By Ajmal V,
Would the day of Eidul-Fitr, Lailatul qadr (Shab-e-Qadr), Milad un Nabi, etc be in different dates around the world?
These are some crucial questions which arise in my mind as we celebrated Eid. As a resident of Kerala we had started to observe Ramadan from 29th of June ie., Sunday while the rest of India began from 30th June (Monday). Then the day of lailatul qadr (shab-e-qadr) would be different along the border between Kerala and its neighbouring states (Karnataka and Tamilnadu). But the Quran mentions only any odd night of last 10 days of Ramadan as the blessed night, which comprises of the rewards of 1000 months. Likewise, other important days of Islam also are being observed in different days around the world.
Let’s see the beginning of the latest Ramadan around the world, which neither based on time-zones nor geographical variations. Turkey and their following countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia and Slovenia; Yemen, Libya; on the decision of European Fatwa Council Ireland and Luxembourg; according to Fiqh Council of North America’s decision America and Canada and the Hijri Commitee of India, a group in India which declares the beginning and end of every month by cross observation of crescents started observing Ramadan by 28th June (Saturday). The eastern countries like Malaysia and Indonesia; Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries started from 29th June (Sunday), whereas the Indian subcontinent started from 30th June (Monday).
While about 50 countries follow the decision of Saudi Arabia, the European Fatwa Council follows the instruction of Yusuful Qaradavi, whereas the Fiqh Council of North America follows the movement of moon. Interestingly, only Indian subcontinent insists moon-sighting for the decision of starting and ending Islamic months. This indeed elucidates the uncertainty of Muslims over their calendar.
The technological advancement had reformed the Muslim community all over globe. Now Muslims around the world join with the grief of people of Gaza and other oppressing societies. The gulf customs and cultures of Islam is replaced by indigenous styles for example, the wearing of black dress of Purdah and Hijab in India substantially grew when the individual contacts with gulf countries increased. The fatwas of renowned scholars get importance in India. Thus Muslim community forms a uniform culture.
The same uniformity imperatively needed in their calendar, unfortunately which didn’t develop into a formal shape. Why?
The lost pearl of knowledge would bring a uniform Muslim calendar. One can see that Astronomy and Quran have a distinctive relation. Quran refers the movement of sun and moon in different places (Sura Yasin 39-40; Sura Ash Shams etc). Allah says in Al Baqarah 189, They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, “They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.” Here Quran uses Ahilla means crescents, not the singular hilal. This ayah and its description of Prophet clarify to decide the months by observing the movements and shape of crescents not the crescent of new moon.
Thus, the crescent can be seen by evening in first day of new month. On 7th day at Maghrib half-moon would be just above our head. (7th day is checking point of dates) 15th day is full moon. At 22/23th day moon again becomes half, the next day onwards it shrinks into crescents. Which day the moon becomes crescent again the next week on same day would be the first day of new month. The new crescent can be seen in western horizon at first day of new month.
This method brings a uniform calendar for whole Ummah prior to every year like Georgian calendar. Therefore there is no need to anticipate the new moon at the end of every month to determine beginning of new month. Plus the Muslim can wish their happy messages same day throughout world. Thus the Ummah really becomes a unitary body like their belief and practices.
(Ajmal V is a student of Mass Communication and Journalism at University of Calicut, Kerala.)
Related:
Ramadan thoughts: Al-Hilal vs Al-Hisab
Hilal hangover: Why Indian Muslims turn Moon sighting into Moon fighting?