The Sultanate follows an accurate arithmetical approach for monitoring lunar months and the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, represented by the Main Moon Sighting Committee, applies a precise method for calculating the crescents.

In an interview with Oman News Agency (ONA), Ibrahim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, head of the crescents monitoring department at the ministry, said that the Sultanate’s method for monitoring the lunar months is no different from that applied by most Arab world countries i.e.. the direct sighting of the moon either by the naked eye or by using a telescope.

Astronomical calculations are taken into consideration in case that the moon is impossible to be sighted as a result of the moon descending before sunset on the 29th day.

As a general rule, astronomical calculations serve as guidance to affirm the moon sighting but not as confirmation with the sole confirmation of the new month being the sighting of the moon by the witnesses.

The mechanisms for moon sighting applied in the Sultanate pass through an official structure represented by the Main Moon Sighting Committee chaired by the minister of endowments and religious affairs, the sub-committees in the wilayats chaired by walis of wilayats which receives reports on moon sighting and the field committees which are equipped with telescopes distributed across the Sultanate.