Moonsighting for Muharram 1438
1438 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Dhul-Hijjah 1437: September 30 & September 29, 2016 New Crescent Moon of Muharram 1438:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on October 1, 2016 (Saturday) at 00:12UT. On October 1, the moon may be difficult to see in South America and Central America; but easily visible in Polynesian Islands. On October 2, it will be visible ALL Over the world. (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on October 1 (Saturday) from, Artesia CA, USA.

October 1, 2016 (Saturday):

  • Australia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, The president of Al- Tadhkeer Society, Sydney, NSW reported: On October 1, The Hilaal of MUHARRAM has not been sighted anywhere in Australia. Therefore, the month of MUHARRAM will commence from Monday 3rd of October 2016.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Engr Manzoor A Mian from Melbourne, VIC reported: On October 1, The crescent was NOT sighted anywhere in Australia this evening, therefore the 1st day of Muharram 1438 is Monday the 3rd of October, 2016.

  • Colombia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Victor Nasr Suarez from Bogota reported: Negative reports from Bogota, Colombia. On October 1st the crescent could not be seen by our delegation. Even with optical aid.

  • Ghana:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Baba Abdulai from Tamale reported: Date of sighting effort; Saturday October 1, 2016. The crescent was NOT seen in my location. The sky was cloudy and I could see only few stars in the sky. Time of sighting effort was between 17:55 and 18:25. Sighting location, Tampei-Kukuo Yepalsi (Near Bi-water Reservoir, Tamale).

  • Morocco:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Khalid Chraibi from Casablanca reported: The Moroccan authorities have announced on Saturday evening Oct 1 that the new moon crescent wasn't observed over the Moroccan territory. Therefore, the 1st Muharram will be on Monday October 3, 2016. With best wishes on this occasion.

  • Pakistan:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ismail Dehwar from Balochistan reported: On October 1, the new Islamic Year 1438 moon was not sighted here in Pringabad Balochistan Pakistan, horizon was quite clear.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Abdurrrahman Razeen from Colombo reported: Today 1-10-2016AD=29-12-1437AH is the sighting day for the month of Muharram 1438AH. I was in Colombo and Went to Bambalapitiya beach 10 minutes before the Sunset.The horizon was cloudy. The parameters are(at Colombol) Sun set:6.02pm. Moon set:6:24pm. Lag=22minutes The prediction of the astronomers=Not visible even by telescopes. Based on the Sharia requirements we arranged sighting groups in it's appropriate arranged places and we received negative sightings from every groups.
      Based on the negative reports and the astronomical predictions it was decided to complete the proceeding month as 30 days and to start the month of Muharram 1438AH on 3-10-2016AD by the president C.G.M.H.C. M.Riyadh (Baari) along with A.C.J.U.and M.R.C.A.

  • Tanzania:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The Hilaal was not sighted anywhere in tiny island of Zanzibar on October 1, therefore in Zanzibar we have completed the month of Dhul-Hijja for 30 days. 1st Muharram corresponds to Monday 3rd October 2016.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Muharram 1438 AH was looked for after the sunset of Saturday 1st October 2016. Reports from all committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was NOT SIGHTED. We have accepted these reports and has declared that the month of Dhul Hijjah 1437 AH will complete 30 days and the 1st night of Muharram 1438 AH will be the night of Sunday 2nd October 2016 and the first day of Muharram 1438 AH will be the day of Monday 3th October 2016.

  • USA:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Saturday, Oct 01, 2016), the crescent moon was not seen in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived at my sighting location (Blacksburg Middle School) a few minutes after sun set (sunset: 7:04 pm EDT). Soon after, I started scanning the western horizon. The lower portion of the horizon was partly cloudy with a clearing band in the lowest part. Using a pair of binoculars (7X35), I started looking for the crescent in the clearings with no success. After about 20 minutes, I left the site for another place with a better view of the lower part of the horizon. I continued scanning the horizon (now using a pair of 10X50 binoculars) with no success. I stayed in that location till past moonset (moonset: 7:41 pm). At 7:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 63.0 F, 58.6 F, 86%, and 30.12 in, respectively.

    2. Seen w/Binoculars only: MCW member Mr Mohammed Yahya Shaikh from Anaheim CA reported: Allhamdullilah i was able to see the hilal with the aid of binos for Muharram today October 1st 2016 at 18:49 PST, in Artesia CA. I was able to see hilal until18:57, thereafter it disappeared below the urban landscape which obstructed my vision. At no pint was i able to see the hilal with a naked eye.

    3. Seen w/Naked Eye: MCW member Mr Mohammed Yahya Shaikh from Anaheim CA reported: Norm Vargas The crescent was seen by four observers on October 1, 2016 from Mount Wilson Observatory in California, elevation 1700 meters. It was found with binoculars by Norm Vargas, an experienced crescent moon watcher, at 6:56 pm. Three other observers saw it soon after in an 80mm spotting scope. It was first seen naked eye by Norm Vargas at 7:01 as a very short white line with no discernible arc. It was among some thin small clouds near the horizon which provided a good way to see exactly where it was. It was never easily seen and was never more than a short white line in the sky with the clouds. The three other observers did not see it naked eye but enjoyed it in the scope and with binoculars. Their names are Pamela Thompson, Irfana Hashmi and Nargis Hashmi. A layer of smoke at the horizon prevented the crescent from being seen easily as it set. It was watched to the horizon in the scope until 7:19 pm.
October 2, 2016 (Sunday):

  • Canada:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr HiMY SYeD from Toronto, Ontario reported: On October 2, Local Sunset time in Vancouver was 6:50 p.m. tonight. After Praying Maghrib in Jamia Masjid Vancouver, I searched for the new moon. The thin crescent was easily found despite haze and low hanging clouds. Attached are photos of the new moon taken from the Cambie Street Bridge. Therefore this is a Positive Moonsighting Report from Downtown Vancouver Canada for Sunday October 2 2016.

  • Canada:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Humayun Ahmed from Calgary Alberta reported: The moon was seen in Calgary's North glenmore park, Alberta, Canada, on January 02, 2016, at 7:38 pm, The moon was easily seen with naked eye, even by my 5 and 3 year old.

  • China:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Musa�Minhai from Linxia Gansu Province reported: On Sunday, Oct.2.2016, in Linxia city, I sighted Crescent at 17:33(Beijing time UT+8) with a binoculars.please see the attached photo.

  • Egypt:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: I started my attempt at apparent sunset 17:40, at which time there was no sign of the Crescent. I went off to Maghreb prayers, and returned at 18:01. The Crescent was visible, albeit barely. Nine minutes later it was still visible, but clarity didn't improve significantly.

  • India:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: For the moon of Muharram 1438 hijri, today Sunday 02-October-2016 = 29-Dhu al-Hijjah-1437 Hijri. I & my family tried to see the moon at my home from 06:00 pm to 06:20 pm but moon was not sighted because Horizon was too cloudy.

    2. Not Seen, but seen at other locations: MCW member Dr Sayyad Mohd Arshi from Dehradun reported: In Dehradun, 2nd October 2016 was 29 Zil Hijja 1437 hijri (Sunday) me & my family tried to see the moon of Muharram ul Haram at my home from 06:20 pm to 06:55 pm but moon was not sighted because Horizon was too cloudy. On the Basis of Other Observation, 3rd October 2016 (Today) is the First day of Muharram ul Haram 1438 hijri in Dehradun

  • Pakistan:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Ismail Dehwar from Balochistan reported: The new Islamic Year 1438 moon was sighted with naked eye here in Pringabad Balochistan Pakistan locally here at 06.35pm PST

  • USA:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, October 02, 2016), the crescent moon was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived at my sighting location (the Blacksburg Middle School) at 7:15 pm EDT (sunset: 7:02 pm). Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I scanned a mostly cloudy western horizon (under normal conditions there would have been no need to use binoculars; the pair of binoculars was used because of the presence of haze and some thin clouds n addition to the darker clouds). My first binocular sighting was at 7:44 pm when the moon appeared in a clearing; that was immediately followed by naked eye sighting. By then, I could not discern the horns positions since I could not see the whole crescent. The upper horn was perhaps at 2:00 O'clock! At 7:49 pm, the moon disappeared behind the clouds (the moon's elevation was about 4.5 degrees then). Soon, I left the area for a nearby Town in hopes of finding the moon in some clearings; that was not successful (moonset: 8:12 pm). At 7:35 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 63.5 F, 57.9 F, 82%, and 30.12 in, respectively.

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