Muslims all over the world will be looking, on March 24, for the new moon of the holy month of Sha`ban.
The astronomical new moon (conjunction) of the new Hijri month of Sha`ban will occur on March 24, 2020 (Tuesday) at 9:28 UT.
However, the moon can not be seen except by a high powered telescope in the Americas.
“On March 25, the moon can be seen with difficulty in Australia and easily in India, Pakistan, Middle East, parts of Europe, whole Africa and Americas,” Moonsighting reported.
Sha`ban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. This is the month of “separation”, so-called because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water.
The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Hijri lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Shaaban migrates throughout the seasons.
The month is very special for Muslims as it’s a prelude to Ramadan, the 9th Hijri month; “O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).”
A new Hijri month starts when the First Crescent appears before sunset by a time gap of a few minutes at a minimum.