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4. Letter to Mr. P. Zainul Abdeen, Editor Unarvu, Chennai, dated 02-10-2000 (05-07-1421). Allah and His Rasool have ordered Muslims to observe the Eid on the same day as the Jumu’a, which is observed on the same day through out the world. The letter challenged Mr. P.J. to prove his statement that a date of the Islamic calendar used to mark a day could fall on three different days with reference to Qur’aan and Hadith. If we calculated time, which depended on the sun and refuse to calculate the date that depended on the moon we are not accepting calculation prescribed in Qur’aan. Following one Ayath and rejecting another Ayath is a serious sin (2:85) and to believe that the Islamic calendar is imperfect and impracticable is tantamount to kufr.
To
P.Zainul Abideen
Editor Unarvu,
Chennai
Assalamu Alaikum WR WB,
All of us know that the last Eidul Adha (1420) was celebrated on the wrong day in India. Allah (swt) and his Rasool (saw) have ordered the Muslims to observe the Eid on the same day just as the Jumu’a, which is observed on the same day throughout the World. We have seven days in a week and an Eid will fall only on one day of the week. It cannot fall on two or three days. Rasoolullah (saw) has forbidden to fast on the Eid day and if the Eid fell on two or three days, his words will have no meaning. We must remember that he never talked meaningless words. (Q53:3)
The Eidul fitre must be observed on the first of Shawwal and the Edul Adha on the 10th of Zulhajj 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 Haram of Allah (swt) will be violated. This is serious in the sight of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) is one and His calendar must be one.
Allah (swt) orders the Muslims to base His calendar on the phases of the moon, which He has designed for this purpose. (Q10:5). The phases of the moon mark the dates for humankind, says the Qur'an. (Q2:189). If we do not use what Allah (swt) has given us we become ungrateful to him (kafir). According to Allah’s (swt) calendar the Eidul Adha of 1420 falls on the Thursday the tenth of Zulhajj 1420 AH coinciding with 16-3-2000 AD of the Christian calendar. There are many calendars in the world. All calendars will have equivalent dates in the other calendars. For example 10-12-1420 AH is equal to 16-3-2000 AD. It is foolish to say that 10-12-1420 AH will be equal to 17-3-2000AD and 18-3-2000AD also.
Islam does not entertain such foolish ideas and ignorance. A date in any calendar will denote only one day of the week. I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) had taught the importance of the day and date during the farewell address at the Arafath on the 9th of Zulhajj 10.AH. This is recorded in the tradition. Islam is perfect and complete. Islamic calendar taught by the Prophet (saw) is also perfect and complete without any defect.
Janab P. J. argued that a date of the Islamic calendar could mark two or three days and so there was a split in the Thouheed group of Tamil Nadu. Some of them celebrated the last Eidul Adha (1420) on Friday while the others celebrated it on Thursday. Naturally, those who celebrated the Eid on Friday would fast on Thursday, which was in fact the day of Eidul Adha. There can be only one day of Eidul Adha in a year. Therefore, they violated the order of Rasoolullah (saw) that no one should fast on the Eid day. Thus, the Thouheed group who got up to call others to Thouheed became a laughing stock for the others.
The Qur'an says “Let those who disobey his orders beware that a trial befalls them or a severe chastisement be inflicted on them”. (Q24:63). This sin is great in the sight of Allah and 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. I request Janab P.J. to prove his statement in the light of Qur'an and Hadees.
Another argument put forward by Janab P.J. is that the Islamic dates cannot be determined in advance and the date for a program should not be fixed. Has this any proof in the Qur'an and the Hadees? We follow the Qur'an and the Hadees and all other views should be rejected.
Allah (swt) informs us in the Qur'an in clear words that he has appointed manazil for the moon (Q10:5) so that we may calculate the date (the age of the moon), the month (the count of its rotation around the earth) and the years, which has 12 months. Is it not our duty to understand this? Further more the Qur'an informs us that the sun and the moon move with precision under certain calculations (Q55:5). Man has observed the sun’s angles for many years and invented watches so that he may know his time without seeing the sun. Why should we not do the same with moon, which shows the dates so that we may 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 calculations. Qur'an and hadees commands us to fix our programs in advance and discharge our duties properly. Who forbids what Allah (swt) has allowed?
If we calculated our time, which depended on the sun and did not calculate our dates, which depended on the moon, it would mean that we not believe in the calculations of the moon mentioned in the Qur'an. The Qur'an says those who take some Ayaths and reject some Ayaths will face humiliation in this world and will be turned to most severe punishment on The Day of Judgment. Qur'an Q2:85)
Janab P.J is the Editor of “Unarvu” Tamil newspaper. He publishes wrong Hijra dates while he gives the correct Christian dates. I do not know why he is showing injustice to Islam. In fact the Muslims should not use the Christian calendar because it is contradictory to the orders of Allah (swt) who orders us to use the months of 29 or 30 days / dates basing on the moon’s movement. However, the Christian dates can be used along with the Islamic daters. The Christian calendar avoids the moon and uses months of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, which is contradictory to the orders of Allah (swt).
Allah‘s Rasool has not accepted the Christian Calendar and the Qur'an says, “accept what the Rasool has brought and reject what he has forbidden” (59:7)
In the Islamic calendar the date 29.06.1421 AH is Wednesday corresponding to 27.09.2000 AD. Janab P.J puts it as 28.06.1421=27.09.2000 AD. Chandrika, the Malayalam newspaper of Kerala puts it as 27.06.1421=27.09.2000 AD Wednesday, Thus we see three versions for the Hijra calendar while the Christian calendar has only one version. Is this Hijra calendar in accordance with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Rasool? In this way the Islamic calendar is ridiculed and rendered useless in the world while the Christian calendar is upheld and admired by the Muslims. Is not Janab P.J responsible for this? Are these people bribed or taken away by enemies of Islam? Why do they not understand?
The belief that the Islamic calendar is imperfect and impractical is tantamount to Kufur. Those who entertain such beliefs and do not practise the Islamic calendar as commanded by Allah (swt) are disobedient and ungrateful to Him and Qur'an warns them, “If you are grateful we will increase you and if you are ungrateful, our punishment will certainly be severe” (14:7)
I am a witness to the meeting held at Pudupettai, Madras on 25.10.1997. A copy of that decision published by Janab P.J is enclosed herewith. (Copies of my letters to other organizations are also enclosed for kind perusal and study). On what grounds did Janab P.J go back on the decision signed on 25.10.1997? Did he inform all the other participants of that meeting when he wanted to change his decision? How could he deviate from the decision of the meeting? Was he ignorant of the Qur'an and Hadees when he signed the decision? The decision was not taken all on a sudden. Five sittings were held at different places and the deliberations lasted for two years. This shows that we cannot take a decision from the Qur'an and Hadees!
The Qur'an and Hadees allow and order us to fix our programs in advance and discharge our duties correctly. According to this, the next Ramadan begins on Sunday the first of Ramadan 1421 AH coinciding with 26 November 2000 AD of the Christian calendar. This is because the Hilal of Ramadan 1421 AH appears at 23:11 hrs UT on Saturday the 25th of November 2000 AD. Since the sun and moon travel punctually according to the laws appointed for them (36:37) and we know their calculations we have no doubts about this. Allah (swt) has made the sun, the moon, and all other things subservient to us (31:20). Allah (swt) has ordered us to begin the fasting on the first of Ramadan, not on the second or third. The Prophet (saw) has not ordered us to begin every month after seeing the Hilal with the naked eyes. Insha Allah all of us will begin the fasting on the first of Ramadan which falls on Sunday the 26th of November 2000AD. Janab P.J may try to propagate and impose his false Hijra calendar. He agrees that he has no knowledge in the calculations of the calendar. He blindly follows some one.
Fabricating lies on Allah and His Rasool is dangerous. “Who is greater in injustice than he who fabricates a lie on Allah when he is invited to accept the Truth? And Allah does not guide the unjust”. (Q61.7)
We must avoid all bidh'ah and superstitions and come to Islam the correct and perfect way of life. Many letters have been sent to Janab P.J. But he is keeping silent. It is hoped that he will give a proper reply to this. Allah (swt) says that we should not stand on what we have no knowledge. (Q17.36). He orders us to learn from those who possess Knowledge. Knowledge is vast and life is very short. We are aware of the incident of Moosa (AS) when he was asked to go to a servant of Allah (swt) and learn from him. Let us turn to Allah (swt) and repent for our wrong doings. Let us come to the Qur'an and Hadees and give them proper meaning. Let us not take the views of others. May Allah guide us to the right path and shower his blessings upon us.
Wassalam
Your brother in Islam,
Ali manikfan |
