N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 Ramadan start date to differ again By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief Published: August 27, 2007, 23:06 Manama: Pinning the start of Ramadan this year will again be a point of debate in the Muslim world as 1.2 billion Muslims will most likely begin observing Ramadan on three different days, a professor in Bahrain said. "Muslims in at least one country will start fasting on September 12 while the others will begin either on September 13 or 14," Dr Waheeb Al Nasser yesterday said in a statement to the press. "I believe that Libya will be the first country to announce the start of Ramadan on September 12," said the physics professor at the University of Bahrain. Social divisions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar, has been a source of heated debate among Muslims upset over how countries are claiming sightings on different dates and starting the month on different days. The clash is mainly between conservatives who insist on seeing the moon with the naked eye, in line with a literal interpretation of Islamic principles. This is in contrast to those who call for the use of astronomical calculations to predict the start of the month. For the naked-eye sightings, varying geographical and weather conditions mean that people in different locations cannot see the appearance of the moon, making Muslims around the world fast on different days. However, the strict interpretation of the visibility stipulation is increasingly becoming a source of national and social divisions, defeating the call for unity preached by Islam during the sacred month. "It is regrettable that some countries still reject any role for astronomers in determining the first and last days of Ramadan. "I sincerely wish that the committee of the scholars who decide on the first day of Ramadan and the start of Eid would use science and astronomy," Al Nasser said. Religious scholars should reconsider their views about technology and astronomy by following the example of Saudi Arabia which has recently built 11 astronomy observatories and launched a satellite, he said. http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10149551.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted August 28, 2007 Nothing new there. Confused Muslims. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 A difference of opinion does not mean confused dear,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 Question: Dear Sheikh Ahmad, as-salamu `alaykum. Recently, ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) decided to depend solely on astronomical calculations in determining the beginning and end of lunar months, including Ramadan. They say that sighting the new moon by the human eyes is not an act of worship, but a means to know the beginning and end of lunar months. They argue that astronomical calculations can play that role and unite at least Muslims of America. They announced the beginning and the end of the coming Ramadan. They even issued an Islamic calendar, based on the astronomical calculations, for some years to come. How do you see this issue? Shihab - United States Wa`alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Thanks very much for your question, which comes at a critical time for North American Muslims. Before responding to your question, we would like first to direct the attention of Muslims in North America and elsewhere to the paramount importance of unity and solidarity. We call upon all Muslims in North America, especially those with a view opposing ISNA's, to put their unity as a community as a priority before delving into internal differences on this issue. Moreover, it is high time for us to truly base our approaches concerning juristic issues on the pristine sources of Islam. We should stop feeding animosity. Critical issues like this should be judged with wisdom while placing the unity of Muslims as a top priority. If we consider all this and kept in mind that ISNA has made a real contribution to North American Muslims and made their unity a priority, then we will see that we should not promote our differences to the detriment of the well-being of Muslims. Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following: I can very well agree with the decision of ISNA Fiqh Council on this matter. Such a decision is long overdue. My reasons for this are the following: 1. During the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), sighting the new moon with the naked eyes was the only means available for the people, as he himself said: "We are a people who are unlettered." He did not mean that he would like his people to stay at that level forever. Given the condition of his time, naked-eye sighting was the only possible choice. 2. We know from evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used every opportunity to lift the Ummah out of illiteracy to literacy and civilization. 3. The Qur'an provides ample evidence for scientific observation of the sun and the moon. Astronomy today is a science that is based on observation of the position of the sun and the moon. So by following scientific methods of calculations, we are still observing the moon but not by naked eyes, rather by far more precise instruments. Therefore, we are not contradicting the original intent of the Prophetic dictum that orders us to observe the moon. 4. The fact that the scholars of the past did not base the beginnings of months on scientific calculations cannot be used as an argument, for in their time, there was little difference between astrology and astronomy. Today astronomy is a science. The Qur'an already taught us that the sun and moon revolve in their own orbits and that they follow fixed divine laws. They do not run erratically, so there is an observable pattern to be discovered through observation, which is what scientists do. That is why Imam Subki and others also supported calculations even before the snowballing of scientific knowledge. Furthermore, by following calculations we can facilitate the observance of the festivals and plan for them way before their time. This is a great maslahah (public interest) for those living in the West. The principle of taysir (facilitation) is a great consideration that we can never dispense with in this time and age. In conclusion, for reasons mentioned above and others, I agree with ISNA's position. This would be a great step for moving the Ummah towards a united position. Link Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 Ramadan Starts on October 5 in Europe: ECFR CAIRO, October 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The holy fasting month of Ramadan is to start in Europe on Wednesday, October 5, according to astronomical calculations, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) said Saturday, October 1. The Dublin-based council, the main religious authority for Muslims in the West, said moon sighting will not be possible in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, or across Europe on Monday, September 3. It did not cite the partial eclipse of the Sun, which astronomers expect on Monday. The vice-chairman of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS)'s Moon Sighting Department said on Thursday, September 29, that a partial eclipse would occur Monday, which will make it impossible to sight the Ramadan moon. The ECFR, which meets twice a year in Europe, aims to serve Muslims living in the West and facilitate their positive integration into society while preserving their Islamic identity. Hard Evidence The council, headed by prominent scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, said hard scientific evidence by astronomers overpowers "uncertain" and "hypothetical" counts given by people. The council, however, stressed that such evidence should neither be based on calendars nor given by those who practice astrology, which is rejected by Islam. Astrologists believe that the positions of certain celestial bodies either influence or correlate with people's personality traits, important events in their lives, and even physical characteristics. "But this evidence is all about the contemporary astronomy built on scientific and mathematical bases," said the statement. The council has further called on Muslims worldwide to act in unison ahead of the dawn-to-dusk fasting month. The Islamic Shura Council in North America (ISCNA) has said that a confirmed moon sighting report in North America will be accepted as long as it does not contradict indisputable astronomical information. The council consists of the main Muslim organizations in North America: the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), the Muslim American Society (MAS) and the American Muslim Association of North America (AMANA). Moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue. While one group of scholars sees that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow this sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia. A third, however, disputes both views, arguing that Islam is against division and disunity, since Muslims, for instance, are not allowed to hold two congregational prayers in one mosque at the same time. This group believes that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country (such as Egypt's Dar al-Iftaa [House of Fatwa]) announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this. http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-10/01/article05.shtml Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted August 28, 2007 ^^^If you call "I'm avoid fasting the same day as the Saudis" an opinion, then sure dear, of course it is not confused, or how about my mosque is (some sect) so we’ll fast on this day regardless of the sighting of the moon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 No, no. Opinions on the use of astronomical calculations in determining the beginning and end of lunar months. The one's you mentioned do exist and I remember some Pakistani brothers (a minority) at College/Uni doing that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted August 28, 2007 ^^Those indeed are opinions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted August 28, 2007 They are opinions but not the opinions I was talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted August 28, 2007 I was agreeing with you yaa North, Opinions on the use of astronomical calculations in determining the beginning and end of lunar months. get it?? today you just want to fight! Me thinks someone is trying to shake off the nice guy image! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
