Biddah: Reciting Quran

Biddah: Do ALL of them lead to the Hellfire?

In the court of law, attorneys try to discredit the witnesses using various tactics to make their testimony useless. Once the credibility of the witness is gone, the case is lost. The witnesses of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are his companions. The enemies of Prophet, therefore, attack the testimony of his companions (hadeeth) by calling it weak (daif), etc. These days the attacks are brutal and we see less and less Muslims praying fearing that they will go to Hellfire because anything these days is called a biddah.

I find a lot of similarities between the people who utter the word biddah more than any other kalimah and the atheists who attack anything religious that has made people avoid religious words. These days people don't use the word "God." They use "Ghosh." They do not use the word "Hell." They use "Heck." They use "Geeze" instead of "Jesus."

Many Muslims these days quote the following hadeeth and firmly believe that it applies to ALL innovations: "Every innovation (biddah) is a misguidance and every misguidance is in Hellfire." Now, let's put this hadeeth in action and see how it works.

A speaker said in a speech: "If a muezzin (a person who calls azan) asks for blessings on the Prophet, peace be upon him, before calling the azan, it is a biddah." In other words, by doing so, that person goes to Hellfire.

What? By following Allah's order from verse 33:56 (Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.) to send blessings on the Prophet one goes to Hellfire? In fact, a hadeeth from Sahih Muslim narrates:  "Mu’aawiyah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The muezzins will have the longest necks of the people on the Day of Resurrection.”

Another hadeeth says: ‘Indeed, he who recites Salat (Durud) upon me the most, will be the closest to me on the Day of Judgement.’ (Jami’ Tirmizi, pp. 27, vol. 2, hadiš 484)

There are several websites dedicated to declare doing ibadah on Lailatul Miraj and Lailatul Baraa one of the biggest biddahs, and according to them, anyone who tries to get closer to Allah on these nights by reading Quran or engaging in Salaah or doing Zikr will go to the Hellfire. We all know that our Prophet, peace be upon him,  and his companions (RA) used to spend most of their nights in Allah's worship. What is wrong if one worshiped at least these two nights?  You think if this person did not do stay up during these nights for ibaadah will just go to sleep? I am sure those people would busy themselves with movies and TV and other time-killing activities that would very likely lead them to the Hellfire.

In their zest to attack any ibadah on 15th Shabaan, they are attacking even the fast on the 15th Shabaan has biddah and, therefore, leading to the Hellfire saying that  fasting in the second hald of Shabaan as "Haraam." First they stopped people's ibaadah on 15th Shabaan then the made fasting the entire second half of Shabaan as haraam. Here is a hadeeth from Sahih Bukhari and Muslim that contradicts them:

‘Nobody should fast the two days immediately preceding Ramadaan, except for a man who is a habitual faster; if these two days happen to fall among the days in which he fasts - then let him fast these days’.

About zikr on various nights and days, here is a hadeethul Qudsi (A hadeeth where Allah's states something):

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallaho anho) narrated that Rasulullah (SAWS) has said, "Almighty Allah says, I treat my slave according to his expectations from Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a better and nobler gathering (i.e. of angels). If he comes closer to Me by one span, I go towards him a cubit's length, if he comes towards Me by a cubit's length, I go towards him an arm's length, and if he walks towards Me, I run unto him."

What the most "b-word" people say is the exact opposite of this hadeeth that if someone did Zikr on Lailatulal Miraj or Lailatul Baraa, it is a big biddah and, therefore, a place in Hellfire.

Here are the verses 41-43 from the Surah Ahzab of the Quran about zikr. Please let me know whether making people read the Quran (for whatever excuse) goes with these verses or stopping people from reading the Quran (for whatever excuse). "O you who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do this often; And glorify Him morning and evening. He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out from the depths of Darkness into Light: and He is Full of Mercy to the Believers."

There is also an attack on the fast of 15th Shabaan calling it, again, a biddah, and therefore, declaring it to be leading to the Hellfire. Here are some ahadeeth permitting fast on and after 15th Shabaan.

Al-Bukhaari (1914) and Muslim (1082) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not anticipate Ramadaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.”

This indicates that fasting after halfway through Shabaan is permissible for someone who has the habit of fasting, such as a man who regularly fasts on Mondays and Thursdays, or who fasts alternate days, and the like. Al-Haafiz said: "The majority of scholars said that it is permissible to observe voluntary fasts after halfway through Sha’baan and they regarded the hadeeth concerning that as da’eef. Ahmad and Ibn Ma’een said that it is munkar. (From Fath al-Baari). Among those who classed it as da’eef were al-Bayhaqi and al-Tahhaawi. "

People are writing so much about biddah without even thinking. One writer wrote in a book in Urdu: "People were reciting "Alhumdilillah (all Praises to Allah)" while waiting for iqaamah." This according to the author, was a biddah, and potentially threw the reciter in the Hellfire! He also said raising hands a couple of inches higher while making dua would send the person in Hell-fire. The same author also said that instructing someone to get ready for salah after azan is called is a biddah and will throw that person in Hellfire. Wasn't that a pious thing because you were reminding another person about salah? Not according to this author.

Some people say making dua sends you to Hellfire. What? I thought Allah loved duas. ("And your Lord said, invoke Me and I will respond to your invocation."40:60) ("There is nothing more dear to Allah Ta’ala than a servant making dua to him." [at Tirmidhi) Their response: "You see, if your timing is not right, it has this side affect." But Allah doesn't say so. Did he? I thought one could call on him 24/7/365. Their response: "You see, Prophet didn't make dua after salah." But did he stop you from doing so?

On the other hand, I have read a hadeeth that indicates the Prophet, saws, taught a companion a dua that needs to be asked after EVERY salah. Here it is.

The Prophet, saws, took the hand of Hadrat Muaz ibn Jabal, RA, and said to him, "O Muaz, I love you." Hazrat Muaz responded, "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O RasoolUllah, I love you, too." Then the Prophet,saws, said, "I advise you, O Muaz, to say at the end of EVERY prayer, 'Allahumma ainni ala zikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibadatik.'" (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim).

Some people say if you wiped your face after making dua, it will send you to Hellfire. But I was asking for mercy. No, you made that unpardonable innovation of wiping your face and you must be thrown in the Hellfire for eternity. Didn't the Prophet wipe his face after reciting some Surahs? But you did it for dua so you must be punished. And never ever try to quote anything that has faintest authenticity issue.

That makes me think why take chances, the only way to save oneself from the Hellfire is by giving up going to the masjid, dua, zikr and sending blessings on Prophet, peace be upon him. Isn't that people do these days? Gathering to recite the Quran puts them in Hellfire (that's what biddah does). Staying up late on certain nights to do ibadah puts you in Hellfire. Saluting the Prophet peace be upon him in certain ways puts you in Hellfire. Making dua after salah puts you in the Hellfire. Making dua for dead people puts you in the Hellfire. Keeping fast for the sake of Allah on certain days (specially the second half of Shaban) puts you in the Hellfire.

One very respected Imam and scholar said this in a class (dars) in the Haram that if during tawwaaf anyone touched the Kaaba at an area other than Rukn Yemani then that is a Biddah (therefore a place in the Hellfire). Now just imagine, a person travels several thousand miles out of love for Allah's commands and touches the kaaba at a place other than Rukn Yemani out of awe for the Kaaba. And Allah is going to throw the person in the Hellfire just for touching the Kaaba at a non-prescribed spot? Why do we show Allah as cruel? Didn't we read the hadeeth that (the reward or punishment of) all actions depend on the intention? Isn't Allah Arhama Rahemeen (more Merciful than the most merciful)?

Another group says if you don't touch your feet with the other person, you end up in the Hellfire. But I set up alarm, sacrificed my pleasant sleep to come for Fajr. Their answer: "You see, you made that terrible mistake, now rot in Hell. By the way, you are not even a Muslim anymore, and you don't qualify for our salaam." Way around to this problem: Stay at home, pray alone, and remain a Muslim. Let the million dollar masjid stay empty.

Reciting the Quran in a congregation for any reason is a big no-no for the same reason unless you want to go to Hellfire. Yes, according to them Allah will punish you for reciting His book. He won't punish you if you watched a baseball match or a movie in a congregation but He will definitely throw you in Hellfire for reciting the Quran. But the Sahaba didn't watch the game? Their answer probably is: "You see, the Biddah rule applies if you want to get closer to Allah and not when want to go away from Him.  For example, the sahaba used to do their nikaah in the masjid but we don't mind huge weddings in banquet halls where loud music is played and people do all sorts of biddah like  catwalks, mixed-gender gatherings with ceremonies that no one among the salaf did."

Ahah! No wonder I do not see emails about these things. I do not see any website devoted to call such activities a biddah.

While all these people are saying that if you read Quran this way it leads to the Hellfire (yes, biddah in the bad innovation means a place in the Hellfire) or if you read it that way it leads to the Hellfire, Allah says the Quran is full of healing and mercy.

"We send down in the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. To the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss." (Al-Isra, 82).

"O mankind! There has come to you a direction from your Lord (Quran) and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy." (Surah Yunus, 57).

"Say: It (Quran) is a guide and a healing to those who believe." (Surah Fussilat, 44).

The Prophet said: "Whenever a group of people assemble in one of Allah's houses (mosques) for the sake of reciting the Book of Allah (Quran) and studying it among themselves, they will be blessed with the decent of tranquility…'' [Muslim]

There is a hadeeth in At-Tirmizi that says: “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward, and this reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that 'Alif, Laam, Meem' (a combination of letters frequently mentioned in the Holy Quran) is a letter, rather I am saying that 'Alif' is a letter, 'Laam' is a letter and 'Meem' is a letter.” 

Another Hadeeth from Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Aa'ishah related that the Prophet said: “Indeed the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.”

So why do we erect all these hurdles whenever someone wants to recite the Quran by declaring it a biddah?

If you fed some people to make dua for you and your dead relatives, it sends you to the Hellfire. But if you ate a 20-course meal and throw half of it is not a problem. According to them, the dead relative account is closed and, only for Hajj someone can do it for him but otherwise he is doomed. Why Allah left the Hajj door open and closed others, only Allah knows.

Then I learnt that the Qur'an did not have the "invention" of kasrah, fatha, dammah, shaddah, etc. (aka zer, zabar pesh) till decades later, probably a century or so after the passing of the companions of the Prophet. So everyone who is reading the Qur'an these days is indulging in biddah the moment he or she opens the mushaf. That means a place in Hell-Fire!

Then I came across some hope after seeing Imams giving Friday khutbah in English. Wait a minute. Did the Prophet or a Sahabi give khutbah in English? How come this is not a biddah? Any hadeeth (doesn't matter daif or sahih)? Do Muslims follow double standards?

The excessive talk about biddah has led people to question every kind of zikr. For example, here is what I found at a web site: "I am writing to inquire about an activity that is done in our Masjid as whether it is a Bed'ah(innovation)or not.
Every day just after each Fajr Salat the Imam asks someone to distribute Mushafs- Qurans. So, each one in the Masjid gets one and then they set in circles and one person in each circle recites three Ayats-and just three Ayats- then the next one recites the same three Ayats, and the next follows, and the next one and so on. The reason I suspected it might be a Bed'aa (innovation) since it closely resembles what the Sufi sects do after Salat as they set in circle and do Zikr - Subhanallah, Alhamdullella, Allaho-akbar..etc. I heard lots of Ulama- Ahl Assunna wal Jama'aa- say that it is Bed'ah (innovation). "

Can you imagine saying "SubhanAllah, Alhamdullella, Allaho-akbar" be a biddah and leading to Hellfire? And what kind of "Ulama" are preaching this?

Here is a hadeeth from Sahih Muslim about this kalimah: Abu Hurayrah RA reported that the Prophet , “The uttering of the words: ‘SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha il Allah, Allahu Akbar’ are dearer to me that anything over which the sun rises.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Another hadeeth from Muslim: Ka`b bin `Ujrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet said, "There are some words, the reciters of which will never be disappointed. These are: Tasbih [saying `Subhan-Allah' (Allah is free from imperfection)], thirty-three times, Tahmid [saying `Al-hamdu lillah' (praise be to Allah)] thirty-three times and Takbir [saying `Allahu Akbar' (Allah is Greatest)] thirty-four times; and these should be recited after the conclusion of every prescribed prayer.'' 

  The Prophet said: "Whenever a group of people assemble in one of Allah's houses (mosques) for the sake of reciting the Book of Allah (Quran) and studying it among themselves, they will be blessed with the decent of tranquility…'' [Muslim]

This talk of biddah has led many people to believe that whatever our Prophet, saws, or his companion didn't do is a biddah. Based on this theory, let's see how many people are "not doing a biddah." I'll just describe a few things a person does in the morning.

The first thing someone does after getting up in the morning is he will go to the bathroom, which is usually attached to the bedroom. That's the first biddah because in the days of sahaba there was no concept of attached baths. Next he will sit on the toilet seat, which is the second biddah as the companions never used the seat. Then he uses a soap to wash his hands, which never existed in the days of sahaba. Then he uses a toothbrush and toothpaste, which also were invented much later. Then he jumps in the shower and takes a bath with running water, which also never existed in those times. He may use shampoo. So by the time a person is through with the bathroom necessities, he would have committed  half a dozen biddahs. If we applied the first hadeeth mentioned (kullu biddatin dalalah, kullu dalalatin fin-naar), a person is destined for Hellfire some half a dozen times in the first hour of his day in whatever city he lives around the world even though he may be preparing himself for a trip to the masjid for Fajr salah.

Many people wear suits and ties, jeans, t-shirts, sweat pants and shorts that were not worn by the sahabis. Even the Arabic thob is not the garb worn by the companions of the prophet. I know a masjid where a guest imam showed up with a t-shirt with big zebra printed on it. If you ask any scholar, hardly anyone will say these type of clothes are a biddah. How many sahabis were seen bare-headed in their times?
Come on you people who utter the b-word the number of times you breathe. Just realize what you are saying. Does Allah look Merciful at all in this scenario? You think people will flock to mosques after reading all this? Will people ever read the Quran and make dua?

So who came up with this idea that anything the Prophet or his companions didn't do is biddah and haram and throws you in Hellfire?

The real definition of biddah:
Imam Al-Bayhaqi, in what was called the greatest biographical work on Imam ash-Shafi’i by Taqiyud-Din As-Subki – Manaqib Al-Imam Ash-Shafi’i, narrates the following report from Imam Ash-Shafi’i:

“It was narrated to us by Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Fadl who had it narrated to him from Abul-Abbas Al-Asam who said Rabi’ ibn Sulayman narrated to us from Imam ash-Shafi’i that he said,

“Innovated matters in religion (min Al-Umur) are of two kinds: 1) Whatever is innovated and contravenes the Book, or the Sunnah, or a narration, or Ijma‘ (consensus) – then that is an innovation of misguidance. 2) Whatever is innovated of [any and all good things [min al-khayr] and that does not contradict any of these – then this is a novelty which is not blameworthy.

Ameerul Mumineen Umar (radiya Allahu ‘anhu) said concerning the night-prayer in the month of Ramadan: ‘ni’matu bida’at hadhihi‘ what a good innovation this is’ meaning it was innovated without having existed before and, even so, there was nothing in it that contradicted the above.”

You think Umar, RA created one of the greatest biddahs?

Concept of God in Islam

Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. (Holy Qur'an 2:255)

Anything dead cannot be the God. God is Alive.

Something dead for even a second cannot be the God

God does not sleep. Who will look after the universe if He went to sleep.

All human innovations are possible when God wills knowledge to be given to humans.

God knows that is in front of them and that is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will

Newborn baby: Weak and totally dependent on others for survival. No, God cannot be in his state ever.

God has no beginning

God has no end.

God doesn't need this



No, you don't need this sign for God.

You don't need this sign either.




You can create them but you can't make them talk. About them creating humans, they cannot create even a fly. And if a fly took something from them, they cannot even retrieve it back.

God does not need this

God does not need this either.

Mary, Peace be upon her in the Qur'an

Islam honors Mary, peace be upon her, as one of the most honored women among universe. There is a chapter in the Holy Qur'an named after her. She is the only named women in the Qur'an, which consists of over 6,000 verses. Here are some of the verses of the Qur'an from Chapter 3 (The Family of Imran 35-49) dealing with her.

Behold! When wife of Imran (mother of Mary) said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate into You what is in my womb for Your special service so accept this of me! for You hear and know all things." (35) 

When she was delivered she said: "O my Lord! behold! I have delivered a female child!" And Allah knew best what she brought forth, "And a male is not like the female. I have named her Mary and I commend her and her offspring to Your protection from the Satan the Rejected." (36)

Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and beauty; to the care of Zechariah was she assigned. Every time that he entered (her) chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Mary! whence (comes) this to you?" She said: "From Allah: for Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases, without measure." (37)

There did Zechariah pray to his Lord saying: "O my Lord! Grant unto me from You a progeny that is pure; for You hear the prayers!" (38) 

While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "Allah does give you glad tidings of John (Yahya), witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a Prophet,―of the (goodly) company of the righteous." (39) 

He said: "O my Lord! how shall I have a son, seeing I am very old, and my wife is barren?" "Thus" was the answer "Does Allah accomplish what He wills." (40) 

He said: "O my Lord! Give me a sign!" "Your Sign" was the answer "shall be that you shall speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of your Lord again and again and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning." (41)
 Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you;―chosen you above the women of all nations. (42)

"O Mary! worship your Lord devoutly; prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." (43)

This is part of the tidings of the things unseen, which We reveal unto you (O Prophet!) by inspiration; you were not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary; nor wer you with them when they disputed (the point). (44)

Behold! the angels said, "O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Maseeh Isa, the son of Mary held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. (45)

 "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." (46) 

She said: "O my Lord! how shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah creates what He wills; when He decrees a plan, He just says to it `Be', and it is! (47)

"And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. (48)
"And (appoint him) an Messenger to the Children of Israel, (with the message): I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay as it were the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave; and I heal those born blind, and the lepers and I quicken the dead by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe. (49)

In the Chapter 21 (Maryam (Mary)), the following verses were revealed:

And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, (16)

And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. (17)

She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from you, if you are God-fearing. (18)

He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord, that I may bestow on you a faultless son. (19)

She said: How can I have a son when no mortal has touched me, neither have I been unchaste? (20)

He said: So (it will be). Your Lord says: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a Revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. (21)

In Chapter 21 (The Prophets), verse 91 says this:

And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a Sign for all peoples. (91)

The Chapter 66 (Prohibition), Verse 12, mentions this:

And Mary the daughter of `Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into her (body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (Servants). (12)

The conception and the birth of Jesus, peace beupon him, is mentioned in the following verses of Chapter 19, verses 22-34.

So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. (22)

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" (23)

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for yor Lord has provided a rivulet beneath you; (24)

"And shake towards yourself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. (25)

"So eat and drink and cool (your) eye. And if you do see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' " (26)

At length she brought the (baby) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). they said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing have thou brought! (27)

"O sister of Aaron! your father was not a man of evil, nor your mother a woman unchaste!" (28)

But she pointed to the baby. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" (29)

He (Jesus the baby) said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; (30)

"And He has made me Blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (31)

"(He) has made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; (32)

"So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again on the Day of Judgment)"! (33)

Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. (34)

In the following verse, Allah explains the miraculous birth of Jesus, peace be upon him,

It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it "Be", and it is. (35)


 

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).