End of Safar crescent sighted in Abu Dhabi despite cloudy skies
Despite dusty and partly cloudy conditions in the UAE this morning, astronomers successfully sighted the crescent marking the end of the Hijri month of Safar 1447 AH.
A team from Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi captured an image of the crescent at 9:30 am UAE time on Friday (Safar 28). The photograph, shared by the Astronomy Centre on X, confirmed the observation.
At the time of sighting, the moon was 12 degrees away from the sun, with an age of minus 23 hours, the centre reported. The effort was led by observatory members Osama Ghannam, Anas Mohammed, Khalfan Al Nuaimi, and Mohammed Odeh.
Significance of the sighting
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is based on lunar sightings, with each month beginning upon confirmation of a new crescent moon. The sighting of Rabi Al Awwal, the following month, holds particular importance for Muslims, as it includes the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday on the 12th of Rabi Al Awwal. The occasion is a public holiday in the UAE and many other countries.
The UAE’s official moon sighting committee will convene on Saturday (Safar 29) to determine the official start of Rabi Al Awwal.
If the new month begins on August 24, the Prophet’s birthday will fall on Thursday, September 4. If the month begins on August 25, then the celebration will take place on Friday, September 5.
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