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: 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: 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: 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
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