Moonsighting for Safar 1433
1433 AH
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The Astronomical New Moon is on December 24, 2011 (Saturday) at 18:06 UT. On Saturday, December 24, it can not be seen anywhere in the world. On Sunday, December 25, 2011, it can be easily seen in Western Africa and Americas. On Monday, December 26, 2011, it can be seen in the rest of the world easily (See visibility curves).

Sighting Reports

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on December 25, 2011 from Esfahan, Iran with Naked eye by Mohamad Soltanolkotabi (MCW member).


Saturday, 24 December 2011:

  • No report of sighting from anywhere, just as calculated.

Sunday, 25 December 2011:

  • Australia:

    1. Not Seen: Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: On Sunday 25th December 2011, the Hilaal of SAFAR 1433 has not been sighted anywhere in Australia. The Hilaal Committee and Majlisul Ulamaa� of Australia have therefore affirmed that the month of SAFAR 1433 will start from Tuesday 27th Dec.2011.

    2. Not Seen: Engr Manzoor A Mian (MCW member) from Melbourne, VIC reported: On Sunday 25th Dec 2011, Melbourne was patchy cloudy. Crescent age and lag time was short. we were unable to sight the crescent in Melbourne. The crescent was also not seen anywhere in Australia, hence the 1st day of Safar is Tuesday, the 27th of December 2011.

  • Bahrain:

    1. Seen by telescope: Abdul Hameed Haji (MCW member) reported: On Sunday December 25, 2011 The New Crescent was seen by 10" MEADE TELESCOPE (LX200R) at 17:13 in Bahrain
      Waliaser Group - Bahrain

  • Canada:

    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): Baig Muhammad Tamachi (MCW member) from Peterborough Ontario reported: Combination of heavy cloud cover and falling snow prevented sighting of the Safar 1433 Hilaal in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada on Sunday, 25th of December, 2011.

  • India:

    1. Not Seen: Iqbalhusen Bokda (MCW member) from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Moon for Safar was not sighted today on 25th December (29th Muharram) here in Godhra, Gujarat. Many of my friends from other parts of India gave negative reports. So on 26th December, it will be 30 Muharram.

  • Iran:

    1. Seen w/binoculars: Alireza Mehrani (MCW member) from Esfahan reported: On Sunday December 25, 2011 (Dey 4, 1390) Crescent was first observation through 15x80 binoculars at 17:24 LT (13:54 UT)
      Moon Alt: 3� 27' 44"
      Sun Alt: - (5� 57' 05")
      Elongation: 10� 13' 27"
      Rel Azi: 3� 59' 41"
      Moon Width: 0.25'
      Moon Phase: 0.94%
      Moon Age: 19h 47m after conjunction
      Crescent first observation through 5x70 binoculars at 17:25 LT (13:55 UT)
      Crescent last observation through 15x80 binoculars at 17:40 (14:10 UT)

    2. Seen w/Naked eye: Mohamad Soltanolkotabi (MCW member) from Esfahan reported: Observers: Daryoush Zolfaghari rad, Ahmadreza Karimi & Mohamad Soltanolkottabi On Dec 25, Sunday, We started to look for the thin crescent about Sunset. I first observed the crescent through 20*90 binocular at 17:21 disappearing behind a piece of cloud. After a few minutes the crescent appeared again & Mr. Zolfaghari rad & Karimi saw it at 17:33 through 20*90 binocular. Also I could see the crescent bye naked eyes at 17:40 for a few minutes.
      The first observation through 20*90 binoculars at 17:21
      Moon Alt:5�
      Elongation: 10.18�
      Moon Phase: 0.94%
      Moon Age: 19h 45m The first observation by naked eyes at 17:40
      Moon Alt:2�
      Elongation: 10.34�
      Moon Phase: 0.97%
      Moon Age: 20h 4m

  • Kuwait:

    1. Seen w/telescope only: Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait reported: In Kuuwait at Kabad desert on Sunday 25 Dec 2011 I and 5 other persons were able to see the crescent only with 8" telescope. I could not see it with 20*60 binocular, the western horizon was cloudy and hazy.

  • Malaysia:

    1. Not Seen: Firdaus Mazlan (MCW member) from Johor Bahru reported: On Sunday, 25 th December 2011 M equal to 29 Muharram 1433 H, I with my friend (Mr. Mohammad Haniff bin Md Yusoff, Mr. Jamaluddin bin Abu Bakar, Mr. Asmanizam, Mr. Mohamad Fadzlan bin Yaacob, and Mr. Muhammad Zainal Abidin bin Mohamad Hani) 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).

  • Mauritius:

    1. Not Seen (Overcast): Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Hilal for Safar 1433 AH was not sighted this evening Sun 25, Dec in Mauritius due to an overcast sky. We will complete 30-day Muharram to-morrow and 1st Safar will be Tuesday, 27 Dec

  • Morocco:

    1. Not Seen in Casablanca, but seen elsewhere: Ehsan H. Hajar (MCW member) from Casablanca reported: On Dec 25, Sunday, I was unable to spot the new crescent due to overcast and high humidity level in the SW horizon in Casablanca. hopefully positive sighting might come from elsewhere in the kingdom of Morocco.
      Updated sighting report from Morocco is that a confirmation came from Morocco Awqaf Ministry that the hilal has been sighted on Dec 25.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Not Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: Today (Sunday, 25 December 2011= Pakistan: 29 Muharram 1433) on my request, more than 150 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 nearly at 16 places but the moon could not be sighted. It was clear or little hazy in nearly all 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 Monday 26th December 2011 is 30th Muharram 1433 AH and Tuesday 27th December 2011 is 1st Safar 1433 AH in Pakistan.
      Note 2: After some days, inshaAllah, a detailed report of this observation will be available at
      www.esnips.com/web/moonnewsofjamiaturrasheed

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Not Seen (Overcast): Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Ta'if reported: On Sunday, the 25th of December, I was unable to see the crescent in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, possibly due to the cloudiness.

  • South Africa:

    1. Not Seen: Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban reported: The Hilaal was not sighted in S. Africa this evening, Dec 25, Sunday. We are counting 30 days for Muharram.

  • Tanzania:

    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): Zaffar Sheriff (MCW member) from Daressalaam reported: A huge cloud sat on western horizon at sunset. The 21hour+ crescent was not seen in Daressalaam. 1st Safar will commence on Tuesday 27th Dec 2011.

  • UK:

    1. Not Seen in UK, but seen in Morocco: Qamar Uddin (MCW member) from York reported: On Sunday, 25 December 2011 (29 Muharram 1433 AH) many people from throughout UK have attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Safar after sunset. None of the groups were able to sight the Hilal, as most places were cloudy. However, we have received reliable sighting report (Muhaqaq-Ruyat-Basari) from Morocco Awqaf Ministry via fax (see attached). Therefore, the Wifaq/Batley Ulama have decided that the month of Muharram 1433 AH will have 29 days and the month of Safar 1433 AH will start from Monday 26 December 2011, Insha-Allah.
      PS.
      We have received unofficial reports from many other countries in the Middle East and Africa that they have also sighted the Safar Hilal this evening, 25 December 2011, including the Saudi Hilal Committees (who also attempted sighting yesterday, 24 December 2011).

    2. Not Seen in UK, but seen in Morocco: Aziz Raje (MCW member) from York reported: It was overcast in all of England on Sunday evening 25th December so we were not able to see the Hilal. However we have received written confirmation of sighting news from the Ministry of Awqaf in Morocco. Wifaq ul Ulama have therefore decided that we will have 29 days of the Month of Muharram and the Month of Safar 1433 in the United Kingdom will commence from Monday 26th December 2011 Insha Allah.

  • USA:

    1. Seen: Mrs. Yasmin Din from Shephardstown, WV reported: Today, Dec 25, 2011, Sunday, I saw very thin moon on the western horizon.

    2. Seen: Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, December 25, 2011), we sighted the Crescent moon in Blacksburg, VA. We arrived at our sighting location at 4:36 pm EST (sunset: 5:09 pm) and started scanning the expected crescent location, using a pair of binoculars (7X50). Venus was sighted with the binoculars and with the naked eye at 4:40 and 4:49 pm, respectively. The first crescent sighting was at 5:14 with the binoculars and at 5:20 with naked eye. My son also sighted the moon soon after. The western horizon was clear with some haze. The horns were at 3:00 and 7:30 O'clock (3:00;5:00;7:30). At 5:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 46.4 F, 28.4 F, 50%, and 30.12 in, respectively. We left the location at 5:45 pm (moonset: 6:27 pm EST).

    3. Seen: Azat of Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM) from Gaithersburg, MD reported: Sh. Jamil Sowe and I observed the Hilal tonight, Dec 25, Sunday. Crescent was clearly visible at ICM location between 5:15 and at least 5:35. sunset time: 4:50. Weather: clear sky, hazy at the horizon.

    4. Seen: Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed (MCW member) from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee of Sanford, FL wishes to inform the community that the new crescent was sighted in St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, December 25, 2011. Based on this sighting, MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2011 is established as the 1st Day of Safar, 1433 AH.

    5. Seen: Zachary Twist (MCW member) from Hayward CA reported: On Sunday evening, Dec. 25, 2011, I was with my wife and three children on our patio in the hills of Hayward, CA (94541) overlooking the San Francisco Bay Area. The sun set at 4:55 and it was a mostly clear sky with small, scattered, very thin clouds across the western sky. At 5:14pm, without the use of any optical aid, we all clearly saw the very thin crescent moon approximately 7-8 fingers above the horizon, just to the left of where the sun had set. The crescent's orientation was with its tips at 3 and 7 o'clock. The moon became increasingly bright and visible, remaining in the sky for well over 30 mins as it moved lower and to the right until about 5:50 when it dissipated in the haze just above the horizon. (At 5:20 I also received a text message from expert moon-sighter and (MCW member) Dr. Youssef Ismail, who described seeing the similarly placed and oriented crescent in a location 30 miles southwest of my location.)

Monday, 26 December 2011:

  • Canada:

    1. Seen: HiMY SYeD (MCW member) from Toronto Ontario reported: The new crescent moon was seen from the Little Italy neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto tonight, Monday, Dec 26, 2011. I was on my way home to perform Maghrib shortly after sunset time along College Street and was able to easily see it.

  • Dominican Republic:

    1. Seen: Ahmad Abdul Haqq (MCW member) from Santo Domingo reported: The Safar moon was sighted with the naked eye in Higuey, Dominican Republic, by one Muslim of the Entidad Isl�mica Dominicana (Dominican Islamic Entity), in the clear North Eastern sky, at 18:35hrs (6:35pm), on 26th of December 2011.

  • France:

    1. Seen: Rida Roty (MCW member) from Caen (Normandie) reported: The new crescent moon of Safar 1433 was easly sighted with the naked eye in France after sunset time on 26th of December 2011.

  • Nigeria:

    1. Seen: Jinadu Yunus (MCW member) from Kisi, Oyo State reported: I sighted new moon today 26/12/11 far above horizon, at 7:40pm. It disappeared at 8:05pm, meaning that it remained on the horizon for a long time. I want to submit this repoirt I could not see the moon yesterday because of clouds. This moon was definitely sightable yesterday. So today Sunday 26/12/11 is 1st of Sofar.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: On my request, Today (Monday, 26th December 2011 = 30 Muharram 1433 in Pakistan) many hundred 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 and resultantly easily sighted the crescent at more than 25 places in all 4 provinces.We also sighted it easily in Karachi. As this moon had good conditions therefore it was seen at some places even 8 to 10 minutes before sunset. Generally it was clear countrywide.

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Seen: Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Makkah reported: On Monday, December 26th I spotted the crescent in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

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