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Moon
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Towards the Unity of the Muslim Ummah
Astronomical Lunar Date Line (ALDL)
Islamic Jurisprudence (shar’i)
and Scientific Perspective
Mustafa A. Ahmed, Ph.D.
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Determination of the lunar calendar
should not constitute a reason for conflict amongst Muslims. Since
there is no dispute with regard to the practical implementations
associated with this issue, such as the rituals of fasting the month of
Ramadan, paying the zakah upon completion of the year, or
performing Hajj during specific months. The determination of the
month’s beginning with certainty is a scientific issue. The capacity of
people to determine it will vary according to the level of their
knowledge, which in turn, will vary from one group of people to another,
and generation to the next. Nevertheless, this case is similar to the
determination of the qiblah direction at a specific location on
earth. There is no dispute with regard facing al-Masjid al-Haram
during our prayers. The methods associated with calculating the
position relevant to a geographical location, is clearly a scientific
issue left to be determined by the professionals, such as geographers,
navigators, and astronomers. As long as an individual has done their
best to know the location of the qiblah, their prayer will be valid,
even if they have faced a wrong direction; since Allah (swt) will not
burden a soul beyond it’s own limits. Similarly, a person’s fasting
will be valid even if we failed to realize the accuracy of the existence
of the moon.
A consensus should exist among Muslims, at
least for those who are living at the same town or country, concerning
adopting a specific rule to unite their view about the beginning of the
new month. Either they will reach the reality or they miss it, their
rituals are valid. Unity itself is a shar’iah objective, since
the day of fasting is day in which the Muslims collectively should begin
their fasting, and the day of Eid is the day in which they collectively
break their fast. The unity is explicitly stated in hadith of
Prophet alayhis-salam, and the rituals are accurate without
dispute, even for those who are certain of the error of the decision
taken by the people of authority among them. Nevertheless, even for
those who have accurate scientific knowledge, they should be ready to
give up the results of their knowledge and sacrifice their personal
opinions for the sake of unity of the Muslim Ummah if can be
accrued through other opinion..
The Shari’ah passages (Qur’an and Sunnah)
direct us, as Muslims, to consider the calculations in order to realize
the positions of the sun and the moon to determine such rituals as the
time of prayer and fasting among others. In the event that calculation
methods are not available, we are then directed to consider the sighting
of the sun and its shades and sighting the new moon for the appropriate
time determinations. However, such permission is negated now due to our
certain knowledge of astronomical calculations regarding both the sun
and the moon. Additionally, with the advent of telecommunications, it
makes the spread of information easier between the scientists, Islamic
scholars and the Ummah, thus unifying us more.
It was clearly pointed out by the earlier
Muslim scholars starting from the time of tabi’in that the
astronomical calculations is the speech of the Shari’ah (taklif) for
those who are possessing the astronomical knowledge and that the
observation of the moon sighting or completion the month thirty days is
for those who do not possess the required knowledge.
A group of the early scholars, (the salaf),
had decreed that those who know and understand the astronomical
calculations are obligated to follow this method even if they are cretin
that the visibility of the moon is impossible due to the early age of
the moon or due to atmospheric conditions. Others have said that the
entire Muslim Ummah should follow the astronomical calculation either in
the case of affirmation or negation of the moon visibility. Others have
said, it is permissible only, not as an obligation.
Sheikh Ahmad Shakir’s (a well known Egyptian
scholar of the mid-20th century AD) view is that the
determination of the lunar calendar depends solely on the astronomical
calculation, while the moon sighting is permissible for those who lack
the knowledge of astronomical calculation. Sheik Shakir was free of the
condition that the moon should last enough time after sunset to enable
the observer for the moon sighting.
Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, (a contemprary
Egyptian scholar in Qatar), emphasizes that the astronomical calculation
is a scientific and practical method to achieve the objectives of the
Shari’ah. Today, it is readily available, accurate, and distant from
the possibilities of error which exist with the observation of the moon
sighting. Additionally, he considered that the astronomical
calculations has reached to a level of certainty to the point of
reliability as a condition for the unity of the entire Ummah, therefore
removing the continuous disputes regarding days of fasting, breaking of
the fast, and the days of celebrating, Eid. The astronomical
calculations should be considered and accepted according to the rule of
Qiyas al-Awla.
It is essential that we should make
distinction between two methods of moon calculations. One is associated
with the determination of the astronomical new moon. The astronomical
new moon is defined to occur when the sun and moon have the same
geocentric ecliptic longitude. The results of this method are definite
and certain. There is no dispute between any of the astronomers
regarding the accuracy of this method. The second type of calculation
is associated with the possibility of the moon visibility at a specific
geographical location at a specific time – after sunset on the given
day. by sighting, which begin when the thin crescent. The moon is
actually sighted in the western sky after sunset within a day or so
after new moon. The scientific base is agreed upon, but the results
vary with a margin of error since it is not only depending on the
mathematical calculations but on the atmospheric conditions which beyond
our control or prediction in addition to other astronomical factors
affecting the possibility of visibility.
The method of mathematical calculations,
concluded at this study, as supported by the passages of the Shari’ah,
is the first type, which it is called the ‘astronomical conjunction’.
The new moon (the beginning of the new
month) begins at the same moment for all inhabitants on earth. Yet it
falls in two consecutive days due to the spherical shape of the earth
and the conventional system of time people proposed and agreed upon.
According to the conventional system the reference point of time being
with Greenwich Mean Time, the time zone differences from GMT should be
considered/adjusted. Thus, the moment of the new moon is logically
going to be daytime for some locations while beings nighttime for other
locations, depending on the geographical location. Nothing in the
Shari’ah, let alone science, can tell you that the new moon would only
being at night. Nor should it be considered as a new crescent if it had
existed before sunset and should last on the horizon until it’s
visibility through the naked eye after sunset.
The conclusion of this study, ALDL, is
characterized by its clarity and ease of implementation. At a specific
location (longitude) on earth, the time of the new moon begins before
dawn either during daytime or night time. The rituals will begin from
the dawn of that day for fasting or Eid and night time for tarawih.
Towards the Western Hemisphere, the age of the moon is maturing and in
the Eastern Hemisphere, the people will start their day after the
completion of the circle around the globe. In other words, the rituals
of the new month begin at the same moment for everyone, no matter where
their location is on earth. The name of the day may vary due to the
time zone differences around the world. The very near by two islands
Alaska’s Little Diomede and Russian’s Big Diomede have a distance of a
few miles from each other, but they have 24 hours time zone difference
since they are separated by the International Date Line. For example,
when it is Thursday in Little Diomede, it is technically, Friday in Big
Diomede, which is just a few miles away. The agreement of the name of
the day will result in one day different between them. If you miss your
Friday prayer at Big Island, you can perform it on the next day at the
near by island.
As a result of this method, we will have a
clear lunar calendar which would be similar to the Gregorian calendar.
This will bring unity to Muslims and help them publish information about
their holidays for years in advance assisting with holiday planning.
This will also facilitate business transactions and international
relations at the global level.
Implementing of such a system will also
remove the perceived notion of ignorance and the failure to comprehend
simple astronomical facts made towards Muslim Ummah and their fuqaha’
and their lacking to apply accurate scientific information that is
readily available to all.
The early Muslim generations had achieved a
superior level in scientific fields such as, astronomy, physics and
mathematics. The Islamic scientific achievements in the past are the
bases of the modern world development today. Among the most important
causes for their advancement at that time was the implementation of the
shari’ah passages. If we as Muslims are to advance past the previous
achievements of the Tabi’in and the Salaf, it is time to implement the
calculation of the astronomical new moon which the scholars had
instructed us to follow as early as the end of the first hijri century.
For more information, please contact:
Mustafa A. Ahmed
The Foundation for Islamic Education
1860 Montgomery Ave.
Villanova, PA 19085
Phone: (610) 520-9624 Ext. 221
Fax: (610) 520-9625
Website: www.fiesite.org
e-mail: mahmed@fiesite.org
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