Shawwal Statement 1430AH

There is a distinct possibility of the crescent being sighted on Sunday 20^th September 2009 in Lisbon (Portugal) and may be in Madrid (Spain). However, we in London do not share the same horizon with Lisbon or Madrid. As Ayatullah ul-Uzama Sayyid Ali al-Sistani has clarified “sighting crescents in two countries that ‘share’ the horizon means that if it is actually sighted in the first country, it would definitely be sighted in the second country also, provided there were no physical impediments” The sighting in London is not definite that evening.

We are aware that some of our communities may mark the 1^st of Shawwaal 1430 on Sunday 20^th September 2009, and some on Monday 21^st September 2009. Again, as Ayatullah ul-Uzama Sayyid Ali al-Sistani explains “There is no escaping the different beginnings of a lunar month as it is a direct consequence of differences in rulings by respected Jurists related to the beginning of a lunar calendar month. Every person must act according to the rules of his/her Marja-e-Taqleed as is the case with rulings on all other Fiqh issues on which Jurists differ. It is important to educate Mumineen to accept these differences and not allow these to be a source of discord and animosity between them“.

In the light of the above the Jamat wishes to advise Mumineen that 1^st Shawwaal 1430 is expected to fall on Tuesday 22^nd September 2009 in London for the Muqalideen of Ayatullah al-Uzama Sayyid Ali al-Sistani. For those who remain on the taqleed of Syed Khui (RA) Eid is most likely to be on Sunday 20^th September based on Marhum Khui’s ruling on a united horizon. Crescent is expected to be sighted both in South America and South Africa on Saturday 19^th September.

Volunteers will inshallah be out scouting for the new crescent on Sunday evening, and should there be any confirmed reports of crescent sighting in or around London, we will make the announcement accordingly the same evening at the Imambara, on the answerphone and on the Jamat website.

DATA FOR 20^th SEPTEMBER 2009

(The data below has been obtained from the HM Nautical Almanac Office. Times are in GMT. For the UK, we are still using BST British Summer Time which is GMT+1)

Place	Sun Set Time	Moon Set Time	Lag Time (min)	Moon Age Hrs : Min	Crescent Altitude (degrees)	Elongation (degrees)
London, UK	18:04	18:09	5	47 : 20	0	26
Birmingham, UK	18:10	18:12	2	47 : 26	-1	26
Bordeaux, France	19:04	19:26	22	47 : 20	3	26
Lisbon, Portugal	18:37	19:13	36	47 : 53	6	27
Madrid, Spain	19:15	19:48	33	47 : 31	5	26
Paris, France	18:53	19:05	12	47 : 09	1	26
Zurich, Switzerland	18:28	18:44	16	46 : 44	2	26

DATA FOR 20th SEPTEMBER 2009
(The data below has been obtained from the HM Nautical Almanac Office)