Dear Dr. Nidhal Gussoum,

 

سلام عليكم

 

            I would like to take advantage of this opportunity and congratulate you the auspicious Ramadan. I watched your live TV program on August 10.2010. I can comprehend you and the ICOP authorities’ feeling thoroughly. Since few years ago, we had similar condition in Iran . From 1993 to 2000, six Ramadan months which must became 30 days, have been announced 29 days just because of the wrong witness’s report and our effort for proving it was futile.

 

Fugaha and authorities believed that witness’s opinion is more authentic than the astronomers’. We had very bad mental condition but did not despair. Observations was doing by several groups throughout the country, with extraordinary stamina, until two experts observed the 1422 Jumadal Thani crescent and 1423 Rajab crescent and registered some international records (the youngest crescent, the thinnest crescent and the least elongation) by their names.

 

Systematic planning, had national and scientific efficiency and made close cooperation among Fugaha, Iranian authorities and observers. The committee which has been formed in the Supreme Leader office (Crescent Sighting Committee), just undertook planning for the crescent observation. Since 2000, this committee took consultation viewpoint but acted on witness opinion. From 2000, three observation experts and some university professors on physics became the committee members.

 

During the important observations, at least two experts will be present in the Supreme Leader office, call to the witnesses and note the details carefully. From 2000 to 2004 wrong reports have been sent to the committee by nonprofessionals but the experts were refining them and explaining the witness’ mistake. After it, the whole Ramadan months started and ended correctly. The important point was the attention of the Supreme Leader to the expert opinion. I can remember that one year we predicted Ramadan 30 days and were sure that at 29th evening it would not be possible to observe the crescent even by the tools. At 29th evening the observers announced that they have not seen the crescent but a lot of nonprofessionals reported that they have seen it by naked-eyes. This report annex with the expert opinion regarding that this claim is wrong has been presented to the Supreme Leader. His Excellency accepted the expert opinion and announced Ramadan 30 days.

 

From that year we tried to teach some groups in the committee and give them necessary tools and instruments to observe the crescent with accuracy instead of waiting for the nonprofessionals’ opinion. The mentioned groups have been formed from 2004. In Ramadan, Shawwal and Thul Hijjah more than 120 groups around the country, send their reports to the committee. They have all necessary things such as huge 40x150 binoculars, telescopes and aircrafts for rainy and cloudy weather.

 

From now on the nonprofessional opinion has been decreased. To respect the citizens' opinion regarding the crescent observation, the committee receive them but they take decision according to the professional groups’ report which act in and for the committee.

 

During the first ICOP conference, one of the lecturers, notified that till politicians, Fugaha and astronomers are not side by side, the Islamic countries calendar will have mistakes. To sole this problem we have done it in Iran from 2000 and hopefully received best results.

 

Sincerely

 

Alireza Mehrani

Esfahan, I. R. of Iran