Moonsighting for Muharram 1439
1439 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Zul-Hijjah 1438: September 20, & September 19, 2017

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Dhul-Hijja 1438 AH), September 19, 2017 (not the new moon to start Muharram). Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory at Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia: This is decreasing moon that was sighted in Indnesia at 5:27 AM on September 19, 2017. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.







New Crescent Moon of Muharram 1439:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on September 20, 2017 (Wednesday) at 5:30 UT. On September 20, the crescent may not be visible anywhere in the habited world. It may be seen with binoculars in Southern belt of North America, all Central America, and Northern parts of South America. On September 21, it will be easily visible almost everywhere in the world. (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on September 21, 2017 (Thursday) from Dural - Sydney Autralia.

September 20, 2017 (Wednesday):

  • Canada:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr HiMY SYeD from Vancouver, British Columbia reported: I am presently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the Walk21 Conference. Sunset in Calgary was at 7:39 p.m. After praying Maghrib at the Islamic Information Society of Calgary, just outside of downtown, I wanted to look for the new moon. However, due to a complete cloud filled western horizon this evening, there was no possibility for any successful sighting. I was looking at the clouds. Therefore, this is a negative moonsighting report for Wednesday, September 20 2017 from Downtown Calgary, Alberta.

  • Indonesia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Assalaam Observatory, Surakarta Central Java reported: The new crescent of Muharram 1439 AH was not sighted from Banjarnegara on Wednesday, September 20th, 2017 because the sky was cloudy. I tried to observe with my Rukyat Hilal Team of Rowasiya and Assalaam Observatory. However the 1st of Muharram 1439 AH in Indonesia will start on Thursday, September 21st, 2017 according to the calculation.

  • Morocco:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Zakaria Guelzim from Rabat reported: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs concludes that it observed the crescent of the month of Muharram 1439 after Maghrib on Wednesday, 29 Dhu al-Hijjah 1438 and contacted all the observers of Islamic affairs in the Kingdom and the Royal Armed Forces units who participated in the observation of the crescent. They all assured her that it's vision was not proven. Thus, the month of Hajj will be completed thirty days, and the beginning of the month of Muharram 1439 is Friday, 22 September 2017.

  • Namibia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Ahmed Mohamed Barakah from Windhoek reported: On the evening of Wednessday 20th September 2017, the Hilaal was NOT sighted anywhere in Namibia. Therefore Muharram 1439 will commence on Friday, 22nd September 2017 in Namibia. Youmul-Ashura will be Sunday, 1st October 2017.

  • Nigeria:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Adeyemi Adeoye, Ilorin, Kwara State reported: In Kishi, Oyo State, Nigeria where I reside now, I didn't sight the (moon) crescent ?? of Muharram,1439AH on Wednesday, 29th of Dhul Hijjah, 1438AH (20/09/2017CE) after the sunset, although the sky was a bit cloudy.

  • Saudi Arabia:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: Today 20 September 2017 from ABHA Saudi Arabia we report No sighting with naked eye or with binoculars. Local time 6.10pm was the time for magrib and sunset. The moon set was at 6.29pm right above the sunset and its age after conjunction was 11-12 hours. Its sighting was predicted as impossible and it turned out to be that. The sky was cloudy but there was a clear sky window near the sunset.

  • South Africa:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Tuesday 20th September 2017, the Hilaal was NOT sighted in South Africa. Therefore Muharram 1439 will commence on Friday, 22nd September 2017 in South Africa. Youmul-Ashura will be Sunday, 1st October 2017, Insha-Allah.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Abdurrazak Ebrahim from Cape Town reported: The Muharrum Hilaal was not sighted anywhere in Southern Africa on Wednesday evening (20/9/17 � 29 Dhul Hijjah 1438 H). The 1st Muharrum 1439 H will be on Friday, 22 September 2017.
      Note:
      The Saudi impossible occurred again near Riyaad where it was claimed that the Hilaal was sighted on Wednesday evening and accepted by the Saudi Supreme Islamic Council.

  • Tanzania:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: On 20th of September 2017, the new Islamic Year 1439 AH was not sighted in tiny island even though the horizon was quite clear in most of places, therefore the 1st of Muharram will be on Friday September 22, 2017.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Muharram 1439 AH was looked for after the sunset of Wednesday 20th September 2017. 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 1438 AH will complete 30 days and the 1st night of Muharram 1439 AH is the night of Thursday 21st September 2017, and the first day of Muharram 1439 AH is the day of Friday 22nd September 2017.

  • UK:

    1. Not Seen: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: On September 20, Wednesday, the moon was not sighted anywhere in Britain or in our closest Muslim country of Morocco. It was also not sighted in South Africa. Wifaqul Ulama have therefore decided that 30 days of Dhul-Hijjah will be completed and Muharram 1439 will begin from Friday, the 22nd of September 2017.

  • USA:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Jim Stamm from Tucson AZ reported: Observed: Wednesday; September 20, 2017 - 18:44 (Local) 
         Sunset  (at sea level)  =  18:27
   Moonset (at sea level)  =  19:05
   Time from new moon at   18:44   =  20 hr. 03 min.
   Moon lag time                   =         38 min.
   Relative Altitude               =    7.9  degrees
   Elongation from sun             =   10.2  degrees
   Crescent width                  =     15  arc seconds
   Illumination                    =    0.8  percent
      On September 20, 2017 (Wednesday) some haze kept the western sky from being perfect. I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope. Thinking that the crescent would be easily visible, I did not aim the telescope, but I am pretty sure that the field of view of the finder held the image. However, the image did not reveal itself to me through the 9x50 finder scope, nor the 55x eyepiece while scanning the area.

    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 Thursday, September 21st, 2017 will be the last day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, 1438 A.H. and Friday, September 22nd, 2017, will be the first day of the month of Muharram, 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 Wednesday, September 20th, 2017, in any region of North America.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Mirza Shahid Basravi from Anaheim CA reported: I tried my best to sight the new moon from a high elevation in Anaheim Hills, Ca. There were thick clouds in the lower horizon. I was unable to spot the new crescent, even with binoculars.

    4. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that there were no reports of sighting the new crescent on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Therefore, upon completion of 30 days, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Muharram, 1439 AH.

    5. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago IL reported: Faqueer Abulfatah Syed Nusrat hereby declares that the Hilal of Muharram was Not Sighted at anyplace in Mainland USA on the 29th of Zul Hajja 1438H - Wednesday, September 20, 2017.

    6. Not Seen: MCW member Hamid Quraishi, Imam Islamic Center of Winona (ICW) Winona MN reported: On Thursday, Sept 21, I and other person tried to see the Hilal in the sky. Due to cloudy skies, we were unable to sight the Hilal.


September 21, 2017 (Thursday):

  • Afghanistan:

    1. Seen: MCW member Engr M Ibrahim Mayar from Kabul reported: On Thursday, September 21, 2017 I could see the Muharm 1439 Hellal in Kabul City at 18:18 local time to the West South West horizon with a binacular 10x50. The orientation of the crescent horn was from 1 to 7 o clock, however, Kabul City Western sky was hazy.

  • Australia:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Abbas Aly from Annangrove NSW reported: On September 21, Thursday, the moon for Muharram was sighted in Dural - Sydney Altitude 4.32 - Angle 272 - time 6.22pm waxing 1.7%. 22nd September will be 1st Muharram.

    2. Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: Today, September 21, Thursday, the new moon was sighted in Sydney and Brisbane. Sky was clear. Friday 22 September will be the 1st of Holy month of Muharram 1439 HIJRA.

    3. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today is Thursday 21st of September 2017. The Hilaal of MUHARRAM UL HARAAM 1439 has been sighted in Sydney. Many people have sighted. Therefore, the month of MUHARRAM will commence from Friday 22nd September 2017.

  • Chile:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: Today, Sep 21, 2017, I saw the new moon at 19:46 just at Maghreb azan in chile. Therefore, 22/09/2017 will be the 1st of Muharram.

  • Egypt:

    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: From Cairo (29.97N, 31.25E) Thursday, Sep 21st, Crescent of Muharram 1439 Seen with great difficulty Apparent sunset was at 17:53. I started my attempt at 17:49, by which time the SUN had disappeared. Not a good sign. I remained at my observation point until a few minutes after sunset, then I went off to Maghrib. I returned at about 18:20, and got ready to locate the crescent for a photoshoot. Although I had already worked out exactly where to look, scanning the sky I could see nothing. I then decided to look through the Camera eyepiece, and finally I managed to pinpoint the crescent.
      I looked up and managed to get a bare glimpse of the crescent (18:23, 30 minutes after sunset). Then I started shooting photographs. By 18:31, I could only see the crescent through the Camera eyepiece. The picture is taken by ISO 1600, f5.6, Camera Nikon D3100, with Nikon 300mm zoom lens. Click on the picture above to see full size.

  • Ghana:

    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Malik Salifu Shaban from Garu Bawku reported: Heavy downpour marred sighting effort here today (Sep 21, 2017) in Garu in the upper East Region of Ghana. The rain started around 4: 00 pm and still raining at the time of issueing this report. Everybody in town however believe that today 21st of September marks the 1st of moharram and the beginning of the 1439 hijri year.

  • India:

    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Dr Sayyad Mohd Arshi from Dehradun reported: In Dehradun, 21st Sept 2017 is 29th Zil Hijja 1438 hijri (Thursday) I & my family tried to see the moon of Muharram ul Haram at my home from 06:30 pm to 06:45 pm. The moon was not sighted because Horizon was to cloudy.

    2. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Today Thursday 21-September-2017 = 29-Dhu al-Hijjah-1438 Hijri. I tried to see the moon of Muharram-1439 hijri at my home from 06:20 pm to 06:45 pm but the moon was not sighted because horizon was too cloudy but In Sha Allah 1st Muharram wil be 22nd of September 2017 according by the local Hilal Committee Of India.

  • Indonesia:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Assalaam Observatory, Surakarta Central Java reported: The new crescent of Muharram 1439 AH was sighted on Thursday, 21st September 2017 from Assalaam Observatory, The Modern Boarding School of Islam ASSALAAM, Pabelan Kartasura Sukoharjo Central Java Indonesia. This event was attended by all students of CASA (Club Astronomi Santri Assalaam), our beloved teachers and 80 students of Madrasah Takhasusiyah PPMI Assalaam. The sky was clear and we could see the beatiful and very thin moon after praying maghrib. Click on the picture on the right to see full size.

  • Israel:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Neria Haroeh from Ramlah reported: The new Moon was seen from Israel and around the World on Thursday 21st September 2017. I think that the observer of the month has to be Augustus Paul, from Roseau-Dominica, who managed to observe from the ruins of his house that was destroyed three days earlier by Hurricane Maria and reported his sighting as soon as someone gave hi
      m electricity and wi-fi.

      Observations from Israel
      Gadi Eidelheit Giv'at Shmuel
      Yossi Gaber Ramle
      Gil Ashendorf, Anthony Garcia, et al, Jerusalem
      Observations from outside Israel
      Larry Acheson Plano, TX, USA
      Augustus Paul Roseau, Dominica

  • Mauritius:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: Alhamdulillah New Moon for Muharram 1439 has been sighted on Thursday night 21 September 2017 in several locations in Mauritius. Hence 1st day of Muharram will be Friday 22 September. First Reported Visibility was at 18.17 from Piton. Sky was partly cloudy. Wish you all New Hijri Year 1439 full of Prosperity.

  • New Zealand:

    1. Seen: Sultan Eusoff, Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand (FIANZ) Hilal Committee reported: The FIANZ Hilal Committee announced that 1st day of Muharram 1439H is on Friday, September 22, 2017.

  • Sri Lanka:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 21st. September 2017. is 29th of Dul-Hajjah 1438 H. This evening the Sunset was at 18:07 in Colombo Sri Lanka Moon set was at 19:08 in Colombo (268�). The New Moon of Muharram 1439 was sighted at 6:30pm it was easy naked eye sighting. Hence the 1st of Muharram start on 22nd Friday September 2017.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ishmael Khan from Princes Town, Trinidad reported: The moon was sighted on the night of Thursday 21st September at Maghrib time. This means that the Islamic year 1439 has begun with this being the first night of the year and the first night of Muharram 1439. The moon was also sighted by other organization who accepted and declared Friday 22nd September 2017 as the first day of Muharaam 1439.

  • UK:

    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Mohammad Ramtoola from Preston reported: Moon was sighted today at 7.30pm in Lytham and Preston UK. Sky was clear with scattered clouds on the horizon. Moon was easily visible. 1st of Muharram will begin tonight.

  • USA:

    1. Seen: Haji Bilal Huzair from Waterport NY reported: We sighted the Hilal without aid at 7:03 pm in Waterport NY and verified by 3 separate witnesses. We hereby declare that 1st Muharram will be observed on Friday.

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Thursday, September 21), 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 at 7:22 pm EDT (sunset: 7:21 pm). The western horizon was partly cloudy and hazy. Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I started scanning the horizon. The first binocular sighting was at 7:32 pm. Immediately after, I saw the crescent with naked eye. The horns were at 1:30 and 6:30 O'clock (1:30;4:00;6:30). I left the area at 7:44 (moonset: 8:28 pm). At 7:20 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 74.7 F, 65.3 F, 73%, and 30.13 in, respectively.
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