See The Moon

“...there is no God but Allah, the One, the Absolute, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Mighty, the Pardoning. Say: "This is a message supreme from which you do turn away!” Q38:65-68

Indeed, praise be unto Allah (The Exalted). He is our Creator and has subjected to us and for our use all that is on Earth and in the Heavens including the Sun and the Moon. He is One, His Message is One, His Word (Al-Qur'an) is One, the symbol of His House on Earth (Al-Ka'abah) is One, our Qiblah (Prayer Direction) is One and His Final Messengers is Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Although the moon is one, unfortunately Muslims sight different ones particularly at the determination of Ramadan start off and ending. There are issues around “globalisation” or “localisation” of the sighting of the moon. There are issues around physical (or manual) sighting of the moon or scientific (calculation) of the moon phases. We are divided on these, and are unable to start or end Ramadan together as one, balanced and exemplary community we are supposed to be: “thus have We made of you a community justly balanced that you might be witnesses over the communities...” Q2:143 Some people have narrate an hadith ruling out scientific calculation as prohibited in Islam, when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was reported to have said: “We are an illiterate nation, we do not write or calculate months, saying it is like this or that. So whoever hears that the moon is sighted, let him commence the fast...” On the basis of this hadith, calculating the new moon was prohibited. Unfortunately, this is not the appropriate reading of the hadith. Clearly, the Rasul(PBUH) did not imply that the Arabs are illiterate in the literal sense of the word. Of course many of his companions are literate. He had his personal scribes. After the battle of Badr, some Quraysh prisoners of war were ransomed after teaching some volunteered Muslims how to read and write. We must understand the prophet’s statement as indicative of or a commentary on the circumstance of the Arabs with respect to the science of calculation which existed amongst other. ‘Illiterate nation’ would imply the lack of exposure and competence with respect to the knowledge and experience of astronomy –the study of positions, movements, dimensions and compositions of the celestial objects. Then the Prophet (PBUH) advised on the only alternative available to the Arabs –physical sighting.

Why do Muslims accept the scientific (calculation) determination of their daily salaah and not for the monthly monitoring of the moon? Why do we approach science with mistrust or doubt, while we once championed the field? Why would we accept that the world has become a global village and use all the tools of globalisation, but would refused to employ the same communication tool, despite the fact that the Rasul (PBUH) said "Start the fast when you HEAR that the moon has been sighted." By the way, he (PBUH) did not place any restrictions to locality, community or region? Is it not ingratitude to Allah that the knowledge and tools He has provided for us are willingly rejected or even scorned?

These are thoughts for those who want to think.

There has been no news of any moon sighting on Thursday August 20th 2009. Therefore, the moon will be sighted on Friday 21st and Ramadan Starts on Saturday August 22nd 2009. Ramadan Mubarak.