unable to see the moon in Karachi Pakistan, and there is no report of moon sighting on Friday

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

Mohsin Kanji form Iran reported: Not Seen
Please see following messages on sistani.org and najaf.org official websites of Grand Ayatullah Seestani regarding confirmation of sighting in Iraq.

By His Name The Most High The sighting of the moon crescent for the month of Shawwal has been ascertained by His Eminence Ayatullah Al-Udhma as-Sayyid Ali Al-Hussaini as-Seestani (long may he live) in Najaf. Tomorrow Saturday the first day of Shawwal 1428 Hijri (13 October 2007) will be the auspicious day of Eid Al-Fitr in the Middle East. As for European countries, Saturday will be the last day of the holy month of Ramadhan, based on His Eminence’s ruling of non-unity of horizons. Our heartiest congratulations go out to all momineen. May Allah accept your A’mal. 29 Ramadhan 1428 (Friday 12 October 2007).

AliReza Mehrani (MCW member) from Esfahan Iran reported: Not Seen
The western horizon was totally cloudy.

Zeyaur Rahman Khan from Mbita Kenya reported: Seen
I saw moon of Eid-ul-fitr today at 7:00 PM Kenya time. Eid Mubarak

Yusuf Ali Nafsi from Tanzania reported: Seen
Received sms from Tabligh-Daressalam(Tanzania) that new moon of shawwal was sighted for half an hour.

Khalid Chiraibi from Morocco reported: Seen
1st shawal 1428 in Morocco is saturday october 13, 2007. This was announced by the Moroccan authorities Friday night.

Farid Ahmed Degia (MCW member) from Barbados, reported: Seen
Alhumdulillah the HILAL was sighted in Barbados Today Friday 12th October,at approx: 6:10 pm by many people. We in Barbados had completed 30 fast for Ramadhan this year.

Muhammad Hafiz (MCW member) from Guyana reported: Seen
I and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjids and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Friday, 12th October, 2007 in Guyana. As was predicted from the Hilaal visibility curve a very thin Hilaal was seen by myself and others at 5:55 PM (Guyana Time).

Mohamedraza H. Janmohamed (MCW member) from Sanford, FL reported: Seen
Moon was sighted in Tampa & Orlando, Florida. The FIRST DAY of Mahe Shawaal 1428 AH is therefore established as SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2007

Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg, VA reported: Seen w/Binoculars only
This evening (Friday Oct 12), using a pair of binoculars (7X50) I was able to sight the moon in Pilot Mountain State Park, NC. The actual sunset was at 6:48 behind low clouds, close to the horizon. The stated sunset for that location for today was 6:50. I started scanning the WSW around sunset looking for Mercury when at 6:53, I saw the moon itself for a short time. The crescent was very thin with its horns located around 12:30 and 6:00 O'clock. I could not see the moon with naked eye, however.

Shahryar M. Naqvi from Mississippi reported: Seen
The moon was sighted in Starkville, Mississippi by four individuals: Shahryar Naqvi, Sarah Naqvi, Ali Mehdi Naqvi, and Sufia Naqvi. Moon was sighted on Friday, October 12, 2007, approximately at 6:45pm. The moon was only seen for two or three minutes.

Paul Burnham (MCW member) from Chino Valley, Arizona reported: Seen w/Binoculars only
The new Crescent moon was sighted briefly from Chino Valley, Arizona this evening of October 12. Observation was at 1818 MST through binoculars only as the moon passed by a gap in locally broken clouds. The upper cusp was at approximately 2 O'clock, the lower cusp was not observed. Observation continued to locally advertised moonset of 1831 MST without further sighting due to clouds to the horizon.

AliReza Baig (MCW member) from Upland California reported: Seen w/Binoculars only
On October 12 - around 6:10pm PDT, I alongwith my son, Mehdi, positioned ourselves to a vantage point in Upland, California where we could see the sunset. It was cloudy in the Greater Los Angeles area, and we were unable to view the crescent with an unaided eye. As we were leaving (around 6:30pm PDT), my son was able to spot the crescent between clouds, with the help of our 10x50 Bushnell binocular. He lost track of it after 2 minutes. Mehdi & I tried to view it without the binocular but were unable to see it.

Kazim Mamdani from San Diego, California reported: Seen w/Binoculars only
Moon sighted in San Diego.I saw it with binoculars, conditions were not suitable for sighting. It became visible from behind clouds for about a minute twice, at 6:30 and 6:35 from where I was. I was not able to see with naked eye though.

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

Saturday, October 13, 2007:

Captain Tahir Gul Hasan (MCW Member) from Lahore, Pakistan, reported: Seen
The Shawwal moon was SIGHTED at Lahore on the evening of 13 October 2007, in the presence of two other witnesses. Weather: dry with dust-haze; Observation Time: sunset (17:33 LT) until moonset (18:26 LT); Moon Azimuth: 238 degrees; Moon Altitude: 9 degrees above horizon; Orientation: reverse ‘C’ shape (slightly tilted back to 1 o’clock position)

Khalid Asalam from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, reported: Seen w/Binoculars only
Have just managed to see the new moon 15 minutes after maghrib prayers here in Rawalpindi, Pakistan through my binos. It was not visible with the naked eye. So we shall celebrate Eid Ul Fitr tomorrow Sunday 14th October 2007.

Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait, reported: Seen
In Kuwait on Sat 13 oct 2007 I saw the crescent in the following order seen with 8 " LX200R Meade GPS telescope 16:48 (33 minutes before sunset), seen with naked eyes at 17:16 (5 minutes before sunset), (note : I could not see the crescent with 20*60 till after seeing it with naked eyes because my bino was not focused proberly), sunset 17:21,last seen with naked eyes 18:03 (17 minutes before moonset !!!!), last seen with 20*60 bino 18:05 behind a building but I estimate that I could see for another 2 to 3 minutes. Moonset at 18:20. The western horizon was hazy with light clouds. Moon conditions at sunset age 59h:44m,lag 59 m,elong 26 deg, alt 5 deg rel azi -23 deg, ill 5.2 %.

Muhammad Nur bin Abdullah, aka Michael Williams from Carlilse PA reported: Seen
After trying unsuccessfully to see the Shawal crescent on Friday night October 12th, we were able to see the first crescent on Saturday Oct 13th, 2007 in Carlilse PA. The enclosed picture was taken at 6:49 pm which was about 15 minutes after sunset. The moon was still visible at 7:10 pm but set at approximately 7:20 pm. Consequently, we have declared Sunday October 14 to be the first of Shawal for Carlisle PA. E’id Mubarak.

OFFICIAL 1st Day of Shawwal in Different Countries

Thursday, October 11, 2007:

  1. Nigeria (also on Oct 12)

Friday, October 12, 2007:

  1. Albania
  2. Armenia
  3. Azerbaijan
  4. Bahrain (Follow Saudi)
  5. Bosnia and Hercegovina
  6. Georgia
  7. Iraq (Follow Saudi)
  8. Jordan (Follow Saudi)
  9. Kazakhstan
  10. Kirgizstan
  11. Kosovo
  12. Kuwait (Follow Saudi)
  13. Libya (Conjunction Before Dawn)
  14. Lebanon (Follow Saudi, Astronomical Calculations)
  15. Luxembourg
  16. Malaysia (also on Oct 13)
  17. Montenegro
  18. Netherlands (also on Oct 13)
  19. Nigeria (also on Oct 11)
  20. Palestine (Follow Saudi)
  21. Qatar (Follow Saudi)
  22. Romania
  23. Russia
  24. Saudi Arabia (Claim of Sighting)
  25. Spain
  26. Sudan (Follow Saudi)
  27. Tajikistan
  28. Tatarstan
  29. Tunisia
  30. Turkey (Astronomical Calculations)
  31. U.A.E. (Follow Saudi)
  32. UK (also on Oct 13)
  33. Yemen (Follow Saudi)

Saturday, October 13, 2007:

  1. Algeria (30 days completion)
  2. Board of Imams in Australia (30 days completion)
  3. Canada (30 days completion)
  4. China (30 days completion)
  5. Egypt (30 days completion)
  6. Europe - European Council for Fatwa & Research
  7. France (30 days completion)
  8. Germany (30 days completion)
  9. Indonesia (30 days of Ramadan)
  10. Iran
  11. Kenya
  12. Malaysia (also on Oct 12)
  13. Morocco
  14. Namibia (30 days completion)
  15. Netherlands (also on Oct 12)
  16. Oman (30 days completion)
  17. South Africa (30 days completion)
  18. Syria (30 days completion)
  19. Thailand
  20. USA - Islamic Society of North America/Fiqh Council
  21. UK (also on Oct 12)
  22. USA (30 days completion)
  23. Uzbekistan

Sunday, October 14, 2007:

  1. Bangladesh
  2. India
  3. Pakistan
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