Does the New Moon Occur at Maghrib or Subhi? Is “Birth” the Same as “Rising”?
By: Abdul Rahim Hijri Committee of India
The question at hand is whether the “birth” (conjunction) of the moon and its “rising” (visibility) are the same or distinct. They are, in fact, two entirely different phenomena. Contrary to popular belief, the birth of the new moon does not specifically occur at the time of Maghrib (sunset) or Subhi (dawn). At the exact moment the moon is “born” (reaches conjunction), it may be high noon in the region where it occurs. Consequently, at that same moment, the moon would be rising in one part of the world and setting in another.
The Misconception of the “Western Rising”
On the day of conjunction, the sun and the moon rise and set almost simultaneously. A major scientific misconception held by many is that the crescent moon “rises” from the West. In reality, the moon rises in the East along with the sun approximately 12 hours earlier. We fail to see it throughout the day only because it is lost within the intense glare of the sun’s light. This phenomenon—the moon obscuring the sun—is something we can witness directly during a solar eclipse.
The Dynamics of Visibility
As the sun sets on the first day of the new month, its glare fades from the horizon, allowing the moon to become visible. If there is a lag of approximately 48 minutes between the setting of the sun and the moon, the crescent can be observed.
It is important to note that the actual “birth” occurs the day before this visible crescent appears. On the day of birth, the sun and moon travel so closely together that the moon remains invisible across the entire globe. This is a fact established through consistent human observation and modern astronomy.
The Prophetic Command
The command of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is to complete the month when the moon is obscured (Ghumma). Whether or not there are ancient texts from past scholars discussing this specific astronomical detail, the reality is now something we can verify directly through observation and scientific calculation. The truth is self-evident for those who observe the heavens today.