Moonsighting for Rajab 1439
1439 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Jumada-at-Thania 1439: March 17, & March 16, 2018

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Jumada-at-Thani 1439 AH), March 16, 2018 (not the new moon to start Rajab). Al Urjoonal Qadeem like phase of waning moon seen at 05:49 IST today - Friday 29th of Jamaathul Aakhir 1439 (16th March 2018) from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India).
Lat: 08�42'51"N :& Long: 77�44'26"E; Time: 05:49 am IST. The illumination was about 2.4%; the Altitude was about 5� & horns were at 5 & 9 positions. (Photo on the right is provided by Mohamed Hussain from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India): Click on the photo on the right to see full size.










New Crescent Moon of Rajab 1439:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on March 17, 2018 (Saturday) at 13:12 UT. On March 17, the moon is not visible anywhere in five continenents. On March 18, the crescent can be seen easily from India westward and with difficulty in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. On March 19, it will be easily visible everywhere. (See visibility curves) below.

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on March 18 (Sunday) from Perth Western Australia.


March 17, 2018 (Saturday):

  • South Africa:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Saturday 17th March 2018, the Hilaal was NOT sighted in South Africa. Therefore Rajab 1439 will commence on Monday 19th March 2018 in South Africa.

  • USA:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that there was NO sighting of the new crescent on Saturday, March 17, 2018. Therefore upon completion of 30 days, MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Rajab, 1439 AH.

    2. Not Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America reported: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announces that Sunday, March 18th, 2018, will be the last day of Jumada al-Akhirah and that Monday, March 19th, 2018, will be the first day of the month of Rajab, 1439 A.H. for the entire region of North America.
      This determination is based on the fact that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye at sunset on Saturday, March 17th, 2018, in any region of North America.


March 18, 2018 (Sunday):

  • Afghanistan:


    1. Not Seen (cloudy): MCW member Engr M Ibrahim Mayar from Kabul reported: Today, Sunday, March 18, 2018, due to severe raining in Kabul, Rajab new moon could not been sighted.

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Sunday) 18th of March, the Hilaal of RAJAB has been sighted in Perth. Hence moon sighting committee of Australia has declared that the month of RAJAB will commence from Monday 19th of March 2018.

  • Canada:


    1. Seen: Mr Shahid Rashid from Mississauga, Ontario reported: Sighted on Sunday March 18, 2018 - I was in Toronto and sunset was at 7.28 PM and the moonset at 8.46 PM. With blessing of Allah the sky was very clear today. The moon was more than 30 hours old. The crescent was very thin but all 10-12 people in my group easily sighted the moon around 8 PM after performing Maghrib prayer.
      Not sighted on March 17, 2018 - I had also tried on March 17 in Mississauga, ON but there was no sighting. Sky condition was also good on Saturday.

  • Chile:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: Today (Sunday) 18th of March, the Hilaal of RAJAB has been sighted in Chile.

  • Egypt:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: This morning (March 18), here in Maadi, southern Cairo, (29.96�N, 31.2498�E, Elevation: 85.0m) the weather did not look favourable for moonsighting. Visibility was poor, and the sky was overcast. Until after Asr, one could hardly see the sun. Around 17:00, the western horizon began to clear up. I started the stopwatch at 18:02. Apparent sunset was at 18:05. Temperature was ~28�C, pressure was low at about 1007 mB, and relative humidity ~ 23%. There was no sign of the Hilal until the Adhan had finished ~ 18:08. I went off to Maghrib prayers. I returned about 19 minutes after apparent sunset, at which time I could easily see Venus. But there was still no sign of the Crescent. A couple of minutes later I was setting up the camera, and then the Crescent suddenly appeared, and I stopped the stopwatch, which read 25'18". Thus the crescent was first visible at 18:27:18". Click on the photo to see full size.

  • India:


    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Today Friday 16-02-2018 = 29-Jumad� al-akhirah-1439 Hijri. I tried to see the moon at my home from 06:30 pm to 07:00 pm but the moon was not sighted because horizon was too cloudy but In Sha Allah 1st Rajab wil be 20th of March 2018

    2. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr Molvi Iqbalhusen Bokda from Godhra, Gujrat reported: On March 18 Sunday, the Hilal for Rajab, 1439 was not seen here at Godhra The sky was partial cloudy. I contacted many of friends. The all gave negative sighting report. Hilal committees of Delhi, Patna, Mumbai, Bhopal and Hyderabad have already declared their written declaration that the crescent was not seen and hence first of Rajab will be on Tuesday, 20th March.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Seen by others: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory in Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java reported: The new crescent of Rajab 1439 AH was not seen on Sunday 18th of March 2018 from Rowasiya Observatory at Klaten Central Java by myself and Assalaam Observatory at Sukoharjo Central Java by my students, the sky was rainy.
      The hilal was sighted from Bandung by mr. Ahmad I. Adjie and his friends, from Cibeas Pelabuhanratu West Java by Mr. Ismail Fahmi and from Anyer Banten by team of BMKG Indonesia.
      The 1st of Rajab 1439 AH in Indonesia will start on Monday, March 19th, 2018.

  • Israel:


    1. Seen by others: MCW member Mr Neria Haroeh from Ramlah reported: I could not see the moon due to clouds but I received two sightings reports: (1) Roy Hoofman - I saw the Moon with great difficulty this evening (Sunday 18th March 2018) from Mitspe Nevo, Ma'ale Adummim, Israel. The sky was cloudy and hazy but a small patch opened up and at 18:11 I saw it with binoculars (25 x 100 mm) then at 18:12 with the naked eye. It disappeared within a minute and I could not get a photograph. T 20�C, P 959 mBar, RH 30%.

      (2) Yotam Marcus - I saw from Nitzana around 18:30 (Photo attached) Click on the photo to see full size.

  • Morocco:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ehsan H. Hajar from Casablanca reported: On March 18, I spotted hilal Rajab after maghrib prayer from my regular place in Casablanca Morocco. Initially the sky had one octas of dark clouds but high & humid horizon but Alhamdou li-ALLAH, the new crescent was clearly visible. Horns between 3&7, temp.15c Dp 13 vis. 9k humidity 86 % P 1017mb I expect Habous ministry will announce positive sighting any time declaring Monday as first day of Rajab 1439 May ALLAH (SWT) guide & bestow his mercy on all Muslims & help reaching Ramadan.

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: On March 18 Sunday, the Hilal for Rajab was seen from abha between the clouds. Click on the photo to see full size.

  • Sri Lanka:


    1. Not Seen (cloudy): MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today, 29th Jumada-at-Thani 1439 H (18/03/2018) evening the Colombo western sky was cloudy, the new Moon of Rajab was not sighted. Hence the month of Rajab1439 H will Start in Sri Lanka on 20th March, Tuesday "In Sha Allah"

  • Tanzania:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: For Rajab 1439AH, Hilal was not sighted in tiny Island of Zanzibar on the evening of Sunday 18th March, 2018, therefore the official first day of Rajab will correspond with Tuesday 20th of March, 2018.
      Seen: On Sunday 18th March, 2018, I had reported that moon has not been sighted anywhere in Zanzibar with its neighbour country and we shall wind up the Jamdul Ukhra for 30 days, but to my surprise on Monday I had received number of calls from various Islamic Institutes as well as few individuals who what to know my stands after Mufty office inform that they had received report that that a night before in place call Mgeni Haji hilal has been observed similarly in Tanzania mainland hilal has been observed in Rukwa which has been approved by the Acting secretary of Mufty, so Monday 19th is the first day of Rajab instead of Tuesday 20th of March.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ishmael Khan from Princes Town, Trinidad reported: On March 18, the moon was sighted at Maghrib time signaling the first night of Rajab 1439 today Sunday 18th March 2018. Monday 19th March will be the first day of Rajab 1439. The crescent being from 4:00 O�Clock to 8:00 O�Clock. May Allah bless all of us and allow us to reach Ramadhaan Insha Allah.

    2. Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Rajab 1439 AH was looked for after the sunset of Sunday 18th March 2018. Reports from all committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was SIGHTED.
      We have accepted these reports and has declared that the month of Jumaadal Aakhirah 1439 AH will complete 29 days and the 1st night of Rajab 1439 AH is the night of Sunday 18th March 2018, and the first day of Rajab 1439 AH is the day of Monday 19th March 2018.
      Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 21: Time of Sunset: 18:17: Time of first appearance of the crescent: 6;27pm:

  • Turkey:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Tugrul �ekirdek from Intanbul reported: On Sunday 18/03/2018 evening, the sky was cloudy in Istanbul/Turkey, the new Moon of Rajab was not sighted.

  • UK:


    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mrs Jamilah Amal from Liverpool reported: I was unable to sight the hilal due to very cloudy weather conditions here in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on Sunday 18th March 2018.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: Mr Haadi H, Albany NY reported: On March 18, Hilal for month of Rajab was sighted here in Albany, NY at 7:20 pm.

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, March 18, 2018), the crescent moon was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). A friend of mine and I arrived at our sighting location a few minutes before sunset (sunset: 7:32 EDT pm). The western horizon was partly cloudy. Using pairs of binoculars (7X50 and 10X50), we started scanning the horizon. The first binocular sighting was at 7:24 pm followed by naked eye sighting. Venus was a great guide to locate the moon. The horns were at 2:30 and 7:30 O'clock (2:30;5:00;7:30). The first binuclear sighting of Mercury was at 7:45 pm followed by it's naked eye sighting at 7:56 pm. We left the site prior to moonset (moonset: 8:49 pm). At 7:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 55.4 F, 26.4 F, 33%, and 29.92 in, respectively.
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