Ramadan Articles - Ramadan in the Muslim World through the Ages

In the past, there was a custom in Muslim countries to increase the
lighting of mosques uponsighting the crescent of Ramadan.
Ahmad ibn Yoosuf, the famous Abbasid writer, said,
"The Caliph, Al-Ma'moon, ordered me to write to all the territorial
governors to urge peopleto have more lamps during the month of Ramadan
and make themacquainted with the virtues of this. Therefore,I did not
know what I should write or say, as noone preceded me so that I can
follow his way or approach. I then took an afternoon nap and dreamt
that someone came to me and said, 'This makes the passers-by feel
safe, it is a light for the observers of the night voluntary prayer,
iteliminates the places of suspicion and keeps the Houses of Allaah
well-lit, not darkened.' I woke upwhile inspired with whatI should
write. I began with these and then added from my own."
The Caliphs and governors of the Muslim states were not too arrogant
to accompany judges and ascend high places in order to sight the
crescent of Ramadan.Al-Asma'isaid, "I ascended a high room along with
Ar-Rasheed)the Caliph( to sight the crescent of Ramadan. I then said,
'O Commander of the Believers! What is meant by the poetic verse said
by Hind bint 'Utbah: 'We are the daughters of Taariq. We walk upon the
plush floorings.' Ar-Rasheed said, 'At-Taariq is the planet in the
sky.' Al-Asma'i then said, 'You are correct, O Commander of the
Believers.'" Then, Ar-Rasheed ordered 10,000 Dirhams to be given to
him.
The righteous poets usedto welcome the crescent of Ramadan by using
their creative talents in describing it and considering it a sign of
goodness, optimism and a good omen.
Anecdotes from the pages of history
It was narrated that a group of people, including the noble Companion,
Anas ibn Maalikcame to sight the crescent. Anaswasabout to complete a
hundred years of age at that time."I can see the crescent!"shouted
Anas"It is there." He was pointing to it but they could not see it.
Al-Qaadhi Iyaadh, who was a wise man of discernment, was also present
there. He looked toward Anasand observed a white hair of his eyebrow
hanging upon his eye. He raised it and then said to Anas"Look, O Abu
Hamzah!" He kept looking on and saying, "I cannot see it)the
crescent(."
One night people gathered to sight the crescent. They kept on staring
at the horizon but saw nothing. Then a man among them shouted,"I can
see it! I can see it!"The people expressed admiration forhis sharp
eyes and exclaimed,"How can you alone see it?"Delighted at the praise,
he shouted,"There is another one behind it!"At this, the people
laughed at him.
One night, people ascended a high place to sight the crescent but they
could not see it. When they started to go back, a boy saw the crescent
and directed them to its place. Then a man said to him,"Give your
mother the glad tidings of great hunger."
In the city of Basrah, people went out one night to sight the crescent
and then one of them saw it and he kept on pointing to it until
thepeople saw it. When it was the time of the crescent of Shawwaal,
the man who was knownfor his jocular dispositioncame to this man and
said to him,"Get up to bring us out of what you have entered us in."
During the reign of Sultan Muhammed Al-Naasir ibn
Qalaawoon,Ramadancame in winter and the sky was completely overcast
and cloudy. Thus, sighting thecrescent was not officially confirmed
and people unanimously decided not to fast. However, it so happened
that the wife of the Mufti, who had a sharp eyesight, managed to sight
the crescent from the roof of her house. She informed her husband and
he believedher. Her husband then went to the Sultan and told him about
the matter. The Sultan asked her to swear upon her claim. Those who
were present believed her and the sighting of the crescent was
officially announced and people started fasting. Later, that woman was
officially appointed as the person who would tosight the crescent. She
woman was the first and the last one to get this honor and play the
role of a human" telescope".