. 

  2004


  2006

    
    

!"#*
= 1(* 1  1 9: 67 834 " "  $#%& '() *+ -. 01)
B) -C D. 1 % * 99@ : =@  :  % 
   )M ' 1L C *F G  * * 1) 19
1) B) *+ O+1( 1 M 6 * F G 1@  : =#
 F &9* :) ' %C C* 1(@ : * * 13* :) *"C
.*F G * C *3# 1 1" C 

Abstract
The paper discusses the expression "Tawallod Al-Hilal" (Crescent
Birth or New Moon), where it is spread among the people that it
means the "Crescent" phase, but it actually means the "Wane"
phase, and thus some Islamic scholars adopted it as a basis to
determine the beginning of Hejric (Lunar) months. The paper
emphasizes that the crescent phase is the needed criterion to
begin the Hejric (Lunar) months and not the wane phase. The
paper also discusses the different criteria adopted to know the
lunar crescent visibility. Lastly it discusses the meaning of using
the astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of Hejric
(Lunar) months.

* *9
 8  Y .  V . 1) $T  B)T19 ) *:* * 4
F  =\:  # 1 =9   + ^ 8T+  64 TC
 @1C  4F F Ba(`  * ! D. =CF 1 1
 *3# T @: *9+ 1(C+ d1  c 11+ T  '#1  
 \: *+=  G 1Ce  '# -.1 1  *3# 1 *  3
8) #.  =9)('   " $#%& @99"  '# g#^G F  !e

*  '() 1 

"C   $#%& B)T =)d ^ @: 'C *1 9C(1 ) B19
)('    * i  e . 19Ce ^  $.1+M
9##:M )=( @ 1   l C G T )` 1C: (1 834
 + l  1pn 9 ( 19 M @: 9 T 1  &=
@n 9(: M @: 9  l CG ) *  (4  l C1q@ )1*  (4
1  + 83 '# 9  =# r#%(: 8   *#  1 @C l C
T '   1% . e 1((3M ': =C 1   63T
():3 1  *T1d 1 9  9 % 1T e 1((3*  9  M @:
1 e +  .p(: 64 u (1  1p + gF 64 .
@4 G   9 +  l+G  64  D. 1( gF.64
  Mw 9 "G *#C  9 1 ` e #. l4 = 81d C-
  64  c 1T 9  \:  64@n 17 & x @: 9
3 (& xz ` 1# )M C  9.   -G  l+ '#& x9
@n | *T(1 1(): l9 9(1 =  G   1 64
G\: @n 64 =  9=  1 1& x 9= | \:= T
` 11 1# ( 19  9z M @: 1   1' C+e1 1n
eC  =  1 =# r#%  $#%& B)T e )  (1
`(   )( -1* i  = 19C M  9 1 ' M
 e= @: *99 M 1! V . %=  '# 3#
19 : 8) @: TC *  4F  M 1 M 1+ ):'1
"w  DG 8+ *#@ 1(# + ) "09T T .(189 -.z* 3*
) C *#  + 1 GF*    61 )C+e
  eC(!  1 T%@  @#  r#M @d (=1+ 
 '#  =# " :#  ) 8 -.G *#\: + &: -C -C
%:w:" ) = T%@ =F) @: 8/397 T3 (8237 + 1  
 @d (1+ 1   '#  =# " :#) 8 G *#1(# +
&:  =C%: ) "=C= 1 @:C 423/1 @:( /4
23 @: @(%+((= 163/21+ 1 : '# $  "4 =9:..(@T

 834 :(1) + T.  834M  9"e .*#C u  9#17

&@n x & #` x ) CM 1( 9  l+ '#(&x
@n  + | *T(1 9 .)*  @: 64. 1+ 834*
 .8

* 1 B) +19 &* *  4F   

^ 8T+  64
T  @ "C @: 1( 1* @:  12 *1 1 F \:= T
 `* ^  64 19C  ) B19 )('    19C  9'
M  9: +eV 19 =  1  + 9M @: $T   8T+* 
F .: )(@ =  T9  1 3   @1C 1  4F
F e . 19Ce + *  4F % 1 )  ( 6
M ! . \:( 1 '# '(C1F  *3# "C &  $#%  1=TT
. &  $#% 1 "C & $#%C+e 1 eC.

*  'C& $TM @: 9 

 1    = 1  'C( 89CM  9 1 ' M 
@: *99 L '# * 1. V  G1 6 8 + 1) 9CL1: B)T=# * 1
1C ' d @: !&"C  G *# L1n    e D1L ' )B
1  *3#.*1C
CC   F ) ^  64 1 834 e CC   8T+
^ G 64  . =( cT 8 1d = 8q  cT1: *C:1.
 ^ 8T+  64  cT1(F +`! F(1:  @:1
17 e 1d  644 '# 'a%1d (F^   :  64 e
e1`C  (* )(* ) ^  64T 'C (F `1 '#): 8T1q e
T (F `1 ) ^  6" 64G 9: r71+ 1d  1 ra 
9: %n1 1' e1`C  ^ ) *1  64* (F ".*C:1
1q = ( '# rT% 9 1T e   `C( '9T @:1 ' "
1d   3C( ra 91: !=C4 a  8q9 64 1T e  9wC
^ = 8 9 50 *9+) '() = ^1  9 @: *1*) 1
1\: = ^ ga @: *1 *) 1  9 *9+.1T
 @: 9 1C l )4   4F + 8T+ ga 64 ) 1 )1
C )C e *1 1 834 C ^  1  64 ^ ' 9
 c3\: 9  *  @:C C ^  1  64' ^ 9
1   @1C 1  4F F  1 ^  8T+ 9  3C*
 3   @1C  q   4F .@1
 1 rT 0C(C= 'C  3C*   1C l )4   4F e
   M :1  8C* 1a :1
:e 3  + 9 8 *#1 )C+e   eC( 8T+
^ G 64( 1  cT  -  - @# *#1\: 
3 + 9 8 *#1 :    cT.
1 :1 a ^ ) 9 64 G( 1(  cT ( 1" x0
 ^ 8T+ .: 64 )(@
1 ) ^ \: 64 1  9 ga
= e  @:1 ) =( cTa.
 F .1 C (* C  `* 1 )  ( 'C+
 )`* ^   ' (q 64 '#): 9 8T1q  1( 9
3 M @: T  149 1 1T   9 +1 )  (  .

* 81 )C+e   eC( `*  *1

1 19Ce w `* C+e @ `*  *1 e . 19Ce ^ B) r+
@41(: &1#% C+ '# r#%G  "C+e  ) Geocentric
"(New Moon 1q@ "C+e  ."(Topocentric New Moon) @%& $#%G
) TC G  64 1T 9  19 ) @ (  @:1n\: 1
 9C -.  '# *19C 1  @: 9( x&C C+e\: lT%1
`* C+e @: -.1T *1  `*  *1 e  *#   C
 '# $%G   6 1: !1( =C:) 1 + C+e  l+
 '# 1 $%G .  1) =F1& $#%1q@ "C+e  "@% )TC
. & $#% G  64 1T 9    @:1n 
C+e ( 1 l9  9  '# 64 *19C  1   l+ '#
$%3 G\: lT%1 *d  '# *9%( 83 $%G  1" x#C
C+e   '# 8 D   : 64C+  @7  ) w
 3 "G *9%(  x#C #T: '&+  C+e 
 @%@ @: C1 #T: '&+ @:C+e C#C" C9%(  @%
( 6 4' l11 9.1T
 'C+ *& 1(#   ' 1C *  4F  1 8T+
^ \: 64=   e"C  1  @%  6 |\: x
)` ) 19C @: L* )C C+e   6.@%

* )1 * 
8T+ ) 13* *  ) ^  @: 64 1C l )4  4
F gFwC e  @: 9 D ^ ) ga  64 1
)  ( + ^ 8T+  64 ) *: -. 9q* ) 1 ^
 64 ^  (9 3"C  01 1F* ) . a 
'  *3T '# *&&"C l+LC 14C  1F  *3# ).*+
C(#: 1 + ^ 8T+  64  9a ) ^ 1: 64
@ )1# G  @C 1C:) gF 'C = 3 13L1 *  @:D
 e .  1' )1 *  .  91   *1(1   q3)1
) 1CT1^ C @C  *+  'C &* 1:1)  1n) @# * -:
1) :e ^  ) 9 64  1 ^ 8T+ 64
9 1 . )1 = ^  @: 9 1C l )4  4
F ) ^  64   *9+  1 ^ 8T+  64  *9+
\:  9 3^ ) =C  64  =#3   @1C 1
 4F F .  ) = 9 @: 9 ) C  )1
1423 )& '% (2001 u:1 \: D. . )1  1 =T4 )C
19 @: "1 0#1(qC 1 *(%# & @: @:)   L*
5

G ) TC. )1 )1  *:) 1p13* *  | D1T

-:*1C
-  1 .   = 1 1   1  *T(1
G  l+ *T(1 6 )1* & ^ 9: 1T 4
G 1 + ^ 8T+  *T(1 64 G @:  1 
 ) l+ *T(1  '# $%G!
1( -9 ) 64 .:  ^ + (9 )(@  *:1)9 1# 64
)  + (9 C \: r:G 1  64 @: gaC *11* 1
 q  ga @: 9 @: *1 *11* .: C9+ )(@ *:1
)9 1#  9 @: @C"C *11* C9+ e  1(dC:
 8q @: - -. -*1 @: l9 *:19 '# G 9  9d C-
  64  c  l9 64 8.: 9 )(@ F @n 
+  9 F  =( @#  T@  *:19 '# ga 9
8T+ *:1) 1#  " *T(1 \: q 32  (* ^  1
 *:1)9 1#  9 ^  *:1 '#@ C9+ 401* )
 8T+ 1#): ga 9 r71+^  1T + 81  9 @1C1
 'C13\ 1(#* *  F ^  ) 9 64 (` @:
) 8G\: = gF1C  ^  *:19 '#  9 6
) 1#  c 1 (@  a  1 39 r71+.: 1T )(@ = e
 ga 3 ) 9^  r71+  64 'C '# n 8+G "D
 " @:1 ) ^ ) 64` .(2 834
-  'C 1(dC: 1F V* \ 1+ )C # @: 9 11 
1  ^ \: 9 . )1 '9T *:) 1p13* * 
 1e $nC 8 19 'C 31TC1) -  8*  G= T 9*
F 4 ^  ) 9 64  1 ^ 8T+  64
e1C w  9M @: $T  8 @C3  + 9 8 *#1.

 - 2 834

 - 2 834

 - 2 834
 834 :(2) + T 834 *)d 64  9 +a 
191 2004  ^  1 c 1 1 '# *3#

  @: ga 64 18:40 *1 ga ) 9 *9+ &x

 ^  64 @  .18:41:30 *1 T 2) 834(
 *:19 '# 13) 9  (  a1 1
 : 64 r:G T 2) 834(  l(&x
1^ + 9# '# 8T+1C ^ .64
11) :1  9
"C . )1  *1 8T+(1 = G 8"C  F(: 19 =
  9^ +  12  64(): q *1 1 3*  @:D
  1\: 1   9@ C (*   1 +1 +
C): . )1 # +    1 1 9* ' C:
(* ) 1 )  ( 'C  )CT 64 T 63) =C:1)* 64
( 83 '# - )1 ' 1 G *#C ( .)1 1859 'C
)1 2005 ) (Odeh 2004 F a  )1 =CF 1
15 *1 33 *9+  8T+  D  ) (Pierce 1990/02/25
 9: g+1 11  a  =C 13 *1 14 *9+  D
8T+ 1C ) (Stamm 1996/01/20.
e )1   e 9 3"C=  *:) *+13* *  '() = e
 1((39 w=  3* 8 )1F  15  - *1c
T1 G *# *9 1= +3   24 9 *1 q e 
(Schaefer 1996) g+1 'C G D *   '# C) e9
.9:
1) :1q1  c3:9
' C ^  1  64 ^  c3 9 9 + " . B)T-.
 *9)1 ) *:13* *   F(: 9  q=  c3 9 
 30^ ) *9+ (): 64 1 3*  )1 ' 1 G*#
C ( .)1 1859 'C)1 2005 F c3 8+  =C
)1F 1 29 *9+  %#:  D 1990/09/20 9: g+1 1
1 c3 8+  =C 21 *9+  8T+  D 1C )(Stamm
 2005/11/02 . )1  6 19+ D. T c1 G *#*9 1
= +3  c3 75 9 *9+ q e  1 'C"C 1996) g+
.(Schaefer
)1) :1 e+) *1%C ((:
e *1%C@ )    9 1 641  1  G'#):
8T1q *1%C 9 +   641 @#3 G 9

 l91   i1(# *T(1 11 64G @:  *1%C  964

+T 1 180*  1( 13 M @: 9  l CG \: =C1%C
1 90* 1# *1%C  9 64  *T1d =
C @1C113* *   + 8) 1F )1 (Danjon 1936
' = 1 *1%C  9 64 7  8+1 \:  *T1d  91
T #  '# $%G 1  9C G * 1
G1 # *3# F  F 1 z 6.4*)1T: ' 1
G *#C ( .)1 1859 'C)1 2005 F 8+ *1%C 
)1 =CF 1 7.7*  8T+  D  ) (Pierce
1990/02/25 \: g+1 1 8+ *1%C  =C1 6.4* D
1T  2004/10/13  8T+ 1C ).(Stamm
@: =  3"C . )1  ' w 9 = e 3* 
1 *1%C  9 64 6  8+1\: = e 1((39 =  n
*  1 *1%C  9 64 6  q11(:  8
V  '#*  ^ *T1 '# 9C 3#. )1   .4 De
*#+  @ *F *+.   1 ) B4 *  ( 11
*1%C  9 64 6  8+1 @:  *99 .  e 8&G $# eV
4 . C 14   B)T    4*  ( 13 9
^  @:1   l1  C ( .)1 1859 'C
)1 2005 V .  8 1 1  4 *3#' .  &5 $T
1 (  )1F  1n "1@ )  a F
).(Schaefer 2002
1) :11 1 * :
 1 rT 0C(C= e 3"C   9  *:) =q313* * 
 + 3 *:)  3C13* *  1 -. 9a  T
  q:  = #= e 3*  1   9 *1 9:
 q 1  c3 5 9 @: 9: r71+ =  C  
1  48 - *1  =q3 C11) 1e\: *1%C= (!  '#= e3
*  1 'C"C  g+ 1 *1%C 9 646  8+
1 1) 3 e e *1%C) @%13* *  1 *1%C9
  64 6  T1.
 1@ % *:) *913* *  834r+ 1 1 1+ *3#
 '#1 13* *  1p *+ e 'C (  *9 1  *9
(1 )  1 G d F1 @C 1 13* *  8& 834
3: L 1 G  *:) *1CL '# * 1. V ) Caldwell and
(Odeh 2004 Yallop 1997 Laney 2001   L* ) @C
191( 1  '#1 13* *  @  1  1 *(%#
G F 7 a.

* 8) C1 1  *3# * # *4

V q  1% e13 F 1 1d : = 1:11* F ) B19
+1 "C 1 1  *3#  1*  F : 19  19  -F
 119 . 1 "C 1 1 \: *3#( 11C  (T G )* *1C
 &9 F "C 1 1 -:*3#
 -1  (1 C  e1C 1  1  ^ 64
^ \: 9  1  ^ 8T+  64  9a )
^  64 TC  @1C 1  4F F e TC @1C
   4# CF .@1
 -2  (1 C  e1C 1 13* *  1"C 
)1 19  '# 13* * \:  (1 13* * 
 TC  @1C 1  4F F e TC  @1C  C
 4#F .@1
-3 (1 C  1  1  ^  64 ^
-:9
:1-3  1  ^ 8T+  64  9a ) ^ 64
1   4*   TC  @1C 1  4F F.
:2-3  1  ^ 8T+  64  9a ) ^ 64
 4 *   TC  @1C   4# CF
.@1
:3-3  r9C  M4 1   4*  1 = ) TC
 @1C   4# CF .@1
:4-3  r9C  M4  4 *   TC  @1C 
 4# CF .@1
 3 (T x1.  ) @: C *3#) * )* C  )1 1423 )u:1
(2001 e 1((3`(. 1  -.19 1 #T+ 4 @:)* *
 ^ ( 'C  8T+ 9 64  1 ) ^  64 1q D
 1425  1425 *F 1n 1427.
-4 (1 C  1 13* *  1"C  )1 19
 '# 13* * -:
:1-4  *   *(3 1   4*   TC  @1C
1  4F F.
:2-4  *   *(3  4 *   TC  @1C
  4# CF .@1

10

 3-4  *  ^  *(3 1   4*  1 =

) TC  @1C   4# CF .@1
:4-4  *  ^  *(3  4 *   TC @1C
   4# CF .@1
 119 .  '   1C 1 1 \: *3#( 11C 8&9 D.
  (1 C   1C l )4   4F   
  1 1 \: *3# '   4*   TC  @1C 1
 4F F 'C  1 1  *3#  ^ 9 @:1 =
 & 8' M 1 )  1  4 *   TC  @1C 
 4# CF  @1
1 .  ) @: C *3#) * )* 8T+)1 1419 ) (2001 u:1 lT%1
V @:)*   . L 1C -'  @: w%*
GF*  '#G! 1n  9 *F  11w: 1
) @: (1999*  9C* * GF* @:G @:C   1)1
1954 'C)1 1999 ) c1 G lTC)* 1 834 D# @:C( =
d. C   471n 1 13* *  @: *#C T r 1*
 28 @: 4 ) !(% 601 13* * ^ @: (% 36)  17 @: *(3
 *  *(31 @: (% 04) 9: C1  1  :   47
1 13* *  32 @: *#C ) ! (% 68^  14 @: *(3 )(% 30
 1* 13: *(3   .(% 02) 9:

* "*:
  @  *`# @C& 1: $TM @: 9 1 M @: 6 
1C  ) 91 ' C: (* "z   x#C 'C(M  89C 1 '
M  C:  1 C+e eC C 1#1: )(' .
 c(w 1 1C1 1  ) *: +  61\: = ('# @aT
1F V*   19C  1 GF* @: L*
1C )1 w .13* *  ) 1TCe.
 1 F  B)T' 1C )1   9  c3 *:) 913* * 
 ) @% 071C *9+  31C )1 e *1%C 1: 8 1 4 *
 1 *1%C  9 64 6  8+1.
d '9T  1C 1 1  *3#  C 1 1 GF*
1* L1 1 & *# 8T+  *d19  '# 3# 19 ) 8*
1n *  1 GF* x#C" @: L*.

11

g 13*
*#G(*  F 67 ICOP *#G@  L 4 67 :  
1n #) @ ) 1 L@ : 6V n *G* 3#)* F# *) 1C + 
.1L G@ : *#G 1TL *(* F# n D#
.(modeh@icoproject.org)

l* 
(** ) * )3#@ : C) 9C )9 9 u:1 1' %& @ .2001 G 1 @1q@ L@ 3#  V
@3#  V G@ : *F G 87@  : w%" g 9  .1999 G 1 G@ L
1n #) @ ) 1 e 4( ** 3# 1 1    .2004 15 +  D#
.@&" 19 2001 u:1 1 A. Danjon,1936. LAstronomie, 50, 2.
B. Schaefer, 1996. Lunar crescent visibility. Q.J.R.Astron. Soc. 37, 759768.
B. Yallop, 1997. A Method for Predicting the First Sighting of the New
Crescent Moon. RGO NAO Technical Note No 69.
B. Schaefer, 2002. Personal Communication.
J. Caldwell and C. Laney, 2001. First visibility of the lunar crescent.
SAAO, African Skies 5.
M. Odeh, 2004. New Criterion for Lunar Crescent Visibility, Experimental
Astronomy, 18, 39-64.

12