Moonsighting for Rabi-al-Awwal 1439
1439 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Safar 1439: November 18, & November 17, 2017

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Safar 1439 AH), November 17, 2017 (not the new moon to start Rabi-al-Awwal). Moon was seen at 05:30 AM on Friday 29th of Safar 1439 (17th November 2017) from Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli (India); Lat: 08�42'51"N : Long: 77�44'26"E;. Photo on the right is provided by Brother Mohamed Hussain from Palayamkottai: This is decreasing moon that was sighted in India after Fajr on November 17, 2017 (Friday). The illumination was about 2%; the Altitude was about 6� and horns were at 3 & 8 positions. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

On left is the old crescent moon of Safar 1439 AH. Photo is taken by Ayyub Patel from Abha S. Arabia on the morning of Nov 17, 2017 (Friday). It was visible for about 30 min before sunrise. Click on the photo on left to see full size.



On right is the old crescent moon of Safar 1439. Photo taken and provided by MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from USA, November 17, 2017. Click on the photo on right to see full size.




New Crescent Moon of Rabi-al-Awwal 1439:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on November 18, 2017 (Saturday) at 11:42 UT. On November 18, the moon can be seen by telescope in USA. On November 19, the crescent can be seen in Africa and Americas, and with difficulty in Indonesia, IndoPak, Iran, and parts of Europe. On November 20, it will be easily visible everywhere in the world. (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on November 19 (Sunday) from Lhokseumawe Aceh, Indonesia.


November 18, 2017 (Saturday):

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: We attempted a sighting at about 535pm local time. Despite very clear sky we report NO SIGHTING with naked eye or binoculars. Its impossible to sight while the moon age was only 3 hours after conjunction and the moonset was just a few minutes after sunset.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Rabiiul Awwal 1439 AH was looked for after the sunset of Saturday 18th November 2017. Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 21. All committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was NOT SIGHTED.
      We have accepted these reports and has declared that the month of Safar 1439 AH will complete 30 days and the 1st night of Rabiiul Awwal 1439 AH is the night of Sunday 19th November 2017, and the first day of Rabiiul Awwal 1439 AH is the day of Monday 20th November 2017.

  • UK:


    1. Not Seen: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: Moon was not sighted anywhere in Britain or in our closest Muslim country of Morocco. Wifaqul Ulama (Britain) have therefore decided that 30 days of Safar were completed and Rabiul Awwal 1439 began from Monday, the 20th of December 2017.

  • USA:


    1. 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 Sunday, November 19th, 2017 will be the last day of the month of Safar, 1439 A.H. and Monday, November 20th, 2017, will be the first day of the month of Rabi al-Awwal, 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 Saturday, November 18th, 2017, in any region of North America.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that there was no sighting of the new crescent on Saturday, November 18, 2017. Therefore, upon completion of 30 days, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1439 AH.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago IL reported: Hilal of Rabi-ul-Awwal was Not Sighted in mainland USA on the 29th of Safar-Saturday, November 18, 2017. As such Safar will complete 30 Days and the 1st of Rabi-ul-Awwal 1439H will be on Monday, November 20, 2017.


November 19, 2017 (Sunday):

  • Afghanistan:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Engr M Ibrahim Mayar from Kabul reported: Today Sunday, 19 Nevember 2017 upon local sunset, I started serching SW sky for Rabiulawal Hilal for new moon, but my attempt ended in vain. It is worth mentioning that Kabul western sky was rather smokey and hazy.

  • Australia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: The Hilaal of Rabiul Awwal has not been sighted anywhere in Australia on November 19 (Sunday). Despite of possibilities of the hilaal possible to be sighted in Western Australia, it was not sighted. Hence, the month of Rabiul Awwal will commence from Tuesday 21st of November 2017.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Engr Manzoor A Mian from Melbourne, VIC reported: On November 19, The Hilaal of Rabiul Awwal has not been sighted in Melbourne and anywhere in Australia, hence the month of Rabiul Awwal will commence from Tuesday 21st of November 2017.

  • Chile:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: Today, November 19, Sunday, I just now saw The new moon after Magreb in chile around 7:45 pm local time.

  • Egypt:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: Sunday, 19th November, from Ma'adi, 29.97�N, 31.25�E, Southern Cairo: Crescent of Rabi' I was not seen. I started my attempt, at apparent sunset, 16:58, at which there was no sign of the new crescent. I expected to be at an altitude of 6�41' (refracted) and azimuth 244�8'23" at 17:17:51 local time. I returned from Maghrib prayers at ~17:18. The temperature was 22.5�C, pressure was ~1015mB, and humidity ~ 44%. Alas, horizontal visibility was less than 10km, as it had been most of the day. To add insult to injury, patches of grey clouds appeared to dominate some of the sky in the direction of the moon.

  • Ghana:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Malik Salifu Shaban from Garu Bawku reported: The moon has not sighted in Garu in the upper east region of Ghana on 19th November, 2017 due to Bad weather. sighting effort was marred and no report of sighting from neighbouring towns.

  • India:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Today, Sunday 19-November-2017 = 29-Safar-1439 Hijri. I tried to see the moon at my home from 05:30 pm to 06:00 pm but the moon was not sighted because horizon was too foggy In Sha Allah 1st Rabi� al-awwal wil be 21st of November 2017 according by the local Hilal Committee Of India.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Not Seen but Seen by others: MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory in Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java reported: The Hilaal of Rabiul Awwal 1439 AH was not sighted grom my location at Rowasiya Observatory in Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java and anywhere in Indonesia on November 19th (Sunday).
      However, there was possibilities of the hilaal possible to be sighted in West-Northern Indonesia, and it was sighted from Lhokseumawe Aceh. The 1st of Rabiul Awwal 1439 AH will commence from Monday 20st of November 2017.

  • Morocco:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ehsan H. Hajar from Casablanca reported: Pleased to announce seeing RBA crescent today, Sunday Nov. 19 from my home in Casablanca Morocco. My coordinates were latitude 33.5632, longitude -7.631; Horns @3&7 o'clock, Sighting time 17:50 Crescent alt 7*; Azimuth 237* WSW.

  • Nigeria:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Wasiu Adedamola from Agege, Lagos reported: The crescent could not be Sighted in Ikeja lagos Nigeria on Sunday 19th November 2017. The sky was not too clear.

  • South Africa:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Sunday 19th November 2017, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Therefore Rabi-ul-Awwal 1439 will commence on Monday, 20th November 2017 in South Africa.

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Abdurrazak Ebrahim from Cape Town reported: The Hilaal for 1439 H was sighted this Sunday evening (19/11/2017). The official first day of Rabi al-Awwal corresponds to 20/11/2017.

  • Sri Lanka:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th. Safar 1439 H.(19/11/17) evening the Colombo sky was cloudy and new Moon of Rabi Ul Awwal was not sighted and not received any sighting report from any where in Sri Lanka. Hence the Colom bo Grand Mosque Hillal Committee and Jamiyathul Ullamah decided to complete the month Safar with 30days and start the month of Rabi ul Awwal on Tuesday November 21, 2017.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: On Sunday, November 19, 2017 the moon for the month of Rabi-al-Awwal was seen in one of small islet of tiny island of Zanzibar known as Tumbatu. Mufti Office announced that the first day of Rabil al Awwal is on 20th November 2017.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ishmael Khan from Princes Town, Trinidad reported: Our Mufti sighted the moon on Sunday (19.11.17) and therefore Monday, 20 November is the first day of Rabi-al-awwal 1439. This sighting was also confirmed by other brothers and is accepted. May Allah have mercies on us all in the special mubaraak month.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Khalil Homafar from Houston TX reported: On Sunday November 19th 2017, the Crescent was sighted by me in Houston Texas at 5:55 pm. The sky was partly cloudy. The crescent horn in clockwise direction was from almost 2 to 8. Therefore, Monday is the 1st day of Rabi-al-Awwal AH

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, Nov 19, 2017), the crescent moon was not 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 5:33 pm EST (sunset: 5:08 pm). The west southwest horizon was mostly cloudy. I stayed there till 6:10 pm (moonset: 6:21 pm) hoping to see the crescent in the openings but without success.

  • Zimbabwe:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ayub Mahomed from Harare reported: On Sunday, November 19, Moon was sighted in Zimbabwe.Monday 20th November is 1st Rabiual Awwal inshallah.


November 20, 2017 (Monday):

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Moussa Khalife from Sydney, NSW reported: Today is Monday 20th of November 2017 from sydney Australia. The crescent has been sighted at 07:50 pm. The weather is very clear and the moon was easy to be sighted. So tomorrow Tuesday 21st of November is 1st of Rabie al Awwal 1439 H.

    2. Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: Today, November 20 (Monday) the moon was sighted in Sydney and Canberra. Sky was clear. Tuesday 21st November will be the 1st of The Rabiul Awwal 1439 HIJRA.
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