When Should Eid Al-Adha Be Celebrated?

Dear Brothers in Islam,
This booklet is prepared for the sole purpose of clarifying the
confusion in the Muslim Ummah about the 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 andday as two signs, then put the signs of the
night blotted and the sign of day shining, that you may seek grace of
Allah and that you may know the numbering of years, and the reckoning.
And We have explained well every thing separately.' 17:12 (Sura
Bani-Israil, Verse 12)
In both of these verses the timings and days areappointed based on the
Moon. The counting of years is also dependent on the passing of nights
and days. The Noble Prophet of Allah (Peace Be Upon 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 determine time.
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 months begin and end upon
sighting of the Moon. The day after the Moon is sighted is the first
day of the followingmonth. If the Moon does not appear, for any
reason, on the 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 of the second day. They rely upon the supposition of
the second day Moon and say this is not the first day Moon (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 Be Pleased With Him) and
respectfully informed him that we saw the Moon on the way. Some of us
made comments 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 theMoon. 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 quite clear that Moon sighting is the 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 bethicker and staying longer
on the horizon, issighted upon a completion of 30 days, do not 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 isthe age of science,
technology, and advancements in astronomy. They conclude that we can
measure the velocity andlocation of the Moon. Based on this, many
people assume one mustfollow scientific means and that there is no
need to observe the Moon.
With due respect, we saythat Islamic Shariah bases its verdict in the
light of principles of astronomy. According to astronomical
explanations, 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 thesame 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 and emerges from the horizon (and the vicinityof 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, "Startfast with the
appearanceof Moon and end fast with the 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 phase of
"Muhaaq", there is a possibility of it being seen on the horizon. This
is why Islamic Shariah does not recognize the birth of the Moon in
blindness; rather it considers its appearance on the horizon. The
ruling of Shariah applies to the observance of the Moon.Only upon
visibility does the month start, not before the appearance on the
horizon.

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