Moonsighting: A Convincing Proposal

Below is the translation of a presentation in Urdu by Shaikh Tahirul Qadri on how to resolve the moonsighting issue. If you want to watch the video, please go to the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-C_efTg2Cg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV_6h4ExWyQ&feature=related

The well known meaning of the word moonsighting  (royat-e- hilal) is derived from the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh,: Fast when you see (roya) it, and break your fast when you see (roya) it.” Now, the whole discussion depends on the meaning of the word “roya.”

The well known meaning of the word “roya” is seeing. That is why in the old days, people use to “see” the new moon and celebrate eid. If they didn’t see it they used to fast 30 days. That is the real rule about the moonsighting.

It is also recorded that people used to see the moon in different towns and celebrate eid according to their local sighting.

Those were simple times. As time goes by things develop, the society develops and things become complex. So, now, the question is how to define the word “roya.”

The first definition of Roya (Sighting)

The “naked eye sighting” meaning of roya makes the sighting of the moon possible only the night before the eid. This kind of sighting on the eve of eid makes it difficult for Muslims living as minorities in the western world to celebrate eid. Many people miss the eid.

You cannot go out of hadith to define “roya.” So this made it necessary to investigate whether there is another meaning of “roya”. And for sure there is one.

The Second Definition of Roya (sighting)

Then the fuqaha (jurists), ulama (scholars) and the astronomers came to the conclusion that another meaning of “roya” could be that moon attains conditions (age, height and angle from the sun) under which it becomes visible.

In the last few years the science has developed along with the development of telescopes, etc. So, the sighting of the moon using these equipment also came under the definition of “roya.”

If you studied the moon sighting history of the last 100 years, you will find that the naked eye sighting of the moon is possible only if the new moon was at least 12 hours old. Any moon that was younger than 12 hours was still not sighted even with telescopes. Only 4 or 5 cases of moon sighting, either naked eye or with the aid of telescope, where the moon was just 12-13 hours old has been reported in the last 100  years.

There are reasons for the invisibility of the younger than 12-hour old moon. For the moon to be visible to a naked eye, it has to meet certain minimum conditions: It has to be at a certain height from the horizon, it has to be at a certain angle from the sun, and it has to be on the horizon for certain duration. When it attains these conditions only then it becomes visible to the naked eye. These are some of the astronomical details for the visibility of the moon.

These are the ways of sighting of the moon with the naked eye. This can be done only on the eve of the Eid and it is not much helpful for Muslims living in the US or the UK. So they had to take one more step.

This step was to define “roya” as the attainment of the conditions that makes the moon visible rather than the actual sighting. This would help with the possibility of finding out dates many days or months in advance.

The information about visibility of the moon is available through published resources. We can find out the moonrise time, the angle of the moon, the altitude, etc. This information can be used to announce eid several days or weeks in advance.

But this caused a difference of opinion. People were not ready to arrive at one formula. The scholars initially used 16 hours as the minimum age of the moon. As I mentioned earlier, the 12-13 hour old moon was sighted only 5-6 times in about hundred years. The normal average sighting age of the moon is 16 hours because it meets attains certain height and certain angle that makes it visible. So this 16-hour age became a standard principle.

I had in an article described in detail three or four astronomical principles of the moon’s visibility, and they have been published. But whether you make 16-hour age or even 13-hour age of the moon as the minimum age to call it a “sighting,” it is not workable because some countries cannot wait for even 13 hours.

In some countries, the eid is announced hours after the moon is born. Sometimes the birth of the moon happens after the sunset. So there is not one rule defined for “conditions fit sighting.” Unless this rule is standardized, the sighting will always be a problem.

The Third Definition of Roya (sighting)

So I came up with the third definition of “roya”. This is neither actual sighting with the naked eye nor the moon attaining conditions to make it visible (attaining age, height in the sky and attaining an angle from the sun). The third definition of “roya” is knowledge.

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ

 “A lum tara kaifa faa’la rabbuka bi ashaabul fil.”

Some scholars question how could one announce the new moon so far in advance. I am giving you evidence for that.

The event of the companions of the elephant led by Abraha that tried to attack Kaabah happened 50 days before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him received a revelation (Wahi) describing the event:

“Did you not see how your Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant?”

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was not even born yet when this event happened. So there was no question of him seeing the event with the eye.

Then what is the meaning of the word تَرَ (tara)? In what context was this word used?

The word is used to mean: “Are you not aware of this event?” or “Did you not get the news of this event?” or “Did you not hear about this event/”

So, without seeing anything with your own eyes, when you get the knowledge, news or information from a reliable source, it is called “roya” because the objective of “roya” is knowledge. What is the objective of seeing? It is attaining knowledge that moon is born. So if the knowledge is attained through either seeing with naked eye or receiving news from other source is acceptable.

Just like we testify, “There is no God but Allah.” The testimony happens when you “see” something. When the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, testified, he testified after seeing. And we relied the sighting by the Prophet, pbuh. We testified without seeing Allah because we received the news from the Prophet, peace be upon him.

Same is the case of “roya,” We get the news that the new moon took birth. With this definition, we need not wait for the moon to become visible. Whenever the new moon takes birth, and we get this information from scientific calculation that the new moon will take birth on certain day at certain time and there is no error of even a minute and that is as accurate as 2+2=4, then in what in the old days the work the eye used to do is being done by the science. The scientific calculations have become our eyes.

So if the science shows you that the new moon will take birth on such a day at such a time, make the new moon announcement relying on the information. This could become our formula for moonsighting.

And I often say that one day the ummah will have to agree on this formula. It will not take many years and you will see it in your life that this formula will be ultimately adopted. Everyone has to come to this conclusion. Today you may call it illegal and reject it, there will be no resolution without this if we wanted uniformity.

Qur'an: None can touch it except the purified

I seek refuge with Allah from the Satan the outcast, In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Christians, Muslims and Jews believe in a Prophet named Abraham, peace be upon him, who lived a few thousand years ago. He was opposed to idol worship by his community. What did his community think was the best way to handle him? The Qur'an in Chapter 21, Verses 68-69 tells us that:

They said, "Burn him and protect your gods if you do (anything at all)!"  We said "O Fire! Be you cool, and (a means of)) safety for Abraham!"

There are some people who have set Sep. 11, 2010 as "International Burn the Qur'an" day. These people need to understand that the Qur'an says in the very beginning (Chapter 2, Verses 2-4):

This is the Book in which there is no doubt. It is a guidance for the God-conscious people who believe in the Unseen, establish worship, and spend in charity out of what We have provided for their sustenance; who believe in this revelation (the Qur'an), which is revealed to you (O Muhammad) and the Revelations sent before you (Torah, Psalms, Gospel, etc.), and firmly believe in the Hereafter.

The above verses make it mandatory for Muslims to believe in Torah, Psalms and Gospel and the Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, etc., peace be upon them all. You won't find this in Hinduism or Buddhism or even Judaism, which does not accept Jesus or the Gospel. In fact, the Qur'an makes the following statement about Torah in Chapter 21 Verse 48:

In the past We granted to Moses and Aaron the Criterion (for judgment) and a Shining Light and a Message for those who would do right―

Unfortunately, the "burn-the Qur'an" people do not get it. They should read and try to get the verses 75-81 from Chapter 56 of the Qur'an:

Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -  And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if you but knew - That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an.  In a Book kept hidden, which none can touch save the purified (angels), a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. Would you scorn a scripture such as this?

The Qur'an was not revealed on paper. So the burning of the paper will not eliminate it. Nor was it created by a human being that the death of the human being would end it.

The Holy Qur'an is available on several media: Books, CDs, cell phones, web pages, audio tapes and, to top it all, thousands of people who have memorized it. So these guys need to do much more to achieve their foolish objective.

The Qur'an challenges people with this "burn-the-Qur'an" attitude in Chapter 2, verses 23-24:

If you are in doubt concerning what We have revealed to Our servant (Muhammad, Allah's Blessings be upon him), then produce one Chapter like this and call your witnesses besides Allah to assist you, if you are truthful in your claim. But if you are unable to do so, and you can never do so, then fear the hell fire whose fuel is humans and stones, prepared for the unbelievers.

To disappoint the "burn-the Qur'an" group further, let me quote a few verses here.

Allah says about the Qur'an in the Qur'an Chapter 15, Verse 9:

We have sent down the Reminder, and We will preserve it.

Allah says about Islam in the Qur'an Chapter 61, Verse 8:

Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (Islam) (by blowing) with their mouths: but Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).

Mosque

Allah the Glorified commanded Muslims to honor and enliven the mosque with His remembrance:

In houses [mosques], which Allah has ordered to be raised, in them His name is glorified in the mornings, and in the evenings (Quran 24:36).

Ibn Abbaas, Mujahid, and Al-Hasan commented: “The ‘houses’ are those mosques that were dedicated to the worship of Allah. And verily, the mosques light up the earth for the inhabitants of the heavens, just as stars light up the heavens for the inhabitants of the earth.”

The Blessed Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “The bazaars (markets) are the worst of places, and the mosques the best of places.”


And who is more unjust than the one who prevents people from the mosques of  Allah, and His name should be celebrated? ―Whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them there is nothing but disgrace in this world and in the Hereafter, an exceeding torment. (Quran 2:114)

December 6, 1992: Hindu fanatics celebrating demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya

Ahmici, near Vitez, Lasva Valley, Central Bosnia. May 21, 1993...United Nations peacekeeper  guards against ambush outside Ahmici's desecrated mosque.

Bibi-Heybat Mosque was blown up in 1934 as result of the Soviet anti-religious campaign.

Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (by blowing) with their mouths: but Allah will complete His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it). (Quran 61:8).

Makkah is turning green

Just returned from Umrah. This year we went to Madinah first then Makkah.

On June 27, 2010, on our way to Makkah, may be about twenty five miles from it, I started noticing greenery. The whole desert looked like a faint green meadow. Then that reminded me of a hadith:

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "The Hour will not be established until the land of the Arabs returns to being pastures and rivers." (Sahih Muslim).

This greenery was not the result of some intentional gardening or landscaping that we see in the city. This is the desert I am talking about, and it was miles and miles of land.

With this, we see one more of the prophecies of our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, come true.

For other minor signs, you may visit the following web site: http://www.discoveringislam.org/minor_signs.htm

Prophet Abraham: I do not love things that set

Noble Qur'an Chapter 6, Verses 74-80

(Remember) when Abraham said unto his father Azar: You take idols for gods? Lo! I see you and your folk in plain error (74). Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he might be of those possessing certainty (75). When the night grew dark upon him he (Abraham) beheld a star. He said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not things that set (76). And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: Unless my Lord guide me, I surely shall become one of the folk who are astray (77). And when he saw the sun uprising, he cried: This is my Lord! This is greater! And when it set he exclaimed: O my people! Lo! I am free from all that you associate (with Him) (78). Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters (79). His people argued with him. He said: You dispute with me concerning Allah when He has guided me? I fear not at all you set up beside Him unless my Lord wills anything. My Lord includes all things in His knowledge. Will you not then remember? (80)

Six-story-tall 'King of King's' (TouchDown) statue of Jesus outside the Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio before the lightning struck it on Monday June 15, 2010.

This is what remained.

O mankind! Here is an example for your understanding,  so pay heed to it. Those deities whom you call besides Allah cannot create a single fly, even if they all combined their forces. Rather, if the fly took something from them, they cannot even get it back. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought! (22:73) They do not render to Allah the homage due to Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty (22:74). Allah chooses His messengers from the angels and (also) from human beings. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Seer (22:75) He knows all that is before them and all that is behind them, and unto Allah all things are returned (22:76)

This Buddha statue, situated at the center of Hussain Sagar, an artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad, is one of India’s most famous Buddhist statues. This figure stands at a full 17 meters (56 feet) tall and weighs 320 tons. The single largest monolithic statue in all of India, it was sculpted by a group of artisans from a single piece of stone. Tragically, during the statue’s installation in 1992 the figure tipped over and fell into the lake, causing the death of 8 workers. The government recovered the statue and restored it to its full height and stature.

And relate to them the story of Abraham from the book (the Qur'ân), he was a truthful Prophet. (19:41) When he said to his father: "O my father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see, nor avail you in any way? (19:42)

Those whom they invoke besides Allah create nothing and are themselves created (16:20).

A idol of Ganesh discarded into some body of water after the festival.

(They are things) dead, lifeless: nor do they know when they will be raised up (Noble Qur'an -16:21).

So you think there is no God? Then answer this

It is We Who have created you: why will you not witness the Truth? (57) Do you then see?― The (human semen) that you emit,― (58) Is it you who create it (i.e. make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator? (59)

We have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated (60) From changing your Forms and creating you (again) in (Forms) that you know not. (61) And you certainly know already the first form of creation: why then do you not celebrate His praises? (62)

See the seed you sow in the ground? (63) Is it you that cause it to grow or are We the Cause? (64) Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry powder, and you would be left in wonderment (65) (Saying) "We are indeed left with debts (for nothing): (66) "Indeed are we shut out (of the fruits of our labour)." (67)

See the water you drink? (68) Do you bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do We? (69) Were it Our Will, We could make it salt (and unpalatable): then why do you not give thanks? (70)

See the fire you light? (71) Is it you who grow the tree that feeds the fire, or do We grow it? (72) We have made it a reminder (of our handiwork), and an article of comfort and convenience for the denizens of deserts. (73)

Then celebrate with praises the name of the Lord, the Supreme: (74) Furthermore I call to witness the setting of the Stars― (75) And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if you but knew― (76) That this is indeed a Qur'an most honourable, (77) In a Book well-guarded, (78) Which none shall touch but those who are clean: (79) A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. (80) Is it such a Message that you would hold in light esteem? (81) And have you made it your livelihood that you should declare it false? (82)

Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of the dying man) reaches the throat (83) And while you (sit) looking on― (84) But We are nearer to the dying person than you are, and yet see not (85) Then why do you not if you are exempt from (future) account― (86) Call back the soul, if you are true (in your claim of Independence)? (87)

Thus then, if he (the dying person) be of those Nearest to Allah, (88) (there is for him) Rest and Satisfaction, and a Garden of Delights. (89)

And if he be of the Companions of the Right Hand (people who do good deeds will be given their records of all their deeds in this world in their right hand on the Day of Judgment) (90) (for him is the salutation) "Peace be unto you", from the Companions of the Right Hand. (91)
And if he be of those who treat (truth/the Qur'an) as Falsehood, who go wrong (92) For him is Entertainment with Boiling Water, (93) And burning in Hell-Fire. (94) Verily, this is the Very Truth and Certainty. (95) So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme. (96)

A wolf talks in human voice

It is narrated in Musnad of Ahmad, Vol.3, Page 83, by Abi Saeed Al-Khudri, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that a wolf spoke to one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, near Al-Madinah.

While the shepherd was amongst his sheep, a wolf attacked a sheep and took it away. The shepherd chased the wolf and took the sheep back.

The wolf sat on its tail and addressed the shepherd saying: "Be afraid of Allah, you have taken the provision from me which Allah gave me."

The shepherd said: "What an amazing thing! A wolf sitting on its tail speaks to me in the language of a human being."

The wolf said: "Shall I tell you something more amazing than this? There is Muhammad (the Messenger of Allah) in Yathrib (Al-Madina) informing the people about the news of the past."

Then the shepherd proceeded (towards Al-Madina) driving his sheep till he entered Al- Madina (city), cornered his sheep to one side and came to Allah's Messenger (Muhammad ) and informed the whole story.

Allah's Messenger ordered for the proclamation of a congregational prayer, then he came out and asked the shepherd to inform the people (about his story) and he informed them.

Then Allah's Messenger said: "He (the shepherd) has spoken the truth . By Him (Allah) in Whose Hands my soul is, the Day of Resurrection will not be established till the beasts of prey speak to the human beings, and the stick lash and the shoe-laces of a person speak to him, and his thigh informs him about his family as to what happened to them after him.

(My interpretation about "the thigh informing a person about his family" refers to his cell phone. Many people now keep the cell phones near the thigh, either in the pocket of the trousers or on the belt.)

{The hadeeth is quoted from Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 3, Page 83. Musnad Abi Saeed Al-Khudri}.