As can be clearly established by the above computer generated image, the birth of the moon (conjunction) for the Islamic month of Ramadan (H1420) will take place on the 7th of December 99 at 22.32 and 43 seconds pm GMT. This is several hours after the sunset and obviously the sighting on this day is not at all possible anywhere on earth. However the first sighting of the moon will be possible (not definite but just possible) only on the 8th of December off the coast of Central America, some 23 hours after its birth. This means that only the American continent is likely to start Ramadan on 9th of December with an extremely minute chance of a sighting off the coast of Western Africa (but the chances of this happening are almost negligible). Sightings over rest of the world will then gradually spread towards Pacific ocean and Polynesian islands. And by the time the sighting (the Dusk) reaches Australia and Indonesia it would have crossed the international date line, making it 9th of December for the region. Over the next few hours the evening, along with what should now be clear sighting of the moon, will spread over Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran and then Saudi Arabia. Making the first sighting in Saudi Arabia possible only and only after over 40 hours since the birth of the moon. Unfortunately, Ramadan in Saudi Arbia is likely to be declared on the 9th December (or even 8th of December), a day (or even 2 as the case may turn out to be) too early as usual. Over a further few hours, the sighting will spread further west and reach rest of the middle east, most of Africa, eastern Europe, UK and West Africa in that order making the10th of December as 1st of Ramadan for 90 percent of the Islamic world.

For Eid-ul-Fitr, The birth of the Shawwal moon is precisely at 18.14 and 45 seconds GMT on January 6th 2000 (on 28th of Ramadan) well after the sunset. Of course, any sighting of the moon is totally impossible before the evening of January 7th when the muslims in the far corner of West Africa (Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Gambia) have a moderate chance of sighting the moon. The only other region, once again will be the Americas to be able to sight the moon. Rest of the World including almost the entire Islamic world will definitely be able to sight the moon on 8th of January 2000 making 9th of January, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

For a comprehensive explanation of some of the related issues, please refer to "My analysis and the Solution" on this site. Also refer to other items and links on my ISLAMIC PAGE.

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