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New Crescent Society

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New Crescent Society
AbbreviationNCS
Formation2016 (1437 AH)
TypeVoluntary, non-profit organisation
PurposePromotion and coordination of local (UK only ) naked eye crescent moon observations for the Islamic calendar
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Region served
United Kingdom (with partner observers in Europe & Africa)
Key people
Imad Ahmed (National Coordinator); Dr Sobia Ahmed (Scientific Lead); Yasir Malik (Training & Outreach)
Websitenewcrescentsociety.org

New Crescent Society (NCS) is a British grassroots network founded in 2016 by Imad Ahmed.[1][2] The main reason was to revive the classical Islamic practice of ruʾyat al-hilāl [3][4](naked-eye sighting of the crescent moon) in order to determine the start of each lunar month. It promotes a "local-first" model where UK Muslims establish the Islamic calendar by direct observation within the British Isles and completing 30 days when the moon is not seen rather than looking towards following other countries.[5][6]

Impact

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The New Crescent Society has helped dozens of UK mosques align their calendars with local sightings, and its work has been featured by BBC News, BBC One Show, New Scientist, and Al Jazeera for its "citizen-science Islam" approach.[7] The group has also co-hosted the "Moon & Faith" exhibition at the Royal Greenwich Observatory alongside yearly Ramadan sightings.[8] [9]It also works closely with Cambridge University [10]. The society had also provided expert advice on the size, angle and timing of the crescent moon to the Mayor of London assembly in assistaning with it's "London Eye Eid light up." [11]

Criticism and debate

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Some scholars believe that following moon sightings from countries like Morocco or Saudi Arabia helps maintain global unity among Muslims.[12][13] On the other hand, some astronomers say the New Crescent Society is too cautious for not accepting sightings detected only by CCD equipment.[14] [15] The Society's view is that traditional Islamic rulings prioritise either direct sighting of the crescent or completing thirty days, and while optical tools can help locate the moon, they insist that a naked-eye sighting is still required which aligns with the mainstream Sunni Islamic View.[16]

Conflict with ICOUK

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The New Crescent Society (NCS) has had ongoing differences with the Islamic Crescent Observation UK (ICOUK), another prominent UK moonsighting group. NCS has consistently advocated for UK-only naked-eye moonsighting, while ICOUK previously accepted regional or international reports such as from Saudi Arabia or Morocco before shifting to the same NCS naked-eye UK only criteria. However, following NCS’s rapidly growing public engagement, ICOUK revised its position and began incorporating optical aids such as telescopes into its criteria in an attempt to challenge NCS's dominating influence.

These methodological differences have led to public disagreement between the two organisations. ICOUK has at times issued critical remarks about NCS’s announcements or calendar dates, Most of these claims have been met with skepticism or dismissal by UK moonsighting communities, Islamic centres and other Sunni institutions who cite NCS's consistent monthly activity and alignment with classical fiqh principle. Multiple former affiliates of ICOUK have since chosen to join or support NCS, and the two groups are now seen as representing competing approaches to crescent moon determination in the UK. With NCS being favoured as the most islamically accurate. [17]

Structure and membership

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The New Crescent Society operates as an unincorporated voluntary group, with leadership elected every two years by its regional coordinators.[2] Membership is open to anyone who agrees to follow its code of conduct, takes part in training, and submits at least two sighting reports each year.[2]

History

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The New Crescent Society began as a small WhatsApp group of astronomy enthusiasts in 2015–16.[12] In 2016, the group formally launched with training sessions in London and Birmingham.[18] By 2018, it issued its first nationwide Eid announcement based entirely on UK sighting reports[15]. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, observers kept up socially distanced photographic logs for a full year of continuous data. Testimonies via Zoom was also introduced around this time, something which is still streamed live to this day.[19]By 2025, the Society marked its eighth year with over 97 monthly sighting attempts recorded, the integration of Met Office forecasts into its planning, and the documentation of one of the youngest ever crescents seen in the UK.[20][21][22]

Objectives

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The New Crescent Society aims to stop confusion over moon sightings by encouraging people in the UK to look for the crescent locally, as was traditionally done.[12] It trains volunteers, keeps a record of sightings, and shares clear calendars so communities can start Ramadan and Eid together. The group also creates simple guides to help people learn about the Islamic lunar calendar.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Imad Ahmed". www.oocdtp.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  2. ^ a b c "New Crescent Society – Reviving the Moonsighting Sunnah". Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  3. ^ Rimi, Aisha (2025-04-23). "Islam and the wonder of the night sky". Hyphen. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  4. ^ "As Many Reject Saudi Arabia's Moon Sighting, This Group Urges the UK to Follow the Local Moon Sighting". Amaliah. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  5. ^ "Ramadan 2025 LIVE: 'Split' start with different days for many worshippers". 4 March 2025.
  6. ^ "An Overview of Crescent Moon Sighting - Moon Sighting UK". moonsighting.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  7. ^ Chughtai, Alia. "When is Ramadan 2025, and how is the moon sighted?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  8. ^ "Ramadan New Crescent Moon Watch 2025 | Royal Observatory". www.rmg.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  9. ^ Nizamoglu, Cem (2025-04-25). "Islam and the Wonder of the Night Sky". Muslim Heritage. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  10. ^ Seagrove, Paul (2023-03-23). "Changing month by the Moon". www.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  11. ^ "Eid in the Square 2023 | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  12. ^ a b c Butt, Maira (2025-03-31). "Searching for the moon: the crescent that heralds Eid is cause for celebration, unity ... and a few arguments". Religion Media Centre. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  13. ^ Bentley, David (2025-02-28). "Ramadan 2025 start date for UK now confirmed by multiple moonsighting groups". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  14. ^ Tharaka, Ashen (2025-03-26). "Crescent Moon of Shawwal Impossible to Sight on March 29, Confirms International Astronomy Centre | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN". DT News. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  15. ^ a b says, Ash (2021-06-13). "Six years on: problem-solving moonsighting and "practicalism" | Being British Muslims". Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  16. ^ "Eid 2025: UK experts challenge Saudi's 'impossible' Shawwal crescent sighting; Eid-ul-Fitr in KSA on Sunday, March 30". Hindustan Times. 2025-03-29. Archived from the original on 2025-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  17. ^ "Moonsighting divides UK Muslims again ahead of Ramadan". Middle East Eye. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  18. ^ "Eid Moon Wars and What It Tells Us About the Impact of Colonisation, Migration and Authority". Amaliah. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  19. ^ Nick McAlpin ــ London. "Meet the Muslim 'moon family' searching Britain's skies". The New Arab. Archived from the original on 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  20. ^ Peacock, Ruth (2025-05-29). "Religion news 30 May 2025". Religion Media Centre. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  21. ^ "Eid ul Adha 2025 UK announcement". Birmingham Live. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  22. ^ "مركز الفلك الدولي | International Astronomical Center (IAC)". astronomycenter.net. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  23. ^ "How to sight the new crescent Moon | Moon Sighting & Islamic calendar". www.rmg.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-29.