Dua Upon Seeing the New Moon
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ، رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ
Allahumma ahillahu 'alayna bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah.
"O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and faith; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Lord and my Lord is Allah."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3451
1
Know the Date
Moon sighting is attempted on the 29th evening of the current Islamic month, immediately after the sun sets. You cannot see a new moon on the 28th or 30th.
2
Look West at Sunset
The new crescent will only be visible in the Western horizon, exactly where the sun has just set. It will be very low on the horizon.
3
Timing is Critical
The window of visibility is very short. The crescent usually sets 20 to 50 minutes after sunset. If you look too late, the moon will have already set below the horizon.
4
Clear Horizons
Go to an elevated location with a clear, unobstructed view of the western horizon. Light pollution, buildings, clouds, and haze will make sighting impossible.
5
Shape of the Hilal
The new moon is extremely thin, like a faint thread of light. The "horns" of the crescent will always point upwards or sideways, away from where the sun set.
6
Testimony (Shahada)
If you see it with your naked eye, inform your local Islamic authority or Imam immediately. The sighting requires adult, sane, and trustworthy Muslims to testify.
The 29 or 30 Rule
A lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long; it can never be 28 or 31. Because the lunar cycle is roughly 29.5 days, we look for the moon on the evening of the 29th day.
- If the moon is seen: The current month ends at 29 days, and tomorrow is the 1st of the new month.
- If the moon is NOT seen: (due to clouds or it hasn't been born yet), we complete 30 days of the current month, and the day after tomorrow is automatically the 1st of the new month.
This beautiful, simple rule ensures that even if it is cloudy for an entire week, the Islamic calendar never breaks or loses track.