ICOP Overview

The Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) was established in 1998 as a Global project. Its primary aim as the first project of its kind is to gather information about the Crescent (Hillal) observations at the start of each Islamic lunar month in different countries and regions through out the world.

The Islamic Crescents’ Observation Project (ICOP) was established with the support of the Jordanian Astronomical Society in order to set up a network of observers, experts, and stakeholders throughout the world interested in issues related to crescents and also in monitoring and studying them, along with determining the beginning of the lunar months. The project’s website on the Internet has been an interactive site ever since it was created, and a front for exhibiting the crescents’ observation and research, and platform for dialogue and discussion on everything pertaining to crescents and related issues.

Early interest by the observers combined of both specialists and stakeholders interested in the project website and in contributing to its activities made of the project an important astronomical site thereby prompting those in charge of the project to diversify its objectives and expand its interests and devices. Thus, the project website has been transformed from an area for exhibiting the crescent observation and analysis results into a yard for showing, discussing and debating all that is related to astronomical applications in Islamic Shari’a, known nowadays as the Shari’a Astronomy (crescent, calendars, times, and Qibla). This website has also been interested in presenting and discussing the scientific researches submitted by the participants in the project who made remarkable contributions to a series of different Islamic astronomical conferences. With the growing number of participants in the project from several dozens at the beginning to hundreds of participants later on, and with the growing number of the countries whereto participants belong from several countries to more than tens of countries, along with the expanding project interests and devices, and with the success which the first project conference (First UAE Astronomical Conference), we would like to say that all the aforementioned findings motivated the participants in the project to seek further wide methodological improvement of project in terms of objectives, devices, instruments, and management.

Any Individual or Organization can participate in this project or access ICOP's database on the internet. Membership is open to all, regardless of gender, location, nationality, religion, race, affiliation or financial status.

The following are the most important objectives of the project:

• Observe the crescent on a monthly basis and gather observation-related data done by ICOP members.
• Analyze and extend the observation results and data to the relevant scientific, Fiqhi and Shari’a institutions, and spread same among both distinguished and common people.
• Create a comprehensive historical and modern database on the crescents observation according to circumstances.
• Create and develop scientific criteria for predicting crescent visibility through the database.
• Create and develop an international Hijric calendar according to the database and visibility criteria.
• Contribute to unifying efforts of those working in the field of Islamic calendar towards establishing an “Approved International Calendar”.
• Develop an accurate program for prayer time calculations appropriate for the various spots on the globe including the ordinary, specific and extraordinary sites.
• Provide the services needed for identifying the Qibla direction in the different circumstances.
• Take care of the astronomical heritage related to the Shari’a astronomy in order to establish a link between originality and moderns.

The Project Seeks to Realize its Objectives Through the Following Activities:

• Gather data: Crescent observation, measurements, … etc.
  1. Through participants observations.
  2. Through historical and modern archives.
• Provide services (to remarkable and common people along with institutions):
  1. Practical services (crescent maps, prayer calculations and Qiblah identification).
  2. Archiving services (Observation and confirmation, studies and research, fundamentals and basics).
• Teaching basics (lectures and courses):
  1. Through the Project website.
  2. Through rehabilitation courses.
  3. Through educational conferences.
• Activating relations: (Dialogue forums, joint workshops)
  1. With participants in the Project.
  2. With scientific and university institutions.
  3. With Fiqh institutions and Ifta’ departments.
  4. With National Crescent Observations Committees in the Islamic World.
• Following up on conferences:
  1. Project conferences.
  2. Regional and international astronomical conferences.
  3. Fiqhi conferences.
• Exhibiting Heritage Items: Presentation, summary, and discussion of the scientific heritage in the field of Shari’a astronomy.

1. ICOP Member: ICOP member is kindly asked to provide us with his/her own observation of the young crescent at the beginning of every lunar month, whenever possible. Which can be submitted to us directly by a special on-line form found below in this web-page, and to provide us with the OFFICIAL first day of each lunar (Islamic) month in his/her country of residence. If this country is not Islamic (in the sense that muslims are a minority there), then, he/she is asked to provide us with the first day of the lunar month that is adopted by the Islamic community in this country.

2. ICOP Friend: If you are interested in ICOP, but you don't have enough time to participate in its work, then you would choose to be an ICOP Friend. And you can support ICOP by any possible way.

Please consider the following:-

• Particularly for Ramadan and Shawwal, the member's submission must be sent shortly after sunset of the 29th day of the previous lunar (Islamic) month. If a submission is received late, the information contained in it might loose some of its importance.

• It is NOT IMPERATIVE to observe the crescent monthly (though we will highly appreciate the efforts of the member who does so). At least, however, he/she IS REQUIRED to do his/her best in trying to observe the crescents of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Thul-Hejjah. However, more observations will be much more useful.

• Please don't choose ICOP Member unless you are sure that you can be an effective member. Or can participate in ICOP by any of the followings:-
  • Observe the crescent monthly, whenever possible.
  • Help in promoting ICOP.
  • Assist us by your experience and knowledge.
  • Any other thing might be helpful for ICOP.