INTRODUCTION PART A. Tel: (02) Fax: (02) Web:

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1 INTRODUCTION The determination of the coming lunar month of Shawwāl (1431/2010) is crucial for the Australian Muslim community (and for the Muslims around the world, who will ascertain such determination based on their regional conditions), and Australian National Crescent Sighting Coordination Centre (ANCSCC) has worked tirelessly in getting the most up-to-date and accurate information to all Muslims in Australia. This Information Kit regarding the status of the crescent for the month of Shawāl is to provide detailed information to the Muslim community in order to keep them fully informed, so that they themselves can make informed decisions as to when to stop fasting in this month of Ramađān and celebrate Eid in accordance with the rules under Shari ah. This Information Kit is divided into two parts- Part A is to provide an explanation why 11th August was not the correct day for 1st of Ramađān; Part B is to outline the procedure and policy of ANCSCC in assessing upcoming crescent sighting claims on Thursday 9th September and so whether Eid would be on Friday 10th or Saturday 11th September. This Information Kit will not provide detailed explanation of the Fiqh and Science of Crescent Sighting- please contact ANCSCC to arrange a training workshop for detailed study of crescent sighting. From the outset, ANCSCC rejects the suggestion that it is trying to divide the Muslim Australian community or is merely highlighting the errors of other organisations. ANCSCC categorically states that its objective or interest is not who is in error, but what the error or problem really is, and is committed to assist in rectifying them so that the entire Muslim Australian community can benefit from such efforts, and in fact unite on the correctness of actions approved by the Shari ah by respecting valid opinions and leaving that which is factually incorrect. PART A Commencement of Ramađān 11th or 12th August The only reason for this matter to be brought up after the fact of the commencement of Ramađān is because it affects the correct day of Eid ul-fitr. ANCSCC does apologise for not providing a detailed information outline prior to 11th August due to unforeseen circumstances that prevented us to be able to prepare the documentation. In providing the explanations for the 1st day of Ramađān, the assumption is that the reader understands the Fiqh of evidences and witnesses, as well as the rules pertaining to the attainment of certainty and causation (sabab) of obligations. Should anyone have any queries, please do contact ANCSCC, and we recommend attending one of the workshops provided by ANCSCC that provides the details of such matters of Fiqh. Firstly, in order for 11th August to have been considered the 1st of Ramađān, 10th August would therefore be 29th of Sha bān (obviously, it could not have been the 30th...) Secondly, Figure 1 provides a visual guideline of the status of the moon itself as well as the probability of sighting the crescent on 10th August. This can be summed up as follows: a) The new moon was born in the lowest regions (approximately 160 o E) of southern hemisphere (in fact over the Antarctic); b) Given (a), it was impossible for the crescent to be sighted in any region north of the latitudes of Antarctica, and specifically in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, China and further north. This is a known fact that is not under question; c) All regions in the white and red zones in Figure 1 had certainty that the crescent will not be visible. This included countries like Morocoo, UK, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East, Pakistan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This is a known fact and not under question;

2 FIGURE 1 CRESCENT VISIBILITY FOR 10TH AUGUST, 2010

3 d) Naked- eye sighting was only possible in some regions of Chile in South America, although a majority of South and Central American regions had an extremely low possibility of sighting the crescent on THEIR 10th August (which equates to the 11th for the rest of the world, and certainly for Australia). Thirdly, Figure 2 provides an assessment of the lunar conditions for Australia and in particular Sydney for 10th August. There is no need to consider Perth in this context for Australia s regional sighting requirements due to the fact that the data is negligibly different. The moon was not in a phase that allowed it to form a crescent. As shown and summarised in notes for Figure 1, this applied to all regions north of Australia, including Indonesia, i.e., that the crescent was not possible to be sighted. Two important points need to be clarified: i) Pre-announcements for 1st Ramađān to be 11th August The fact is that at even a minute before sunset in the eastern-most regions of Australia, e.g., Sydney or Brisbane, not a single person on earth could have predicted that a sighting could be claimed in our general region. In fact, such an impossible pre-announcement would have had to rely on scientific data (calculation), and if any such person who made such an announcement actually calculated, one would come to only one factual conclusion- the crescent was not possible to be sighted. There is simply no other conclusion that is possible regarding the crescent on 10th August. ii) The Claim of Sighting in Indonesia ANCSCC was made aware of such a claim made on the evening of 10th August, including receipt of SMS that some Mosques in Australia following some kind of global sighting methods having hastily accepted such a claim. The claim arising from Indonesia is rejected on the following grounds: 1. As outlined in notes of Figure 1, Indonesia was well out of even the possibility of sighting, to the extent that it is located in the northern hemisphere literally above the location of the new moon conjunction in Antarctica. It is factually FIGURE 2 LUNAR FACTS: 10TH JULY SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA FIGURE 3 REAL TIME COMPARISON BETWEEN SYDNEY & SANTIAGO

4 impossible on all counts to have sighted the crescent in Indonesia on 10th; 2. Numerous sighting attempts were made around Indonesia, and every location confirmed non-sighting. The large number of individuals attempting to sight as individuals and in groups far outnumber the three witnesses who made the official claim of sighting in Indonesia. In fact three large groups sighting at the same location as the witnesses making the claim, failed to sight the crescent. These reports were sent live and via to Islamic Crescent Observations Project bia various individuals; 3. Despite an official announcement based on the claims of the witnesses, what was not widely reported is that one of the individuals who was part of the witnesses, retracted his claim and did not provide a testimony. An important aspect of making a ruling on claims of witnesses is firstly the evidences; the evidences of facts were completely contrary to the claim made. Secondly, the number of people reporting negative sightings was far greater, and a reasonable number of claimants to support an unusual claim, to say the least, was not met at all. Thirdly, the testimonies were unverifiable, and contradictory amongst those claiming to have sighted it. On all counts of a proper due-process, the official Indonesian claim not only failed but also defied facts, and many Indonesians chose not to follow such an official announcement. Fourthly, those who suggested that 11th August was the first day of fasting by claiming to follow global sighting methods, did not in reality do that at all. An official announcement in Sydney was made on 10th that the crescent will be sighted in Chile, therefore it was acceptable to start fasting on 11th based on global sighting. The facts are contrary to the claims, and Figure 3 illustrates the critical facts ignored in the claims of global sighting by Australian organisations. The fact is that, as can be seen from Figure 3, that local sightings in reality fulfil all Shar i requirements and objectives, as well as a truly unified global fasting in real time; regional siting fulfils global sighting aspirations. Establishing fasting in Australia on 11th was undoubtedly well before the crescent was to be even present in the horizon in South America in the first place. Consequently, the claim of global sighting was BEFORE such a sighting could in fact have happened in reality, leading to divisive and false starts to Ramađān. One of the most important facts against 11th August to possibly be the 1st of Ramađān is the upcoming lunar status for Shawwāl. The claim that 11th August was 1st of Ramađān makes 8th September to be 29th Ramađān. The lunar position of 8th September defy this claim that it could be the 29th of any lunar month. Figure 4 provides the relevant data for this analysis. The following facts for 8th September are clear: i) There will not be a single country in the entire zone sharing 8th September in real time with Australia that can sight the crescent in the horizon. It is simply impossible; ii) The new moon, let alone the crescent, will not even have occurred in Australia; iii) The moon will have already set by the time of sunset, even in Makkah, Saudi Arabia (this is stated here only as a point of reference for those who claim to follow Saudi Arabia, which is incorrect...) iv) By the time the west-most regions of the world do attempt to sight the crescent on their 8th (which will be impossible), it will already be the 9th in Australia and all surrounding and relevant regions. The correct day for 29th Ramađān is clearly Thursday 9th September, which is also, obviously, the correct day for observing for the crescent. As a result, 1st Ramađān undoubtedly had to have been 12th August- a proof for the start of Ramađān ignored. It is certain beyond any doubt that the claims of establishing 11th August as 1st Ramađān is impossible on all grounds, of pre-calculation, regional and global sighting claims, and therefore rejected. Further, the correct date for 29th Ramađān is 9th September and it is upon sunset that the crescent must be observed.

5 FIGURE 4 LUNAR FACTS: 8TH SEPTEMBER PART B 1) Summary of Astronomical Data for Shawwāl 1431/2010 Moon Figure 5 provides a summary of the critical criteria that affects the new moon of Shawwal. It will be very possible to see the crescent from anywhere in Australia. Given the very high probability in the eastern region of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane), the western region possibility (Perth) for sighting is similarly extremely high subject to reasonable weather conditions. Therefore it is highly possible, subject to the sighting of the crescent, that Eid ul-fitr will fall on Friday 10th September in Australia. ANCSCC has State coordinators in almost all States and local reporters at numerous locations. If you want to enquire further or would like to report a sighting of the crescent, please contact: New South Wales: Imam Afroz Ali Tel: Victoria: Sidi Manzoor Ahmed Mian, J.P. Tel: FIGURE 5 SYDNEY & EASTERN AUSTRALIA (Western Australian data is similar and has better fulfilment) Queensland: Sidi Dado Sacur Tel: Northern Territory: Shaykh Abdul Kader Tel: Western Australia: Imam Burhaan Mehtar Tel: To access LIVE updates online regarding the status of Australia-wide observation efforts, go to: To receive direct SMs notification of the decision on when Eid ul-fitr will be, register your mobile telephone number at: To receive updates via your Twitter account, go to and register. The Board and State Coordinators of Australian National Crescent Sighting Coordination Centre (ANCSCC) wishes you a joyous Eid ul-fitr and a positive year ahead, and may Allah accept your fasting during the blessed month of Ramađān.