TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: The date of new moon is not to be decided by the qazis or scholars, said the Hijra Committee. It should be done by scientific calculation as in the case of namaz. The Hijra Committee expressed its opinions in a press conference held in Kochi on Tuesday.
Generally the qazis and scholars fix the dates of Ramadan and Eid saying somebody has seen the crescent in some beach in Malabar. The new moon can be seen with naked eyes only if the moon remains in the horizon at least for 48 minutes after the sunset. But generally, qazis declare new moon on days when the moon appears only for a few minutes. In such a situation, the qazis should reveal the names of those who saw the moon. But that has not yet happened, accused Prof Koyakkutty Farooqi, a state committee official.
Mr Farooqi said that this year Ramadan will begin on 21st August (Friday) and Eid ul Fitr will come on 19th September. PS Shamsudheen, district convenor of Hijra Committee, Dr Aboobaker, state executive member, VA Abduraheem and PM Maheen also attended the press conference.
“There is nothing in Islam against science,” said Prof Farooqi to TwoCIrcles.net. “Prophet asked his followers to see the new moon with naked eyes 1400 years ago. Now the world has modern scientific methods to calculate the movements of the sun and moon and calendars should be made accordingly. We follow scientific calculation in the case of namaz, so why not in the case of fixing months?” he asked.