Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
04 Oct 2005 CE
HILAL REPORTS FOR NORTH AMERICA:
Mon 3 Oct 2005, Ramadan 1426 AH.
ISNA POSITION FOR RAMADAN AND SHAWWAL 1425 AH
The following is the current ISNA position for Hilal Sightings of 1426 AH.
"The Islamic Society of North America, in consultation with the Fiqh Council of North America,
will follow the position taken by the Islamic Shura Council of North America, which is:
A CONFIRMED CRESCENT SIGHTING REPORT IN NORTH AMERICA WILL BE ACCEPTED AS LONG AS
SUCH A REPORT DOES NOT CONTRADICT INDISPUTABLE ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION.
Confirmation of astronomical information and associated possibility of
moon sighting will be based on the majority-based recommendation of
an independent team of Muslim astronomical consultants."
ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION FOR 3 OCT 2005 CE
The following is an astronomical analysis of the circumstances of
the Moon and the Sun for comparison with the Hilal "sighting" reports in North America for
the month of Ramadan 1426 AH on the evening of Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE.
An initial look at the circumstances of the Sun and Moon at the time of local Sunset on the
evening of Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE for many cities in North America, and the world, can be seen at:
Evening of Mon 03 Oct 2005, Ramadan 1426 AH?
From that webpage it can easily be seen that for North America the altitude (vertical height)
of the Moon above the Sun varied from the very low values of one (1) degree to three (3) degrees.
Places at the higher latitudes (further North of the equator) had the lower altitude of
the Moon of only one (1) degree!
To obtain a physical feel of this very small one (1) degree altitude (vertical angle) of
the Moon above the Sun we can keep one of our horizontal fingers (say the index pointing
first finger) at an arm's length from our eye (arm is outstretched in front of us).
Then the thickness of this one finger at an arm's length would subtend an angle of
around 1-1/2 (one and a half) degrees.
Hence, the Moon in the northern cities would be from less than one finger to
less than two finger widths away from the Sun.
We also know that there is a considerable brightness of the twilight sky near the Sun
even when the Sun has set and is below the horizon. This particular Moon in the evening of
Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE is very close to the Sun (vertical angle) and hence it was
IMPOSSIBLE for the Moon to be seen anywhere in North America and also in the world.
You can see a relationship of the altitude (vertical angle) and azimuth (horizontal angle)
difference of the Moon from the Sun for the Moon to be seen as a Hilal (Crescent Moon)
from the curves at:
From the curves you will note the it is IMPOSSIBLE for any Hilal to be seen when the
Moon's circumstances are below the lowest RED curve on the diagram. The minimum altitude
(vertical height) of the Moon from the Sun at the center of the diagram is around 5.5 degrees.
All places in North America had an altitude of equal to or less than only 3 degrees which is
less than the 5.5 degrees. Hence it was IMPOSSIBLE for any sighting of the Hilal in North
America on the evening of Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE.
The following are each of the six (6) city reports and their analysis.
The first three reports were shared with the Islamic Fiqh Council, the Islamic Shura council and
the astronomy consultants during the teleconference at 10pm EDST on Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE.
The details of the remaining three reports were
emailed to them later along with the details of the first three reports.
All were naked-eye sighting reports and none had used any optical aids like binoculars or telescopes.
I have first reported most of what an individual mentions and I have included my comments
for clarification within square brackets [ ... .. .]. The time given by the reporters is
their local time. Then I have included the astronomical analysis.
If any of the reporters need to make additional comments on what they had shared earlier,
they can contact me at my email address, given above.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward all the persons who had reported their findings and
also Bless and Reward all those who are involved in the coordination of the reports, amin.
- COLUMBUS OHIO: Report taken 8:30 pm EDST 3 Oct 2005 CE
The brother mentioned that he had gone to a tower and was on the 15th floor about 20 minutes
before local Sunset. The horizon was visible and there was a small mountain in the western
direction. There were some clouds that were both horizontal and oblique. There were the trees,
then higher up some mountain, then higher up the "gray thing" [layer of haze].
Sunset occurred at 7:11 pm above some trees and the Sun had disappeared BEFORE it reached
the horizon because of the gray thing.
At around 7:04 pm [BEFORE SUNSET] he started seeing a vertical line, almost straight
with very slight curvature. This was to the left of the Sun. He had first seen it
about 10 minutes BEFORE Sunset. It was about three (3) fingers [~4.5 degrees] above the trees.
It [Moon] was almost on the "gray thing" [top of the haze line]. It disappeared at 7:11 pm.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward him for his report, amin.
Astronomical Analysis: The individual saw something BEFORE the local Sunset time
with unaided eyes for a possible first date VERY THIN Hilal, which is IMPOSSIBLE.
Hence the individual did NOT SEE A HILAL.
- LAWRENCE KANSAS: Report taken 9:15 pm EDST 3 Oct 2005 CE
There were four men and one of them spoke with me (Mohib). I (Mohib) could not speak with the other
three. He mentioned that the Sunset was around 6:59 pm. About 1-1/2 to 3 minutes after Sunset he
saw a white fiber to the right of the Sun. It stayed for about 2-1/2 minutes, and seemed like a
circle from 12 O'Clock to 1 to 2 to 3 O'Clock positions of an imaginary clock in the sky.
The height of the white fiber was such that if you keep your thumb horizontal with the horizon and
your index pointing first finger vertical then the white fiber was at the top of the index finger
when your hand is all the way in front of your eyes. [This would be about 7 finger widths which
is equal to about 10 degrees.]
May Allah swt Bless and Reward him for his report, amin.
Astronomical Analysis: The Moon was only about equal to less than 3 degrees from
the Sun at the time of local Sunset. The white fiber was too high in the sky (7 degrees,
after Sunset) from the Sun.
Hence the individual did NOT SEE A HILAL.
- DENVER COLORADO: Report taken 9:20 pm EDST 3 Oct 2005 CE
There were three men that were together, only two had seen something and each of the two
gave a separate report. One was of the two is an Imam of the Masjid.
The first person stated that the sky was very clear and it was his first time looking for a Hilal.
He was instructed by the other person to look between two trees and he saw a horizontal straight
line that later had a very tiny curve as it was going down. He could not tell whether the line was
to the left or right of the Sun as the Sun had already set. There were some mountains in the
western direction and the sky was very clear. He saw the line about 1 or 2 finger widths
above the mountains. He was not sure if what he saw was a Hilal also because it was his
first time looking for a Hilal.
The Imam had stated that the local Sunset was around 6:39 pm. At around 6:50 pm and for about
2 to 3 minutes he saw a very small straight up-and-down line very close to the Sunset location
and then it became curved. This was to the left of the Sun. There were some clouds that covered
about 1/4 of the Moon. The final shape of the curved line was like a "C" with the ends pointing
downward.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward them for their reports, amin.
Astronomical Analysis: The first observer was not sure if he had seen the Hilal and
the information was not definite. The second observer (Imam) had mentioned that the shape was an
upside down "C" with the ends pointing down. A Hilal's ends will always point away from the Sun.
Hence the individuals did NOT SEE A HILAL.
- VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: Report taken 10:55 pm EDST 3 Oct 2005 CE
There were two men, a father and a 20 year old son who had seen something.
The father mentioned that Sunset was at around 6:45 pm. The Moon was visible about 5 minutes after
Sunset from 6:51 to 6:55 pm. and he could see the Moon for 4 to 5 minutes.
The Moon was to the left of the Sun and was about 2 to 3 fingers higher than the horizon.
The ends of the Moon were pointing away from the Sun and the curve can be characterized as
starting at 1 O'Clock to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 O'Clock position.
The son was contacted later (12:50 am EDST 4 Oct 2005 CE). The son had taken an introductory course
in Astronomy. He mentioned that at 6:50 pm the Sun had already set. There were no clouds nearby.
The Crescent was not very big and was to the left of the Sun. The curved side was reflecting from
the side closer to the Sun. The curve was from 3 O'Clock to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 O'Clock position.
The Crescent was only about 1 or 2 finger widths above the horizon. The place of observation was
close to sea level and there was very little light pollution.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward them for their reports, amin.
Astronomical Analysis: At the location of Vancouver BC the latitude of the place is
quite north of the equator and the altitude (vertical height) of the Moon at the time of local
Sunset was calculated to be only 1 degree. This 1 degree is very close to the Sun and much below
the 5.5 degree limit and hence it was something other than a Hilal that both of them had seen.
Hence the individuals did NOT SEE A HILAL.
- SOUTH GATE, MICHIGAN: Report taken 11:15 pm EDST 3 Oct 2005 CE
The individual and his wife reported that they had seen the Crescent Moon. I (Mohib) spoke only
with the husband. The Sunset was at 7:20 pm and there were clouds above and below the Crescent.
He could not say whether the Moon was to the right or to the left of the Sun. They were looking
in the direction of "Maghrib" [Western direction] and after about 15 minutes of looking they were
able to see the Moon around 7:16 pm [BEFORE SUNSET]. They were able to see the Moon for about
5 minutes. The curvature of the Crescent was from 2 O'Clock to 3 to 4 to 5 O'Clock positions.
The Crescent was very high, around 35 degrees from the horizon, with the vertical
being 90 degrees.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward them for his report, amin.
Astronomical Analysis:The reported altitude of 35 degrees is too high for any Moon
in North America on the evening of Mon 3 Oct 2005 CE.
Hence the individual did NOT SEE A HILAL.
- TAMPE, ARIZONA: Report taken 12:30 am EDST 4 Oct 2005 CE
Dr.Shaikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah and I (Mohib) were able to talk to the individual.
He mentioned that there were no city lighting at the place of observation and there was one range of
mountains near the western horizon. There were some clouds above the horizon and there were lines
of clouds above the location of the Crescent.
Sunset was at 6:11 pm and he saw something at 6:21 pm and could
continue to see it to about 6:23 pm, for a period of about 1 minute and 45 seconds.
The Moon was very faint, was to the left of the Sun and was about 2 finger widths high.
The Crescent had an upward curvature and was from 2 O'Clock to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 O'Clock positions,
and it was open at the top. He mentioned that had seen other Hilals very similar to the this Crescent,
especially the one that he had seen in 1998.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward him for his report, amin.
Astronomical Analysis:For all locations in North America the altitude (vertical height) of
the Moon at the time of local Sunset was calculated to be only about a maximum of 3 degree.
This 3 degrees is still very close to the Sun and much below the 5.5 degree limit and
hence it was something other than a Hilal that the brother had seen.
Hence the individual did NOT SEE A HILAL.
If there are any questions please feel free to contact me.
May Allah swt Bless and Reward all during this Holy month of Ramadan and May He bring
Peace and Tranquility to all of Humanity, amin.