The UAE Fatwa Council has officially declared that Sunday, September 13, marks the beginning of the month of Rabi Al Thani 1448 AH. This determination followed Saturday’s completion of the month of Rabi Al Awwal. The council reached this conclusion after a thorough review of scientific data and close coordination with specialized astronomical authorities across the nation.

While the new crescent moon was too faint to be observed with the naked eye or even traditional telescopes anywhere in the Islamic world, it was successfully captured using advanced imaging technology. The Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi documented the moon at 3:50 pm on Friday, noting that it was only 10.2 hours old at the time. This technical confirmation aligns with the broader regional consensus, including Oman, where authorities also marked the start of the new month on Sunday following the conclusion of their own observation efforts.