• Home

Shawwal Moon-sighting Committee set up

ABU DHABI – Justice Minister, Dr. Hadif bin Jowan Al-Dhahiri, has issued a ministerial decree setting up a moon-sighting committee for the month of Shawwal 1430 Hijri (2009).

The committee, under the chairmanship of the justice minister himself, has the membership of the Undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department, Sultan Saeed Al-Badi, Acting Director General of the Justice Ministry, Dr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Hossani, Advisor to the Minister, Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Badi, Director General of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment, Dr. Mohammed Matar Salim Al-Ka’abi, Religious Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, Dr. Farouk Hamada, Senior Inspector at the Judiciary Inspection Department of the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department, Hassan Shareef Al-Jafri, Legal Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department, Mohammed Al-Yadali bin Mohammed, Ras Al-Khaimah Appeal Court Judge, Dr. Rashid Ali Rashid Al-Hai Al-Ghafli, Director of Department of Guidance and Counselling at the Dubai Department of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, Mohammed Suhail Al-Muhairy, a Muslim preacher at the Dubai Department of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ahdal, Chairman of Emirates Astronomical Society, Khalfan Sultan Al-Nuaimi and the Chairman of the UAE Amateur Astronomers League, Sakher Saif Abdullah.

The decree urged all Sharia Courts in the country to look out for the moon and to inform the committee the outcome of its assignment. It also urged the lunar moon-sighting committees of the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department in the central, eastern and western regions of Abu Dhabi to continue with their assignment of gathering evidences regarding the sighting of the crescent of the month of “Shawwal” and keep the Moon-sighting Committee informed about any development.

The Moon-sighting Committee is to meet after Maghreb (dusk) prayers, on Saturday, 29^th Day of Ramadan (September 19) at the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department premises.