The Royal Observatory Greenwich Blog gave a full description of the moon visibility on August 21, 2009. Because the crescent moon was not visible in any of the big cities in United Kingdom, The Royal Observatory helped the British Muslims know that the month of Ramadan had begun.

Of course it is not to say our country is behind on helping Muslims. Naval Oceanography Portal website has a full page devoted to Ramadan. They list all the Muslim months as well as give an explanation of the months. They are saying that Ramadan started in USA on August 22, 2009 and that The Muslim New Year will start on December 17, 2009.

Muslims maintain the age old tradition of deciding when a month starts based on the appearance of the new moon.

Every Muslim anxiously waits for two of the moons every year. One is the moon that will inform that Holy month of Ramadan has started. Muslims can start a month of fasting. Just as eagerly Muslims wait for the new moon that will say the month of Ramadan is over and the next day will be Eid.

When it comes to Astronomy, technology has really helped change things. I knew a month before when the moon was going to show in United States. Sure enough that is the day Ramadan started here in USA. As a young girl I never thought a British institution would be looking for the Ramadan moon. How times have changed. As a young girl we used to look up at the skies all evening long. Now you just have to turn your computer on and you receive the information - did the moon come out or not?

Technology can advance as much as it wants. The world can discuss the religion of Islam as much as they want. We Muslims follow our traditions and culture happily. We will always let the moon decide when our Muslim month starts. We will always share the one moon amongst our entire Umma. Wherever we Muslims live, from China to United States of America, we all look up at the sky and look for the same moon, same sky and feel the same sense of happiness and excitement. The Umma is one.

I end with my favorite John Denver song - Shanghai Breezes. I love this song because John Denver was appearing with Ted Koppel on nightline from Shanghai, China. He said he was missing his family and wife. So he said he looked at the moon and figured it was the same moon his wife was looking at.

John Denver sang it live right then on Nightline and his voice, words and music touched my heart. I have never forgotten that moment.

It’s funny how you sound as if you’re right next door when you’re really half a world away I just can’t seem to find the words I’m looking for to say the things that I want to say I can’t remember when I felt so close to you it’s almost more than I can bear And though I seem a half a million miles from you you’re in my heart and living there

And the moon and the stars are the same ones you see it’s the same old sun up in the sky And your voice in my ear is like heaven to me like the breezes here in old Shanghai

There are lovers who walk hand in hand in the park and lovers who walk all alone There are lovers who lie unafraid in the dark and lovers who long for home Oh, I couldn’t leave you even if I wanted to you’re in my dreams and always near And especially when I sing the songs I wrote for you you’re in my heart and living there

And the moon and the stars are the same ones you see it’s the same old sun up in the sky And your face in my dreams is like heaven to me like the breezes here in old Shanghai

Shanghai breezes cool and clearing evening’s sweet caress Shanghai breezes soft and gentle remind me of your tenderness

Yes we Muslims, feel this way even though we don’t see each other and are millions of miles away from each other, but we look at the same moon, share the same month of fasting and feel each others joy and pain. We are one Umma.

May all Muslims especially our American Muslims have a blessed Ramadan. May all our good wishes and prayers come true. May God bestow good Graces on all the Muslims who are fasting and praying this month.

May God give us guidance to do good deeds. May God give us strength to guide and lead us. May God give us harmony and happiness. My ultimate prayer may God give us the vision to differentiate bad people from good, so we can see who are these people who are hurting the image of our religion. Then we need to make sure they are exposed for who they are, Sheitans

Seeme Hasan