History

The Chicago Hilal Committee was established more than 40 years ago for the purpose of maintaining the Islamic Hijri calendar. Since it’s inception, the CHC has not wavered on its opinion of following local moon sighting to determine the start and end of each lunar month. The criterion used is consistent with the criterion used by classical scholars and dating all the way back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, over 1400 years ago.

Message from the Team

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu,

We would like to welcome you to the official website of the Chicago Hilal (Moon Sighting) Committee.  Over the past decade, there has been much confusion amongst the Muslim community in regards to the beginning of Islamic months and Islamic holidays – namely Ramadan and the two Eids – which directly stems from misunderstandings about the moon sighting procedure.

It is by the immense blessing of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’alaa) that He has provided a solution to this country through the blessed words of His beloved (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) as he said, “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.”  Understanding the immense responsibility that this statement entails, the scholars of Chicago have come forward to use their training in order to benefit the society at large.

With that in mind, the Chicago Hilal Committee was formed under the auspices of renowned scholars as well as representatives from the various mosques (masajid) to be able to carry out a responsibility that has been inherited by the Muslim community – especially the scholars – from the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam).  This responsibility is to determine the Islamic calendar through the sighting of the moon.

Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu,
The Chicago Hilal Team