HIBAPRESS – Casablanca
Morocco's moon sighting system continues to solidify its position as one of the most accurate experiences in the Islamic world, thanks to its adoption of an approach that combines organized Sharia vision and precise astronomical calculations.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs oversees the moon sighting process at the end of each Hijri month, through a wide network that includes hundreds of observation points spread across the various regions of the Kingdom, where data is collected and submitted to a central committee that studies the testimonies before the official announcement of the new month. This system relies on the mobilization of certified observers and specialized committees, in addition to the use of precise human and technical capabilities, which ensures the unification of the observation methodology and limits the conflict of testimonies. The results of the field vision are also compared with astronomical data related to the duration of the moon's stay above the horizon and its separation angle from the sun, which makes the official announcements mostly consistent with scientific calculations and reduces the margin of error to low levels. Observers believe that the regularity of the monitoring process throughout the year, and not only during the month of Ramadan, enhances the credibility of the Moroccan experience and makes it a reference for a number of Islamic countries. Thanks to this tight organization and central coordination, the announcements of the beginning of the Hijri months in Morocco have gained wide confidence, at a time when other countries are witnessing repeated differences due to the divergence of observation methods or the exclusive reliance on astronomical calculations.
