Ramadan 1433 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on July 19, 2012 (Thursday) at 4:24 Universal Time (7:24 a.m. Makkah time). On Thursday, July 19, it can not be seen anywhere in the world by naked eye, except in small areas of Polynesian Islands. On Friday, July 20, 2012, it can be easily seen in Australia, South-East Asia, Africa and Americas.
On July 19, 2012 (Thursday), Sunset at Makkah at 7:01 p.m., Moonset is at 7:11 p.m. Moon is born before sunset at Makkah and moonset is after sunset at Makkah. Therefore, according to Ummula-Qura Calendar, 1st day of Ramadan is Friday, July 20, 2012 insha'Allah.
According to Fiqh Council of North America criteria (moon born before sunset at Makkah, and moonset after sunset at Makkah) 1st day of Ramadan is Friday, July 20, 2012 insha'Allah.
Eid ul-Fitr 1433 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on August 17, 2012 (Friday) at 15:54 Universal Time (6:54 p.m. Makkah time). On Friday, August 17, it can not be seen anywhere in the world by naked eye. On Saturday, August 18, 2012, it can be easily seen in Southern Africa and South America. On August 19, it can be seen in almost the whole world.
On August 17, 2012 (Friday), Sunset at Makkah is at 6:49 p.m., Moonset is at 6:30 p.m. Moon is born after sunset at Makkah and Moon is setting before sunset at Makkah. Therefore, according to Ummula-Qura Calendar, Eid-ul-Fitr will NOT be next day, but it will be on Sunday, August 19, 2012 insha'Allah.
According to Fiqh Council of North America criteria (moon born before sunset at Makkah, and moonset after sunset at Makkah) 1st day of Shawwal is Sunday, August 19, 2012 insha'Allah.
EID-UL-ADHA 1433 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on August 29, 2011 (Monday) at 3:04 .
The Astronomical New Moon is on October 15, 2012 (Monday) at 12:02 Universal Time (3:02 p.m. Makkah time). On Monday, October 15, it can not be seen anywhere in the world by naked eye. On Tuesday, October 16, 2012, it can be easily seen in Australia, Africa and Americas; and with difficulty in South-East Asia.
With this calculations Day of Arafah is expected to be on Thursday, October 25, 2012. This is also the date in Ummul-Qura calendar for Day of Arafah.
According to Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), Eid-al-Adha would be on the day after the Day of Arafah; i.e., Friday, October 26, 2012.
A Fiqhi Discussion in a Book by Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah.
For more info, Click here
Further, listen to the following:
This book shatters the myth that naked-eye sighting of the new moon and completing 30 days in the case of weather-related or other obscurities are the only two valid methods of determining the month of Ramadan. The author explains that certainty, not actual sighting, is the real objective of the Shari'ah and that the Qur'an does not mandate physical sighting. A careful analysis shows that those hadiths that seemingly require sighting actually require certainty. The assertion that all Muslim scholars prohibit the use of astronomical calculations, both in affirming or negating the month of Ramadan, is not correct. As calculation is now more accurate than naked-eye sighting, due to certain astronomical and scientific advancements, the use of calculation is the closest to the real objective of the Shari'ah and to the spirit of the hadiths. [Paperback ISBN-10: 1-56564-334-8]
Moon Sighting Problems Video Part 1 of 3
Moon Sighting Problems Video Part 2 of 3
Moon Sighting Problems Video Part 3 of 3
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Updated November 11, 2011