What dua do I say when I see the new moon?
When you see the new crescent moon, the sunnah is to say: "Allahumma ahillahu 'alayna bil-yumni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-islam. Rabbi wa rabbuk Allah." It asks Allah to make the new month one of blessing, faith, safety and Islam (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3451; some scholars grade it weak).
The dua and its meaning
Allahumma ahillahu 'alayna bil-yumni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-islam. Rabbi wa rabbuk Allah.
"O Allah, bring this moon upon us with blessing and faith, with safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah."
The last sentence is spoken to the moon itself. It's a gentle reminder that the moon is a creation, not something to worship, and that it has the same Lord as you. Imam at-Tirmidhi graded this narration hasan, and scholars have long used it at the start of every month. A similar version in Musnad Ahmad adds "al-amn" (security).
Why the new moon matters in Islam
The Islamic calendar is lunar, so each month starts when the thin crescent (hilal) appears after sunset. Ramadan, Eid and Hajj all depend on it. The Prophet ﷺ said: fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is hidden by clouds, complete thirty days (Sahih al-Bukhari 1909). See How does the Islamic calendar work?
How to do it in practice
- When to say it: the first evening or two of a new Islamic month, when you actually see the crescent low in the western sky shortly after sunset.
- Face any direction: there's no need to face the qibla or raise your hands, though raising them is fine.
- Read it if needed: keep it on your phone until you know it by heart.
- If you can't see it: clouds, city lights or a late shift? No problem. It's a sunnah tied to seeing the moon, not an obligation.
A note for curious non-Muslims
Some people assume Muslims worship the moon because of the crescent symbol or the moon-based calendar. The dua itself answers that: "My Lord and your Lord is Allah." See Is Allah a moon god?
Different communities sometimes start a month on different days, depending on local sighting or calculation. See Why do Muslims celebrate Eid on different days?
- The new moon dua asks for blessing, faith, safety and Islam in the coming month.
- It ends with "My Lord and your Lord is Allah", addressed to the moon.
- Say it when you see the crescent at the start of a lunar month.
- It's a sunnah, so missing the sighting is not a sin.
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