I'm a freelance graphic designer with a deep-rooted interest in typography, particularly Arabic typography, and a former Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

My journey into astronomy began in 2001, when I started studying under my teacher, the late As-Sheikh Muhammed Bahji (may Allah have mercy upon him). That's where it began, and I've spent the years since trying to understand how the movements of the sun and moon connect to Islamic practice, particularly prayer times, moon sighting and the Hijri calendar. To ground what I'd learned from observation in formal science, I went on to complete coursework and certifications through:

• Astronomy & Astrophysics - IOAS, Sri Lanka

• Exploring Time and Space - University of Arizona, USA

• AstroTech: The Science and Technology behind Astronomical Discovery - University of Edinburgh, UK

• From the Big Bang to Dark Energy - University of Tokyo, Japan

• Data-driven Astronomy - University of Sydney, Australia

Community Involvement

• Member of the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) - since 2008

• ACJU Hilal Committee member - 2014 to 2025

• Colombo Grand Mosque (CGM) Hilal Committee member - 2023 to 2024

• Contributed to asteroid and near-Earth object analysis through IASC / Pan-STARRS - 2020

Lectures & Training

I regularly run talks and training sessions on crescent sighting, eclipses, and Qibla determination at institutions such as:

• ACJU, Colombo

• Colombo Grand Mosque (CGM)

• Kulliyathu Madeenathil Ilm Arabic College, Colombo

• Al-Hasaniyya Arabic College, Thihariya

• Mawahibul Uloom Arabic College, Rajagiriya

• Kulliyyathu Imaam Shafiee, Kirulapana

• Haqqaniyyah Arabic College, Daskara, Kandy

Selected Work

• Crescent Sighting Data & Hijri Calendars for Sri Lanka 1424AH to 1436AH (2003 - 2015)

• Determination of Qibla throughout Sri Lanka (2016)

• English translation of Hisaab Mawaaqeet us-Salaah (حساب مواقيت الصلاة)  Calculations of Prayer Times by Mohammad Shawkat Odeh (2024) → [Read it here]

• Contribution of the Sinhala translation for the International Astronomical Center’s (IAC) [salatcalendar.com] website

• Crescent Visibility Maps for the Prophetic Era: Reconstructing the Early Islamic Calendar (13 BH – 11 AH) (2026) → [Read it here]

• Determining the Birth Date of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: An Astronomical Study (2026) → [Read it here]

• The Prophetic Epoch an Observational Seerah Calendar 53 BH – 11 AH (2026) →  [Read it here]

I still take part in ground-based crescent sightings with local communities, because the traditional, observational method matters to me, alongside the digital calculations, maps, and guides published here on SL-MOON.

About SL-MOON

I'd wanted to build a reliable, clear resource for the Sri Lankan Muslim community on moon sighting, prayer times, and Qibla direction for a long time. After many delays, and by the mercy of Allah, SL-MOON finally came to life to fulfil that vision.

My mission is simple: bridge the gap between classical observational methods and modern astronomical science, so confusion gives way to clarity.

Through SL-MOON, I publish crescent visibility maps and historical Hijri calendar data so the community isn't left guessing about the start of the month. I put together prayer timetables for Sri Lanka, with real attention paid to the timings people actually get wrong, like Fajr and Maghrib. When a sighting claim doesn't hold up, or a calendar dispute keeps resurfacing, I try to address it directly, with data and historical context rather than just repeating what everyone else says.

M. Irfhan Razick