Crescent Hilal of Rabi Ath-Thani 1429 was sighted on April 6, 2008G at several places in North America including Austin, Texas. Hence Rabiul-Awwal is 29 days and Rabi Ath-Thani 1429H starts on April 7 2008G in North America.

Please encourage all to become member and receive Hilal Sighting Alerts

No Positive Hilal Sighting reports were received from anywhere in North America on March 7 2008G. Hence we complete 30 days of the month of Safar 1429H. Rabi Al-Awaal 1429H starts on March 9th 2008G in North America.

On March 8, the Hilal was sighted in several places in North America, including Georgia, Texas and California.

Please encourage all to become member and receive Hilal Sighting Alerts

The decision is made by the Shura of the Hilal Sighting Committee in the light of the Hilal sighting reports examined by the Muslim experts on astronomy. We are a national organization and represent all school of thoughts among the Muslim community in North America. We have our volunteers nationwide to observe the Hilal every month. Our Matla includes the contiguous US States and Canada. In cases where a hilal sighting report contradicts with Astronomy, following opinion of Scholars like Mufti Taqi Usmani, our Ulema insist on "Jamme Gahfeer" or large number of witnesses, which has been historically required for the case of Clear skies. 

The Shura Members

Mawlana Mohammed Ghaus Nadvi, Mufti Abdul Muqtadir, Mufti Qamarul Hasan Qadri, Mawlana Obedur Rahman, Mawlana Mumtazul Haq, Mufti Abdur Rahman Qamar, Imam Tahir Anwar, Imam Zaid Shakir

Muslim Experts on Astronomy

Dr. Omar Afzal, Dr. M.A.K. Lodhi, Br. Zaheer Uddin, Dr. Salman Zafar Shaikh, Br. Qaiser Imam

There will be total eclipse of the moon on 20th February 2008. See link : cnn.com

The young crescent Hilal of Safar 1429H was sighted in California on Feb 7, 2008G evening. Hence first day of Safar is Friday, Feb 8th 2008G

sighting location at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Lat ~37.3 degs North and 122.2 degs West and elevation about 1400 feet above sea level). Photo contributed by : Organic Light Photography

The young crescent Hilal of Muharram 1429H was sighted in several parts of North America, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Texas, California etc. on January 9, 2008G evening. Hence DhulHijja is 29 days and Thursday, January 10, 2008G is the 1st of Muharram, 1429H in North America starting the Islamic New Year and one of the 4 sacred months. Ashura or 10th of Muharram 1429H in North America thus falls on Saturday, January 19, 2008G.

Click here to become Member and get Hilal Sighting Information

The Hijri Calendar: A Brief Introduction

By Zaheer Uddin

The Hijri or Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycles. The Hijri calendar is usually abbreviated A.H. from the Latinized Anno Hegirae, "in the year of the Hegira". Muharram 1, 1 A.H. corresponds to Friday, July 16, 622 C.E.

In 638 C.E., six years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (s), the second caliph 'Umar (r) recognized the necessity of a calendar to govern the affairs of the Muslims. This was first of all a practical matter. Correspondence with military and civilian officials in the newly conquered lands had to be dated.

The Hijrah, which chronicles the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (s) from Makkah to Madinah in September 622 C.E., is the central historical event of early Islam. It led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history.                                                                                                                                 Read More