Crescent Moon Visibility of Ramadan 1444 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Ramadan 1444 (RHS) shows that the moon will be born on 21 March 2023 at 17:23 GMT/UT, but will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK to Morocco (MA) region on that date. However, on 22 March 2023, the moon will be easily visible in the UK and in most countries of the world. Hence, Ramadan is most likely to start from 23 March 2023, InShaAllah. [When is Ramadan & Eid-ul Fitr 1444?]
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When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Ramadan 1444 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Ramadan 1444 AH on 22 & 23 March 2023 (29th Shaban & the next day) after sunset from the western horizon and report your results (positive or negative) via our website Observation Report Form. [Photo Competition]
Results of Crescent Moon Observations for Ramadan 1444 AH
ICOUK Moon Report
22 Mar 2023
United Kingdom
Birmingham
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Umar Hussain from Birmingham City in the West Midlands County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Rainy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Mr Umar Hussain commented: "We had over 150 people looking in Birmingham but there was too much cloud cover. There were experienced people looking with binoculars but the weather did not allow it to see the moon".
Bolton
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Muhammad Arshad Dar from Bolton City in the Greater Manchester County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Muhammad Arshad Dar commented: "We were a group of 50+ people from various age groups trying to sight the crescent moon of Ramadan. The sky was completely covered with dark and thick clouds. The moon was not sighted".
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Sameer Ali from Bolton City in the Greater Manchester County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Bradford
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Nazia Kouser from Bradford City in the West Yorkshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Cambridge
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Rahma Alfarsy from Cambridge City in the Cambridgeshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was Seen by Binoculars and Naked-eye.
Ms Rahma Alfarsy commented: "A large group of people including families gathered together to sight the hilaal alhamdulillah. From sunset time there was either haze and cloud covering the crescent. It was later on when wind cleared the sky did the hilaal appear at low altitude. We used Jupiter as a guide to look for the hilaal as it was situated directly below it. [YouTube: youtu.be/zx77EDh1WIw - Admin]".
Croydon
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Umar Faruk Abdul Muthalif from Croydon City in the Greater London County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Mr Umar Faruk Abdul Muthalif commented: "Not seen totally cloudy".
Croydon (Pollards Hill)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Shaykh Sulayman Gani from Croydon (Pollards Hill) City in the Greater London County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Shaykh Sulayman Gani commented: "Over 50 people joined me at Pollards Hill North before sunset to see the location of the sunset. I gave a brief guide and set binoculars to focus. After Maghrib Salah led by Mufti Aamer, we proceeded to the vantage point. It was very cloudy at the horizon and had slight rain. More joined us from Croydon mosque including Mufti Yusuf Danka and Hajee Nazir. We could not see the moon with the naked eye. We received news from Br Juned Patel that he sighted the moon, Alhamdulillah".
Dewsbury
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Dr Najeeb Chaudhry from Dewsbury City in the West Yorkshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Dr Najeeb Chaudhry commented: "not seen due to cloudy weather ".
Dundee
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Shuhena Islam from Dundee City in the Scotland County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye.
Ms Shuhena Islam commented: "There were a group of about 22 people who saw the moon from Dundee Law, many were there for the first time. I managed to take a few photos of the moon before the clouds covered it. [Submitted on 26/3/2023 - Admin]".
Filey
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Juned Patel from Filey City in the North Yorkshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye and Binoculars.
Mr Juned Patel commented: "This is the actual first picture of the crescent moon of Ramadan 1444 from the UK (Filey, Yorkshire), on the evening of the 22nd March 2023. I, Juned Patel from Bolton along with Maulana Hanif Dudhwala left home in search of a clear sky at 5 am and ended at Filey. I first spotted this crescent moon with binoculars at 18:26 and then with the naked eye at 18:45 GMT".
Foxley
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Sadia Tanvir-Navaab from Foxley City in the Norfolk County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye.
Laindon
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Hendrik Stahlberg from Laindon City in the Essex County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Leeds
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Maulana Yusuf Mota from Leeds City in the West Yorkshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Maulana Yusuf Mota commented: "I had been monitoring the sunset position, however, just around maghrib time we had heavy clouding around the position of where the moon could have been sighted. I went out with my madrasah children and 3 parents attended (2 male & 1 female). Negative sighting due to overcast".
Leicester
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Riyaz Bhikha from Leicester City in the Leicestershire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars.
London (Chingford)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Asif Memon from London (Chingford) City in the Greater London County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Asif Memon commented: "Crescent not seen, very cloudy".
London (Forest Gate)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Yakub Atkins from London (Forest Gate) City in the Greater London County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Yakub Atkins commented: "Sky to cloudy to see hilal by my daughter and myself".
Nelson (Barley)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Qasim Abbas from Nelson (Barley) City in the Lancashire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Qasim Abbas commented: "Unable to see Hilal. We were 557m up after a hike up the famous Pendle Hill. Unable to take 2nd image as it was too cloudy and the phone battery had died".
Portsmouth
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Mizanul Amin Babar from Portsmouth City in the Hampshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Mizanul Amin Babar commented: "The horizon got more and more cloudy after the sunset. I did not see the crescent moon.".
Preston (Jeffrey Hills)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Dr Mohsen Abdelaal from Preston (Jeffrey Hills) City in the Lancashire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Dr Mohsen Abdelaal commented: "It was too cloudy ti observe the moon.".
Saltburn-by-the-Sea (Brotton)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Julie Breen from Saltburn-by-the-Sea (Brotton) City in the Cleveland County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Ms Julie Breen commented: "Broken cloud, thickest at the horizon".
Southampton
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Iqbal Sharif from Southampton City in the Hampshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Stockton-on-Tees (Ingleby Barwick)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Ms Amanda Khalid from Stockton-on-Tees (Ingleby Barwick) City in the Teesside County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Surbiton
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Javed Rafiq from Surbiton City in the Surrey County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Trowbridge
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Mujahid Chowdhury from Trowbridge City in the Wiltshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye.
Whitehaven
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Faruq Bilbe from Whitehaven City in the Cumbria County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Binoculars or Naked-eye.
Mr Faruq Bilbe commented: "There were some occasional breaks in the cloud between showers but too high in the sky to see the Hilal, then the rain set in just before Moon set".
York (New Earswick)
Not seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Eng Qamar Uddin from York (New Earswick) City in the North Yorkshire County (United Kingdom) mentioned that the sky was Totally Cloudy, the crescent was not seen by Naked-eye or Binoculars.
Eng Qamar Uddin commented: "It was fairly sunny before sunset in York today (22/3/2023), but became cloudy after sunset, so the Ramadan 1444 Hilal was not seen by us (a group of 5 people). Fortunately, it was sighted in other places (Filey near Scarborough, Cambridge etc), Alhamdulillah".
Ireland
Tralee
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Maulana Hidayatullah Patel from Tralee City in the Kerry County (Ireland) mentioned that the sky was Partly Cloudy, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye.
Morocco
Benslimane
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Prof Hassan Talibi from Benslimane City in the Casablanca-Settat County (Morocco) mentioned that the sky was Clear, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye.
Tangier
Seen after sunset: On 22 Mar 2023, ICOUK member Mr Hatim El-Harrak from Tangier City in the Tangier-Tetouan Al-Hoceima County (Morocco) mentioned that the sky was Clear, the crescent was Seen by Naked-eye.
Mr Hatim El-Harrak commented: "In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. Today evening, 29 Shaaban 1444 AH, corresponding to 22 March 2023 AD, I observed the crescent moon for the blessed month of Ramadan, which was seen with the naked eye, as show in the attached pictures".
Announcement for start of Ramadan 1444 AH
On Wednesday 22nd March 2023 (29th Shaban 1444 AH) the Hilal of Ramadan 1444 was sighted in the UK and Morocco. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the start of the month based on the Regional (UK – MA) and Local (UK-only) Moon Sighting criteria are given below.
Regional (UK - MA): the month of Shaban 1444 AH will have 29 days and the month of Ramadan 1444 AH will start from Thursday 23rd March 2023, InShaAllah.
Local (UK-only): the month of Shaban 1444 AH will have 29 days and the month of Ramadan 1444 AH will start from Thursday 23rd March 2023, InShaAllah.
Signed by (Ulama Panel): Maulana Abdullah Ahmed, Maulana Yusuf Mota, Shaykh Suliman Gani & Imam Sabri Alabri. Witnessed by Eng. Qamar Uddin, ICOUK (22/03/2023 19:45 GMT)
Reference: Towards Local Moon Sighting (UK)
Note that Saudi Arabia normally announces the start of Ramadan on their SPA (www.spa.gov.sa) website.