As stated in the Holy Quran, seek out those of knowledge and that was the basic foundation of the Tayba Trust Dawn Project.
The Islamic world still widely adopts the depression angle of 18° for Subh al-Sadiq (dawn) and this calculation method is used by many Mosques in the United Kingdom despite the method resulting in hardship during the summer months and the requirement to use alternative methods as a result of persistent twilight (where the sun depression angle does not reach 18°).
After the completion of Ramadhan 1434 AH / 2013 and another year of debates, arguments and confusion on the correct time for Sehri, the Tayba Trust decided to review the approach to the subject and consult with scientists on the subject.
A request was made to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Leicester University in December 2013 to assist in building an understanding of the science behind establishing Subh al-Sadiq (dawn). The world class Astronomy Department has vast experience is space research, working closely with many international partners and scientists on many projects.
We were extremely fortunate that the brilliant Dr Nigel Bannister responded to our request for help. Dr Bannister is not just a very accomplished scientist with many publications to his name but also an expert in optics; a crucial consideration when establishing when Subh al-Sadiq (dawn) can be observed. Dr Bannister was instrumental in the project and the new understanding on how to establish Subh al-Sadiq (dawn).
During an initial meeting between Maulana Dr Shahid Raza Naeemi (OBE), Dr Bannister and other project coordinators in December 2013, the remit of the project and the religious considerations around establishing Subh al-Sadiq (dawn) were outlined alongside the current methods used to address the issue. What resulted in the coming years was a groundbreaking new approach to calculating Subh al-Sadiq (dawn) and a new understanding of the relationship between the depression angle of the sun and the resulting light seen by the observer.