Marawi City, Philippines—Moon sighting 1429 and the Eid al-Fitr was celebrated yesterday Tuesday, September 30,2008 in various masajid or mosques in Marawi City.

The Ulama League of the Philippines headed by Aleem Ömar Pasigan concurred by the majority of the Ulama headed by Abu Ali Qadi in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur declared yesterday Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the first day of Sawwal, the celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Marawi City, Philippines. . The declaration was based on the claim that the moon was sighted in Cotabato¸ Zamboanga¸ Jolo and other places in Mindanao on September 29, 2008. However, Sultan a Cabugatan with the call sign of compound base said that moon was sigted in Dalipga, Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur more than seven minutes befor sunset

In Iligan City, Madrigal M. Macadato (MCW member from Iligan City) reported that moon was seen. He said “several new moon sighting here in Mindanao, Philippines. The sightings that were reported happened before sunset (Sept 29, 2008) in the following areas in Mindanao: 1. Cotabato City 2. Iligan City 3. Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipality of the province of Lanao del Norte.

The sighting was confirmed by no less than the MUFTI of the MILF (Moro Islamic Leberation Front), Aleem OMAR PASIGAN. In Sultan Naga Dimaporo the sighting was confirmed and verified by Aleen Kamarodin Sarip.”

But, Jalil Rayhan based in Cotabato reported and explained the Mistaken Sighting of the moon in the Philippines. He said “the announcement (Sept 29) came at 9:30 pm that the crescent was sighted in Zamboanga peninsula in the Philippines. Upon inquiry, the adil brothers in Zamboanga City reported of no sighting of hilal there, instead the basis of Eid (Sept 30) announcement was the report of the mufti (Ustadz Abdul Baqi) online from Saudi Arabia. This explains the time of announcement. Cotabato area from 5pm until pass 7pm on Sept 29 was having a heavy rain. We did not even have a clear sky after the rain by the fact that you cannot see any star. The new trend in the Philippines is that the Local Darul Ifta announces a sighting but would not provide names of the sighters. How can we vouch the integrity of the sighter/reporte.”

Moonsighting Worldwide Committee gave its comments that “this is reported here for information, so the people can see what is happening in Philippines. The moon was less than 2 hours old in Philippines and it set before sunset. So the moon was not even above their horizon, so how can anyone see a moon that is not there.”
The Committee earlier explains that “the Astronomical New Moon is on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 8:12 GMT, 4:12 am EDT, 1:12 am PDT). It will not be visible on September 29 except small possibility in Ploynesian Islands. On Tuesday, September 30, it will be visible in New Zealand Australia, Indonesia, South Asia, Africa and Americas. In North America on September 30, it can be seen in Southern belt states. So, Eidul-Fitr is expected on Wednesday, October 1, most of the world, Insha-Allah. Also, according to the criteria adopted by Fiqh Council of North America, and European Council for Fatwa and Research, the first day of Shawwal is on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, which would be after completing 30 days of Ramadan.”

Hence, the Committee, upon the reports of its members, reported the 1st official Shawwal of the different countries as presented below.

September 29, 2008 (Monday):