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Guide for Hilâl Watching

Preparation
 Make sure the day of observation is the 29th of the Hijri month. This is usually the next
day following the date of new moon. There is no hilâl if it is on the 28th or earlier.
 Get the times of sunset and moonset, the altitude of moon at sunset, and its distance to
left or right of the sun specific to your city/town. These data will enable you to estimate
the exact location of the hilâl, minimizing the chance of erroneous observation. This
information can be obtained from the astronomy sections of PAGASA in Manila (phone
02-434-2696 and 02-929-1237) or from the author (see below for contact number).
 Choose a place with a clear view of the western horizon (seashore, hilltop, high window
or rooftop of your home, etc.).
 Invite others, including family members, to join the watching. It is a sunnah, and there is
joy in being able to see the first hilâl that starts the month. The advantage of a group
watch is that one’s sighting can be instantly checked by the other watchers.
Procedure
 Pray Maghrib at the place of observation. The hilâl cannot be seen at sunset when the last
rays of the sun are still bright.
 Begin watching just after Maghrib prayer (about 10 to 15 minutes after sunset).
 Continue watching until time of moonset.
 When you see something, close your eyes for a moment and look again. If it has moved
or changed shape it is not hilâl. Check again.
 Take note of the position of hilal with respect to sunset point (see Notes below).
 Describe the weather (mostly cloudy, little cloudy, clear sky, dark sky, etc.).
 Record the date of observation, time of start and time of finish.
 Record time of first sighting (appearance) and time of last sighting (disappearance) of
hilâl.
 Record name and age of people in the group.
 On witnessing the hilâl with certainty, recite the du’a shown below. Report your
observation in detail and promptly to a Qadhi, or to a respectable ‘âlim.
Notes
 The world records of naked-eye sighting have a (a) minimum lag time of 29 minutes, (b)
youngest moon age of 15 hours and 33 minutes, (c) minimum elongation of 7.6 degrees,
and (d) shortest relative altitude of 5.9 degrees. These are achieved by experienced and
professional moon watchers. Observation by amateurs would be far from these minimum
values. [Lag time is sunset time minus moonset time in minutes. Moon age is time
elapsed starting from astronomical new moon. Elongation is distance between sun and
moon measured in degrees. Relative altitude is vertical distance between sun and moon
measured in degrees.]
 Show position of hilâl by using the clock face to indicate location of the two horns or
ends of the crescent. Indicate what hour in the clock face is each of the horn located, or
make a sketch. (See Position and Orientation of Hilâl below).

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 Distances in the sky are measured in angular degrees. Sky observers use the hand to get
approximate measures of distance. With the arm stretched, the little finger covers about 1
degree; width of clinched fist 8-10 degrees; and width of V sign = 5 degrees. (See
Measuring Angles Using the Hand below).

Position and Orientation of Hilâl

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The crescent shown above can be described using the clock face. What hours are the ends of the
two horns located? Read from left, the 12 illustrated crescents above can be described as:
1 => 9-3, 2=> 10-4, 3=> 11-5, 4=> 12-6, 5=> 2-7, 6=> 2-8, 7=> 3-9, 8=> 4-10,
9=> 5-9, 10=> 6-12, 11=> 7-1, 12=> 8-2. It is also possible to have 7-2 or 6-2, etc.

Measuring Angles Using the Hand

Stretch hand at arm length. The subtended angles are approximately the following:
Width of a fingertip ≈ 1°
Width of closed three middle fingers ≈ 4°
Width of a clinched fist ≈ 8°-10°
Width of open hand ≈ 18°-20°
Width of a wide “victory sign” ≈ 5°

Du’a on Beholding the Hilâl

‫ ﺭﰉ ﻭﺭﺑﻚ ﺍﷲ‬،‫ﺍﻟﻠﻬﻢ ﺃﻫﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻨﺎ ﺑﺎﻷﻣﻦ ﻭﺍﻹﳝﺎﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ ﻭﺍﻹﺳﻼﻡ‬
Allâhumma ahillahû ‘alaynâ bil-amni wal-îmâni, was-salâmati wal-islâmi.
Rabbi wa rabboka-llah.
O Allâh, Let this crescent moon appear to us with peace and faith, with security and Islâm.
(O moon) my Lord and your Lord is Allâh.
[Reported by Talha bin Ubaydillah – Tirmidhi]

Abu Ammar Mama Mangorangca 
aam0737@gmail.com / 0919 4357304 / P.O. Box 47154, Iligan City, Philippines

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