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16. Letter to Various brethren dated 09-04-2002 (26-01-1423). Argues the people of Kerala erred by ignoring the Ummul Qura Calendar in fixing the date of Eid ul Adha 1422. It also brings out the double standard adopted on designing different calendars.
Khalid Shaukat wrote:
Do you understand the problem of Conjunction?
I have analyzed the conjunction as the basis, but the problem is the conjunction can occur at any time between 24 hours. Suppose the conjunction occurs at 11pm Universal Time (Sunday), then at that moment Makkah time is 2am (Sunday). Now should England start the month on Monday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Tuesday? So, you tell me how can we adopt that?
Khalid Shaukat
This is a reply to Mr. Ali Manikfan's query "Why not make conjunction as the basis?"
Let us examine the conjunction as a possible basis of starting a month. Remember, the conjunction can occur at any time between 24 hours. Suppose the conjunction occurs at 11pm Universal Time (Sunday), then at that moment Makkah time is 2am (Monday). Should England start the month on Monday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Tuesday?
Now, if someone says that let us make Makkah as our basis and whatever day in Makkah, the conjunction occurs the next day the new month starts. The problem with this is that if conjunction occurs at 0:01am (Monday) of Makkah time then at that moment it is 11:01am (Sunday) in Hawaii. Should Hawaii start the month on Monday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Tuesday?
Look at another case: Suppose the conjunction occurs at 11:59pm (Sunday) Makkah time then at that moment it is 5:59am (Monday) in Tokyo. Should Japan start the month on Tuesday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Monday? If someone says, ignore what time it is in other locations of the world, just go by Makkah time, then why do we have different prayer times for every city? Why not adopt Makkah Prayer Time all over the world.
Muslims have looked at the conjunction as a possible basis, but there is no solution?
Khalid Shaukat
Khalid Shaukat wrote:
Before you ask the question, "Is it true that Fasting began on Saturday in India and on Friday in America" you must lay the ground rule.
1. Do you want to go by sighting?
2. Do you want to go by birth? If yes, then birth where? In India or In USA. If moon was born in USA on Thursday and at exactly at the same time it was Friday in India, then what to do? Would it not be different in USA and in India? I have told you this over and over in my several emails in the past but you do not seem to grasp this point.
Manikfan wrote:
Dear Brother in Islam, Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
Thank you for your letter. In Kerala the fasting began on Friday. In the other parts of India they began on Saturday. This is because they have not observed the Hilal in the proper way. They have committed a mistake. Here too there are astronomers who know that Hilal cannot be seen on Thursday. It is true that the Hilal would be seen only on Friday. But all months in the Islamic Shariah do not begin always after seeing the Hilal. Whenever a month gets 30 the next month begins without seeing the Hilal. This fact is overlooked. This Ramadan began after completing 30 days on Thursday for Shaban. When Makkah starts fasting on Friday all Muslims must accept that Ramadan has commenced on Friday. The Prophet (saw) has clearly said, “If two Muslims witness you begin the fast and if two Muslims witness you break the fast.”
America is many hours behind Makkah and India is ahead of Makkah. We pray the Jumu’a prayer two and half hours before Makkah and Americans pray it after many hours of Makkah. Adhering to this order of time keeping in the world is compulsory in Islam. Violation of it is Haraam. When America begins fasting on Friday India also must begin on Friday because India is ahead in time. If they miss the fast on the first of Ramadan (Friday) they must compensate by fasting one day for it after the Eid. This is the clear law of the Islamic Shariah.
I think you do not understand Arabic and the Islamic Fiqh. That is why you are finding it difficult to believe. I have written this many times in my letters and others too have written the same to you. But somehow you seem to ignore it. Please understand that Islam is science. Islam never contradicts the science.
The idea of lunar date lines is unscientific, un-Islamic and impracticable. But you want to stick on to the fallacy. Days and dates begin only on the Meeqatul Qibla (International Date Line). The new moon takes place on a particular day of the week. It may take place at any time of the day. The new moon day is the last day of the Islamic month. Next day is the first.
Wassalam
Yours truly,
Ali Manikfan 13-09-1422/28-11-2001
From: shaukat To: Ali manikfan
Subject: Whenever a month gets 30 the next month begins without seeing the Hilal
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 05:35:48 -0500 Cc: Omar Afzal
It appears that you understand Quran and Hadith better than Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas.
He asked Hadrat Kuraib to fast 31 days (Subulus-salam).
Subject: Important Matter
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 02 21:52:05 IST
From:shaukat@moonsighting.com
To: NABEELA COMMUNICATIONS
This Matter copied from your moonsighting.com Web site. Eid-al-Adha: The new moon birth on February 12, 2002 is at 7:42 Greenwich/Universal Time OR 2:42 am, Eastern Standard\Time OR February 11, 11:42 pm Pacific Standard Time. On February 12, this moon cannot be seen in North America, nor any place east of American continent. You can see the visibility curve. On Feb 12, this moon will not be far enough from the sun, nor high enough above the horizon to be spotted anywhere except Hawaii. Although, it remains above the horizon for 30 minutes after sunset on west coast, and the age will be up to 18 hours, it cannot be seen even by telescope, because of the scattered sunlight on the horizon being greater than the reflected crescent light. Therefore, 1st Zul-Hijjah will not be on Feb 13 anywhere in the world except Hawaii. In North America, 1st Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 14, and 10th Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday). According to consensus of Ulamaa' for 14 hundred years, Eid-al-Adha has been on 10th Zul-Hijjah and not on the day after Arafah. This consensus has been practiced all over the Muslim world, and also adopted by Shurah Council of North America. Therefore, Eid-al-Adha in North America cannot be on any other day, but Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday), no matter what Hajj date is announced by Saudi Arabia. Any claims of sighting in Middle East on Feb 12 should be considered as bogus or mistaken sighting
(Moonsets before sunset in Makkah for example on Feb 12)
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. I have removed it. However, that 12 minutes after sunset does not mean Hilal appears there. Hilal is not the moon. Hilal is the crescent, which does not form until the moon gets some degrees away from the sun. It is scientific fact that hilal is not formed until moon gets 7 degrees away from the sun and in Makkah it is not so. The moon is only 5.6 degrees away from the sun on Feb 12.
NABEELA COMMUNICATIONS wrote: Assalamu Alaikkum Dear Brother Dr.Khalid shaukat, I visited your site today. I read it. Last line (Moonsets before sunset in Makkah for example on Feb 12). It is wrong information. Please correct it as soon as possible because Sunsets in Makkah 10 minutes 56 Seconds before moonsets. So Hilal is appeared there. Also Sunsets in India (Delhi) 2 minutes 39 seconds before Sunset (Visible, not visible doesn't matter). We must know about the Hilal) we can start the new month Dul -Hajj next day 13th Wednesday 2002. 9th day of Dul hajj (Arafat) is February 21st Thursday 2002. Eid- al- Adha is February 22nd Friday 2002. This is for your kind information. Please Check once again. If my Data is wrong please guide me.
Your loving Brother Siraj
Ali Manikfan wrote:
Dear Brother Khalid Shaukat,
Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Web.
I am sorry to inform you that your wrong information would create confusion and mislead the Muslims. You claim to be an astronomer and you talk about seeing the crescent for fixing the first of Zul hijjah 1422H. This is strange. Please understand that the Islamic calendar is the best calendar for the people to use. It has calculations. Past and future dates of the Islamic calendar could be calculated scientifically for infinity. If you do not understand the rules of Islamic shariah for the calendar you should keep silent. You are responsible.
In fact the month of Zul Quida began on Monday. You have not observed the moon, so you do not know the facts. Last Ramadan ended on Friday. People in America witnessed the eclipse on Friday. Can you deny this? Thus the First of Shawwal fell on Saturday. The 29th of Shawwal was on Saturday. The Hilal had not appeared on Saturday. So according to the instructions of our beloved Prophet on him are peace and the blessings of Allah, 30 days for Shawwal was completed on Sunday. Thus Zul Quida began on Monday. The naked eye observations made by many people here prove that this is in accordance with the Ahillah of the moon. The 29th of Zul Quida falls on Monday.
Our experience in observing the moon, tell us that the crescent would not appear on Monday. So 30 would be completed as per the Sunnah on Tuesday and Zul Hajja 1422H will commence on Wednesday. No Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen after completing 30 days for the outgoing month.
It is strange to note that according to you Zul Hajj begins on Thursday. Your calculations are certainly wrong. Please study well and make corrections immediately.
May Allah guide us all to the right path! Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam,
Ali Manikfan 22-11-1422/04-02-2002
From: Khalid Shaukat To:
Ali manikfan
Subject: Re: Zul Hajj firtst on Wednesday
Date: Tue, 05 Feb 02 05:35:15 IST Cc: Sayyid Syeed DrSiddiqi
Dear brother Ali Manikfan,
wa alaikumus salam. Wr. Wb.
Your statement, "Past and future dates of the Islamic calendar could be calculated scientifically for infinity" is not correct. Science cannot tell this for even hundred years, not to mention infinity.
Your statement, "No Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen after completing 30 days for the outgoing month" is also wrong. You may not have seen the footnotes in the book of hadith, "Subulus salaam" where Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas asked Hadrat Kuraib to fast the 31st day in his Ramadan, because the moon was not visible on 30th day on clear sky. Hanafi Fiqh also is of the opinion that it is possible that the beginning of a month was due to a mistaken claim and after 30 days the moon is still not visible in clear skies, it is proof enough that the beginning of the month was wrong, so you must correct that mistake by waiting until the moon is seen, meaning waiting after the 31st day.
You have accused me that my calculations are wrong. They are not wrong. I have checked them carefully. It does not suit a Muslim to accuse someone even non-Muslim, because you may not know the facts. AND Allah knows best.
I am sending this email cc: to ISNA headquarters, because sometimes they receive an email from you and direct me to respond, while I had already responded to you.
Your brother in Islam, Khalid Shaukat
mwlhq@aol.com, nabeela@vsnl.com, SSyeed@aol.com
Dear Brother Khalid Shaukat, Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
Allah (swt) informs us in the Qur’aan that He has appointed Manazil for the Moon so that we may know the count of the ages and the calculation. (10:5). It means that human kind can find out their dates by calculations of the Manazil of the Moon. May be you have not yet found out this method.
You have not replied to my questions so far. How long did the Prophet (saw) live on this Earth?
According to the Manazil of the Moon which Allah (swt) has designed for the people to calculate the dates, the First of Zul hajj 1422H is Wednesday, not Thursday. So your calculation is certainly wrong. You are not looking at the Moon.
I think you have not read my reply sent in Ramadan regarding Kuraib’s fasting on his 31st, which was actually the 30th of Ramadan that year. The people at Sham had mistaken something for the Hilal and Ibn Abbas ® who knew how to observe the Manazil of the Moon ordered Kuraib to fast on the 30th of Ramadan. Kuraib accepted it and fasted. If he were sure of his seeing the Hilal of Ramadan on the eve of Friday he should have objected. Allah (swt) has not ordered to fast 31days for Ramadan. How can Ibn Abbas ® order a thing which Allah (swt) has not ordered. I have read Subulus Salam many times. I think you do not understand Arabic. Your interpretation is certainly wrong.
Your lunar date lines are un-Islamic and unscientific. There cannot be two dates for one day in the Islamic calendar. It is certainly dangerous to make wrong statements, which defame Islam. According to your statements the Isalamic calendar cannot be used in this world. My statement "No Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen after completing 30 days for the outgoing month" is certainly in accordance with the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
Almost all the Muslims on earth have fasted on the Day of Eidul Fitre (1422H) Saturday. Fasting on the Day of Eid is HARAAM in the Shariah. You are responsible for it. It is the duty of a Muslim to guide and advise when a Muslim goes wrong. Please do not take my advice as an accusation. We are answerable to Allah (swt). If you are not sure of your calculations you need not make such statements.
You say “the Science can not tell this for even hundred years, not to mention infinity”. Then why do you want to confuse people with such a science? Let the people decide.
Your statement: “Therefore, 1st Zul-Hijjah will not be on Feb 13 anywhere in the world except Hawaii. In North America, 1st Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 14, and 10th Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday). According to consensus of Ulamaa' for 14 hundred years, Eid-al-Adha has been on 10th Zul-Hijjah and not on the day after Arafah. This consensus has been practiced all over the Muslim world, and also adopted by Shurah Council of North America. Therefore, Eid-al-Adha in North America cannot be on any other day, but Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday), no matter what Hajj date is announced by Saudi Arabia. Any claims of sighting in Middle East on Feb 12 should be considered as bogus or mistaken sighting (Moonsets before sunset in Makkah for example on Feb 12)”.
This will mislead the people. It is certainly a false statement. All the Ulema have opined that all Muslims must observe their Days according to the decision at one place on earth.
According to you there can be many Days of Eidul Adha on earth in one year. Islam does not allow it. May Allah guide us to the right path!
Wassalam, Your Brother in Islam
Ali Manikfan 23-11-1422/05-02-2002
mwlhq@aol.com
To
The Director for the Islamic Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League, Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K. S. A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Sub: Islamic calendar - regarding.
I understand that there are two versions for the Islamic calendar for the year 1423H in Saudi Arabia. It is wrong to have two versions for the Islamic calendar. It will create confusion.
The dates of the Islamic calendar must tally with the Manazil of the Moon. (2:189)
Please furnish me the first days of the Islamic months for 1423H so that we could print the Islamic calendars here also. This will avoid the confusion in the important Days of Islam.
Please accept my sincerest greetings and respect.
Wassalam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra Committee of India
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
23-12-1422/07-03-2002
To
The Director for the Islamic Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League, Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K. S. A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Sub: Islamic calendar - regarding.
Kindly send me the data as soon as possible by E-mail. It should not be difficult for you because you already have the calendars with you. The matter is very urgent.
Wassalam,
Ali manikfan
28-12-1422/12-03-2002
mtapia@miami.edu
hamzakis@rediffmail.com
lateef@ajwa.com
tamifood@qatar.net.qa
Dears Brothers in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
It high time that we did some thing to counter the threat that Islam is facing now. The Muslim world is on the verge of accepting a wrong version for the Hjra calendar. The Ulema and the Muslim scientists are taken away. They hold many conferences on the subject every year. But the matter gets more and more complicated because people without real understanding and having no time to spare take part in them. Dr Ilyas himself told me that he is very busy with many affairs and he has very little time to spare for the work of the Islamic calendar. As a result the Muslim Ummah suffers and becomes a laughing stock. All ask the question “who will bell the cat?”
I herewith send an old letter of mine sent to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, for your perusal and information.
Please do not forget to observe the moon tomorrow morning. Today you would have seen it just half. Tomorrow at fajre it will be less than half. This means that next Saturday will be the first of Safar. If you observe it on Sunday again at fajre you will see that the moon is much less than the half and it will not be difficult for you to know that Sunday will be the second of Safar. Allah (swt) has made it so simple, but who cares to look at His signs and learn?
Ali Manikfan,
05-01-1423/22-04-2002
ansarmd@rediffmail.com haristm@hotmail.com gluelab@vsnl.net cid@isesco.org.ma fakru1@yahoo.com mtapia@miami.edu mwlhq@aol.com nabeela@vsnl.com globalhilal@yahoo.com hamzakis@rediffmail.com m_asherpt@yahoo.com fawsan@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in salman@baytul-iman.org
Dear Brethren,
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu
Please send this important message to all.
Subject: Eidul Adha of 1422H falls on Friday the 22nd of February 2002 and all Muslims must celebrate it on Friday.
All of us know that the last Eidul Adha (1421H) was celebrated on the wrong day in India. Allah (swt) and his Rasool (saw) have ordered all believers to observe the Eid on the same day just as the Jumua, which is observed on the same day through out the World. Youmul Jumu'a is the celebration day of the week. People gathering in a Jumu’a mosque and offering special prayers with a sermon at the time of Zuhar prayer celebrate it. There is no Zuhar prayer on Friday. All the Muslims in the world observe the Jumu'a on one day (24hours). If we perform the Jumu’a on one day then we must perform the Eid also on one day according to the orders of Allah and His Messenger. We have seven days in a week and an Eid falls only on anyone of these days. It cannot fall on two or three days. Rasoolullah (saw) has forbidden the fast on the Eid day and if the Eid falls on two days, (Friday and Saturday) his words would become meaningless. He never talked meaningless words. (53:3). Making false allegations on Allah and His Rasool is dangerous.
The Eidul Adha must be observed on the tenth of Zul Hijjah of the Islamic calendar named by the Sahaba as the Hijra calendar. Please remember that a calendar cannot have two or three versions. If the dates are changed the Halaal and Haraam of Allah (swt) will be violated. This is very serious in the sight of Allah (swt). He is one and His calendar must be one for all. There will be only one day of the Eidul Adha in the Islamic calendar for one year.
According to the fixed Manazil of the Moon the Eidul Adha of 1422H falls on Friday the tenth of Zulhajj 1422H coinciding with 22-02-2002 AD of the Christian calendar. There are many calendars in the world. All calendars have equivalent dates in their counter parts. For example 10-12-1422H is equal to 22-02-2002 AD. It is foolish to say that 10-12-1422H is equal to 23-02-2002 AD also! The Ummul Qura the Center of Islam has declared that the Eidul Adha is on Friday and this news has been widely published by the Government of Saudi Arabia. There is no reason for the Indians to celebrate it on Saturday. Has not time come for the Muslims to realize this silly mistake, which they have been committing since a long time?
Islam does not entertain such foolish ideas and ignorance. A date in any calendar will denote only one day of the week. Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught the importance of days and dates during the farewell address at the Arafat on the 9th of Zulhajj 10H. This is recorded in the tradition. Islam is perfect and complete. Islamic calendar taught by the Prophet (saw) also is perfect and complete without any defect.
People argue without knowledge that a date of the Islamic calendar could mark two or three days and they create confusion and split in the Muslim community. Some people want to celebrate the Eidul Adha of 1422H on Saturday defying the orders of Allah and His Messenger. There is only one Day of Eidul Adha in a year. Therefore, they would violate the order of Rasoolullah (saw) that no one should fast on the Eid Day. The Qur’aan says "Let those who disobey his orders beware that a trial befalls them or a severe chastisement be inflicted on them" (24:63). Disobedience to the Messenger of Allah is a great sin in the sight of Allah. Special repentance is needed for its forgiveness. The argument that a date of the Islamic calendar could denote three days is baseless and wrong. It ridicules Islam and the Prophet (saw). Can anyone prove that two dates could be used to denote one day of the Islamic Shariah?
The Qur’aan informs in clear words that Allah (swt) has appointed Manazil for the Moon (10:5) so that we may calculate the dates (the ages of the moon) the months (the counts of its rotation around the Earth) and the years, which have12 months. Is it not our duty to observe the Moon and study this? Further more the Qur’aan informs us that the Sun and the Moon move with precision under certain calculations (55:5). Man has observed the Sun's angles for many years and invented watches so that he may know his time without seeing the Sun. What prevents us to do the same with the Moon, to know our dates without seeing the Moon? It would be silly and kufur to say that we should not find out our dates in advance by using observations and calculations of the Moon. Qur’aan and Hadees command us to fix our programs in advance and discharge our duties properly. Who forbids what Allah (swt) has allowed?
We must shun all bidh'ah and superstitions and come to Islam the correct and perfect way of life. Many letters sent to the leaders and the authorities concerning the matter remain unanswered. It is hoped that they will take proper action and study the Islamic calendar. The Qur’aan says that we should not stand on what we have no knowledge. (17.36). He orders us to learn from those who possess Knowledge. Knowledge is vast and our life is short. We are aware of the incident of Moosa (AS) when he was ordered to go to a servant of Allah and learn from him. Let us turn to Allah (swt) and repent for our wrong doings. Let us come to the Qur’aan and Hadees and give them proper meaning. Let us not be arrogant and repeat the sin once again.
May Allah guide us to the right path and shower his blessings upon us!
Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam,
Ali manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra Committee of India,
E-mail: manikfan@gmail.com
Pavaratti: 20-02-2002/08-12-1422
mwlhq@aol.com
From M. Ali Manikfan,
Advisor, Hijra Committee of India,
To
The Director for the Islamic Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League, Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K.S.A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Subject: Change of rule of the Ummul Qura calendar and mistakes in the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal 1422H- Regarding.
Please refer my letter of 08-09-1422/23-11-2001. I am a scholar of the Islamic calendar. I have sent many letters to the Rabitha regarding the Islamic calendar. It pains me very much to inform you that the matter has not been given proper attention. The mistake in the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal of 1422H proves this.
I had informed the KACST in my letter dated 04-09-1422/19-11-2001that Ramadan 1422 has only 29 days according to the correct calculations of the Manazil of the Moon as per the instructions of the Qur’aan (2:189, 10: 5 36:39) and the Sunnah. Original Ummul Qura calendar also gives the same. Ramadan ends on Friday with an Annular Solar Eclipse, which can be witnessed in the world. Therefore, the first of Shawwal of 1422H falls on Saturday the 15th of December 2001.
As immediate action was not taken the Muslims have committed the serious mistake of fasting on the Day of the Eidul Fitre of 1422H. You know that there is only one Day of the Eidul Fitre in a year. The annular solar eclipse, which the world witnessed on Friday the 14th of December 2001, proves that the holy month of Ramadan is over on Friday. This means that the First of Shawwal must be Saturday. This is the Day of Eidul Fitre according to the orders of Rasoolullah (saw). He has forbidden to fast on the Eid Day.
You know that Islam is perfect and that Islamic calendar also is perfect. Then how could this serious mistake take place? We cannot say that we do not know how to calculate our dates even after 1400 years. The dates of the Islamic calendar depend on the Manazil of the Moon and now we know how to calculate this. The holy Qur’aan informs this in the verse 10:5.
It is not correct to say that the Islamic dates depend on seeing the Hilal by people. It is not a practical method and the Prophet (saw) has not ordered us like that. It is a wrong interpretation of the Hadith “Soomoo li ru’uyathihi”. Did anyone see the Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday the 15th of November 2001 before they began the fasting of Ramadan? We are making a mockery of the religion of Allah (swt). We will be questioned about this on the Day of Judgment.
The Muslims have celebrated the Eidul Fitre of 1422H on three days: Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Has Rasoolullahi (saw) permitted such practice? You are responsible for it. Please let me have a reply regarding the matter.
May Allah (swt) forgive us and lead us to the right path.
Please accept my sincerest greetings and respect.
Wassalam
Your Brother in Islam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra Committee of India
manikfan@gmail.com
05-10-1422/19-12-2001
mwlhq@aol.com
To
The Director for the Islamic Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League, Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K. S. A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Sub: Islamic calendar regarding.
I understand that there are two versions for the Islamic calendar for the year 1423H in Saudi Arabia. It is wrong to have two versions for the Islamic calendar. It will create confusion.
The dates of the Islamic calendar must tally with the Manazil of the Moon. (2:189)
Please furnish me the first days of the Islamic months for 1423H so that we could print the Islamic calendars here also. This will avoid the confusion in the important Days of Islam.
Please accept my sincerest greetings and respect.
Wassalam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra Committee of India.
E-mail: manikfan@gmail.com
23-12-1422/07-03-2002
Kindly send me the data as soon as possible by E-mail. It should not be difficult for you because you already have the calendars with you. The matter is very urgent.
28-12-1422/12-03-2002
To
The Islamic Society of London,
London.
Moon sighting is not the criterion to define the Islamic months.
The decision of the British Muslim authorities to confirm the date of Ramadan and the Eid basing on the scientific moon sighting of their country is wrong according to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) for the reasons given below.
1. Moon Sighting is not the criterion to define the months of the Islamic calendar. The Qur’aan says: “They ask thee concerning the Ahillah; tell them they are the dates for the people and the pilgrimage”. (2:189). It is very clear from this verse of the Qur'aan that the changing phases of the Moon show the date for the day so that people on earth could keep count of days and plan their programs. It is clear from this that the Moon is the calendar set by Allah, the creater of this world for Man so that he could reckon the passing of time and record the events. Some other verses of the Qur'aan tell us that the Moon goes round the earth, thereby causing the change of position and the phase every day to show us the date to be used in our affairs of civics and religion. Further the Qur'aan says that the Moon runs its course till it returned to the stage of old date-stalk. It is not difficult for a regular observer of the Moon to tell the exact date of the day as shown by the Moon. Therefore the moon’s Manazil is the criterion to define the Islamic months.
2. The Qur’aan says that there are 12 months in the records of Allah (swt) ever since He created the Heavens and the Earth. (9:36). It informs us that our calendar should have 12 months only. The Prophet (saw) said that our months should be either 29 or 30 days, depending on the appearance of the new moon. One can find out the beginning of the month either by observation or calculation. If one is sure of the calculations one may do away with the observation just as it is done in the case of the Sun. The Qur’aan says that both the Sun and the Moon move punctually under calculations. (55:5). The deep study of the Ayahs of the Qur’aan and the sayings of the Prophet (saw), reveals that the Islamic dates should tally with the Manazil of the Moon. That is to say that if the Manazil of the Moon is seven the date should be seven.
3. Rasoolullahi (saw) taught the followers how to find out their dates by observing the Ahillah of the Moon. Astronomy was not developed in their times and they were not used to keep records in writing. The only method available to them was observation. So he told them to look for the appearance of the first crescent (Hilal) on the 29th of the month. They knew very well without any calculation or recording that if the first of the month was a Friday, the 29th also would be Friday. If the Hilal was known to be present definitely, the next month should begin the next day. If it were not present the month would begin after completing 30 days. When 30 days are completed there is no need to consult the Hilal again. So some months would begin before one could see the crescent with the naked eyes.
In a year there could be 6 months of 29 days and 6 months of 30 days or 7 months of 30 days and 5 months of 29 days. The months that begin without seeing the crescent are more than the months that begin after seeing the crescent. Any of these 12 months could be Ramadan or Shawwal. When such is the case how could one say that every Islamic month should begin after seeing the crescent with the naked eye? The Prophet (saw) has never asked people to begin every month after seeing the crescent with the naked eye. The meaning of the Hadith “Soomoo li ru’uyathihi wa afthiroo li ru’uyathihi” means that we should commence fasting at the appearance of the crescent and end fasting at its appearance. We should fast according to the correct dates of the month as defined by the Moon. We know very well that a month is a measure of time and that time will not wait till we see the crescent.
4. The final instructions of the calendar were issued at the Hajjathuil wida. The leap years were to be abolished and the true lunar calendar was to be strictly observed. The Islamic calendar in the name of the Hijra calendar came into being during the period of Omar ®. The first date of the Hijra calendar is Thursday 01-01-0001AH=15-07-0622AD.
5. Muslims all over the world must follow this calendar in all their affairs, religious as well as civil. Islamic Shariah does not allow the use of different calendars because it could create confusion among the people. Fasting should begin on the first of Ramadan. The Eidul Fitre should be observed on the first of Shawwal. The Youmun Nahar should be on the 10th of Zul Hajj. We know that all these are the dates of the Islamic calendar. One date in any calendar could denote only one day. How can there be 3 days of Youmun Nahar in one year? Now you will say that it is silly to have 3 Youmun Nahrs in on year, but we have been doing this since a long time. We must realize that the Prophet of Allah has never taught such meaningless things. Let us refrain from committing such blunders. Our celebrating Eidul Fitre or Eidul Adha on different days is a great blunder and such actions ridicule the fundamentals of Islam. This is very serious in the Sight of Allah (swt).
6. Rasoolullahi (saw) said: “Fasting is on the day (of the week) on which people fast, Eidul Fitre is on the day on which people observe Eid and the Sacrifice is on the day that people observe it.” We should note here, that the Day means the particular day of the week on which the occasion would fall according to the Islamic calendar. People means, people of the world, not people of London alone. Islam is the Universal religion and the Prophet (saw) is for all people for all time. We should not give wrong interpretations to the words of the Prophet (saw) and make his words meaningless. The Prophet (saw) has never allowed two or three days for Eidul Fitre or Eidul Adha. Then how can England celebrate their Eid forgetting their Brethren in the other parts of the world?
We request the authorities to reconsider the matter and take proper decisions basing on the correct Fatwas according to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
By Islamic Research Center,
Eruvadi-672 103 Please reply to: irc@irctamil.com
Dated: 21-03-2001
From
M.Ali Manikfan
Advisor Hijra committee of India
39/3643, Manikkiri lane,
Beat no: 3, Cochin-16
Kerala, India
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