Wednesday, 14 November 2012:

• Australia:

  1. Not Seen: Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: On Wednesday 14th November 2012, the Hilaal of MUHARRAM 1434 was not seen anywhere in Australia. Hence, the Hilaal Committee and Majlisul Ulama' of Australia have declared that the month of MUHARRAM will commence from Friday 16th November 2012.

  2. Not Seen: Engr Manzoor A Mian (MCW member) from Melbourne, VIC reported: Melbourne was cloudy on 14/11/12 Wed evening. We were unable to sight crescent in Melbourne. It was also not sighted anywhere in Australia. Therefore, the first day of Muharram in Australia will be from Friday 16th Nov. 2012 InshaAllah.

• Barbados:

  1. Seen: Suleman Manjra (MCW member) reported: The moon to start Muharram was clearly seen in Barbados on the evening of 14th November 2012.

• Chile:

  1. Seen: Muhammad Sohail (MCW member) from Iquique reported: Today, Nov 14, here in Iquique we observed the new moon of Muharram.

• Dominican Republic:

  1. Not Seen (Cloudy), but Muharram begins on Nov 15, based on sighting in Barbados: Ahmad Abdul Haqq (MCW member) from Santo Domingo reported: The moon for the month of Muharram 1434H was not seen in the Dominican Republic due to the skies being completely cloudy with scattered rains through out the country. In the cities of Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Hig�ey all reports were negative. However, due to positive sightings in nearby Barbados and in the USA (Texas & Arkansas), Thursday 15 of November 2012 CE is officially the 1st of Muharram 1434 AH. Mubarak! Happy New Year!

• India:

  1. Not Seen: M. Siddik Nadvi (MCW member) from Ahmedabad, Gujrat reported: Today Wednesday, November 14, 2012 = 28 Zul hijja 1433 Hijri we tried to see the crescent of Muharam 1434 Hijri at our Institute JAMIA KANZUL ULOOM From 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm but we did not seen the crescent.

• Indonesia:

  1. Not Seen, but Muharram begins on Nov 15, based on Imkan Rukyah Criterion: AR Sugeng Riyadi (MCW member) from Surakarta, Java reported: On Wednesday: Nop 14, 2012 the new crescent of muharram 1434 AH was NOT SEEN from Assalaam Observatory, PPMI Assalaam Surakarta Central Java Indonesia because rainy. We are about 50 persons from LP2IF RHI and BHR Pamekasan and also male and female students of CASA. The 1st of Muharram 1434 AH in Indonesia will began on Thursday Nop 15, 2012 according to the Imkan Rukyah Criterion.

• Japan:

  1. Not Seen, but Muharram begins on Nov 15, based on decision in Malaysia: Salimur Rahman Khan [[email protected]] reported: Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee-Japan is pleased to announce that the 1st of Muharram 1434 A. H. falls on Thursday 15th November, 2012. Although the Hilal (Crescent) was not sighted in Japan, the Hilal (Crescent) was confirmed according to the Islamic Authorities in Malaysia.
     On behalf of The Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee-Japan we wish all of you a very happy New Year 1434 A. H. and pray to Allah (S. W. T.) to accept our good deeds, bless Ummah Islamiya and guide all of us to follow the holy Qur�an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).

• Malaysia:

  1. Not Seen (Cloudy): Firdaus Mazlan (MCW member) from Johor Bahru reported: On Wednesday, 14 th November 2012 M equal to 28 th Dhul-Hijjah 1433 H, I with my friend (Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim bin Jamil, Mr. Mohammad Haniff bin Md Yusoff, Mr. Mohd Fahmi bin Zakaria, Mr. Nor Mohd Uzair bin Norsahperi, and Mr. Nor Ashraf bin Norsahperi) cannot see the new moon either with telescope or with naked eye at Baitul Hilal, Teluk Kemang, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia (02:26:43.0 N , 101:51:16.0 E). It because the horizon is very cloudy.

• Mauritius:

  1. Seen w/binoculars only: Hanif Radjahoussen (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Seen with binoculars only (Omegon 10x50w) between 18:41 and 18h46 when the crescent altitude was between 4,6� and 3,58� then i disappear behind the clouds you can see on attached pictures. Observation with naked eyes haven't been possible.

  2. Not Seen (Scattered Clouds): Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Hilal for Muharram was NOT sighted evening Wed 14 Nov in Mauritius even with 10x binoculars and a clear sky with some scattered clouds. 1st Muharram 1434 shall be Friday, 16 November.

• Morocco:

  1. Not Seen: Khalid Chraibi (MCW member) from Casablanca reported: I am pleased to inform you that the Moroccan authorities have announced that the new moon couldn't be observed in the evening of Wednesday November 14. The 1st of Muharram 1434 is on Friday November 16, 2012.

• Saudi Arabia:

  1. Not Seen: Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Ta'if reported: Wednesday, November 14th I did not sight the moon in Taif, Saudi Arabia. It was not cloudy.

• South Africa:

  1. Seen: Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim (MCW member) from Cape Town reported: The Muharrum Hilaal was sighted per naked-eye from Cape Town this evening (19h45), Wednesday, 14 November 2012 (end of 29th Dhul Hijjah 1433). The official first day of the New Year in Southern Africa countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi) will be on Thursday, 15 November 2012.

  2. Seen: Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban reported: On Wednesday 14th November 2012, the Hilaal was sighted in South Africa (in Cape Town). Muharram 1434 will commence from Thursday 15th November 2012.

• Spain:

  1. Calculations: Gabriel Jairod�n Riaza (MCW member) from Madrid reported:
     The Union of Islamic Communities of Spain and Islamic Commission of Spain announce that Thursday, November 15, 2012, is the first day of the month of Muharram, Islamic New Year 1434. Click here.

• Tanzania:

  1. Seen w/binoculars only: Zaffar Sheriff (MCW member) from Daressalaam reported: On 14 Nov, Sunset was 6.20pm. At sunset, Altitude was 8.4; Elong was 9.1; Age 17h 12m; Duration 41m. From eight of us, only two could spot the crescent with binoculars, at 6.40pm and 6.45pm. NO naked eye sighting was reported. We complete 30th Dhulhijja tomorrow as binocular sighting was not sufficient.

• UK:

  1. Not Seen, but Muharram begins on Nov 15, based on sightings in South Africa: Qamar Uddin (MCW member) from York reported: On Wednesday, 14 November 2012 (29 Dhul Hijjah 1433 AH) many people from throughout UK have attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Muharram after sunset. None of the groups were able to sight the Hilal, even though some places had clear sky conditions.
     However, we have received reliable sighting reports (Muhaqaq-Ruyat-Basari) from Jamiat-e-Ulama, South Africa.
     Therefore, the Wifaq/Batley Ulama have decided that the month of Dhul Hijjah 1433 AH will have 29-days and the month of Muharram 1434 AH will start from Thursday 15 November 2012, making Ashura fast on Saturday 24 November 2012, Insha-Allah.
     Notes:
     Saudi Arabia will also start Muharram 1434 AH from Thursday 15 November 2012 based on the Ummul Qura Calendar (but may announce the same date later this week, as last year).
     Morocco had a slight possibility of sighting the Hilal this evening (14/11/2012), but after a long delay (possibility awaiting reports from every single point), the Awqaf Ministry has reported negative sighting report. So far, they have avoided the temptation to follow calculated predictions only, Alhamdulillah.

  2. Not Seen, but Muharram begins on Nov 15, based on sightings in South Africa: Aziz Raje (MCW member) from Ilford Essex reported: Many groups throughout the country tried to observe the Hilal on Wednesday Evening 14 Nov. Although we had really excellent conditions in the South of the Country, we were not able to locate the Hilal. However we have received written confirmation of actual sighting from the Jamiatul Ulama of KZN S Africa of Actual Verified Sighting. Wifaq ul Ulama have therefore decided that we will commence the Month of Muharram 1434 and the Islamic New Year from Thursday 15th November in the United Kingdom Insha Allah

• USA:

  1. Not Seen Cloudy): Omer Subhani (MCW member) from Fort Lauderdale FL reported: On Nov 14, we Could not see the new moon in South Florida due to cloudiness.

  2. Not Seen: Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Wednesday, November 14, 2012), the crescent moon of Muharram was not sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). My friend and I arrived at our sighting location about 5:20 pm EST (sunset: 5:11 pm). Using pairs of binoculars, we started scanning the west southwest horizon. The horizon was mostly cloudy. We stayed there till 5:55 pm (moonset: 6:00 pm). At 5:35 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 37.4 F, 30.2 F, 75%, and 30.37 in, respectively.

  3. Seen: Ms. Lyana Snow (MCW member) from Little Rock, AR reported: On Wednesday 11/14/2012 at 5:43pm CST the hilal of Muharram was seen in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA by Lyana Snow. The sky was mostly clear.

  4. Seen: Khalil Homafar (MCW member) from Houston TX reported: About 5:56 pm Houston Texas central time I saw the moon by naked eyes in the clear sky. The position of crescent was 3 to almost 8 O'Clock. And about 6:08 pm it gone down and disappeared.

  5. Not Seen (Cloudy): Mirza Shahid Basravi (MCW member) from Irvine CA reported: I tried but could not see the Moon here in Irvine, Ca. The western sky was too cloudy. I went out with a binocular to see if I could pick off a partial crescent passing behind any of the gaps in the clouds. There were really no gaps to allow any type of sighting.

  6. Seen: Azam Baporia (MCW member) from Mill Valley CA reported: On November 14, Wednesday, Muharram Hilal was sighted in Mill Valley, California.

  7. Not Seen: Abdur Rahmaan Ali (MCW member) from San Bernardino CA reported: Hilal was not seen in San Bernardino, CA. Insha'Allah I will report if it is seen tomorrow.

• Zimbabwe:

  1. Not Seen: Ayub Mahomed (MCW member) from Harare reported: On 14 Nov, moon was not sighted in Zimbabwe weather conditions were cloudy. But based on sighting in South Africa, 1st Muharram is on Thursday 15 November in Zimbabwe.