ISNA’s Eid Decision Misled Muslims
Eid al-Fitr (1426) on the Last Day of Ramadan
by: The Committee For Crescent Observation International

ISNA until 10:00pm on November 2 has been proclaiming:

All Muslim astronomical consultants are unanimous that with NAKED EYE it is IMPOSSIBLE to see it (Shawwal moon) anywhere in North America.

At 10:00 pm ISNA declared:
Tomorrow, Thursday 3 Nov 2005 CE is the first day of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr)

How did this miracle happened?

Please read what the witnesses themselves WROTE to ISNA:

In Phoenix Arizona… out of a large group… ONE witness saw Hilal at 5:42 (four minutes after the sunset) for a few seconds until about 5:41pm (??). (The moon appeared 7-2 on a clock??)…One other brother … was able to see it…Our Imam saw it at first sight but was not certain of his sighting.” (The full report is given below).

This is how ISNA made an IMPOSSIBLE into “Possible”, and millions of Muslims in N. America missed the last day of Ramadan.

Obviously, ISNA Fiqh Council and its experts proved again that they are NOT COMPETENT to decide Ramadan and Eidain dates. They also bear the responsibility of all those Muslims who did not fast on the last day of Ramadan.

10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
The Fiqh Council of North America, after consultation with its astronomical consultants, who related the credible moon sighting reports, declares tomorrow, Thursday 3 Nov 2005 CE as the first (1st) day of Shawwal (Eid-ul-Fitr). This conclusion was arrived at in accordance with the current Fiqh Council guidelines. Eid Mubarak!

10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Phoenix, AZ
The following is the Hilal Sighting Report from Phoenix, AZ.
Assalam Alaykum Dr. Durrani,
Here is the report as requested.
Along with large group of brothers, we arrived at the sighting place shortly before sunset. Mashallah we observed a beautiful sunset on a very clear skies. at about 5:38pm. There horizon is very clear at the sighting place.

At about 5:42pm I saw the very very thin, illusive Hilal, to the left of the position where the sun had just set -- spanning the distance from the seven o'clock and two o'clock hand of an analog clock. The Hilal's elevation was less than one finger width. The Hilal was indeed very very thin and illusive as such continuous observation of it was limited to few seconds. I was only able to continually observe it until about 5:41pm.

One other brother with the group, Brother ----- was able to see it at the point it was first sighted. Our imam saw it at first sight but because of it's illusive nature was not certain of his sighting.

I did not observe the hilal setting as it had become illusive once again just as it neared the horizon.
.
5:05 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Germantown, MD
The following is reported as a FALSE sighting to ensure that others also do not mistake it as a "Hilal".
At approximately 5:00 pm from my location I noticed the contrail (condensation trail) of a jet aeroplane about 20 degrees to the North (right) of the Sun and about four (4) finger widths (6 degrees) above the horizon. It seemed to go down and to the right.

It looked nearly like a straight line inclined from the top left to the bottom right. The inclination of the line was at about 30 degrees to the vertical. The end closer to the horizon was brighter than the top left end of the contrail.
Clearly, this was NOT the Hilal of Shawwal 1426 AH.

Source: The Committee For Crescent Observation International
 

Eid al-Fitr is on Friday, November 4, 2005

The Committee has determined that Friday is the day of Eid al-Fitr for North America.

The Committee did not recieve any valid, reliable reports of Shawal Crescent Moon Sighting. The only telescopic sighting claim from Arizona by a reputed astronomer was not strong enough to fulfill the Shariah recquirement of "overwhelming evidence". Out of a group of ten, only he claims to have seen the Moon through the trees and in his own words, "The image of the Crescent Moon was not sharp". Others, including another expierenced observer were unable to see it, despite Jim's repeated attempt to show it to others.

Jim's own words: The Moon wasn’t visible through the breaks until 17:43 at the predicted time and position. The image was dull and smooth, and I didn’t note any other characteristics, because I wanted the others to see it. However, at least four other people tried, but were not successful.

All naked eye sighting reports including those from Chicago, IL and Jacksonville, FL, were not valid, as a naked eye sighting was out of question by all astronomical standards.

Source: The Committee For Crescent Observation International