The Profound Wisdom of Prophet Muhammad Regarding

The Profound Wisdom of Prophet Muhammad Regarding
the Lunar Dates and the Unity of the Muslims

By F. Burhan

Making a decision over the lunar dates to coordinate the Islamic feasts to bring about unified festive events has been a sore point for the Muslims of North America. In predominantly Muslim countries, all Muslims follow the decision made by their respective authority of Shari’ah for the beginning of any celebration of feast or to begin the Month of Ramadan. The Shari’ah authority can be the Ministry of Fatwa (verdicts) or the Department of Justice.

In those countries, no one mosque or religious entity would violate Shari’ah and celebrate the event on a different day. Shari’ah is built around the protection of the community as a whole as well as the individual members.

However, for the diverse Muslims of North America, and due to the absence of the structure found in the Muslim countries, it has been difficult to celebrate their feasts and start fasting Ramadan together as a united community. In addition, many Muslims of North America are influenced by the dominant philosophy or schools of thoughts, Mathahib taught in their respective mother countries, which in turn often affect the lunar dates decision differently. Individual mosques and Islamic centers across America and Canada have often celebrated these feasts separately, defeating the purpose of these communal rituals and festival occasions.

Many Muslim organizations of North America such as the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), the Shura Councils of North America and of Southern California and the Fiqh Council of North America instituted committees and special tasks to remedy this painful problem.

As part of its administration, ISNA created a Moon Sighting Committee, whose sole responsibility is the determination of the lunar dates for these Islamic occasions. The ICSC and the Moon Sighting Committee of ISNA consult astronomers and apply astronomical data to help determine the lunar dates. It is also evident that ISNA’s Moon Sighting Committee has worked with several other Fatwa, astronomical and moon sighting committees in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia in the making of its decisions. Also apparent in the solution of these organizations is the relevant issues of Muslims of North America, since many of them are required to give an advance notice for their leave at work. This important consideration is an irrelevant issue for the Muslims overseas who nevertheless are given a holiday by their respective countries.

Other Islamic centers and organizations in North America took a separate decision from that of ISNA or ICSC and followed a different verdict, yet some others simply follow Saudi Arabia.

Although there are several methods for determining the lunar dates for these occasions, no one method should undermine the unity of the Muslim community. Such an act would be in direct conflict with the spirit of Shari’ah and the occasion. This is why no one mosque or Islamic organization in Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or any other Muslim country defies the decision made by their respective country and follow that of another.

Furthermore, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad in determining the lunar dates is solely based on an astronomical foundation. Here are the Prophet’s Traditions for Ramadan:

“We are Umah (a nation) Umiyah (unlettered) we do not write [in astronomical circles,] nor do we calculate [to arrive at the exact lunar dates.]…” In a different Hadith, the Prophet (p) said: [Therefore,] Fast when you see the Moon and break your fast when you see the next Moon. But if you could not see it then complete the 30th day [in fasting.]” -Bukhai & Muslim.

There are three important key points in the above Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (p).

It is apparent that Prophet Muhammad (p) is seeking a precise date to begin fasting the month of Ramadan. However, the Prophet is pointing out that the resources available for making an accurate decision is inadequate in the absence of advanced astronomical calculations, “We are an unlettered nation with respect to writing [in astronomical circles] and mathematical calculations.”
It is also apparent that the Prophet (p) considered the best mechanism available to him at the time for the determination of the beginning of the fast. “Fast when you see the moon and break the fast when you see the next moon.”
In the absence of accurate astronomical data, one can easily establish from the second Tradition of the Prophet that there is no particular divinity missed out by not starting or ending the month of Ramadan according to the exact astronomical dates. “If the circumstances did not allow you to see the next moon, then complete the month to thirty days.” This is the worst-case scenario, irrespective of the actual days of the month. In fact, in one occasion the Prophet (p) did not give his companions any special instruction when they informed him that the Moon appeared to be a two or three days old. To appreciate the rationality and deep leniency of the Prophet (p) over these matters, I ask the readers to see Sahih Muslim, Sections: “It is Immaterial Whether the New Moon is Larger,” and “Do not Fast a Day or Two Days Ahead of Ramadan.”

The very basic points discussed in the above Traditions are indisputable facts to the truthfulness of the Prophecy of Muhammad (p) as the facts of astronomical science later unveil. Today, astronomers tell us that the new Moon is born precisely when it is in a straight line between the Sun and the Earth. Then no light is reflected from it to Earth and therefore it cannot be seen by the human eye. When the Moon moves away from the straight line then it begins to show. The new crescent however cannot be seen by the human eye until it reaches the age of about 18 to 24 hours. Then it will be very thin and may appear in the horizon for only a few minutes. See the illustration below from http://www.moonsighting.com.

If the glare from the Sun, the location of the observer on earth or other obstacles prevent the sighting of the Crescent, obviously, the following day the Crescent would appear to be two days old. This may explain why Prophet Muhammad (p) did not address the criticality of correctness of the First day of the month, and as for the actual birth of the moon, he simply stated the unliterary condition of his people to determine accurately its birth time. For better understanding of the complications surrounding moon sighting, please visit http://www.moonsighting.com, http://www.hilal-sighting.com and http://www.ummah.net/moonsighting/.

Unfortunately, what is commonly overlooked by many Muslims in the above Traditions of the Prophet (p), is that the Prophet adapted the best method available to him at that time, and this is the real and true Sunnah of the Prophet that we must be inspired by and draw upon. For the availability of astronomical vantage to us today, we can accurately establish the beginning and ending of all the lunar months. In fact, the lunar data has already been utilized by many civil and military organizations around the world for their benefits.Utilizing the lunar data will lead to uniting our Ummah during its festive days in the least, and foremost, it will make us among those who follow Prophet Muhammad’s way of adapting the best solution available.

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, the Chairman of the Shura Council of Southern California, President of the Fiqh Council of North America and ex-President of ISNA is in total agreement with our point in this article for using the most accurate data available in determining the Muslim's holy days. Dr. Siddiqi said:

"1. Sighting was needed because the Ummah was not in a position to calculate accurately. 2. It was the Sunnah of the Prophet to use the most accurate method available to him at that time. So astronomical information is the most accurate method available to us. Thus it is Sunnah to rely on the astronomical information for determining Islamic dates."

Dr. Maher Hathout, the senior advisor for of ICSC and Muslim Public Affairs Council is also in full agreement with our approach. Dr. Hathout wrote us the following note:

"It was 17 years ago that the ICSC adopted the scientific calculation method for deciding the beginning and ending of the lunar months. We felt that this is the way to live the modern age, and to enable Muslims, particularly in America, to schedule their holy seasons and push for them to be officially recognized. This hopefully will maintain the unity of the Ummah.
We agree with the Islamic argument elucidated by brother Burhan. We hope to consider the birth of the Moon as the decisive factor, not its so-called “visibility,” which again leads to a different set of divisions and confusions."

The disunity of the Muslims of North America over the festival dates has reached a considerable level of disgrace. No verdict or philosophy should take a higher priority than that which safeguard the health and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi said:

“Muslims must agree on one authority and let this authority make the decision. Individual Islamic centers and mosques should not give their opinion, because this causes confusion, division and disunity."

The mechanisms to unite the Muslims would work best when they are based on solid faith, stripped away from human emotions, politics and personal agendas. Mathematics and astronomical data are exactly that. I believe the expertise, the study and research taken by ISNA’s Moon Sighting Committee and the ICSC in this matter is in line with the call of the Sunnah of the Prophet and the spirit of Islam. I encourage all Muslim communities to follow the lead of these organizations, join them in making unified festival dates. Prophet Muhammad (p) said: “My Ummah cannot go astray when they get together on a matter.” -Ahmad & al-Tabarani. He also said: “(Alikum be-alJama’ah, be [working] altogether and (Iyakum) be aware of (furqah) being separate.” -Al Termezi.

Islam is a universal religion; good for all times and places. Muslims will do Islam great injustice when they confine its universal capacity to the elements available to Mecca and Medina during the seventh century. We must understand the grave results of our disunity over immaterial matters dragging us further way from the cause of this faith. Because of our improper practice, we made Islam appear to the technologically advanced world poorly organized and at disadvantage.

Allah and His Prophet clearly set forth wise guidelines designed to lead Muslims to prosperity. Remember, it was early Muslims such as al Khayam (11-12th century), who were responsible for the creation of astronomical tables and the solar calendar that is used widely until today. It was the Muslims of Cordoba who devised the more popular Farmer’s calendar, Almanac, which is a reflection of the Arabic word, al manakh, meaning the climate.

By using today’s advanced calculations and astronomical data, I believe the Muslims of North America have an opportunity to lead the Muslim world into unity in this matter. We should not miss this golden opportunity. I ask Allah to open my heart and the hearts of all Muslims to see the true guidelines of Prophet Muhammad (p) in resolving issues, his lenient personality and the essence and intent of this faith.