This is a prayer that should be recited during the sighting of the new moon at the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
When your eyes fall on the new moon, you must not point to it; rather you should turn yourself towards the kiblah, raise both your hands towards the sky, and address the new moon with the following words:
Your and my Lord is Allah; the Lord of the worlds.
رَبّي وَرَبّكَ اللّهُ رَبّ العَالَمِينَ.
O Allah: (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security and faith
اللّهُمّ أَهِلّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَالإيمَانِ
And safety and Islam
وَالسّلامَةِ وَالإسْلامِ
And expedition to whatever You love and please.
وَالمُسَارَعَةِ إلَى مَا تُحِبّ وَتَرْضَى.
O Allah: (please do) bless us in this month,
اللّهُمّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَهْرِنَا هذَا،
And confer upon us with its goodness and aid,
وَارْزُقْنَا خَيْرَهُ وَعَوْنَهُ،
And save us from its harm, evil, ordeals, and sedition.
وَاصْرِفْ عَنَّا ضُرّهُ وَشَرّهُ وَبَلاءَهُ وَفِتْنَتَهُ.
It has been narrated that when the Holy Prophet (a.s) would see the new moon of Ramadhan, he would turn his face to the kiblah direction and say the following:
O Allah: (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security and faith
اللّهُمّ أَهِلّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَالإيمَانِ
And safety and Islam
وَالسّلامَةِ وَالإسْلامِ
And encompassing good health and repulsion of ailments,
وَالعَافِيَةِ المُجَلّلَةِ وَدِفَاعِ الأَسْقَامِ
And assistance on praying, observing fasting, and doing acts of worship,
وَالعَوْنِ عَلَى الصّلاةِ وَالصّيَامِ وَالقِيَامِ
And on reciting the Qur’an.
وَتِلاوَةِ القُرْآنِ.
O Allah: (please do) keep us sound for the month of Ramadan,
اللّهُمّ سَلّمْنَا لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ،
And accept our deeds during it,
وَتَسَلّمْهُ مِنَّا،
And save us during it,
وَسَلّمْنَا فِيهِ
Until the month of Ramadan will not elapse
حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ عَنَّا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
Except that You have pardoned us, forgiven us, and had mercy upon us
وَقَدْ عَفَوْتَ عَنَّا وَغَفَرْتَ لَنَا وَرَحِمْتَنَا.
Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) is also reported to have said: When you see the new moon of Ramadhan, you may say the following:
O Allah: the month of Ramadan has commenced,
اللّهُمّ قَدْ حَضَرَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ
And You have made obligatory upon us to observe fasting during it,
وَقَدِ افْتَرضْتَ عَلَيْنَا صِيَامَهُ،
And You revealed the Qur’an in it,
وَأَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ القُرْآنَ
As guidance for people and clear proofs of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong).
هُدَىً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيّنَاتٍ مِنَ الهُدَى وَالفُرْقَانِ.
O Allah: (please) help us observe fasting in it,
اللّهُمّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى صِيَامِهِ،
And accept it from us,
وَتَقَبّلْهُ مِنَّا،
And keep us safe during it,
وَسَلّمْنَا فِيهِ،
And help us observe it adequately,
وَسَلّمْنَا مِنْهُ،
And keep it sound for us with easiness and good health from You.
وَسَلّمْهُ لَنَا فِي يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَعَافِيَةٍ،
You verily have power over all things.
إنّكَ عَلَى كُلّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ،
O the All-beneficent, O the All-merciful
يَا رَحْمنُ يَا رَحِيمُ.
Why Moon Sighting Matters in Islam
The Islamic calendar is lunar, so every month begins with the sighting of the new crescent (hilal). Allah says: “They ask you about the new moons. Say: they are signs to mark fixed times for people and for Hajj” (Qur’an 2:189). The sighting of the Ramadan crescent marks the beginning of the month of fasting, and the sighting of the Shawwal crescent marks Eid al-Fitr.
Etiquette When You See the New Moon
- Do not point at the moon.
- Face the qiblah and raise your hands towards the sky.
- Recite the dua given above, and if you can, Dua 43 of Sahifa Sajjadiyya, Imam Zain-ul-Abideen’s (a.s.) supplication on seeing the new crescent.
- Ask Allah for safety, faith and blessing in the coming month.
In Fiqah e Jafria the start of the month is established by sighting the moon, so follow the announcement of your marja’s office or local Shia centre. Once Ramadan begins, recite the dua for each day of Ramadan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I recite when I see the new moon?
Face the qiblah, raise your hands and recite the moon-sighting dua given on this page. Dua 43 of Sahifa Sajjadiyya is also recommended.
Why should I not point at the new moon?
The narrations teach believers not to point at the crescent, and instead to face the qiblah and turn to Allah in dua.
How is the start of a month decided in Fiqah e Jafria?
By sighting the new crescent. Follow the announcement of your marja’s office or your local Shia centre.
