The Absurdity of Ruet e Hilal Committees (Moon Sighting Committees)

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 20 April 2023 Every year there is a tussle about the correct date of Ramadan and Eid. The Muslim Mullahs, scholars and clergymen belonging to various schools of thought are not antagonistic about the correct dates for initiating Ramadan and Eid, because in most South Asian Countries we have the Ruet E Hilal committees that are supposed to declare the correct dates of Ramadan and Eid. Muslims too are waiting quiet eagerly for the verdict of these committees about the appearance of moon. For the rest of the eleven months no one is bothered about these committees as they continue to remain in oblivion and hibernation. All of these committees are quiet representative as scholars of all denominations and schools of thought are represented. We should complement the moon for uniting our scholars, who have been divided by the variegated interpretations of Islam. This year too the Ruet E Hilal committee was very cautious and till late in the night they did not declare whether Ramadan moon has been sighted or not? So, the Grand Mufti of J&K, Nasir Ul Islam stated that Ramadan moon has not been sighted. There were number of his audio clips going viral, wherein he declared that the moon has not been sighted. But then Pakistan declared that the moon has been sighted so Kashmiris without bothering about the opinion of the not so Grand Mufti started offering Taraweeh (Special night prayers held during Ramadan) and opted for fasting leaving the Mufti and coterie of other Ulema as red faced. There were apprehensions cast at the role of Grand Mufti with the masses saying that he was renegading against the declared verdict of Pakistan and trying to cozy up to the Indian masters, who had dictated to him that J&K should fast on the same day as Indian Muslims not with Pakistani muslims who constitute the enemies. Anyways in the game of politics, religion always becomes the casualty. This confusion about the sighting of moon is just a South Asian Muslim issue, otherwise the science, astronomy and geography have evolved so much that there is no need for the physical sighting of the moon. Most muslim countries including Turkey and Malaysia have lunar calendars made beforehand, so there is utterly no confusion. The physical sighting of moon was restricted to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and immediate period when science, astronomy were not advanced that they could predict the exact movements of moon. But now when science has progressed so much, what is the fun of clergy in declaring when to fast or celebrate Eid? It just appears to be a tactic of clergy, theologians and Ulema to remain relevant and exhibit their power over the gullible masses. What specific tool does Nasir ul Islam or any other Mufti has to render him eligible for the moon sighting? Infact I even doubt his religious credentials, because like his father was a Sarkari mufti he too inherited the mantle from him like ancestral property and fiefdom. Although, Islam abhors following the Sunnah of Yazeed or Shia Imamate where leadership is passed based on patriarchal lineage. Other Ulema who are members of the self styled committee are of doubtful credentials too because they have studied Islam from sectarian lens. Leaving their religious and literary credentials aside, I do not understand what makes them specialists or experts in declaring the fasting and Eid dates? In the words of leading scholar and Mujtahid of our times Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, when he was offered a position in Ruet e Hilal Committee of Pakistan he declined it observing that he does not possess the requisite qualification for the task. But in Kashmir every other mullah wants to be part of the Ruet e Hilal Committee. Then the Grand Mufti, renegaded on his stance by observing that those who did not fast on the first day at his insistence, should do a Qaza (observe fast after Ramadan) for a day, thus endorsing the public stance, while remaining adamant that he was correct that moon had not been sighted. If moon had not been sighted why offer a Qaza fast? These changing and contradictory stances have further eroded the religious credentials of the Committee. Although all the sects and schools of thought are represented in this Committee, and they convened a new meeting that passed the verdict about Qaza fasting. It was to restore the diminishing faith of masses and a manifestation of show of strength that all Ulema, despite the shameful rejection of the Committee by the masses. On the other hand, one scholar of the Ahle Hadith sect Dr Abdul Latif Al Kindi declared that Grand Mufti had lied while taking his name about his endorsement about not fasting as moon was not sighted. Also one Barelvi group in Jammu declared that they do not accept Nasir ul Islam as Grand Mufti because he is not exoterically religious. In the midst of all this, chairperson J&K Waqf board, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, another political opportunist who has no religious qualification except for being member of a political party, that has declared a crusade against the families running the shrines in J&K. Andrabi, who herself is proud of her non Kashmiri lineage under a political agenda declared that Waqf Board will have its own Ruet e Hilal Committee again leading to a turf of statements between her and scholars of Hilal Committee. The real issue was lost in the statements and counter statements; Is there a need for a Reut e Hilal Committee? As I have opined with irrefutable proofs that the science and astronomy has advanced so much that it can predict the lunar calendar and months beforehand as happens in most muslim countries. Further, the Ulema and members of these Hilal Committees do not qualify for moon sighting. So these Committees should be disbanded and dismantled for the greater good and unity of Muslims. In South Asia particularly in Pakistan the state should take over the decision for declaration of moon, assign some institution the task so that confusion, tussle, problems and waste of time and resources is avoided. Also the Ulema need to be engaged with some constructive work so that their expertise is put to some positive use. ----- M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/ruet-hilal-moon-sighting/d/129610 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism