Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuh! Sighting of Crescent Narrated Abdullah bin Umar (radiAllahu anhu): Allah's Apostle (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned ramadan and said, "Do not fast unless you see the crescent (of Ramadan), and do not give up fasting till you see the crescent (of Shawwal), but if the sky is overcast (if you cannot see it), then act on estimation (i.e. count Sha'ban as 30 days)." (Sahih Bukhari: Book #31, Hadith #130) Benefits: Islam whose addressee are black & white, urban & city dwellers, away from populations and away from necessity of daily life staying in desert & forest and those astronauts & mountaineers, to say all types of people. In its Jurisprudence all have been given concession. So it was taught that way that which one be easier for all & it is not hard to practice. That is why the reason the legislation of Shari’ah which are concerned with any particular time like prayers etc, the standard made thereupon with those effects of the sun-rise and sun-set and its rise & fall. In the same way are related factors for months, the sighting the crescent with naked eye was made the order of the central criteria (Not only mere the presence of moon on the horizon). Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala says: It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for her; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand. (Al-Quran: Surah Younus ~ Ayah 5) For the start & end of Ramadan & Eid the same natural and simple principal was adhered to as given in Ahadith which is exact in accordance of the essence of Islam so that without the need of the availability of technical equipments, food stuff and Arithmetics these problems are solved. As the sayings of Prophet Sallallaho Aleihi Wasallam... Narrated Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu): The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban." (Sahih Bukhari: Book #31, Hadith #133) 'Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The month (of Ramadan) may consist of twenty nine days; so when you see the new moon observe fast and when you see (the new moon again at the commencement of the month of Shawwal) then break It, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate it (and complete thirty days). (Sahih Muslim: Book #006, Hadith #2368) From this Hadith it is crystal clear that neither Muslims should not involve in any disputes nor need taking any help from telescope and measuring instruments.. When the moon (of 29th) is sighted, then one should start keeping the fast (if it is the moon of Ramadan) and celebrate Eid (if it is the moon of Eid). If the moon is not sighted, then after the completion of 30 days either Ramadan or Eid (for whom the moon is sighted) MUST be celebrated. The crescent is present in the horizon but that is covered in by the cloud and for that it has not been seen; in this situation it is the same order those 30 days are to be completed. And, additional easiness is that it is not compelling for everyone sightings the moon but it will suffice if some Muslims sights. Sighting of everyone is not binding but rather sighting the moon by 2 religious persons is enough on behalf of all and for Ramadan it is enough for one religious person sighting but for the moon of Eid-ul-Fitr one person’s witness is not enough. (Reference Muslim) By the way, it is crystal clear from Hadith that the actual thing is the sighting of the moon and not the presence of moon on the horizon or the formation of the new moon. So, without any hesitation it can be said that to sight the crescent going above the cloud by airplane or sighting by any instrument and make a compulsory by pressing that moon has been sighted or by the calculation or by the principal of Astrology to prove that moon has been sighted and act upon practically; all these things do not meet the essence of Shariah. As it is in narrations mentioned below; Narrated Ibn 'Umar (radiAllahu anhu): The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days." (Sahih Bukhari: Book #31, Hadith #137) *** Narrated Ibn 'Umar (radiAllahu anhu): The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) (holding out his ten fingers thrice), said, "The month is thus and thus and thus," namely thirty days. Then (holding out his ten fingers twice and then nine fingers), he (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "It may be thus and thus and thus," namely twenty nine days. He meant once thirty days and once twenty nine days. (Sahih Bukhari: Book #63, Hadith #222) *** Narrated Abdullah bin Umar (radiAllahu anhu) : Allah's Apostle (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "The month (can be) 29 nights (i.e. days), and do not fast till you see the moon, and if the sky is overcast, then complete Sha'ban as thirty days." (Sahih Bukhari: Book #31, Hadith #131) *** Narrated Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu): The Prophet or Abu-l-Qasim (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban." (Sahih Bukhari: Book #31, Hadith #133) Kindly check out the URL below for Urdu-slide http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7857/u427ag.jpg Courtesy of Urdu-slide: Brother-in-faith Haji Khan <[email protected]> English translation added by Brother-in-faith Mohammad Usman <[email protected]> Jazak Allahu Khairan kaseera to both of them (Allahumma Aameen) *** Alahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni! OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me! (Aameen) ~ Please join ~ ~Precious_Teachings_Of_Islam~ http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/Precious_Teachings_Of_Islam/ ~Divine_Light_Of_Allah~ http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Light_Of_Allah/join ~ALLAH_KA_NOOR~ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ALLAH_KA_NOOR/join ~And learn more about Islam~ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
