The Description Of Moon-Sighting: Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan – Part 28

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 19 April 2023 Islamic acts of worship are performed in accordance with the lunar calendar. Therefore, it is essential to see the moon from an Islamic perspective. Its significance has been referenced in the Quran and the Hadith. Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “They ask you [O Prophet] about the new moons. Say, “They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage.” (2:189) [Translator’s Note: In this context, new moons (ahillah, sing. hilal) do not refer to the new moon defined purely astronomically, which is the time when the moon is still hidden (dark moon), but rather to the first visible crescent of the lunar cycle. The moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun during a dark moon so that the dark side of the moon faces the earth. Lunar conjunction is the term for this. Typically, a lunar conjunction does not result in a solar eclipse, because the lunar orbit is tilted several degrees in relation to the earth’s orbit around the sun. Hence the three bodies are only in an approximately straight line. That is also the reason why the full moon can be seen from the Earth when it is approximately in between the moon and the sun. The new moon or crescent (hilal) arises when the moon moves far enough away from conjunction for a thin strip of the illuminated side of the moon to become visible. The sun and moon both set over the western horizon during the dark moon phase, but at the start of a new lunar month, the sun sets first and the moon is only momentarily visible just above the horizon. If the moon is far enough out of line between the earth and the sun, the crescent will become visible before the moon follows the sun below the horizon and disappears. The new lunar month in the Islamic calendar begins with the observation of this new crescent. In the last part of the lunar month leading up to the dark moon, the moon “sets” before the sun and remains below the horizon until rising later that night.] It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Do not commence fasting unless you have seen the moon, and do not do Iftaar (i.e. end your fasts) unless you have seen the moon, and if it is cloudy, then complete the counting.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Commence fasting by sighting the moon and end fasting by sighting the moon, and if it is cloudy, then complete the counting of thirty for [the month of] Sha’baan” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a Bedouin came before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, “I have seen the moon of Ramadan.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Do you attest that there is none worthy of Worship except Allah?” He said, ‘Yes.’ He (peace be upon him) said, “Do you bear testimony that Muhammad is The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)?” He said, ‘Yes.’ He (peace be upon him) said, “O Bilal! Announce amongst the people that tomorrow is a day of fasting.” (Abu Dawud/Tirmizi/Nasa’i/ Ibn Majah/Daarimi) Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that people started seeking for the moon. “I reported seeing the moon to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself kept fast (based on this) and also commanded the people to keep fast.” (Abu Dawud and Daarimi) It is narrated by Ummul Mu’mineen Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) respect Sha’baan to such an extent that he did not respect any other month in the same way. When He (peace be upon him) saw the moon, He (peace be upon him) would then begin to fast. If it were cloudy, He (peace be upon him) would then complete counting to thirty before beginning to keep fast. (Abdu Dawud) These blessed hadiths reveal that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to make special arrangements for the sighting of the moon in Shaaban and Ramadan. Because there is great worship associated with the moon of these months, therefore, he used to pay attention to its beginning and also to its end. In view of the facts, Ulama say that it is Waajib-e-Kifaayah to see (i.e. make an attempt to see) the moon for five months: 1) Sha’baan 2) Ramadan, 3) Shawwal 4) Ziqaadah and 5) Zul-Hijjah It is Waajib to see the moon of Sha’baan, because if it is cloudy or foggy when you seek the moon of Ramadan, you can complete thirty days of Sha’baan and then commence Ramadan. The sighting of the moon of Ramadan is for you to be to keep the fasts of Ramadan; the sighting of the moon of Shawwal is for you to end the fasting of Ramadan; the sighting of Ziqaadah is for you to know when the month of Zul-Hijjah starts; and the sighting of Zul-Hijjah is for Eid ul Adha. [Fatawa Razaviyyah] Law: One should search for the moon (of Ramadan) on the evening of the twenty-ninth of Sha'baan. If it is seen, one should observe fasting the next day; if not, one should finish the thirty days of Sha'baan before beginning the month of Ramadan. [Alamgiri, vol.1, pg.197] Law: It is not required for the person hearing the testimony to inquire as to where the witness saw the moon, on which side was the moon, how it looked (i.e. how it appeared), how high it was, etc. [Alamgiri, vol.1, pg.197] One should only question the witness if his (or her) testimony is doubtful, especially for Eid, because individuals tend to baselessly claim to have seen the moon (of Eid). (Continued) ------ Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26 Juma’ah and Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/moon-sighting-ramadan-part-28/d/129597 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