Moonsighting for Safar 1442
1442 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Muharram 1442: Septemver 17, and September 16, 2020

On right is the old Crescent Moon of Muharram 1442 AH), September 16, 2020. (Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory, Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia. This waning crescent was captured approx 25 minutes before sunrise.
Click on the photo on right to see full size.


On Wednesday, 16th of September 2020 (27th of Muharram 1442 AH) the MCW member Mr Juned Patel spotted the waning crescent moon from Bolton, UK.
Click on the photo on left to see full size.



MCW member Irshad Sait of HiJRI COMMITTEE of INDIA submitted the Photo of Urjoonal Qadeem like phase of waning moon taken by Br. J. Mohamed Abbas on September 16, Wednesday, 28th of Muharram 1442 from Parangipettai, Cuddalore Dist, Tamil Nadu (India). Lat. 11� 29' 25.548" N Long 79� 45' 38.6172" E. Time: 05:42 am IST. The illumination was 3%, the Altitude was about 10� . Thorns were at 4 & 8 positions.
Click on the photo on right to see full size.






MCW member Ayyub Patel sent the photoon the morning of 16th September 2020 from Abha, KSA taken at 5:30 am local time.
Click on the photo on left to see full size.




New Crescent Moon of Safar 1442:
The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on September 17, 2020 (Thursday) at 11:00 UT.
On September 17, with telescope it is possible to see the moon in Americas. On September 18, it can be seen in almost the whole world (See visibility curve below).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on September 18 from Darwin and Alice Spring, Australia.

September 17, 2020 (Thursday):

  • Bangladesh:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Fakhrul Islam from Dhaka reported: The waxing crescent for the Mount of Safar 1412 AH was NOT seen in my location (Dhaka North City, Bangladesh) on 17 Saptember 2020 Thursday after evening. The sky was cloudy after Maghrib time. Time of sighting effort was between 6:15 and 6.45 BST (Bangladesh Standard Time). I was trying to observe waxing crescent and some constellations with my telescope (Celestron - AstroMaster 90EQ Refractor Telescope) with the help of planetarium software, Stellarium. In Bangladesh, Today is 28 Muharram 1441 AH in Bangladesh, while in Saudi Arabia�s Islamic date is 29 Muharram 1442 AH on the basis of Umm al-Qura Calendar. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh is the recognized authority of Bangladesh for Islamic date reckoning. This organization gives importance on naked eye sightings of waxing crescents in Bangladeshi land area only. So, in this organization, there is no importance of global waxing crescent sighting with the help of telescope and Rader or infrared telescope news and any astronomical calculation.
      But a large number on people of Bangladesh follow the news of global waxing crescent sightings and Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, on 18 September 2020, the age of the new moon will be more than 23 hours in Bangladesh and Altitude of moon 14 degree and naked eye moon sighting criterion will be accepted in Bangladesh. For these reasons, they will determine the 1st day of Safar 1442 as Saturday, September 19, 2020.

  • Canada:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muneeb Siddqui from Milton, Ontario reported: Today I went outside to look for the Safar moon shortly after sunset here in Milton, Ontario. Despite the horizon being clear, the moon was not sighted.

  • India:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Rasheed Usman, Kozhikode, Kerala reported: My friends went to look for new moon on evening Thursday, September 17, 2020 at Kozhikode Beach and Kapad Beach, Kerala. No sighting reports.

  • USA:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that Friday, September 18th, 2020 will be the last day of the month of Muharram, 1442 A.H. for most of the United States and that Saturday, September 19th, 2020 will be the first day of the month of Safar, 1442 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 Thursday, September 17th, 2020, in any region of North America, and per the certain possibility of moon-sighting at sunset on Friday in all of North America.

September 18, 2020 (Friday):

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Friday) 18th of September 2020, the Hilal of SAFAR 1442 has been sighted in Darwin and Alice Spring. Therefore, the month of SAFAR 1442 will begin from Saturday, 19th of September 2020.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Falcon Raja, from Sydney, NSW reported: Today 18 Sep 2020 it is cloudy in Sydney, Auburn. I was unable to see the moon. Clouds covered all the horizon.

  • Chile:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: From Chile in the city of Coquimbo sky was full of clouds so the sighting of new moon was zero on September 18, Friday

  • Egypt:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: From Giza(30.00�N, 31.2�E) on Friday, Sep. 18th 2020: Hilal of Safar appeared at ~18:21. Apparent sunset was at 17:56. I started my observation attempt at 18:18, just after Maghrib prayers, accompanied by two friends. I spotted the Hilal of Safar at ~18:21. It was barely visible. Temperature, Pressure and relative humidity were 35.0�C, 1010.7mb, and 35.0%, respectively. Photography was'nt easy either. I took several over-exposed shots to get a clear picture. The best of these is attached. Click on the photo on the right to see full size. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

  • Ghana:


    1. Seen: MCW member Baba Abdulai from Tamale reported: Date of Sighting September 18, 2020. Location of Sighting: On the outskirts of Naabogu village (Bolga road). Crescent horns orientation, from 3 to 7. Time of first Sighting 18:10 local time. Sunset was around 18:01. Sky condition in the western horizon was cloudy but Crescent size and elevation were good enough to make it easily visible.

  • Guyana:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mansoor Baksh from Demerara, Essequibo reported: The new cresent for the month of Safar was seen in Guyana on Friday, September 18, 2020 by Imam Esaw Taki at No. 70 Village in Berbice and by Bro Muntaz Ali of Canal No. 2 West Bank Demerara.

  • India:


    1. Seen: MCW member Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Moon was sighted today, September 18 (Friday). Saturday, 19th September, will be *1st Safar, 1442 Hijri*_

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Syed Asghar Mahmood Naqvi, from Hyderabad reported: Today 18th September 2020 i.e 29 Muharram 1442H the Moon of Holy Month Safar Ul Muzafar 1442H has been Sighted in India, So Tomorrow 19th September 2020 is 1st Safar Ul Muzafar 1442H.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Seen: MCW member AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory Central Java Indonesia reported: The new crescent of Shafar 1442 AH was sighted on Friday, Sept 18, 2020 from Assalaam Observatory, PPMI Assalaam at Pabelan Kartasura Sukoharjo- Surakarta Central Java Indonesia. The 1st of Shafar 1442 AH in Indonesia will start on Saturday, Sept 19, 2020.

    2. Seen: MCW member Firdaus Nuriono from Malang reported: On 18 September 2020, I saw the moon @17:57 WIB (for Safar 1442H). The orientation of the crescent horns in clockwise direction as follows: [4 to 8 O'clock]. See the photo on right from Kartini beach Jepara, Central Java. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

  • Kenya:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muhammad Abubakar Said from Mombasa reported: On 18th September 2020, I wasn't able to see the crescent from Nyali area in Mombasa. The weather was cloudy

  • Mauritius:


    1. Seen: MCW member Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: The new moon was easily sighted tonight Friday 18 September 2020 in many localities in Mauritius. Sky was clear and first reported visibility was from Cote D�Or @ 6.10pm. Sunset was @ 6.05pm. Hence Saturday 19 September 2020 will be the 1st day of Saffar 1442

  • Nigeria:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Wasiu Akewusola from Agege, Lagos reported: The crescent of the month of Safar 1442AH could not be sited in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria up till 19.10hrs local time today 18th September. 2020 The clouds covered the skyy.

  • South Africa:


    1. Seen: MCW member Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Friday, 18 September 2020, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Therefore Safar 1442 will commence on Saturday, 19 September 2020 in South Africa.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Seen: MCW member Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The Hilal for Safaar 1442 AH was sighted with naked eye on Friday 18th September 2020 in tiny island of Zanzibar. Saturday 19th September 2020 is therefore the 1st of Safaar 1442 AH.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Seen: MCW member Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: Today, Friday, 18th September 2020, after sunset we looked for the new moon of Safar 1442 AH. The moon was SIGHTED. Therefore the month of Muharram, 1442 has completed 29 days. Hence the 1st night of Safar 1442 would be the night of Friday 18th September 2020 and the first day of Safar 1442 would be Saturday 19th September 2020.
      Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 : Time of Sunset: 18:04 : Time of the first appearance of the crescent: 18:19 : Pressure: 1005 mb : Temperature: 28 �C : Relative humidity: 77%

  • UK:


    1. Seen: MCW member Juned Patel from Bolton Lancshire reported: I sighted the crescent moon (Hilal) of 1st day of Safar 1442; today on Friday, 18th of September 2020 (29 Muharram 1442 AH); from location Belmont Rd, Rivington, Bolton, UK. The Crescent moon was sighted with a naked eye at 19:33. There were a total of 10 people from Bolton Moonsighting Group all together and everyone witnessed the crescent moon, Alhamdulillah. I must say the moon was extremely faint and could barely seen it.

    2. Seen: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: The Hilaal for ?afar 1442 was sighted at multiple locations in United Kingdom. Therefore, the Islamic month of ?afar 1442 has begun after sunset on Friday, the 18th of September 2020. The first day will be on Saturday, the 20th of September 2020.You can follow the Moon Sighting details for each month on the same page by clicking here.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: MCW member Khalid Yaseen from Detroit, Michigan reported: Very clear night in Detroit after sunset. Moon was thin and clearly visible. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.


    2. Seen: Mr Naji Abdullah from Columbia, MD reported: Safar hilal on September 18 is seen in Columbia, Maryland. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.


  • Zimbabwe:


    1. Seen: MCW member Ayub Mahomed from Harare reported: On September 18, Friday, the moon was sighted in Zimbabwe. 1st Safar will be Saturday 19th September inshallah.

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