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JEDDAH, 12 July 2007 — Based on
astronomic calculations, Sept. 13 (Thursday) will be the first day of
Ramadan while Dec. 19 (Wednesday) will be Arafat Day during Haj this year,
according to Sheikh Abdullah ibn Munie, a member of the Council of Senior
Islamic Scholars and the Umm Al-Qura Calendar Committee.
Sheikh Munie, however, pointed out that
the new crescent of Ramadan and Shawwal should be sighted by witnesses to
determine the beginning and end of the fasting month, in accordance with
Shariah regulations.
He was apparently referring to a Hadith
of the Prophet (peace be upon him), which says: “Do not fast until you
see the crescent, and do not break the fast until you have seen the
crescent, but if the sky is overcast then enumerate for it.” (Bukhari)
Munie said this year’s Ramadan would
have 30 days as it would end on Oct. 12, adding that it was impossible for
Ramadan to start on Wednesday, Sept. 12. “The problem with sighting the
crescent for Ramadan and Shawwal this year is that the crescent will
disappear before sunset,” Munie said. The crescent of Ramadan will
appear at 3.44 p.m. on Tuesday (Shaaban 29) and disappear at 6.24 p.m.
five minutes before sunset.
He also announced the beginning of the
months Rajab, Shaaban, Shawwal, Dul Hijjah and Muharram, after consulting
astronomers in Kuwait and Egypt in addition to those in the Kingdom.
Islamic scholars around the world are
divided on whether the beginning and end of Ramadan could be determined on
the basis of astronomical calculations in the light of the Hadith recorded
by Bukhari. While one group says modern technology could be used for the
purpose, their opponents say sighting of crescent by naked eye is a must
in the light of the Prophet’s instructions.
Syed Khaled Shaukat of the Islamic
Society of North America believes that it is high time for Muslims to
reach a consensus on the issue. “In the present era of scientific and
technological advancement, some Muslims are still avoiding the use of
scientific knowledge for making an Islamic calendar that makes people wait
till midnight for a confirmation of moon-sighting,” he said. He stressed
that calculations made with the support of modern technology are far more
dependable than the claims of sighting. The most misunderstood question is
whether the sighting is a means or a requirement of ascertaining the
beginning of an Islamic month. The Fiqh Council of North America is of the
view that physical sighting must go hand in hand with scientific
calculations.
“Islam is a strong proponent of using
reasons. Astronomy can accurately establish the time of birth of the new
moon, and the time interval when it is impossible to see the crescent.
Thus, there is no harm in using this astronomical basis to reject a
claimed sighting which cannot possibly be correct,” one expert said.
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