INTRODUCTION
With liberation of knowledge via the web, it becomes more apparent that there is a disparity between "confirmed" hilal sighting and calculation from astronomy. There is significant variability in the official beginning of ramadhan and syawal among many countries which cannot be accounted for by geographical locations alone. This confusion has motivated me to search for the truth and I am blessed to have many other doors opened to me along this journey, Alhamdulillah.
I hope this small resource can be used by others as a stepping stone to educate themselves and others on the proper hilal sightability. In the course of my research, I find myself continually disturbed with the fact that we try to sight the moon when calculations has indeed shown the moon to be below the horizon (and not sightable)? What is even more disturbing is the fact that we announce the beginning of ramadhan/syawal under such circumstances.
"The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses (exactly) calculated with measured out stages for each (for reckoning, etc.)" Al-Rahman (55):5
"...He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going round)! Each running (its course) for a term appointed. He regulates all affairs, explaining the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord." Al-Raad (13):2
Allah knows best.
Hilal Sighting in various parts of the world
Ramadhan and Syawal 1425H in Malaysia
Acknowledgements
In the process of creating this webpage, I am indebted to the following experts who have answered my queries and provided me with information I was looking for.
- Khalid Shaukat, a consultant to ISNA, Fiqh Council of N. America and the Shura Council of North America.
- Associate Professor Dr. Zaidan Abdul Wahab, Department of Physics, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
- Nor Azam Mat Noor, Astronomy and Atmospheric Science Research Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
VARIOUS LINKS
Astronomy and Islam : Various resources
Moon Calculator (MoonCalc) software
Prayer Times (Islamicfinder.org), can also be used to obtain latitude and longitude
Astronomy and Islam : Various resources