emirates7 - The UAE’s astronomy centre announced on Sunday, August 24, that the crescent for Rabi Al Awwal was not visible in the country on Saturday, August 23.
This means that the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabi Al Awwal, will begin on Monday, August 25, as the month of Safar completes 30 days in the Hijri year 1447 AH. The Moon sighting also confirms that the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday will fall on Friday, September 5, corresponding to 12 Rabi Al Awwal, potentially creating a three-day weekend for UAE residents. No official announcement regarding the public holiday has been made yet.
The centre stated that on Saturday, the crescent was not visible anywhere in the Arab region—neither with the naked eye, telescopes, nor ultra-high-power astronomical imaging. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will start Rabi Al Awwal on different days, with Saudi Arabia marking the first day on Sunday, August 24.
For Sunday, August 24, the crescent was expected to be easily visible with the naked eye in most Arab countries, though more difficult to see in northern Arab regions.
First day of Rabi Al Awwal:
Sunday, August 24: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia
Monday, August 25: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, UAE, Jordan, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania
On Friday, August 22, Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory successfully captured a photo of the crescent marking the end of Safar 1447 AH, despite dusty and partly cloudy conditions. However, predicting the start of Rabi Al Awwal remained difficult.
About Rabi Al Awwal:
The crescent of Rabi Al Awwal is significant for Muslims, as the 12th of this month marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a public holiday in many countries, including the UAE. The UAE moon sighting committee observes the crescent on the 29th of each Hijri month to declare the beginning of the next Islamic month. The Hijri calendar is lunar-based, with each month starting upon the sighting of the new moon.
This means that the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabi Al Awwal, will begin on Monday, August 25, as the month of Safar completes 30 days in the Hijri year 1447 AH. The Moon sighting also confirms that the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday will fall on Friday, September 5, corresponding to 12 Rabi Al Awwal, potentially creating a three-day weekend for UAE residents. No official announcement regarding the public holiday has been made yet.
The centre stated that on Saturday, the crescent was not visible anywhere in the Arab region—neither with the naked eye, telescopes, nor ultra-high-power astronomical imaging. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will start Rabi Al Awwal on different days, with Saudi Arabia marking the first day on Sunday, August 24.
For Sunday, August 24, the crescent was expected to be easily visible with the naked eye in most Arab countries, though more difficult to see in northern Arab regions.
First day of Rabi Al Awwal:
Sunday, August 24: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia
Monday, August 25: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, UAE, Jordan, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania
On Friday, August 22, Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory successfully captured a photo of the crescent marking the end of Safar 1447 AH, despite dusty and partly cloudy conditions. However, predicting the start of Rabi Al Awwal remained difficult.
About Rabi Al Awwal:
The crescent of Rabi Al Awwal is significant for Muslims, as the 12th of this month marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a public holiday in many countries, including the UAE. The UAE moon sighting committee observes the crescent on the 29th of each Hijri month to declare the beginning of the next Islamic month. The Hijri calendar is lunar-based, with each month starting upon the sighting of the new moon.