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The Profound Wisdom of Prophet
Muhammad Regarding
the Lunar Dates and the Unity of the Muslims
By Faysal
Burhan
Making
a decision over the lunar dates to coordinate the Islamic feasts
to bring about unified festive events has been a sore point
for the Muslims of North America. In predominantly Muslim countries,
all Muslims follow the decision made by their respective authority
of Shari’ah for the beginning of any celebration of feast
or to begin the Month of Ramadan. The Shari’ah authority
can be the Ministry of Fatwa (verdicts) or the Department of
Justice.
In
those countries, no one mosque or religious entity would violate
Shari’ah and celebrate the event on a different day. Shari’ah
is built around the protection of the community as a whole as
well as the individual members.
However,
for the diverse Muslims of North America, and due to the absence
of the structure found in the Muslim countries, it has been
difficult to celebrate their feasts and start fasting Ramadan
together as a united community. In addition, many Muslims of
North America are influenced by the dominant philosophy or schools
of thoughts, Mathahib taught in their respective mother countries,
which in turn often affect the lunar dates decision differently.
Individual mosques and Islamic centers across America and Canada
have often celebrated these feasts separately, defeating the
purpose of these communal rituals and festival occasions.
Many
Muslim organizations of North America such as the Islamic Society
of North America (ISNA), the Islamic Center of Southern California
(ICSC), the Shura Councils of North America and of Southern
California and the Fiqh Council of North America instituted
committees and special tasks to remedy this painful problem.
As
part of its administration, ISNA created a Moon Sighting Committee,
whose sole responsibility is the determination of the lunar
dates for these Islamic occasions. The ICSC and the Moon Sighting
Committee of ISNA consult astronomers and apply astronomical
data to help determine the lunar dates. It is also evident that
ISNA’s Moon Sighting Committee has worked with several
other Fatwa, astronomical and moon sighting committees in the
Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia in the making of its
decisions. Also apparent in the solution of these organizations
is the relevant issues of Muslims of North America, since many
of them are required to give an advance notice for their leave
at work. This important consideration is an irrelevant issue
for the Muslims overseas who nevertheless are given a holiday
by their respective countries.
Other
Islamic centers and organizations in North America took a separate
decision from that of ISNA or ICSC and followed a different
verdict, yet some others simply follow Saudi Arabia.
Although
there are several methods for determining the lunar dates for
these occasions, no one method should undermine the unity of
the Muslim community. Such an act would be in direct conflict
with the spirit of Shari’ah and the occasion. This is
why no one mosque or Islamic organization in Syria, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia or any other Muslim country defies the decision made
by their respective country and follow that of another.
Furthermore,
the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad in determining the lunar
dates is solely based on an astronomical foundation. Here are
the Prophet’s Traditions for Ramadan:
“We
are Umah (a nation) Umiyah (unlettered) we do not write [in
astronomical circles,] nor do we calculate [to arrive at the
exact lunar dates.]…” In a different Hadith, the
Prophet (p) said: [Therefore,] Fast when you see the Moon and
break your fast when you see the next Moon. But if you could
not see it then complete the 30th day [in fasting.]”
-Bukhai
& Muslim.
There
are three important key points in the above Traditions of Prophet
Muhammad (p).
- It
is apparent that Prophet Muhammad (p) is seeking a precise
date to begin fasting the month of Ramadan. However, the
Prophet is pointing out that the resources available for
making an accurate decision is inadequate in the absence
of advanced astronomical calculations, “We are an
unlettered nation with respect to writing [in astronomical
circles] and mathematical calculations.”
-
It is also apparent that the Prophet (p) considered the
best mechanism available to him at the time for the determination
of the beginning of the fast. “Fast when you see the
moon and break the fast when you see the next moon.”
- In
the absence of accurate astronomical data, one can easily
establish from the second Tradition of the Prophet that
there is no particular divinity missed out by not starting
or ending the month of Ramadan according to the exact astronomical
dates. “If the circumstances did not allow you to
see the next moon, then complete the month to thirty days.”
This is the worst-case scenario, irrespective of the actual
days of the month. In fact, in one occasion the Prophet
(p) did not give his companions any special instruction
when they informed him that the Moon appeared to be a two
or three days old. To appreciate the rationality and deep
leniency of the Prophet (p) over these matters, I ask the
readers to see Sahih Muslim, Sections: “It is Immaterial
Whether the New Moon is Larger,” and “Do not
Fast a Day or Two Days Ahead of Ramadan.”
The
very basic points discussed in the above Traditions are indisputable
facts to the truthfulness of the Prophecy of Muhammad (p) as
the facts of astronomical science later unveil. Today, astronomers
tell us that the new Moon is born precisely when it is in a
straight line between the Sun and the Earth. Then no light is
reflected from it to Earth and therefore it cannot be seen by
the human eye. When the Moon moves away from the straight line
then it begins to show. The new crescent however cannot be seen
by the human eye until it reaches the age of about 18 to 24
hours. Then it will be very thin and may appear in the horizon
for only a few minutes. See the illustration below from http://www.moonsighting.com.
If
the glare from the Sun, the location of the observer on earth
or other obstacles prevent the sighting of the Crescent, obviously,
the following day the Crescent would appear to be two days old.
This may explain why Prophet Muhammad (p) did not address the
criticality of correctness of the First day of the month, and
as for the actual birth of the moon, he simply stated the unliterary
condition of his people to determine accurately its birth time.
For better understanding of the complications surrounding moon
sighting, please visit http://www.moonsighting.com,
http://www.hilal-sighting.com
and http://www.ummah.net/moonsighting/.
Unfortunately,
what is commonly overlooked by many Muslims in the above Traditions
of the Prophet (p), is that the Prophet adapted the
best method available to him at that time, and this is the real
and true Sunnah of the Prophet that we must be inspired by and
draw upon. For the availability of astronomical vantage
to us today, we can accurately establish the beginning and ending
of all the lunar months. In fact, the lunar data has already
been utilized by many civil and military organizations around
the world for their benefits.Utilizing the lunar data
will lead to uniting our Ummah during its festive days in the
least, and foremost, it will make us among those who follow
Prophet Muhammad’s way of adapting the best solution available.
Dr.
Muzammil Siddiqi, the Chairman of the Shura Council of Southern
California, President of the Fiqh Council of North America and
ex-President of ISNA is in total agreement with our point in
this article for using the most accurate data available in determining
the Muslim's holy days. Dr. Siddiqi said:
"1. Sighting was needed because the Ummah was not in a
position to calculate accurately. 2. It was the Sunnah of the
Prophet to use the most accurate method available to him at
that time. So astronomical information is the most accurate
method available to us. Thus it is Sunnah to rely on the astronomical
information for determining Islamic dates."
Dr. Maher Hathout, the senior advisor for of
ICSC and Muslim Public Affairs Council is also in full agreement
with our approach. Dr. Hathout wrote us the following note:
"It
was 17 years ago that the ICSC adopted the scientific calculation
method for deciding the beginning and ending of the lunar months.
We felt that this is the way to live the modern age, and to
enable Muslims, particularly in America, to schedule their holy
seasons and push for them to be officially recognized. This
hopefully will maintain the unity of the Ummah.
We agree with the Islamic argument elucidated by brother Burhan.
We hope to consider the birth of the Moon as the decisive factor,
not its so-called “visibility,” which again leads
to a different set of divisions and confusions."
The
disunity of the Muslims of North America over the festival dates
has reached a considerable level of disgrace. No verdict or
philosophy should take a higher priority than that which safeguard
the health and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
said:
“Muslims must agree on one authority and let this authority
make the decision. Individual Islamic centers and mosques should
not give their opinion, because this causes confusion, division
and disunity."
The mechanisms to unite the Muslims would work
best when they are based on solid faith, stripped away from
human emotions, politics and personal agendas. Mathematics and
astronomical data are exactly that. I believe the expertise,
the study and research taken by ISNA’s Moon Sighting Committee
and the ICSC in this matter is in line with the call of the
Sunnah of the Prophet and the spirit of Islam. I encourage all
Muslim communities to follow the lead of these organizations,
join them in making unified festival dates. Prophet Muhammad
(p) said: “My Ummah cannot
go astray when they get together on a matter.”
-Ahmad & al-Tabarani. He
also said: “(Alikum be-alJama’ah,
be [working] altogether and (Iyakum) be aware of (furqah) being
separate.” -Al Termezi.
Islam
is a universal religion; good for all times and places. Muslims
will do Islam great injustice when they confine its universal
capacity to the elements available to Mecca and Medina during
the seventh century. We must understand the grave results of
our disunity over immaterial matters dragging us further way
from the cause of this faith. Because of our improper practice,
we made Islam appear to the technologically advanced world poorly
organized and at disadvantage.
Allah
and His Prophet clearly set forth wise guidelines designed to
lead Muslims to prosperity. Remember, it was early Muslims such
as al Khayam (11-12th century), who were responsible for the
creation of astronomical tables and the solar calendar that
is used widely until today. It was the Muslims of Cordoba who
devised the more popular Farmer’s calendar, Almanac, which
is a reflection of the Arabic word, al manakh, meaning the climate.
By
using today’s advanced calculations and astronomical data,
I believe the Muslims of North America have an opportunity to
lead the Muslim world into unity in this matter. We should not
miss this golden opportunity. I ask Allah to open my heart and
the hearts of all Muslims to see the true guidelines of Prophet
Muhammad (p) in resolving issues, his lenient personality and
the essence and intent of this faith.
Other
useful articles on this subject.
1.
The
Saudi Hajj Decision Rifts American Muslims, by Dr. Mohammad
Auwal, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at California
State Univ., Los Angeles.
2. Determination
of Eid al-Adha, by Justice Maulana Mufti M. Taqi Usmani.
3. Hajj
and Eid-al-Adha An article
4. Message
from Zaytuna Institute, by Imam Zaid Shakir.
5. ISNA's
Position on Eid-al-Adha, by Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman
of the Shura Council of Southern California, President of the
Fiqh Council of North America and ex-President of ISNA
6.
The
Arab News.
For
more information on the determination of Eid al-Adha date, please
see: http://moonsighting.com/eid-al-adha.html.
