Crescent Moon Visibility of Shaban 1438 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Shaban 1438 shows that moon will be born on 26 April 2017 at 12:16 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region on that date. However, on 27 April 2017 the moon will be easily visible in most countries of the world. The lunar parameter of the moon on Thursday 27 April 2017 at London sunset will be, Age: 31 hrs, Alt: 10°, Elongation: 19°, Illuminated: 2.6%, Lagtime: 77 mins. Hence, the month of Shaban is most likely to start from 28 April 2017, InshaAllah.
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When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Shaban 1438 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Shaban 1438 AH on 27 April 2017 (29th Rajab) after sunset from the western horizon as per Sunnah and report your results (positive or negative) via our website Observation Report Form.
Results of Crescent Moon Observations for Shaban 1438 AH
Announcement for start of Shaban 1438 AH
On Thursday 27th April 2017 (29th Rajab 1438 AH) the Hilal of Shaban 1438 was sighted in the UK/Morocco region. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the month of Rajab 1438 AH will have 29-days and the month of Shaban 1438 AH will start from Friday 28th April 2017, making 15th Shaban to be on Friday 12th May 2017 (i.e. from the night of Thursday 11th May), Insha-Allah.
Note that Saudi Arabia do not normally make any official Hilal Sighting announcement from Safar to Shaban and Dhul Qa'dah.
The Saudi official Hilal Committees have looked for the moon of Shaban on 26th April 2017 (29th Rajab according to the official Ummul Qura Calendar (UQC)) and reported negative sightings. The usual early-sighters from near Riyadh (Shaqra and Sudair) also reported negative sightings due to clouds. Therefore, their un-announced start of Shaban is also from 28th April 2017, but from 27th April 2017 based on the official UQC date. To avoid any confusions and false sighting reports from Saudi Arabia (which happens very often), we recommend all UK (and European) residents to follow the actual Hilal sighting reports by the human eye (Muhaqaq Ruyat Basari) on our ICOUK website and not the dates published in Saudi Arabia (not even the calendars displayed in the Holy Mosques)!