It was reported in the Sunnah an invocation which is desirable for a Muslim to say upon sighting the new moon of each month. Such invocation contains imploring to Allah (Glory be to Him) to make the month which has started full of blessings, faith, safety, and Islam; which is a blessed invocation that is desirable for a Muslim to say.

At-Tirmidhy reported on the authority of Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate: "Allahumma ahillahu `Alayna bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah. [O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Rabb and mine is Allah."" [Sunan At-Tirmidhy No. 3451 and Al Albany (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) graded it as good in Sahih Al Jami` No. 4726].

Before getting into this blessed invocation, let us pause to ponder over this magnificent sign which indicates the glory and greatness of the Lord (Glory be to Him) and his perfect ability.

Ibn Al Qayyim (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Look at the moon and its wonders! How does Allah create it as a fine line then its light increases and becomes perfect bit by bit every night until it reaches perfection. Then it starts to decrease until it goes back to the first state to show the dates of people in their lives, acts of worship, and rituals. So, months and years are known by the sight of moon and the entire calculations of the worlds are based on it which contains wisdoms and lessons that are only known by Allah." [Muftah Dar As-Sa`adah, 2/ 27].

Allah (Glory be to Him) counted the moon in the Glorious Qur'an one of His Great Signs and proofs. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And a sign for them is the night. * We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness. * And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). * That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. * And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old, dried, curved date stalk. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit." [Surat Yasin: 37 - 40].

As for Allah's Saying: "And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse)," each night it takes a measure until it becomes tiny like an old, dried, curved date stalk. Then it comes in the beginning of the month and starts to increase bit by bit until its light becomes complete; how a wonderful sign it is and how a clear proof to the greatness of the Creator and His Description it is! There is no doubt that pondering over this sign and others which Allah commanded His Servants to ponder over guides a person to know Allah (Glory be to Him), His Oneness, and the attributes of His Perfection such as His Ability, Wide Knowledge, Perfect Wisdom, and His Ample Goodness and benevolence. Accordingly, a person dedicates his faith to Him, singles Him out with submission, love, hope, and fear because these are clear signs to His Singularity with lordship, godhood, greatness, and pride.

Therefore, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the crescent, he used to pronounce Takbir [Saying: Allahu Akbar] because it is one of Allah's signs that indicates His Greatness and Pride. Takbir is magnifying Allah and believing that He is bigger than anything else and there is nothing bigger than Him as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in the Hadith of `Ady (may Allah be pleased with him): "Is there something bigger than Allah." [Al Musnad 4/ 378 and Sahih Ibn Hibban [chapter on benevolence] No. 7206].

Moreover, pronouncing Takir is permissible at the sight of every great thing or man in order to keep the heart connected with Allah and glorifying Him. The Shaykh of Islam, Ibn Taymiyah, (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: "Pronouncing Takbir is permissible in congregation because of the great number of people, at doing great actions, or in hard situations and likewise to show that Allah is bigger than anything else and that Allah's Greatness possesses the hearts and thus the religion shall be all dedicated to Allah and the servants will glorify Him. Hence, two things happen: The objective of worship which glorifying Allah by hearts and the objective of subjecting all things to His Pride." [Majmu` Al Fatawa: 24/226].

As for the glorification of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at sighting the new moon, Ad-Darimy reported on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: "At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate: "Allahumma ahillahu `Alayna bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, wat-Tawfiq lima Tuhibu Watarda, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah (O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam; and guidance to what you love and pleases You. (O moon!) Your Rubb and mine is Allah." [Sunan Ad-Darimy No. 1687, Al Haythamy said in Majma` Az-Zawa'id 10/ 139:

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