بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين. اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد و على آله و سلم.
In the Islamic tradition, there are seven days of the week beginning with Sunday. The days are literally numbered – Day one, Day two, etc. (يوم الأحد ، يوم الإثنين ). The only day that is not numbered corresponds with Friday. It is known as The Day of Congregation (يومالجمعة). The days, in the Islamic tradition, begin at the setting of the sun (Maghrib). This is not a strange understanding as from a secular perspective, midnight marks the start of the new day. This is the meaning of the statement, “The night precedes the day”. This is important to know when observing the Hijri calendar.
We are currently in the month of Jumada Al Awwal. According to our astronomy log, the 29th of this month will correspond with the 13th of December 2023. The significance of the night preceding the day, particularly at the setting of the sun, is that it is exactly moment when moon sighters will be searching for the new moon (Hilal). After the sun sets on the 13th of December, moon sighters will be searching for the crescent of the new moon to determine the new month of Jumada Al Akhir. The House of Green Islamic Foundation has added an Astronomy Log page with the criteria for determining the Hijri months according to the school of Imam Malik (May have mercy on him). Please feel free to review as we prepare the next moon sighting event.
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