Our ambition is to rely on UK only sightings. While great progress is being made on this, there is more work to be done for sufficient sighting locations and infrastructure to be put in place across the UK.

Until then, we will continue to rely on local UK sightings and defer to Morocco (or South Africa to a lesser extent) when UK sightings are not possible. These countries have reliable moonsighting systems stretching over decades – the sort of systems we aspire to develop here.

We pray for the day when all mosques of every demomination can return to this beautiful sunnah to unite the ummah in this country on a UK based Islamic calendar based on local naked eye sightings.

In the meantime, we ask all mosques observe their own local moonsightings every month and help work towards uniting the ummah on this blessed sunnah.

Trying to find the moon after the 29th of every Islamic month is what all our predecessors did. Not only is it sunnah, it is also an exciting family activity. We encourage you to try and look for the moon, even from your homes, and enjoy such a blessed sunnah with your family. It’s easy to look for the moon – this short video from New Crescent Society explains how.