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Crescent Moon Visibility of Rabi-ul Thani/Akhir 1441 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Rabi-ul Thani 1441 shows that moon will be born on 26 November 2019 15:06 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region (or anywhere in the whole world) on that date. However, on 27 November 2019 the moon will be visible in the UK/Morocco region (with some difficulty). Hence, the month of Rabi-ul Thani is most likely to start from 28 November 2019, InShaAllah.
When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Rabi-ul Thani 1441 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Rabi-ul Thani 1441 AH on 27 - 28 November 2019 (29th Rabi-ul Awwal & 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 Rabi-ul Thani 1441 AH
Announcement for start of Rabi-ul Thani 1441 AH
On Wednesday 27th November 2019 (29th Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH) the Hilal of Rabi-ul Thani 1441 was not sighted in the UK (as it was mostly cloudy), but it was sighted in Morocco. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the month of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH will have 29-days and the month of Rabi-ul Thani 1441 AH will start from Thursday 28th November 2019, InShaAllah.
Note that Saudi Arabia do not normally make any official Hilal Sighting announcement from Safar to Shaban (as they usually follow the Ummul Qura Calendar in these months).
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Crescent Moon Visibility of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 shows that moon will be born on 28 October 2019 at 03:38 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region on that date. However, on 29 October 2019 the moon will be easily visible in most countries of the world. Hence, the month of Rabi-ul Awwal is most likely to start from 30 October 2019, InShaAllah.
When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH on 28 - 29 October 2019 (29th Safar & 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 Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH
Announcement for start of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH
On Monday 28th October 2019 (29th Safar 1441 AH) the Hilal of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 was not sighted in the UK/Morocco region. We have also received a negative sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the month of Safar 1441 AH will complete 30-days and the month of Rabi-ul Awwal 1441 AH will start from Wednesday 30th October 2019, InShaAllah.
Note that Saudi Arabia do not normally make any official Hilal Sighting announcement from Safar to Shaban (as they usually follow the Ummul Qura Calendar in these months).
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Crescent Moon Visibility of Safar 1441 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Safar 1441 shows that moon will be born on 28 September 2019 at 18:26 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region (or aywhere in the whole world) on that date. However, on 29 September 2019 the moon will be easily visible in most countries of the world. Hence, the month of Safar is most likely to start from 30 September 2019, InShaAllah.
When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Safar 1441 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Safar 1441 AH on 29 September 2019 (29th Muharram) 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 Safar 1441 AH
Announcement for start of Safar 1441 AH
On Sunday 29th September 2019 (29th Muharram 1441 AH) the Hilal of Safar 1441 was sighted in the UK and Morocco region. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the month of Muharram 1441 AH will have 29-days and the month of Safar 1441 AH will start from Monday 30th September 2019, InShaAllah.
Note that Saudi Arabia do not normally make any official Hilal Sighting announcement from Safar to Shaban (as they usually follow the Ummul Qura Calendar in these months).
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Crescent Moon Visibility of Muharram 1441 AH
The crescent visibility map below for Muharram 1441 shows that moon will be born on 30 August 2019 at 10:37 GMT/UT, but it will not be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK/Morocco region on that date. However, on 31 August 2019 the moon will be easily visible throughout most of the world. Hence, the month of Muharram is most likely to start from 1 September 2019, InShaAllah.
When to Observe the Crescent Moon of Muharram 1441 AH
Please look for the Hilal of Muharram 1441 AH on 31 August 2019 (29th Dhul Hijjah) after sunset from the western horizon as per Sunnah and report your results (positive or negative) via our website Observation Report Form. [Photo Competition]
Results of Crescent Moon Observations for Muharram 1441 AH
Announcement for start of Muharram 1441 AH
On Saturday 31st August 2019 (29th Dhul Hijjah 1440 AH) the Hilal of Muharram 1441 was sighted throughout the UK and Morocco region. We have also received a positive sighting report from Morocco Awqaf Ministry (login to view).
Therefore, the month of Dhul Hijjah 1440 AH will have 29-days and the month of Muharram 1441 AH will start from Sunday 1st September 2019, making Ashura (10 Muharram) to fall on Tuesday 10th September 2019, InShaAllah. It is recommended to fast 9th & 10th or 10th and 11th or all 3-days (9th, 10th and 11th), InshaAllah
Significance of Ashura (10 Muharram) 1. Narrated Ibn `Abbas (R): When the Prophet (ﷺ) arrived at Medina he found that the Jews observed fast on the day of 'Ashura'. They were asked the reason for the fast. They replied, "This is the day when Allah caused Moses and the children of Israel to have victory over Pharaoh, so we fast on this day as a sign of glorifying it." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "We are closer to Moses than you." Then he ordered that fasting on this day should be observed. (Bukhari) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/63/168 2. Abdullah b 'Abbas (R) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: "If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th [along with the 10th]", and the narration transmitted by Abu Bakr said: "He meant the day of Ashura." (Muslim) http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/173
3. Abu Qatadah (R) narrated that: the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it." (Tirmidhi) https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/71
Note that Saudi Arabia may announce the Muharram hilal on their SPA www.spa.gov.sa website.
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In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.
The month of Shaban is the 8th month of an Islamic calendar. It is one of a few months that hold a higher status as compared to other months and hence they are given more value and significance by the Muslims, as stated below.
It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast most in Shaban except the last few days of the month. Shaban is the month that comes between the two blessed and sacred months of Rajab (7th month) and Ramadan (9th month).
Usamah bin Zaid (RA) said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Shaban.' He said: 'That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting." [Nasai Book 22, Hadith 268]
In this blessed month of Shaban actions of the people are presented to Allah Almighty. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast repeatedly in this month.
Narrated `Aisha (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Shaban. [Sahih al-Bukhari Book 30, Hadith 76]
The above-mentioned Ahadith of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) give the importance of the fasting in the month of Shaban, i.e. fasting the day and worshiping by the night. Worshiping by the night includes the total submission to Allah Almighty as much as possible. The recitation of the Holy Quran is another form of beneficial worship in the night.
There is a difference of opinion amongst Hadith scholars if the 15th night of Shaban is significant or not. Here is an extract from Shaykh ‘Abd al-Hafiz Makki (RA) on the virtues of the 15th night of Shaban:
[1] Imam Hafiz al-Mundhiri mentioned in al-Targhib wa ’l-Tarhib: from Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “Allah bestows His special attention to His entire creation on the 15th night of Sha‘ban. He then forgives His entire creation except a polytheist and one who harbours enmity.”
And he (al-Mundhiri) said: “Al-Tabarani narrated it and Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih.” I say (i.e. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Hafiz writes regarding himself): Imam Hafiz al-Suyuti mentioned it also in Al-Durr al-Manthur from al-Bayhaqi and Hafiz al-Haythami mentioned it in Majma’ ‘l-Zawai’d (vol. 8, p. 65) and he said: ‘Al-Tabarani narrated it in [Al-Mu’jam] al-Kabir and [Al-Mu’jam] al-Awsat, and its narrators are reliable.’”
[2] Imam Hafiz al-Mundhiri also mentioned in Al-Targhib wa ’l-Tarhib that Imam Ahmad narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, bestows His special attention to His entire creation on the 15th night of Shaban. He then forgives His creation except two: one who harbours enmity and the murderer.” I say: Hafiz Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentioned it in Lata’if al-Ma’arif and its marginal notes writer, Shaykh al-Sawas, said, “Musnad Ahmad (2/176) and its chain of transmission is Sahih (authentic)”.
There are other Ahadith signifying the fasting of the 13th, 14th and 15th day of each month, which includes Shaban (ie. Ayyam Al-Bid/ایّام البیض) and a couple of Ahadith (out of many others) are quoted below:
Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to fast for three days of every month; that is on the days of the full moon; the 13th, 14th, and 15th (of the lunar month).’ [Related by An-Nasa’i and At-Tirmidhi and rendered authentic by Ibn Hibban]
Qatadah bin Milhan (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed us to observe Saum (fasting) on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of the (lunar) month. [Abu Dawud, Book 9, Hadith 273]
Therefore, it is certainly not forbidden to fast on the day of 15th Shaban or worshipping Allah in the night (Laylat al-Bara'at / ليلة البراءة) with the hope of gaining forgiveness and rewards from Allah Almighty.
Furthermore, fasting in the month of Shaban gives us a chance to start preparing for the month of Ramadan. For fasting, we will have to wake up early before dawn time, and spending the day without eating and drinking, will give us a clear idea of what it would take in order to successfully spend the blessed month of Ramadan, InshaAllah.
It is a Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to look for the crescent moon (Hilal) in every month, especially for Shaban to help avoid any errors with the start of Ramadan. Therefore, please check the Shaban Hilal date on the ICOUK website and report your observation results (positive or negative) via our website Observation Report Form.
May Allah give us the utmost love for such a month that meant so much to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). May He give us the ability to fast abundantly in this month and performing other good deeds as well as asking Allah Almighty for forgiveness. Ameen!