Declaration
12/20/2006:
8:25PM: The Chicago Hilal Committee has determined that Dhul-Qadah will complete its course of 30 days as there was no moon sighting report from anywhere across the United States. The first of Dhul-Hijjah will be Friday, December 22, 2006 and consequently Eid-ul-Adha will be on Sunday, December 31, 2006. An early Eid Mubarak to all!
We have contacted our
representatives in the following areas and recieved the following information:
| City, State |
Time of Report |
Report |
| Los Angeles, CA |
5:55pm PST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
| San Jose, CA |
5:50pm PST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| San Francisco, CA |
5:45pm PST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Stockton, CA |
5:32pm PST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Phoenix, AZ |
5:30pm PST |
Clear Skies , No Sighting |
| Seattle, WI |
5:01pm PST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Birmingham, AL |
6:38pm CST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Dallas, TX |
6:30pm CST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Houston, TX |
6:30pm CST |
Cloudy Skies, No Sighting |
| Orlando, FL |
7:15pm EST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
| West Palm Beach, FL |
7:05pm EST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
| Gettysburg, MD |
6:52pm EST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
| Jackson, MS |
6:45pm EST |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Roanoke, VA |
6:21pm EST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
| New York, NY |
6:30pm EST |
Clear Skies, No Sighting |
5:15PM: The Chicago Hilal Committee's meeting is in session. We are trying to contact our representatives across the nation.
12/17/2006:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
will be holding its meeting on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at the Islamic Center of Chicago (ICC) to determine the start of Dhul-Hijjah and consequently the date of Eid-ul-Adha (Dhul-Hijjah 10, 1427). The possible dates for Eid-ul-Adha are Saturday, December 30, 2006 or Sunday, December 31, 2006. The most likely date according to moon sighting is Sunday, December 31, 2006.
There will be regular updates on this site after Maghrib (CST) on Wednesday, December 20, 2006.
11/26/2006:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
has confirmed that there was no moon sighting across the United States on
Monday, November 20, 2006. Consequently, Shawwal completed its full
cycle of 30 days and the the first day of Dhul-Qadah was Wednesday, November 22, 2006.
10/24/2006:
Important
Note: There was a typo in the recap of the events from 10/22. The moon was seen
in Phoenix, AZ after Sunset, not before Sunset.
The following is a recap of
what occurred at the Chicago Hilal Committee (CHC) meeting on Sunday, October
22, 2006:
The CHC received its first
sighting report around 8:00pm CDT. A group of 10, consisting of an Imam of a
Masjid, 4 adult males, 2 women, and 3 children set out to sight the moon in
Phoenix, Arizona. This Imam goes to sight the moon for the beginning/end of
every Islamic month. At around 5:52pm PDT/7:52pm CDT(6 minutes after
the sunset),
the entire group witnessed the moon. The CHC rigorously questioned the Imam
about the sighting and his report was verified. However, the CHC did not want to
make an Eid announcement based off of one report, given the astronomical
improbability of sighting the moon.
The CHC then received a report
from New York of a sighting. The report was not authenticated. The conditions in
New York were very cloudy and the report did not satisfy the criteron of the CHC.
This report was rejected outright.
At around 9:15pm CDT, the CHC
learned of a moon sighting in Granada Hills, California. 5 students of the
Islamic Sciences had claimed to sight the moon shortly after sunset (6:13pm
PDT/8:13pm CDT). The committee was trying to get a hold of these students and
were unsuccessful. The students' teacher is a well reputed scholar of Islam; he
is known personally to some of the scholars on the CHC. While the scholar was
offering his testimony on behalf of the students, the CHC decided that it would
speak to the students directly in order to authenticate the sighting. By
10:00pm, the CHC was unsuccessful in their attempts to authenticate the report.
At 10:00pm CDT, the CHC was about to issue a statement that Ramadan would
complete its full cycle of 30 days when the students who saw the moon were
finally tracked down. The committee rigourously questioned the students and
their testimony was found to be accurate. Based off of this sighting report, the
report from Phoenix, AZ was also found to be accurate.
At 11:00pm CDT, the Chicago
Hilal Committee declared that Ramadan would end with 29 days and Eid-ul-Fitr
would be Monday, October 23, 2006. Any report of the CHC declaring anything
before that time was inaccurate. No official decision was made in the meeting or
communicated thru the website till 11:00pm. We regretfully were made aware that
many organizations informed their communities that the CHC had declared Tuesday,
October 24th as Eid-ul-Fitr. This certainly was not the case.
Additionally, on Sunday night,
the CHC tried contacting its representative in Phoenix, AZ for moon sighting
information. It was unable to do so that evening after several attempts. On
Monday, October 23rd, the CHC coordinator spoke with the representative; the
representative had also sighted the moon on Sunday, October 22nd. Although this
report was not used in the moon sighting decision, it affirmed the committees
declaration.
While the Chicago Hilal
Committee would ideally like to make its Eid announcement one hour after the
moon sets in the West Coast (7:13pm PST/9:13pm CDT) at the latest, it certainly
cannot issue a decision with various reports of moon sighting lingering that
were unverified and unauthenticated. We realize the inconvenience it causes our
fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to learn so late that the following day could
be Eid. However, we also hope that by adhering to the Sunnah of sighting the
moon of our beloved Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, any inconvenience
we face will be recompensed with a great reward from Allah (swt).
We thank all of you who
visited this site regularly for updates for the start and end of the blessed
month. We request you to inform others about this site and to check back with us
for the start/end of every Islamic month. May Allah bless you and your families
and accept all of your worship in Ramadan. May He enable us to carry over the
worship we started in Ramadan to the rest of the months.
10/22/2006:
11:00PM:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
has confirmed the moon sighting reports from California. Ramadan will end in 29
days and the first day of Shawwal, Eid-ul-Fitr will be October 23, 2006.
10:08PM:
The committee is going to have
a final decision on the Eid-ul-Fitr based on the California sighting shortly.
9:42PM:
There is a report of a
sighting in Los Angeles, CA by 5 adult males. The committee is investigating
this report. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
9:37PM:
The Phoenix, AZ report has
still not been authenticated.
There is another report of a
sighting in New York. The committee is investigating this report. More
information will be posted as it becomes available.
9:07PM:
The Phoenix, AZ report has
still not been authenticated. The committee is still contacting its
representatives in the West Coast as well.
8:30PM:
There was a sighting in
Phoenix, AZ by three males and one woman. This sighting is not confirmed.
The committee is trying to validate and authenticate this sighting report. We
will post more information as it becomes available.
7:45PM:
We have contacted our
representatives in the following areas and recieved the following information:
| City, State |
Time of Report |
Report |
| Alexandria, VA |
6:43pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Gettysburg, MD |
7:00pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Ithaca, NY |
7:45pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Philadelphia, PA |
7:45pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Chicago, IL |
6:45pm CDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Roanoke, VA |
8:10pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Orlando, FL |
8:18pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
| Houston, TX |
7:38pm CDT |
Clear in the Day, Cloudy After Sunset,
No Sighting |
| Miami, FL |
8:42pm EDT |
Cloudy Weather, No Sighting |
6:35PM:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
meeting is in session. The committee is contacting its representatives through
out the country. There have been no moon sighting reports as of yet. Please
check back later for further updates.
3:15PM:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
will be meeting tonight at the Islamic Center of Chicago (ICC) after Maghrib
(5:59pm CDT). They will be contacting representatives through out the nation for
credible moon sighting reports. Sighting information will be posted as it
becomes available.
Eid-ul-Fitr can be on Monday,
October 23rd and Tuesday, October 24, 2006. The more likely date according to
astronomical information is Tuesday, October 24, 2006.
09/24/2006:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
made its decision based on the reports of sighting from San Diego. The reports
were verified and authenticated by the committee. Consequently, Sunday, September 24, 2006 is the first day
of Ramadan. The committee also received sighting reports from Dallas, TX.
Eid-ul-Fitr information: The committee will meet after Maghrib
(5:59pm CST) on Sunday, October 22, 2006 to monitor moon sighting reports from
across the nation. The possible dates for Eid-ul-Fitr are Monday, October 23rd
and Tuesday, October 24, 2006. Please visit the site after Maghrib for
up-to-date information regarding moon sighting reports.
Itekhaf information:
The last ten days of Ramadan will commence from Maghrib (sunset) on Friday,
October 13, 2006. It's duration is till Maghrib on Sunday, October 22rd or
Monday, October 23, 2006.
09/23/2006:
9:35PM:
Ramadan Mubarak! The
moon has been sighted in San Diego, CA by a scholar along with his four
students. More information will follow shortly. Taraweeh
prayers will begin tonight, and the first fast will begin tomorrow morning.
9:30PM:
There has been a report
received from Dallas, TX. The Hilal Committee is currently evaluating that
report and will have more information shortly.
9:00PM:
The committee is breaking for
Isha prayer. We will continue to receive reports after Isha prayer insha Allah.
8:50PM:
We have still not received any
moon sighting report from across the nation. We are now waiting for sighting
reports from the West Coast. We anticipate receiving reports within the next 45
minutes.
8:20PM:
We have still not received any
moon sighting report from across the nation. Please be patient. We will begin to
receive West Coast moon sighting reports shortly as Maghrib (sunset) will occur
shortly. We will post any moon sighting reports as we get them. Jazakumullahu
Khair.
8:00PM:
We have heard from our
represenatives in the following locations:
1) Orlando, FL and Miami, FL:
The skies were clear and no moon was sighted. This was around 7:25 EDT.
2) Ithaca, NY: No sighting of
the moon. This was around 6:45 EDT. Weather was cloudy.
3) Birmingham, AL: No sighting
of the moon. This was around 6:45 CDT. Weather was partly cloudy.
4) New Orleans: No sighting of
the moon.
5) New York: No sighting of
the moon. Weather is overcast.
6) Richmond, VA: No sighting
of the moon.
7) Dallas, TX: No sighting of
the moon. Weather is overcast.
8:00AM
Although Friday, September 22,
2006 was the 28th of Shaban according to the local sighting, the Chicago Hilal
committee did try to authenticate all reports of moon sighting it received. No
report was found to be credible. As such, today is still the 29th of Shaban. The
committe will be meeting later this evening, following Maghrib (6:48pm Central)
to monitor reports nationwide.
While there is a likelihood
that the moon be sighted tonight, there is a strong likelihood that there will
not be a sighting tonight. Ramadan can either begin on Sunday, September 24 or
Monday, September 25, 2006.
Please check back for regular
updates later this evening.
09/07/2006:
The Chicago Hilal Committee
will meet on Saturday, September 23, 2006 at ICC in Chicago to receive reports of
moon sighting around the country. According to astronomical information, most
probably there will be no sighting and the first day of Ramadan will be Monday,
September 25, 2006.
A decision will be made after Maghrib prayer (6:48pm). Updates will be posted
every 5-10 minutes. The first update will occur around 7:15pm.
08/25/2006:
Friday night 08/25/2006
& Saturday 08/26/2006 is Shaban 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Committee
has confirmed that there was no moon sighting across the United States on
Thursday, August 24, 2006. The committee contacted its representatives in New
York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas and California. None of the representatives had
seen the moon or received credible reports of sightings. Consequently, Rajab will complete its full
cycle of 30 days and the the first day of Shaban will be on Saturday, August 26,
2006.
08/01/2006:
Wednesday night 07/26/2006
& Thursday 07/27/2006 is Rajab 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Committee
has confirmed that there was no moon sighting across the United States on
Tuesday, July 25, 2006. Consequently, Jum'ada-al-Thani will complete its full
cycle of 30 days and the the first day of Safar will be on Thursday, July 27, 2006.
06/28/2006:
Monday night 06/26/2006
& Tuesday 06/27/2006 is Juma'ada al-Thani 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the month of Jum'ada-al-Thani.
Based on deliberations that confirmed moon sighting, Jum'ada al-Awwal ended with
29 days and Juma'da al-Thani began on Monday, the 26th
of June at Maghrib (sunset). Thus, the Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome
the month of
Juma'ada-al-Thani.
05/01/2006:
Friday
night 04/28/2006 & Saturday 04/29/2006 is Rabi-al-Thani, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the month of Rabi-al-Thani. Based
on deliberations that confirmed moon sighting, Rabi-al-Awwal ended with 29 days and
Rabi-al-Thani began on Friday, the 28th of April at Maghrib
(sunset). The moon was sighted in Ithaca, NY, Houston, TX and Los Angeles,
CA. Thus, the Chicago Hilal Team would like to
welcome the month of Rabi-al-Thani.
03/30/2006:
Thursday
night 03/30/2006 & Friday 03/31/2006 is Rabi-al-Awwal 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Committee
has confirmed that there was no moon sighting across the United States on
Wednesday, March 29, 2006. Consequently, Safar will complete its full
cycle of 30 days and the the first day of Rabi-al-Awwal will be on Friday, March
31, 2006.
03/01/2006:
Tuesday
night 02/28/2006 & Wednesday 03/01/2006 is Safar 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the month of Safar. Based
on deliberations that confirmed moon sighting, Muharram ended with 29 days and
Safar began on Tuesday, the 28th of February at Maghrib
(sunset). The moon was sighted in Austin, TX, Dallas, TX and San
Francisco, CA. Thus, the Chicago Hilal Team would like to
welcome the month of Safar.
01/30/2006:
Monday
night 01/30/2006 & Tuesday 01/31/2006 is Muharram 1, 1427
The Chicago Hilal Team would like to welcome the month of Muharram. Based
on deliberations that confirmed moon sighting, Zul-Hijjah ended with 29 days and
Muharram began on Tuesday, the 30th of January at Maghrib
(sunset). The moon was sighted in Houston, TX and Colorado. Thus, the Chicago Hilal Team would like to
wish everyone a Happy New Year and welcome the month of Muharram.
