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Muharram 1441H New Moon Observation

Bandar Seri Begawan – The Western sky was clear on the evening of August 31, 2019. The celestial objects, Venus and Sun, were used for scopes alignment during the new moon sighting.

The new moon observation of Muharram 1441H was held at Agok Hill by members of Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam. The 24 hour-old hilal (crescent moon) was sighted immediately after sunset, 6.28 pm (after pointing the scopes at sunset and slewing to the Moon).

PABD wishes all Muslims in Brunei Darussalam and around the world Salam Maal Hijrah 1441H.

Crescent moon by Hazarry Haji Ali Ahmad
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Determining of Hari Raya Aidiladha

​ Brunei Darussalam will determine Hari Raya Aidiladha with a moon sighting of month of Zulhijjah 1440 Hijrah nationwide on 29 Zulkaedah 1440 corresponding to 1st August 2019 at several designated areas in the three districts.

In the Brunei Muara District, the moon sighting will take place at the DST Tower of DST Headquarters building, Tungku Highway, Bukit Agok Jerudong, Tanjung Batu and Kampung Sabun. Meanwhile in the Belait District, Bukit Lumut and Bukit Ambog di Tutong District. The outcome of the moon sighting will be broadcast through Radio Television Brunei as soon as the result is received.

Source: RTB News

New Moon Data on 01 August 2019 at Sunset for Brunei Darussalam (PABD)
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Lunar Crescent Marathon

Here’s our cosmic idea for school holiday activities – Lunar Crescent Marathon!

Go out to look for the daily changing moon crescent in early morning, before sunrise, on May 27 until Jun 02 2019 for the Waning and Old Crescent in the Eastern sky. Continue your observation on evening of June 04 until June 10 2019, shortly after sunset, for the New and Waxing Crescent in the Western sky.

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New Lunar Crescent of Syawal 1437 seen from Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan – July 05, 2016. A group ofΒ members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam was at the Agok Hill in Tutong for the moonsightingΒ to observe the new moon of Syawal 1437H. The western sky was partly cloudy especially new the horizon with theΒ sun set behind the clouds on that evening. At about 15 minutes after sunset,Β at the clouds break,Β the 24 hour old hilal was firstly visible through telescopes and CCD Camera at around 6.52 pm. Continue reading “New Lunar Crescent of Syawal 1437 seen from Brunei”

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Basis for Using the Rukyah Method for Determining the Arrival of Ramadan and Syawal in Brunei Darussalam

By Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi1 & Dr. Shahir Akram Hassan

Source: Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture December 2015, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 13-22 ISSN: 2333-5904 (Print), 2333-5912 (Online) Copyright Β© The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development DOI: 10.15640/jisc.v3n2a2 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/jisc.v3n2a2

Abstract

There are various methods used to determine the arrival of Ramadan (fasting) and Syawal in South East Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia use the rukyah (sighting of the moon) and hisab (mathematical calculations), Singapore uses the hisab while Brunei only uses the rukyah method. These differences are due to the different basis for using a certain method to determine the arrival of Ramadan and Syawal. The basis here refers to religious references and forms of istidlal (inferences). The question is, what religious references are used to substantiate the adoption of the rukyah method in Brunei? What is their form of istidlal based on the religious references? To answer all these questions this study has two objectives. Firstly, it intends to determine the religious references that act as the basis for using the rukyah method in Brunei. Secondly, to analyse the different forms of istidlal based on the religious references. In order to achieve these objectives, this qualitative study used library research and expert interview methods for collecting data. All the data were analysed using the content analysis method. Lastly, this study concluded that religious references from the al-Qur’an and Hadith used as a basis for applying the rukyah method in Brunei is similar to the religious references used as a basis for applying rukyah and hisab in other South East Asian countries. The only difference is the various forms of istidlal.

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