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.
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M.H.A. Sikander, a regular New Age Islam columnist, is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar,
Kashmir
URL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/ruet-hilal-moon-sighting/d/129610
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