A total of 95 participants comprised of members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam  (PABD), officers from Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB), invited guests from local government agencies and higher education institutions, and also from regional countries from Malaysia and Indonesia, attended the workshop.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Haji Mahadi bin Haji Mohd Tahir, President of Brunei Astronomical Society. Also present at the ceremony was Dr Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad, Acting Director of Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister’s Office.

In his closing remarks, Haji Mahadi addressed the significance of astronomical observation during the Golden Age of Islam in the 9th and 10th centuries as a source of learning and major achievements. 

“Medieval observatories became places for scientists and astronomers like Al-Biruni and Ibn Sina to gather for scientific discussions and perform astronomical observations. Observatories played an important role in enhancing the development of Islamic astronomy, where celestial objects were studied and led to astronomical innovations,” said Hj Mahadi.

“Since the establishment of the society in 2003, PABD has continually pioneered and developed multidisciplinary knowledge in the field of astronomy and Falak in Brunei Darussalam for the past 19 years.”

He further shared the Society’s aspiration in planning to construct an astronomical observatory for public use and scientific research purposes. “It is PABD’s ultimate vision to build an observatory in Brunei as a platform to expand astronomical knowledge including Falak Syarie in Brunei Darussalam.”

The PABD president also welcomed collaborations and partnerships from all agencies in realisation to set up an observatory, ”to build an observatory will require huge financial costs, and PABD as a non-profit organisation that operates for collective and public or social benefits, sponsorship contributions from companies and other agencies is one of the ways deemed appropriate to realise this big dream into reality.”

Workshop participants had the opportunity to learn and master the applications of a traditional Falak instrument, Rubu’ Mujayyab (Sine Quadrant), in effort to preserve the excellence of Islamic knowledge. The online session was facilitated by Ustaz Anuar bin Ariffin from Butterworth Religious Affairs Department, Pulau Pinang. 

Several key applications on the use of Rubu’ Mujayyab were demonstrated during the workshop such as obtaining local time from the Sun’s altitude, solving trigonometric calculations, measuring when the sun is directly overhead, determining the longitude and latitude of a location, calculate prayer times and also to calculate the Qibla direction.

The three day online workshop was jointly organised by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam  (PABD) in collaboration with Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB), Prime Minister’s Office. 

More info: www.bruneiastronomy.org/rubumujayyab

Press Release:

Bengkel Penggunaan Peralatan Falak Tradisional Rubu‘ Mujayyab

Pemudahcara oleh Yang Mulia Ustaz Anuar bin Arifin, Pengiat Instrumen Rubu‘ Mujayyab, Pejabat Agama Daerah Butterworth Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Penyertaan Percuma! Jumlah penyertaan adalah terhad.
Terbuka kepada orang awam, pelajar sekolah & agensi kerajaan khususnya yang berminat dalam bidang falak syarie

Laman Web Bengkel & Pendaftaran: www.bruneiastronomy.org/rubumujayyab

Program astronomi umum ini akan memberikan peluang kepada orang ramai dan netizen berinteraksi bersama pakar-pakar falak dan astronomi mengenai kejadian gerhana matahari. Perbincangan ini akan disiarkan seperti jadual berikut:

Tarikh:   19 Jun 2020 / 27 Syawal 1441H (Jumaat)
Masa:  8.30 malam – 9.30 malam.
Lokasi livestream:   facebook.com/bruneiastronomy

Anjuran:                        Persatuan Astronomi Negara Brunei Darussalam (PABD)

Dengan kerjasama:        Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) dan  Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPUSB)

Hos / Panel Moderator:  Awg. Muhd. Fahmie bin Hj. Awg. Metussin, PABD

Panel Pakar 1:           Md Qawiem Hj Md Jamil, Exco PABD & UBD
Panel Pakar 2:           Prof Dr Ibnor Azli Ibrahim, UNISSA
Panel Pakar 3:           Dr Mohd. Hilmy Baihaqy bin Haji Awang Yussof, KUPU SB

Anjuran:    Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia

Sila mendaftar sekarang sini.

Oleh yang demikian, dipohonkan kerjasama orang ramai untuk menjawab kajiselidik tersebut dengan menekan link di bawah:

https://bit.ly/2tqPoiS

Setiap maklumat/butiran yang diberikan adalah SULIT dan akan dirahsiakan serta digunakan untuk tujuan kajian sahaja.

Sebarang pertanyaan dan maklumbalas, bolehlah menghubungi:
Pusat Kepimpinan dan Pembelajaran Sepanjang Hayat
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali
No telefon (Office): 246 2000 sambungan 202/204
No telefon bimbit: +673 8254 374
Email: C4L@unissa.edu.bn

Source: www.seasc2017.org

Borneo Bulletin – TWO working papers on the use of modern technology for the sighting of crescent moon (Hilal) were presented during the Falak Syar’ie parallel session at The Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong yesterday.

The parallel session was part of the 14th Southeast Asia Survey Congress (SEASC) 2017 organised by the Ministry of Development’s Survey Department, in collaboration with the Brunei Institution of Geomatics (BIG), under the auspices of the Asean Federation of Land and Geomatics Survey (AFLAG).
In his presentation on ‘Imaging Method for Crescent Moon Sighting with the Charge Couple Device (CCD)’, Haji Julaihi bin Haji Lamat, from the Brunei Institute of Geomatics, introduced the CCD as a technology that was born in 1969 at the AT&T Bell Labs, and has since undergone vast improvements with modern software.

“Today, knowledge has advanced, because not only can the crescent moon be sighted accurately, with the help of a telescope and the image capture method, but processed records of the moon sighting can be reviewed without the need for eye witnesses,” he said.

The start of Ramadhan, Syawal, and Zulhijjah are normally determined through the Ruqyah method of sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye after sunset. When the new crescent is sighted, it will mark the beginning of a new month in the Islamic calendar.

In defining a successful sighting, there is still a difference of opinion among religious scholars, because the Hadith or traditions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) particularly emphasise eyewitness testimony or the application of knowledge.

“Knowledge can be defined as knowing the position of the crescent moon through astronomical calculations, in addition to use of modern technology such as imaging or video recording,” said Haji Julaihi, adding that previous experiences have shown that CCD assistance on telescope is more effective in the early sighting of the crescent moon after sunset.

Records show that the crescent moon for 29th of Ramadhan, 1425 Hijrah, corresponding to November 13, 2004, was sighted at 19 hours and 13 minutes, while 1st of Syaaban, 1437 Hijrah on May 7, 2016, was sighted much earlier at 14 hours and 57 minutes after sunset with a light illumination of 0.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Hazarry bin Haji Ali Ahmad from the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam in his presentation, ‘New Moon Imaging Technique Using Digital Cameras in Brunei Darussalam’, said that new moon data can be difficult to obtain, owing to certain factors such as astronomy, meteorology and psychology.

“Therefore, moon sighting in the present age will often employ astronomical instruments such as a telescope equipped with a DSLR digital camera, when the light is at a minimum,” he said.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On May 28 every year, at 5:16 pm local Brunei time (09:16 UT), the sun will be precisely overhead (at Zenith) in Makkah and exactly above the Kaabah. At that instance, the Sun in other areas will be directly aligned to the direction of Kiblat.

This phenomenon known as “istiwa adzam” is useful as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of prayers (Kiblat).  Only half part of the world that receives the daylight can apply this method.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Kiblat from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical which must be checked with a weight tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, such as under a tree or in the house. It must be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:16 pm May 28, the shadow’s line produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.