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Many people who use Weather Forecast to decide if they can put out their washing for drying (or stargazing from directly above their head/zenith), also use the same logic to decide if they should go out for moon sighting or not (when it’s predicted to be visible)?
The above comparison is not correct since the distance to the horizon is usually much further away from the observation location than the horizon (where the weather forecast could be clear skies)!
The reason the actual weather may be much better at the horizon is because, cloudiness is a local phenomenon i.e. the whole region is never (or very rarely) cloudy at the same time, such that two locations, 10 – 20 miles apart may have totally different weather conditions (clear and cloudy).
The question arises, how far distance is your horizon (l) so you can estimate the weather forecast more accurately? The answer to that depends on both the height of your observation location (which is variable, h) and the radius of the earth (which is a constant, R = 3959 miles), as given in the formula below:
Distance to the horizon (l) = 1.22495 √h where h is in feet and l is in miles OR
Distance to the horizon (l) = 3.56972 √h where h is in meters and l is in kilometres (km)
Examples:
1. What is the distance to the horizon for someone at 10m height of location and 1.5m tall? Distance = 1.22495 x √(32.8 + 5) = 7.53 miles OR = 3.56972 √(10 + 1.5) = 12.12 km
2. What is the distance to the horizon for someone at 1000 ft height of location and 6ft tall? Distance = 1.22495 x √(1000 + 6) = 38.84 miles OR = 3.56972 √(305 + 1.8) = 62.51 km
The above example calculations are for York (height, 10 m) and Thirsk (height, 1000 ft) in North Yorkshire.
It is clear from the above calculations that the higher the location, the further away the horizon will be and hence the weather at that distance may not be as cloudy as the location of the observer.
Furthermore, when it’s partly cloudy, it has been found that the location near sunset may have a clear gap, allowing the moon to be easily seen, even though other parts of the skies are totally cloudy.
Therefore, never give up looking for the moon (until moon set times), even if the forecast is cloudy, since there may be a clear gap to see the moon through a break in the clouds (at the horizon)!
Note that it is advisable to use the first part of your postcode (eg. YO10) for the UK regional weather forecasts (which may include locations near your distant horizons).
Ref: How far away is the horizon? (PDF) | See also: How to Calculate the Distance to the Horizon
Related: First day's moon on UK horizon | Met Office UK weather map
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Introduction
To establish the Hijri calendar with verified moon sightings by the human eye (Muhaqaq Ruyat Basari) is a communal obligation (Fard Al-Kifaya). The role of the public is to sight the moon and report it. The role of the Hilal Committee is to take the witness testimonies (Shahada) and declare the start of the lunar months (for Ibadah). Anyone who has sent a Hilal Report to the ICOUK website (Send Observation Report) may be invited to give a testimony to ICOUK Ulama according to this policy, which may be shared confidentially (see below) with other UK Hilal Committees/Organisations (to avoid inconveniencing the witnesses with multiple testimonies).
Importance of Testimony
It is a communal obligation (Fard Al-Kifaya) for people to give testimonies to a Hilal Committee, to fulfil the responsibilities of a group of Muslims who have sighted the crescent moon (Hilal). However, if only one or two people have sighted the moon (e.g., due to cloudy weather), then it is an individual obligation (Fard Al-Ayn) to give their testimonies to a Hilal Committee.
Allah says: "And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it, his heart is indeed sinful, and Allah is knowing of what you do." (Quran 2:283). He also says: "And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do." (Quran 2:140)
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: "The best of witnesses is the one who gives his testimony before being asked for it." [Tirmidhi:2297]
Witness Criteria
The vast majority of the ICOUK members follow the Quran and Sunnah according to the understanding of the Hanafi Madhab (school of thought), which has the most stringent witness criteria. Accordingly, the witness must be (a) Muslim, (b) adult, (c) sane (sound mind), (d) have good eyesight, (e) reliable/good character, etc.
Number of Witnesses
A minimum of two males or two females and a male witness will be required*, although a greater number is preferred. If a female is unable to provide a testimony directly to the ICOUK Ulama, she can still provide it through a male guardian (Mahram), known as Testimony-upon-Testimony (Shahada-Ala-Shahada)!
[*Note: In the case of cloudy weather at the start of Ramadan, the witness of one trustworthy male or female is accepted. A large group sighting (Jame Ghafeer) will be necessary for clear skies.]
Remote Testimony
To help the UK Ulama/Hilal Committees make rapid and accurate Hilal decisions, we will adopt a remote testimony procedure via an audio/video conference call (e.g., Zoom). Remote testimonies will be taken individually from those who have sent (positive) ICOUK Hilal Reports and whose full identity (ID) is known to the Admins. Therefore, it is important to keep your ICOUK database profile up to date with your contact details and a recent ID Photo (of head and shoulders), if at all possible.
Identity Verification
An ID Photo is very helpful to establish the identity of witnesses with minimal delays. A remote testimony from a stranger (unknown person) is not acceptable. The identity of males and females will be verified separately by male and female Admins and Scholars, respectively. Once the identity has been established, a voice-only testimony (i.e., with the video off) may be acceptable, InshaAllah.
Testimony Template
All witnesses will be required to use the template below by adding the details inside the angle brackets (< >).
My name is <full name>, and I am from <city/town>. I testify that I saw the moon on <date/time> <before/after> sunset. The sky was <clear/cloudy>, and the moon was seen on the <left/right> of sunset by <naked eye/binoculars>. The time of sunset was <hh:mm GMT/BST>.
The witnesses may be asked to provide some additional information (e.g. direction of the crescent moon horns), but the template details are the minimum required for Shariah and Scientific purposes.
Giving False Testimony
To give false testimony is a major sin (next to Shirk) because it is one of the characteristics of a hypocrite (Bukhari:2749), and hence a person should only testify to what they are sure of (i.e., without any doubts) and not lie. Allah says: "curse of Allah upon the liars". (Quran 3:61)
Narrated Abu Bakra (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) considered Shahadah az-Zur (giving false testimony) among the most serious of major sins. [al-Bukhari and Muslim reported it in a long Hadith]. [Bulugh:1419]
Announcement
Once the testimonies have been accepted by the ICOUK Ulama/UK Hilal Committees, the decision to start the month will be announced on the ICOUK website and/or social media channels. Other organisations may do the same via their own websites/social media channels. Note that the announcements for negative sighting reports are always later (than positive sighting reports), to allow extra time for receiving all the observation results from the last sighting point/moonset time!
Confidentiality/Privacy Policy
Any testimonies provided to the ICOUK Ulama above may be shared confidentially with other UK Hilal Committees under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). All other personal details of the witnesses will be kept strictly confidential, as per ICOUK Privacy Policy, and will not be disclosed to any third parties without the prior consent of the testimony provider.
Disclaimer (Legal Notice)
Any moon sighting declaration issued by ICOUK is provided on an advisory basis only, to the best of our knowledge and understanding of relevant scientific information and principles of Shariah at the time of publication. Such declarations are intended for general guidance purposes only.
They do not constitute legal advice, religious rulings binding on individuals, or any form of professional advice under the laws of the UK. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure accuracy, no guarantee is given as to the completeness or correctness of the information provided.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from reliance on, use of, or inability to use any moon sighting declaration or related information.
Furthermore, users seeking to rely upon the information contained within this website for the purpose of determining when to seek leave from employment for Eid do so at their own risk. We cannot and do not purport in any circumstances to be able to definitively determine the exact day upon which Eid will fall.
Related: Importance of Moon Sighting | Importance of Reporting Hilal Sightings | UK Major Lunar Standstills Istiftaa (2023)
Reference: Fatwa Jamia-Uloom Islamiyyah, Pakistan (2022) | Video Testimony Fatwa by Jamia Tur Rasheed, Pakistan (2018) [p.10]
If you have any comments regarding the above article, please email us via our on-line Contact Us form.
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Related: Importance of Moon Sighting | Why look for the moon after the 29th date? [download pdf]
When Muslims go out for crescent moon (Hilal) observation, there are two possible outcomes:
- They actually see the moon and report the result as a positive sighting.
- They don't see the moon and report the result as a negative sighting.
It is Sunnah to look for the Hilal on the 29th lunar date and if there is a positive sighting then the new month begins from the next day.
However, if there are negative sightings then the new month begins from the day after the next day i.e. after completing 30 days.
Therefore, it is essential to report both positive and negative sightings to begin the new month with certainty and not in doubt.
Furthermore, negative sighting reports provide justification for completion of 30 days, hence it's important to report negative sightings (from all locations) just as positive sightings.
What if people don't report negative sightings?
The purpose of reporting Hilal sightings is to help the community (or nominated Hilal Committee) to make rapid and accurate decisions to begin the new month.
When they see the positive sighting reports on the 29th day, they can decide to begin the new month from the next day with certainty.
Similarly, when they see the negative sighting reports, they can decide to complete 30 days of the month with certainty.
Some people only report positive sightings and not negative sightings. This is not helpful, because when the community (or the nominated Hilal Committee) don't see the negative sighting reports, they may fall in doubt and have to wait unnecessarily long to make a decision.
Furthermore, if lots of people report negative sightings and few people claim positive sightings, it will help them isolate mistakes more easily than if no one reported negative sightings. This could happen when the moon is in the invisible phase (Mahaq) and something else is mistaken for the moon (e.g. Venus Crescent)!
"It is a misunderstanding to consider only [moon] sighting is Sunnah but sighting and reporting, both are together [as part of the Sunnah]", Mufti Yusuf Sacha (13/9/2020). [MP3 Audio]
Note that it is recommended to take photos of the horizon before and after sunset (with or without the Hilal) for supportive evidence. It could easily show the clarity of the horizons and weather conditions. However, observation reports can be submitted without photos, if they are not available!
Where should people submit the Hilal sighting reports?
Many organisations and individuals frequent the ICOUK website for reliable Hilal reports. Therefore, you should send your Hilal Sighting reports to the ICOUK website (Send Observation Report) from the field in the first instance, which should take only about 1 - 2 mins the most (if you already have your login saved in your device). You should also SHARE it with your organisation (if any) and moon sighting groups on Social Media, as appropriate.
Checked by Shaykh Suliman Gani
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Related: Importance of Moon Sighting | First day's moon on UK horizon [download pdf]
It is well-known amongst Muslim scholars and moon sighting experts that a lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long. It is never less than 29 days or more than 30 days long.
According to Islamic tradition, Muslims always look for the crescent moon (Hilal) on the 29th lunar date and if it’s not sighted then 30 days of the month is to be completed. This method works well with equatorial countries/locations where clear skies are the norm and cloudiness is an exception.
Perhaps, what is not so well-known is the fact that a lunar year has about 6 months that are 29 days long and all others are 30 days long, making a lunar year of 354 days long approximately, which is 11 days shorter than a solar year (hence Ramadan rotating through all the seasons).
The normal moon sighting practice of equatorial countries does not work in the case of the UK due to the prolonged adverse weather conditions throughout the year. These persistent adverse UK weather conditions are caused by the high and low pressures of the surrounding oceans.
Therefore, if the UK Muslims keep on completing 30-days month (as per tradition) then after about 6 months, the month length will become less than 29th days, which is not allowed in an Islamic (Hijri) Calendar system.
Similarly, if the month is prematurely ended on 29th day due to human errors (or by accepting erroneous foreign news), the future months are likely to be more than 30 days long, which is also not allowed. It is either 29 or 30 days and not less than 29 or more than 30 days.
Furthermore, the Fiqh scholars have stated that the Hilal must be seen on the 30th day (in clear sky) otherwise the start must have been wrong and if that's Ramadan then a Fast must be kept on the 31st day. In the case of the Hilal being sighted on the 28th date, a Qadha fast must be kept after Eid (see references).
Therefore, it is necessary for the UK Muslims to look for the Hilal on both 29th and the next day (30th or 1st) to minimise errors, especially in adverse weather conditions of the UK.
Besides, the above data may inform if it’s possible to rely totally on UK moon sighting reports or not in the future, without borrowing conflicting foreign news, as is the present practice.
Note that the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent (where most UK Muslims are from), usually start Ramadan/Shawwal almost every year after sighting a 30+ hours old moon in clear sky conditions, hence it is easily seen by the naked eye.
Any sighting of a moon less than 24 hours old, especially in cloudy weather will require the help of optical aids (e.g. binoculars), which has been permitted by many UK scholars.
References (from Maulana Yakub Qasmi, 2000):
- Al Taqreer Ul Rafee, by Allamah Ibn Abedin Ash-Shami, Vol.2, p.146
- Al-Fiqh Ala Al-Madhahib Al-Arba Ah by Abd al-Rahman al-Jaziri, Vol.1 p.552
- Maraqi Al Falah by Allamah Tahtawi, p.359
- Nur al-Idah by Imam Shurunbulali, p.283
Checked by Mufti Zakariya Akudi (2/2018)
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This article was written for Ramadan 1437 Hilal and has been updated for Shawwal 1446 Hilal
The crescent visibility map on the ICOUK website shows that on Saturday 29th March 2025, the Shawwal 1446 AH crescent moon (Hilal) will not be possible to be sighted in the UK/Morocco region by the naked eye (RGO/Yallop Code E-F).
However, many people will be looking for the Shawwal Hilal on that date (29th Ramadan/ Ummul Qura) to confirm if the moon can or cannot be sighted by the human eye.
This confirmation will ensure that the decision to complete 30-days of the month (for Ummul Qura followers) is based on negative sighting reports and not entirely based on visibility maps or scientific data.
Therefore, it is important to report negative sightings, just as it is important to report positive sightings, which will help remove any erroneous sighting reports, i.e. if hundreds of people could not sight the moon (in a clear sky), how can a few peoples' claims to see it (implying those hundreds of people are all blind!)?
The Quran states that the moon goes through stages (36:39) and the Tafsir [1] explains there are visible phases of the moon when it can be seen and there are invisible phases of the moon (Mahaq) when it cannot be seen (for 1 or 2 days in each month).
The predicted crescent visibility maps and related scientific data, simply confirm the visible and invisible phases of the moon, which is consistent with the teaching of the Quran and Ahadith.
Compare the use of Google Maps calculation to measure the distance when the prayer of a traveller becomes shortened (Qasar/قصير). Would you consider it against the Sunnah to use Google maps?
What about using a car to travel to the Masjid for prayers or an aeroplane to go to Hajj/Umrah? Would you consider them to be against the Sunnah too (instead of riding a Camel)?
Therefore, it is not against Sunnah to use the Crescent Visibility Maps. In fact, it is commendable to do so, because the intention of the Shariah is not to start a month in doubt [2], but with certainty which the visibility maps help to achieve.
Furthermore, the visibility maps help the Hilal Committees to determine the veracity/accuracy of the witness statements. So, it does not at all go against the Sunnah (as it is not used to determine when Ramadan should start or end) but rather it is one of the many factors the Hilal Committees can take into consideration when accepting any witness statements.
Related: Hidden Phase of the Moon | Visibility Maps
References:
[1] { وَٱلْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلعُرجُونِ ٱلْقَدِيمِ }
"And [as for] the moon - (read wa’l-qamaru, in the nominative, or wa’l-qamara, in the accusative; and it may be in the accusative because of a following verb that governs it) We have determined it, with respect to its course, [to run] in phases - twenty eight phases in twenty eight nights of every month; it becomes concealed for two nights when the month has thirty days, and for one night when it has twenty nine days - until it returns, during its final phase seeming to the [human] eye, like an aged palm-bough, in other words, like the stalk with a date cluster when it ages, becoming delicate, arched and yellowish." [Ref: Tafsir Jalalyan, Quran (38:39)]
[2] Ammar bin Yasir (ra) narrated, "Whoever fasts the day of doubt [30 Shaban] he has then disobeyed Abu al-Qasim (the Prophet)." Related by the five Imams, and Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih. [Ref: http://sunnah.com/urn/2059010]
Checked by: Mufti Amjad Mohammed (5/2016)