1. MOON SIGHTING "Keep the fast after seeing the Hilal and complete the fast after seeing the Hilal (of Shawwal)." Hadith of Prophet (SAW)

2. START OF THE HIJRI MONTH Q: When is the first of the month? A: It is the day following the evening when you are reasonably certain of the presence of the crescent on the horizon of the place where you reside, in a manner in which it is visible to the naked eye.

3. SHAWWAL 1430 Crescent New Moon is on 18 Sep 2009 at 11:44 AM PDT This moon is not visible anywhere on Sep 18 On Sep19, –it will still not be visible in Asia, Europe and Canada. –it can easily be seen in South Africa, South America –it is possible to be seen in Western Australia, Central Africa, Caribbean Islands, Central America and very Southern areas of USA Refer to Moon sighting charts that follow: –http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htmhttp://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm –http://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.htmlhttp://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.html

4. CRESCENT VISIBILITY CURVE http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Friday 18 th September 2009 http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Seattle

5. CRESCENT VISIBILITY CURVE http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Saturday 19 th September 2009 http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Seattle

6. CRESCENT VISIBILITY CURVE http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Sunday 20 th September 2009 http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/nextnewmoon.htm Seattle

7. CRESCENT VISIBILITY CURVE http://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.html Saturday 19 th September 2009 http://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.html Seattle

8. CRESCENT VISIBILITY CURVE http://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.html Sunday 20 th September 2009 http://www.moonsighting.com/1430shw.html Seattle

9. AYATULLAH SISTANIS RULING The accepted criterion that marks the beginning of the lunar calendar month in any country is the appearance of the new crescent in the horizon of that country, such that it can be seen by the naked eye, if there were no physical impediments like clouds or fog etc... Therefore the possibility of a sighting with only an optical aid is irrelevant. If the moon is sighted in the East, it also applies to the West as long as the latitude of the two locations are not greatly further away from one another. If the new moon is sighted in a city, it is sufficient for other cities, provided they share the same horizon, in the sense that the actual sighting in the first city would necessarily be followed with the sighting in the second city if there were no barriers like clouds, fog, mountains etc 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.