Moonsighting for Safar 1436
1436 AH
 MUH  SFR  RBA  RBT  JMO  JMT  RJB  SHB  RMD  SHW  ZQD  ZHJ 

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on November 22, 2014 (Saturday) at 12:32 UT. On November 22, the crescent can not be seen anywhere in the world except by telescope in Western USA. On November 23 moon can be seen in almost the whole world (See visibility curves).

1436sfr1

Sighting Reports

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on November 23, 2014 from Cairo, Egypt.

November 22, 2014 (Saturday):

  • USA:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Jim Stamm from Tucson AZ reported: On Nov 22, I with two other obsevers Chris Corbally and Hamdy Ahmed were NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope. We were given several minutes when the crescent would be between clouds, and despite having the telescope precisely pointed, and each observer knowing his focus point, we were unable to see the hilaal.

    1436sfr2 November 23, 2014 (Sunday):

  • Australia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Moussa Khalife from Sydney, NSW reported: On Sunday 23 November 2014 the weather in Sydney was very cloudy between 7:40 pm to 8:20 pm so we couldn't sight the crescent at this time. Sunset was 7:45pm and moonset 8:20 pm. We were 4 people in 2 different places in Sydney and unfortunately none of us sighted the crescent because of the cloudy weather in Sydney.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr. Shabbir Ahmed Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: The Hilaal of SAFAR has not been sighted anywhere within Australia on Sunday, 23rd of November 2014. There was a possibility of the sighting of the moon in Western Australia but due to thick cloud no one has seen the moon there. Therefore, the month of SAFAR will commence from Tuesday, 25th of November.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Engr Manzoor A Mian from Melbourne, VIC reported: Melbourne weather was cloudy on Sunday 23/11/14 and we were unable to sight crescent. It is also not sighted anywhere in Australia that evening. Therefore the first day of Safar is Tuesday 25th Nov. 2014 in Australia.

  • Egypt:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr. Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: On Sunday Nov 23, I and at least two of my colleagues, managed to spot the moon, with the naked eye, albeit with difficulty. With a 1.65% percentage illumination, this was not entirely unexpected. In fact, I had some difficulty with focusing the camera as well. To make matters worse, the sky was overcast with clouds, with a small region above the horizon clearing up. Moreover, I could not really spot it until it was less than 4.5 degrees high. I had to use an exposure of 1s, so unfortunately, this is not the best photo I have taken. The attached photo is time stamped, 17:37, apparent sunset was at 16:56. The temperature was between 20 and 19, the pressure around 101.6 kPa, and the relative humidity: ~37% Visibility was generally quite good, barring the dark cloud formation.

  • France:

    1. Seen w/telescope only: MCW member Mr. Laurent Abdullah from Mulhouse reported: I was sitting with my wife on Sunday, Nov 23 between 5pm and 5:30pm. We have seen the moon in the sky with telescope for about five minutes. We could not see it with naked eyes. Here is a photo through telescope. 1436sfrfrance

  • Ghana:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Baba Abdulai from Tamale reported: Date of sighting effort; Sunday, 23rd November, 2014. The crescent was SEEN in this location having a 4 to 8 o'clock orientation. Time of first sighting; 18:05. The sky was quite clear with almost no clouds but very dusty. As at 18:25 the crescent could still be seen. Sighting location: Sagnerigu community, Tamale, Northern Region.

  • India:

    1. Seen by Others: MCW member Mr. Molvi Iqbalhusen Bokda from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Moon for Safar, 1436 was not seen today on Sunday, November 23 here at Godhra, India. Friends from other places as Surat, Mumbai, Delhi gave negative sighting reports. However, later Moon committee of Ahmedabad has declared based on sighting in Saurashtra (West Gujarat) that 1st Safar will be on Minday 24th November.

  • Indonesia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi from Assalaam Observatory, Surakarta Central Java reported: On Sunday 23 November 2014 we were 65 persons from CASA (Club Astronomi Santri Assalaam), LP2IF RHI and Bosscha Observatory tried to observe the new crescent of Safar 1436 AH. The Hilal of Safar 1436 AH was Not Seen because the sky in Surakarta Central Java Indonesia was rainy from 5:05 pm to 7:30 pm.
      Officially, the 1st of Safar 1436 AH in Indonesia begins on Monday, November 24, 2014.

  • Kenya:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Ali Mohamed from Mombasa reported: Today Sunday 23 November 2014 at 6:42pm, Mombasa Kenya. I myself and my neighbor have seen the new moon of Safar 1436. The orientation of the crescent horn was 4 O'clock to 8 O'clock.

  • Mauritius:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Mohammad Ramtoola (Sending on behalf of Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola) on behalf of MCW member Mr. Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: Moon has been sighted in Mauritius by the Jummah Masjid Hilaal committee. 1st of Safar will be on Monday 24th November.

  • New Zealand:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Arief Syamsulaksana from Auckland reported: The hilal observation for the beginning of month Shafar 1436H was performed at suburb Dannemora Auckland, New Zealand from 19:50 to 20:30 DST (GMT +12). The western horizon sky was covered by thick cloud up to altitude approx 3 degrees above the horizon. The observation was performed using finder scope 6x50. Maghrib time was at 20:20 DST. The hilal could NOT BE SEEN by finder scope nor naked eye.

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Luqmaan Williams from Ta'if reported: On Sunday, November 23rd in Al-Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, nothing seen. It was very cloudy. It has been raining the past few days in At\Ta\if and Makkah. Luqmaan Williams

  • South Africa:

    1. Seen: Mr. Shaik Abdulla from Cape Town reported: On Sunday 23rd Nov 2014, moon crescent from cape town west coast was sighted at approx 8pm. Horns of the crescent 5 o'clock to 10 o' clock. Several people with me sighted.

    2. Seen: MCW member Molvi Ashraf Dockrat from Pretoria reported: On Nov 23, the hilal for Safar 1436 was also sighted from Pretoria in clear conditions. United Ulama council announcement: UUCSA Central Hilaal Committee announced: 1st Safar - 24 Nov 2014

    3. Seen: MCW member Mr. Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On Sunday 23rd November 2014, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Safar 1436 will commence on Monday, 24th November 2014.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Suhail Patel from Colombo reported: The Crescent for Safar has not been sighted in Sri Lanka. Therefore Muharram will complete 30 days.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Mr. Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th.Muharram 1436H (23/11/2014) it's a rainy evening almost every where in Sri Lanka so we fail to sight the New Moon of Safer due to overcast. Our Hillal Committee checked with all the observers around Sri Lanka till 8pm and no positive sighting were reported, although in Colombo the Sunset was at 5:50pm and Moonset was at 6:44pm (56m after Sunset) at the age of 23h:48m. Hence The Colombo Grand Mosque Hillal Committee decided to complete the month of Muharram with 30 days, and start the month of Safer on 25th, Tuesday November 2014. "In Sha Allah"

  • Tanzania:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The Hilal for Safar has been sighted this evening around 18:45 EAT (15:45 GMT) Sunday 23 November 2014 from tiny island of Zanzibar. The first day of Safar will be on Monday 24 November 2014.

  • UK:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Mohammad Ramtoola from Preston reported: We sighted the moon in Preston (3 of us) at precisely 4.42 pm today 23rd November.

    2. Seen: Mr. Muhammad Hazim Anuar from Cardiff, Wales reported: The new moon of Safar was seen with naked eye in Cardiff Wales after maghrib prayer around 4.45 pm today (22nd November 2014). It was sighted with the guidance from our teacher, a member of MCW, Sheikh Zane Abdo together with his students from the Shafi' Fiqh class. They are: Muhammad Hazim Anuar, Yusri Abd Jalil, Zulhazmi A. Mokhti, and Mohd. Aidil Kamarudin.

  • USA:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr. Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, November 23, 2014), it was not possible to sight the crescent in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). At 5:20 pm EST, we had a cloudy sky and rain. At 6:35 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 44.6 F, 44.6 F, 100%, and 29.91 in, respectively.

    2. Seen: MCW member Mr. Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that the new crescent for the month of Safar was sighted in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, November 23, 2014.

    3. Seen: MCW member Mr. Khalil Homafar from Houston TX reported: On Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 5:45 pm, I was able to sight the New Crescent with naked eye. The sky was clear. The orientation of the crescent was from 2:30 O'clock to 7 O'clock on a dial of an imaginary clock in the sky. It appeared that the crescent was a little bit thicker because Muharram was 30 days in our area.

    4. Seen by my relative: MCW member Mr. Mirza Shahid Basravi from Irvine CA reported: We were not able to sight the new crescent here in Southern California on Nov 23, 2014, due to excess clouds on the western sky. However, my relative, Syed Raza Ali from Houston Texas reported that he and several persons, all over Houston, saw the new crescent. He also sent a picture taken on Nov 23, 2014 at 5:50 pm Houston time.1436sfrHouston> <P><LI><B><span class=s1>Seen: </span></B>MCW member Mr. Milad Ali Ershaghi from Richmond TX reported: On Sunday, November 23, 2014 from 6:00pm to 6:10pm I saw the new crescent moon of Safar 1436 with my children just outside my home in Richmond, Texas, USA. I searched for the moon and spotted it without the use of any optical aids - and then took photos with my camera afterwards to document the sighting. <P><LI><B><span class=s1>Seen: </span></B>MCW member Mr. Jim Lockyer from Wildomer CA reported: I was able to observe the crescent moon this evening, Sunday Nov 23. Following a beautiful sunset the clouds thinned out to display the moon. The moon was clearly visible without the aid of binoculars. See photo. <img src=

  • Zimbabwe:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr. Ayub Mahomed from Harare reported: On Nov 23, Moon was sighted in Zimbabwe. Tomorrow Monday 24 November is 1st Safar.
    • top Back to Top