And for the moon We (ALLAH)
have appointed
measured time and places of descent
till she keeps repeating return
like an inclining curve of olden times. (36-39) (For full context see 36-37 to
40, Section 3)
Moon orbits the earth and rotates on its axis in such a way that always its one
and the same side faces the earth. It shines by reflecting light from the sun
(25-61). As positions of moon and sun change, parts of moon lit up change . The
changing shapes are called phases of moon. Crescent is the first, which grows
(waxes) until it becomes full moon. Then it starts becoming smaller (wanes),
till it disappears completely. The new moon reappears as crescent. In relational
positions, appearance and sighting of moon even on first of each month could be
relatively different; not exactly of same size, brightness, and duration of
visibility, as earth is not exactly circular, and sun sets at a different point,
each day, during the course of a year (Examine 70-40).
For determining 1st of month after sun set, moon is the only celestial object,
sufficiently bright and moving, which gives an idea of time and date, and its
movements for a month can be charted precisely.
Moon sighting remained important since systematic gyration of heavenly bodies
was not known. Jews followed lunar calendar and Christendom did the same, till
Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582 C.E. decreed solar calendar as official. In fact,
about 5000 years ago, Indians started a solar calendar which they still use.
Moon sighting was no longer necessary to determine commencement of a month.
Instead course of the sun was followed. However calculations for a year did not
come to exact 365 days. Every four years, an extra day was added to February,
and that year was called a leap year.
Let us first, examine some relevant Ahaadiith on moon sighting:
Narrated Ubaid Ibn Juraij: I asked 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, "...I also noticed
that…in Mecca, the people assume Ihram on seeing the new moon crescent (1st of
Dhul-Hajj)..." (Bukhari:1.167)
Narrated Abdullah (slave of Asma'): "...Asma' got down at Al-Muzdalifa...and
offered the prayer for some time and then asked, "O my son! Has the moon set?" I
replied in the negative and she again prayed for another period and then asked,
"Has the moon set?" I replied, "Yes." So she said that we should set out (for
Mina), and we departed..." (Bukhari:2.739)
Narrated Aisha (may ALLAH be pleased with her): "We set out along with ALLAH's
Apostle (Peace be upon him) shortly before the appearance of the new moon
(crescent) of the month of Dhi-l-Hajj and he said to us, "Whoever wants to
assume Ihram for Hajj may do so; and whoever wants to assume Ihram for 'Umra may
do so..." (Bukhari:3.11)
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: "ALLAH's Apostle said, 'The month (can be) 29 nights
(i.e. days), and do not fast till you see the moon, and if the sky is overcast,
then complete Sha'ban as thirty days." (Bukhari:3.131)
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: "…I was a man with sharp eyesight, so I could see it
(new moon), but none saw it except myself. I began to say to Umar: Don't you see
it? But he could not see it. Thereupon Umar said: I shall soon be able to see it
(when it shines more brightly) ..." (Muslim:1336)
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: "ALLAH's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Observe fast
on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to
clouds) the actual position of the moon is concealed from you, you should then
count thirty (days). (Muslim:527)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: "Kurayb said...It was there in Syria that... I saw
the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of
the month. Abdullah ibn Abbas...said: 'But we saw it on Saturday night. So we
shall continue to observe the fast until we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it
(the new moon of Shawwal)..." (Muslim: 533)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: "Abul Bakhtari reported: ...we tried to see the new
moon. Some of the people said: It was three nights old, and others (said) that
it was two nights old. We then met Ibn Abbas and told him (about it, and he
said:)... so it is to be reckoned from the night you saw it." (Muslim: 534)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: Hakim ibn al-Araj asked Ibn Abbas about fasting on
Ashura. He said: "When you see the new moon of Muharram then count the (days)
and observe fast on the 9th..." (Muslim: 551)
In above Ahaadiith Phrases 'on seeing the new moon', or 'on appearance of the
new moon,' contain the spirit, whereas other related statements explain it
further. These also indicate that people used to calculate time and date, from
movements of the moon. "The month (can be) 29 nights (i.e. days)" is a very
important statement of fact. Exact computations were not available at that time.
Therefore an easy principle was laid down: "do not fast till you see the moon,
and if the sky is overcast, then complete...as thirty days."
Other narrations recognize that even at one place all people may not be able to
see the crescent. Therefore Abdullah ibn Abbas said "So we shall continue to
observe the fast until we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the new
moon)..." About sighting of new moon, Abul Bakhtari reported yet another
practical example: "Some of the people said: It was three nights old, and others
(said) that it was two nights old."
Now let us examine following verses of the Holy Quran:
"It is He (ALLAH) Who made the sun to be a shining glory and
the moon to be a light, and
measured out stages for it; that
you might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did ALLAH
create this but in truth and righteousness.
He does explain His Signs in detail,
for those who understand." (10-5)
"And the moon,
We (ALLAH) have measured for it mansions
till it returns like the old
(and withered) lower part of a date-stalk." (36-39)
"The number of months in the sight of ALLAH is twelve,
so ordained by Him (ALLAH),
the day He created the heavens and the earth." (9-36)
"The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed."
(55-5)
From above it follows that:
-The moon passes through measured out stages,
-that you may count time and date,
-ALLAH did create this with righteous truth (immutable law)
(Also examine 36-40),
-ALLAH explains these signs for those who understand,
-Since creation, number of months is twelve (in a year).
-The sun and the moon each follow computed course,
From above, it appears that we have remained most centered on reported
tradition, while we have completely ignored reflection and research in above
verses of the Quran, although in a number of other narrations, the Prophet
(Peace be upon him) emphasized the Quranic assertion that both sun and moon are
from amongst signs of ALLAH. Due to certain reasons, including historical and
religious, we have remained more attached to moon, than expanding our area of
observation to solar and entire celestial systems.
From above it clearly follows that lunar calendar with reference to these
determined movements can precisely be predicted and computed.
In early days of Islam, exact computations were not available. Provision for
sighting of moon is like relaxation and ease allowed, so that people are not put
to hardship. They could prepare for fasting and other occasions when they
visibly saw the moon with naked eye, in the time frame.
If we are allowed to employ electronic and digital gadgets for extended vision (tele-scope)
from different heights or from different points, for sighting the moon, then
relevant gadgets can also assist in computation and charting exact points of
movements of the moon in its determined course, to follow a lunar calendar, at
least on these occasions, inorder to avoid acrimony and schism.
But instead, we have chosen to constrict the relaxation to convert it into a
conflict!