Dear Brothers in Islam,
This booklet is prepared for the sole purpose of clarifying the
confusion in the Muslim Ummah aboutthe actual day of Eid Al-Adha.
Please read this with a careful understanding.
The Islamic calendar is based on sighting of the Moon. The beginning
and ending of the months relies on witnessing the Moon sighting. Allah
Subhanahu Wa-Ta'ala clearly mentions this in the Holy Qura'an :
'They ask you about the new moon. Say you, 'They are the signs of time
for the people and pilgrimage (Hajj).' 2:189 (Sura Al-Baqarah, Verse
189)
"And We made night and day as two signs, then put the signs of
thenight blotted and the sign of day shining, thatyou may seek grace
of Allah and that you may know the numbering of years, and the
reckoning. And We haveexplained well every thing separately.' 17:12
(Sura Bani-Israil, Verse 12)
In both of these verses the timings and days are appointed based on
the Moon. The counting of years is also dependent on the passing of
nights and days. The Noble Prophet of Allah (Peace BeUpon Him) also
clarified this very plainly for the simplicity of his Ummah in a
complete form of law.
"Allah Subhanahu Wa-Ta'ala created moon for mankind to determinetime.
So by sighting the Moon, start fast and end fast (Eid). If that Moon
does not appear then complete the count of thirty (30) days.' (Tafseer
Ibn-e-Katheer, Book 1, Page 214)
For the Muslim Ummah, Qura'an and Hadith are the norm. By virtue of
the Qura'an and Hadith we know that Islamic monthsbegin and end upon
sighting of the Moon. The day after the Moon is sighted is the first
day of the following month. If the Moon does not appear, for any
reason, onthe 29th day of any given month, then 30 days of that month
should be completed and the following month be started after the
completion.
Some people, upon sighting the New Moon, start assuming that the New
Moon seems to be ofthe second day. They rely upon the supposition of
the second day Moon and say this is not the first dayMoon (New Moon).
The following Hadith will be sufficient to nullify these comments:
"Hadhrat Abul Bakhtari (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) said, 'We
started our journey for Umrah. When we reached Batn-e-Nakhla, we saw
the Moon. Someone commented that this seems like a third day Moon.
Another person suggested that this is a second day Moon. Then we
approached Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbas (May Allah BePleased With Him) and
respectfully informed him that we saw the Moon on the way. Some of us
madecomments of it being a second day Moon and others, third day Moon.
Then Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbas(May Allah Be Pleased With Him) asked which
night you saw the Moon. We told him such and such day. He replied that
the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said that the night you witnessed
the New Moon is the night you rely on.'"
(Tafseer Qurtabi, Book 1, Vol. 2, Page 344)
This dilemma is now quiteclear that Moon sighting isthe basis of a
month's beginning and ending. If the Moon is not sighted on the 29th
day of a given month, then thirty (30) days must be completed. At the
same time when the Moon, if appearing to be thicker and staying longer
on the horizon, is sighted upon a completion of 30 days, donot start
speculating or assuming that it may be such and such day's Moon.This
is against the commands of our Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
In the context we hear people saying that this is the age of science,
technology, and advancements in astronomy. They concludethat we can
measure the velocity and location of the Moon. Based on this, many
people assume one must follow scientific means and that there is no
need to observe the Moon.
With due respect, we say that Islamic Shariah bases its verdict in the
light of principles of astronomy. According to
astronomicalexplanations, at the end of the month when the Moon is
waning, the time between the disappearance and appearance of the Moon
by the horizon is called "Muhaaq" or the Unseen Time. During this
phase, the Sun and the Moon are at approximately the same level on the
horizon.Due to this, the Moon's visibility is drowned by the Sun's
light. In result, the Moon is invisible. The period of "Muhaaq" ranges
from 36 to 50 hours. However, after this phase, the Moon enters the
New Moon period andemerges from the horizon(and the vicinity of the
Sun). Afterwards, in the waxing phase, when the Moon is 12° (degrees)
from the Sun, it becomes visible to the unaided eye.
Now take the words of Hadith which says, "Start fast with the
appearance of Moon and end fast withthe appearance of the Moon." This
clearly points to the principles of "Muhaaq" (when the Moon is
invisible). Since the New Moon comes after completing its phaseof
"Muhaaq", there is a possibility of it being seenon the horizon. :->
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