Moonsighting for Rabi-al-Awwal 1434
1434 AH
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The Astronomical New Moon is on January 11, 2013 (Friday) at 19:43 UT. On January 11, it can not be seen anywhere in the world. On Saturday, January 12, 2013, it can be seen with difficulty in Middle East, and Middle Africa. However, it can be easily seen in Northern Africa, many countries in Europe, and Americas. (See visibility curves).

Sighting Reports

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on January 12, 2013 from Morocco.


Friday, 11 January 2013:

    No Moonsighting is expected.

  • India:

    1. Not Seen: Mohammed Zafar (MCW member) from Chitradurga, Karnataka reported: On FRIDAY, 11th JAN 2013, the Hilaal of Rabi-al-Awwal was NOT sighted in INDIA.

Saturday, 12 January 2013:

  • Australia:

    1. Not Seen: Muhammad Khatree (MCW member), Brisbane, QL reported: The crescent was not sighted tonight in Brisbane. The radar maps showed that it was not possible to sight it in our region, but to be consistent in our approach to following the Sunnah of sighting the hilal, we nevertheless made the effort, Alhamdulillah. The weather was somewhat overcast, thus making any possible sighting difficult.

    2. Not Seen: Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: On Saturday, 12th January 2013, the Hilaal of RABI�UL AWWAL 1434 has not been sighted anywhere in Australia. Therefore, the Hilaal Committee and Majlisul Ulama' of Australia have affirmed that the month of RABI�UL AWWAL will commence as of Monday, 14th January 2013.

    3. Not Seen: Engr Manzoor A Mian (MCW member) from Melbourne, VIC reported: We were unable to sight crescent in Melbourne on 12/1/13 Saturday evening. It was also not sighted anywhere in Australia. Therefore the first day of Rabbiul awwal in Australia is Monday the 14th of Jan 2013 InshaaAllah.

  • India:

    1. Not Seen: Mohammed Zafar (MCW member) from Chitradurga, Karnataka reported: On SATURDAY, 12th JAN 2012, 6-30 PM, the Hilaal of of Rabi-al-Awwal was NOT sighted.

    2. Not Seen: Molvi Iqbalhusen Bokda (MCW member) from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Moon for Rabi-ul-Awwal was not seen here in Gujarat today on 12th January (29th Safar). All friends from different parts of the country have given negative sighting reports.

    3. Not Seen: Yusuf Idara (MCW member) from New Delhi reported: Today Saturday, 12, January, 2012 = 29 Mu?arram 1434 Hijri. I Yusuf Idara try to sight the Moon of Rabi al-Awwal 1434 Hijri, at New Delhi, India at 05:45 pm to 06:15 horizon is very foggy so we did not see the moon

  • Indonesia:

    1. Not Seen: Ahmad I. Adjie (MCW member) and his team from Bandung reported: The hilal was NOT SEEN today after maghrib, Saturday 12 January 2013, for the very heavy rain clouds obscuring the horizon. As the moon is not sighted, 1st Rabiul Awwal insha Allah shall start on 14 January 2013.

  • Iran:

    1. Seen: Eng. Seyyed Ghasem Rostami from AhmadAbad Ardakan City in Yazd State reported: On Jnuary 12, the sky was clear, the atmospheric condition was hazy, the crescent was seen by naked eye, the crescent was not sought by binocular, the crescent was seen by telescope.

  • Japan:

    1. Not Seen in Japan, but following Malaysia: Dr. Salimur Rahman Khan Nadwi, Chairman, Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee-Japan reported: Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee-Japan is pleased to announce that the 1st of Rabiul Awwal 1434 A. H. will be on Sunday January 13th, 2013. Although the Hilal (Crescent) was not sighted in Japan, the Hilal (Crescent) was confirmed according to the Islamic Authorities in Malaysia on Saturday Safar 29th, 1434 A. H. (January 12th, 2013).

  • Kuwait:

    1. Seen: Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait reported: In Kuwait, at Kabad Desert, on Sat 12 Jan 2013 I could see the crescent with naked eyes. We were four persons and all of us could see it with naked eyes. The age of the moon was 18H:05M, Elong 10:38�, Alt 9:36�, Lag 54 minutes, illumination 0.86%, Sunset at 17:11, First telescope sighting at 17:38 after coming out of cloud then immediatly with 10*50 binocular, then at 17:40 with naked eyes. Last naked eye sighting was at 17:56. Last binocular and telescope sighting at 17:58, Moonset at 18:05. Western horizon was little cloudy but not hazy (we are suffering from haziness in Kuwait most of the days of the year) and temperature was 10�C.

  • Malaysia:

    1. Not Seen: Firdaus Mazlan (MCW member) from Negeri Sembilan reported: On Saturday, 12th January 2013 (29 th Safar 1434 H), I with my friend (Mr. Mohd Firdaus bin Syaid, Mr. Muhammad Zainal Abiden bin Mohamad Hanif) 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). The horizon is very cloudy. The Hilal also cannot been seen in other places like Mersing (by Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim bin Jamil), Melaka (By Mr. Noor Mohd Uzair bin Norsahperi), and Pontian (By. Mr. Hudairi). So, tomorrow, 13th January 2013 (Sunday) is still the 30th Safar 1434 H.

  • Mauritius:

    1. Not Seen: Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Hilal for Rabi-al-Awwal 1434 was NOT sighted this evening, 12th January in Port-Louis in spite of a clear sky with some clouds over the horizon. 1st Rabi-al-Awwal 1434 will be Monday 14 January.

    2. Not Seen: Imrit Noorani on behalf of Nissar Ahmad (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: On Saturday 12th January 2013, the new moon was not visible in Mauritius. Sky was clear with a strip of cloud at the horizon. Members of Jummah Masjid Hilal Commitee were positioned in strategic places of the Island. Hence Sunday 13th January 2013 will be the 30th day of Safar 1434 and Monday 14th January 2013 will be the 1st Rabi Ul Awwal 1434. Eid Meelad Un Nabi (PBUH) will be celebrated on Friday 25th January 2013.

  • Morocco:

    1. Seen: Ehsan H. Hajar (MCW member) from Casablanca reported: The new crescent of Rabiul~Awwal has been sighted by me & one friend in our location @ Agdiz, south east Morocco around 1800 LT, lt was first by binocular followed by eye sight. Horn low horizontal. May ALLAH (SWT) spread his mercy on all of us.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): Rizwan Shah (MCW member) from Gujrat reported: Today, 12 january 2012 (29 safar) I and my 3 friends tried to sight the moon but due to cloudy weather we could not see the moon. There is also offaicly annouced that first Rabi ul Awwal will on Monday 14 Jan. I will also update tomorrow about sighting of the moon.

    2. Not Seen (Bad Weather): Mufti Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: Today (Saturday, 12 January 2013= Pakistan: 29 Safar 1434) on my request, nearly 100 persons ( members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" + my friends + their companions) tried to sight the moon all over Pakistan at more than 25 places but due to bad weather, the moon could not be sighted. All places were hazy, cloudy or rainy except 2 places. Note 1: Chairman of central official moon sighting committee of Pakistan mufti Muneebur-Rahman told me on my mobile phone that as they also did not receive any positive report hence they officially announced that Sunday 13th January 2013 is 30th Safar 1434 AH and Monday 14th January 2013 is 1st Rabee'-ul-Awwal 1434 AH in Pakistan.

      According to more than 12 criteria, it was possible to sight the moon by naked eyes on Saturday January 12, 2013 = 29th Safar 1434 in all or some areas of Pakistan, but due to bad weather the moon could not be sighted therefore month of Safar did not finish on 29th day. If the moon had been sighted on Janury 12 = 29th Safar, it would have been fourth consecutive month of 29 days in Pakistan.

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Not Seen: Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Ta'if reported: Today, Saturday January 12, 2013, I was unable to sight the crescent as it was cloudy in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia.

  • South Africa:

    1. Not Seen: Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban reported: On Saturday 12th January 2013, the Hilaal was NOT sighted in South Africa. Rabi-ul-Awwal 1434 will commence from Monday 14th January 2013.

    2. Not Seen: Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim (MCW member) from Cape Town reported: The Hilaal was not sighted in Cape Town this Saturday evening (12 January 2013 and the end of the 29th Safar 1434 AH) Negative sighting results from the rest of South Africa. The first day of Rabi-ul Awal will correspond with Monday, 14 January 2013.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Not Seen: Nular Bary (MCW member) from Colombo reported: Today 29th.Safar 1434H. 12/01/2013 Saturday evening the S.W. horizon sky was partly clear. I scanned the the sky till 6;40pm. after Maharib (6;11pm.) with my binoculars but I couldn't trace the New Moon of Rabi-al-Awwal and our Hilal committee of Sri Lanka also not received any positive sighting of the New Moon anywhere from country till late evening, Hence the Committee decided to complete the month of Safar with 30days and "Inn Shaa Allah" start the month of Rabi-al-Awwal 1434H. on Monday the 14th. January 2013. The announcement made in the local media too.

  • Tanzania:

    1. Not Seen: Zaffar Sheriff (MCW member) from Daressalaam reported: On January 12, 2013, Sunset 6.46 pm; Monnset 7.23pm; Altitude 7.7�; Elong 11.7�; Age 20h 3m; Duration 37 minutes; Phase 1.1%.
      It qwas partly cloudy western horizon. Crescent was not seen by naked eyes, nor by binoculars. 1st Rabiul Awwal correcponds with Monday 14th January.

  • UK:

    1. Seen: Qamar Uddin (MCW member) from York reported: On Saturday, 12 January 2013 (29 Safar 1434 AH) many people from throughout the UK have attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Rabiul Awwal after sunset. Most of the groups were unable to sight the Hilal, as many places were cloudy.
      However, the York group of observers were able sight the 21 hrs old moon at 16.47 hrs GMT by naked eye from the York Astronomical Society Observatory, which was first sighted by binoculars (15x) at 16.41 hrs by one of the astronomers from in-between a patch of thick clouds (see attached photo). We have also received a positive sighting report (Muhaqaq-Ruyat-Basari) from Morocco Awqaf Ministry and negative sighting report from Jamiat-e-Ulama, South Africa (by Email/SMS).
      Therefore, the Wifaq/Batley Ulama have decided that the month of Safar 1434 AH will have 29-days (based on the UK sightings) and the month of Rabiul Awwal 1434 AH will start from Sunday 13 January 2013, Insha-Allah.
      The York group observers included: Maulana Imran Lunat, Vashiullah Bodiyat, Hafiz Yusuf Mayet, Hafiz Ismail Suleman and Yusuf Mulla from Batley. The York group included Qamar Uddin and about 10 Astronomical Society members.

  • USA:

    1. Seen: Dr. Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Saturday, January 12, 2012), the crescent moon of Rabi-al-awwal was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). The western horizon was partly cloudy; I waited so long for the moon to appear in a clearing spot (sunset: 5:25 pm EST). My first sighting was with a pair of binoculars (7X50). Right after, I saw the moon with naked eye; the crescent was thin but at that time, I could have spotted it without the use of the binocular. The horns were at 3:30 and 8:00 O'clock (3:30;5:00;8:00). I left the location prior to moonset (moonset: 6:49 pm). At 6:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 60.8 F, 57.2 F, 88%, and 30.13 in, respectively. See photo on the right.












    2. Seen: Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed (MCW member) from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that the new crescent was sighted in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, January 12, 2013, and therefore SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1434 AH.

    3. Seen: Mohammad Naeem from Fullerton CA reported: Today around 5:40, I, Mohammad Naeem and My wife both saw new moon when we were driving on Yorba Linda Blvd in the city of Fullerton. Sky was very clear and moon sighted very clear. The moon is pointing at 3 and between 8 and 9 of the clock.

    4. Seen: Tasmin Ahmad(MCW member) from Murrieta, CA reported: On Saturday, 12th January, 2013, I along with my two sons saw the thin crescent of the new moon easily in Murrieta, California at 5:40pm. The sky was clear. The orientation of the crescent was from 4 O'clock to 8 O'clock on the dial of an imaginary clock in the sky. Photo of the crescent can be seen at: http://falakbeen.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-moon-12-jan-2012-1-rabi-al-awwal.html

Sunday, 13 January 2013:

  • Fiji Islands:

    1. Seen: M Shamim Ali (MCW member) from Samabula Suva reported: On Sunday, January 13, 2013, the New Moon for Rabi-ul-Awwal 1434H was sighted in various parts of the Fiji Islands, therefore first for Rabi-ul-Awwal 1434H is on 14th January 2013.

  • India:

    1. Seen: Mohammed Zafar (MCW member) from Chitradurga, Karnataka reported: The new crescent was sighted on January 13, 2013 around 6 PM, and therefore MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012 is established as the 1st Day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1434 AH.

  • Nepal:

    1. Seen: Muhammad Aamir (MCW member) from Kathmandu reported: On Sunday, Jan 13, 2013, we (4 Muslims) saw the moon easily in Kathmandu, Nepal around 5:35pm. It was visible till 7:15pm. The sky was clear enough to sight the moon. The orientation of the crescent was from 2 O'clock to 9 O'clock on a dial of an imaginary clock in the sky.

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