Zul-Hajj 1423AH Hilal Diagrams (Good to understand, use and share with others).

DATE: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 14:49:30 -0800
TO: All, Durrani@Hilal-Sighting.com
SUBJECT: Zul-Hajj 1423AH Hilal Diagrams (Good to understand, use and share with others).

BismillahIrRahmanIrRaheem.
As Salaamu Alykum (Peace) to all,

In an added effort to educate all of us in this important matter of Hilal (Crescent Moon) Sighting, I have made diagrams of the Hilal locations and orientations, for different places, for the month of Zul-Hajj 1423 AH (Feb 2003 CE). Please distribute this information to all those who are interested.

The detailed diagram (in MSWord format, *.doc) can be downloaded directly from the following website:
http://www.hilal-sighting.com/Hilal-Crescent-Moon-Locations-Orientations.doc

In addition, details of Sunset, Moonset, Altitude (angular height above horizon) and Azimuth (horizontal angle) of Qamar (Moon) above Shams (Sun) for many places around the world can be downloaded from:
http://www.hilal-sighting.com/20030201-zlhajj-1423.html
http://www.hilal-sighting.com/20030202-zlhajj-1423.html

The important estimated dates for the Islamic year of 1423 AH (2002 - 2003 CE) can be downloaded from:
http://www.hilal-sighting.com/20022003dates.html

The important estimated Islamic dates from 1410AH to 1426AH (1990CE to 2005CE) for USA/Canada can be downloaded from:
http://www.hilal-sighting.com/14101426AH-19902005CE-USA-Estimates.html

The following are some explanations for the diagrams:
The diagrams for Zul-Hajj 1423 AH gives the initial location and orientation of the Qamar (Moon), at the time of local sunset, on the evening of Sat 1 Feb 2003 CE for differnt places. Then the path of the Qamar, at intervals of five (5) minutes, is also plotted for these different places of the world. The path of the Shams (Sun) for Makkah is also shown.

The LOCATION AND ORIENTATION of the expected Hilal are VERY IMPORTANT for authentication of reported sightings. It is ESSENTIAL that the reported sighting correspond to the expected location of the Hilal (Crescent Moon) from the Shams (Sun) and to the expected orientation (ends of the "horns"). If these do not correspond, we can safely state that the person has seen "something", but it was NOT the Hilal.

It is also highly recommended that the PATH of the setting Hilal be carefully observed so that a "wisp of a cloud" is not mistaken for a Hilal. The "wisp of a cloud" would probably "rise" or go "east" or "west" but it would have a very low probability of following the expected path of a setting Hilal.

LOCATION OF THE HILAL:

An easy way to approximately measure angles and report the LOCATION of the Hilal for the Hilal sighting report, when we do not have any scientific equipment, is as follows:

Stretch our right hand in front of us, as far away from our eye as we can. This will ensure that our forearm and our biceps are approximately in a straight line. Keep the index finger (first finger closest to the thumb) stretched straight and horizontal and all the other fingers horizontal.
```
1 finger width  at arm's length is approximately  1.5 degrees 
2 finger widths at arm's length is approximately  3.0 degrees 
4 finger widths at arm's length is approximately  6.0 degrees 
8 finger widths at arm's length is approximately 12.0 degrees 
1 Closed Fist   at arm's length is approximately 10.0 degrees 

Outstretched fingers, from the end of the thumb to 
  the end of the small finger (the finger furthest from the thumb) 
                at arm's length is approximately 20.0 degrees 

Note that the Hilal is only about 0.5 degrees 
(and can easily be covered by one finger).
```
Of course, when we want to measure vertical angles, we will keep our fingers horizontal so that the width of the fingers would be vertical, and vice versa for measuring horizontal angles.
ORIENTATION OF THE HILAL:

An easy way to report the Hilal ORIENTATION is as follows:

Imagine a vertical clock on the Western horizon with:
the 12 O'Clock position to the top,
the 3 O'Clock position to the right,
the 6 O'Clock position down, and you guessed it,
the 9 O'Clock position to the left.

The new thin Hilal is usually less than 180 degress along the circumference of this imaginary clock in the sky.

The Hilal orientation is defined by identifying the starting of the Hilal Curve, to the middle of the curve, and finally to the end of the curve.

Some examples could be:
Start at 1:00 O'Clock, middle at 3:00 O'Clock, and end at 5:00 O'Clock.
Start at 1:00 O'Clock, middle at 3:30 O'Clock, and end at 6:00 O'Clock.
Start at 1:00 O'Clock, middle at 4:00 O'Clock, and end at 7:00 O'Clock.
Start at 1:30 O'Clock, middle at 3:30 O'Clock, and end at 5:30 O'Clock.
Start at 2:00 O'Clock, middle at 5:00 O'Clock, and end at 8:00 O'Clock.
Start at 2:30 O'Clock, middle at 4:30 O'Clock, and end at 6:30 O'Clock.
Start at 3:00 O'Clock, middle at 5:00 O'Clock, and end at 7:00 O'Clock.
Start at 3:30 O'Clock, middle at 5:30 O'Clock, and end at 7:30 O'Clock.
Start at 4:00 O'Clock, middle at 6:00 O'Clock, and end at 8:00 O'Clock.
Start at 4:30 O'Clock, middle at 6:30 O'Clock, and end at 8:30 O'Clock.
Start at 5:00 O'Clock, middle at 7:00 O'Clock, and end at 9:00 O'Clock.
Start at 5:00 O'Clock, middle at 8:00 O'Clock, and end at 11:00 O'Clock.
etc.

Please share this information with the people who would be going for Hilal sighting, especially in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the path of the easily visible Hilal (Crescent Moon), for Makkah, in the evening of Sun 2 Feb 2003 CE, is shown.

It is interesting to note the change in the inclination of the setting Qamar with the change in the latitude of the place. In particular, Makkah and San Diego (USA) are in the northern hemisphere and the path of the Qamar is from the top left to the bottom right. In contrast, for Buenos Aires (Argentina, South America), which is in the southern hemisphere, the path of the Qamar is from the top right to the bottom left. It should be noted that even though the Qamar is just above the Visibility curve for Buenos Aires, the Hilal can only be seen form Buenos Aires with powerful optical aids (telescopes) and experienced Hilal observers.

It should be noted that the Qamar (Moon), for the evening of Sat 1 Feb 2003 CE, is BELOW THE VISIBLILITY CURVE for most places around the world, and certainly for Makkah, and also for all places in North America and Canada.

This VISIBILITY CURVE is based on hundreds of observations over many hundred years.

The following conclusions can be made:
HENCE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE HILAL TO BE VISIBLE FROM MAKKAH ON THE EVENING OF SAT 1 FEB 2003 CE !!!

It is also IMPOSSIBLE for the Hilal to be visible from any place in USA/Canada on the evening of Sat 1 Feb 2003 CE.

The first visibility of the Hilal at Makkah would be on the evening of Sun 2 Feb 2003, which makes the common day of 1 Zul-Hajj as the day of Mon 3 Feb 2003, inshallah.

Hence the day of 10 Zul-Hajj (Eid-ul-Adha) at Makkah is expected to be Wed 12 Feb 2003 CE, inshallah. This is also the expected date for USA/Canada and most of the world.

Please let me know if you need additional information.

May Allah (swt) Bless and Guide all of us in all that we do, amin.

Your brother in Islam,

Dr. Mohib. N. Durrani
Webpages: http://www.hilal-sighting.com/