Criteria :: 06.21.2009

FOLLOWING IS THE CRITERIA APPROVED BY THE HILAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DECISION ON BEGINNING OF ISLAMIC MONTHS 

1. The moon sighting area (Matla) is defined as the entire area of North America (which includes Canada, Main land United States of America, Mexico and Caribbean islands). Any reported sighting of the Hilal from within the defined “Matla” shall be acceptable when it does not contradict the astronomical data issued by the majority of Muslims experts who are well known in the Muslim Community as expert in this field. This data will indicate the possibility of moon sighting at the place and time of the reported sighting.

2. However, in the case of moon sighting is reported by large number of Muslims in contradiction of the astronomical data issued by the recognized Muslim experts in this field then the committee shall decide to accept the reported sighting, by a unanimous approval of members.

3. When the President of any recognized and well known Islamic Organization or Muslim Community Center or Imam of a Masjid has accepted the sighting of Hilal after directly talking to the witness (es), then the Hilal Committee of Chicago shall consider it acceptable, provided the reported sighting satisfies criteria No.1 above and the Chairperson of the Chicago Hilal Committee has talked directly to the President of the said Organization/ Community Center or Imam of the said Masjid.

4. Contact persons shall be appointed, by the Hilal committee in the entire area of the defined “Matla”. These persons would be requested to make the arrangements for the moon sightings in their areas and inform the outcome to the Hilal Committee for the testimony from the witness (es).

5. Members of the Hilal Committee must be present at place of the meeting decided by the Chairperson of the Hilal committee or Chairperson of the Central Eid Committee on the 29th of Shaban, Ramadan and Zulqada and must be available on the phone on the day before these dates.

6. The Hilal committee shall decide about the moon sighting within one hour period after the sun set on the west coast.

Signed By:

Maulana Abdullah Saleem	Maulana Mohammed Abdul Haleem
Maulana Ubaidullah Saleem	Maulana Mohammed Ilyas Qasmi
Mufti Azeemuddin Ahmed	Maulana Abdul Aziz
Maulana Bilal Ali Ansari	Maulana Amjed Qasmi

Proposed:         July     21, 1985
Approved:        April   16, 1986 
Amended:         March 22, 1986
Amended:         July      8th, 1989
Amended:         May      15, 2005
Amended:         June       21, 2009