Declaration
01/11/2005 6:15pm:
Tuesday night 01/11/2005
& Wednesday 01/12/2005 is Dhul-Hijjah 1, 1425
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the
month of Dhul-Hijjah. Based on deliberations that confirmed moon sighting,
Dhul-Qa'dah will end with 29 days of the month being completed and Dhul-Hijjah
begins on Tuesday, the 11th of January at Maghrib (sunset). Numerous sightings
took place in Florida; Ft. Meyers and Orlando. Thus, the Chicago Hilal Team
would like to wish everyone Eid Mubarak as Eid ul Adha will be on Friday 1/21/05
(Dhul-Hijjah 1, 1425).
12/14/2004 12:35am:
Monday night 12/13/2004
& Tuesday 12/14/2004 is Dhul-Qa'dah 1, 1425
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the
month of Dhul Qa'dah. Based on deliberations that did not confirm moonsighting,
Shawwal completed its cycle of 30 days and Dhul Qa'dah began on Monday, the 13th
of December at Maghrib (sunset).
11/13/2004 6:00pm:
Saturday night 11/13/2004
& Sunday 11/14/2004 is Shawwal 1, 1425
Eid Mubarak from the Chicago Hilal Committee!
Official reports indicate that the moon was sighted in Fort Myers, FL by Imam
Azhar Zubader and his congregation from Masjid Ibrahim at approximate 6PM EST.
Furthermore there were several local sightings which include a sighting in
Kankakee, IL by Mufti Haroon, a sighting in Villa Park by a father (Shaukat
Anwar) and son (Zia, who is beyond the age of maturity), and two brothers,
Khalid and Shaz, from Addison Masjid. The reports were rigorously authenticated
and confirmed as being true moon sightings. JazakamAllah Khair for making us
your source of up to date moon sighting reports, we look forward to continue to
bring you the most authentic and up to date sightings.
11/13/2004 5:50pm:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
would like to wish everyone Eid Mubarak! Alhamdulillah, the moon was sighted in
Fort Myers, FL. at pm 6PM EST. The report was rigorously authenticated and
confirmed as being a true moon sighting. We will update the site shortly
informing you of the details regarding this sighting. JazakamAllah Khair
for making us your source of up to date moon sighting reports.
11/13/2004 5:45pm:
As of 5:45 PM CST, the
Chicago Hilal Committee has received a report of an alleged moon sighting.
Currently we are under the process of evaluating this claim. Please report back
in 10-15 minutes for more information regarding this sighting.
11/13/2004 5:15pm:
As of 5:15 PM CST, there have
been no confirmed moon sighting in the USA. Please refer back to our site every
15-30 minutes.
11/13/2004 4:00pm:
The Chicago Hilal Team is now heading to the
Chicago Hilal Committee Meeting at MCC. All updates will begin after Salat ul
Maghrib Insha Allah. Please be patient as we await word on the sighting of the
moon.
11/13/2004 12:47am:
It has come to the attention of
the Chicago Hilal Team that there have been reported sightings of the moon in
the USA. After much consultation and research we have concurred to the
following decision in regards to these sightings:
1. Reports of a moon sighting,
tonight, in the USA have not been confirmed as being true. Thus, the
Chicago Hilal Committee will continue to be of the view that we are currently in
the twenty-ninth (29th) night and beginning the twenty-ninth (29th) day.
InshaAllah, tomorrow evening there will parties dispatched to search for the
moon, as well as meetings held in order to confirm incoming reports on possible
moon sightings in the country.
2. Mosques (masajid) around
the USA that base their moon sighting reports on the view that international
reports can be sufficient for the entire world have accepted sightings from the
Middle East (Saudi Hilal) of a confirmed moon sighting. However, the
Chicago Hilal Committee follows the view that only a confirmed moon sighting on
the regional level can be accepted to declare the beginning of a new month on
the lunar calendar.
For up to date news on moon sighting, please visit our website every 15-30
minutes after the Maghrib prayer.
11/10/2004:
It has come to our attention that organizations in
North America have declared Eid ul Fitr (the 1st of Shawwal) to be on Sunday,
November 14. While the Chicago Hilal Committee recognizes that calculations
dealing with the birth of the moon, and its position and timing on the
horizon present a strong chance of the moon being sighted in North America on
the 29th of Ramadan (Saturday, November 13), the Committee will maintain its
position of abiding by the traditions (sunnah/hadith)* of the Prophet
Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) and wait until after Maghrib on Saturday,
the 29th of Ramadan (the 13th of November) to declare Sunday (the 14th of
November) as being either the 30th of Ramadan or the 1st of Shawwal.
*It is narrated in the book of Imam Muslim on the Authority of Abu Huraira (radiullahu
anhu) that the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) said, "Whenever you
sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast, and when you sight it
(the new moon of Shawwal)
break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days."
This tradition (hadith) is
merely one of numerous traditions (ahadith) narrated by the companions (sahabah)
of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) that relate to sighting the
moon. It was also a tradition (sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu
alayhi wa salam) to encourage his companions (sahabah), as well as accompany
them, to search for the moon on the 29th night.
