Bismihi Ta`ala
*THE DANGER OF ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR DISTORTION*
The Islamic calendar is a symbol of our deen. Because the Hajj, Eids, Ramadhaan all depends on the Islamic calendar, it was important that this calendar be rightly defined and securely established. Allah Ta`ala says: ‘’Surely, the number of months to Allah is 12, as in the decree of Allah on the very day of creation of the skies and the earth. Four of them are sacred. That is the right faith.’’(9:36)
Arabs used to play with the calendar in relation of their advantage and warring mould. As such the calendar was distorted.
But with the advent of the beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam, the calendar was re-brought to the original timing at creation.In Hajj, a few months before the demise of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam, he announced: عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَعَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الزَّمَانُ قَدْ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَةِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ
‘’The calendar have been re-adjusted as to what it was at the original time, as to when the day of creation of the skies and the earth…’’(Bukhari)
With the barkah of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam, we reached the original calendar counting. And the beloved prophet SAW stressed that we should sight the moon with the eyes(Bukhari).
Should we not find the moon on the 29th, then complete 30 of the month(Bukhari):
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَوْ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُبِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ بخاري
That is why an astronomical calculation will indicate to us to see the horizon or not. On the 29th day of the month, it is astronomically believed that the new moon may be sighted on the horizon. So we will try to sight the new moon on the horizon that day. But in no condition will we conclude the change of the month based on astronomical calculations.In fact, as to moon sighting, we are called to be un-astronomical and unscientific:
أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَاعَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّا أُمَّةٌ أُمِّيَّةٌ لَا نَكْتُبُ وَلَا نَحْسُبُ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا يَعْنِي مَرَّةً تِسْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ وَمَرَّةً ثَلَاثِينَ بخاري*
“We are an analphabetic people. We won`t count and we won`t write. The month is a simple as this: 29 or 30(indicating with His Mubarak fingers).’’(Bukhari)*More simple and villager we become as to the moon sighting, the more we will be close to sunnah and we will preserve the original moon Hijri calendar.The more we will bring technicalities to the calendar, the more we will distort the calendar.
*PLEASE DO NOT DISTORT WHAT WE WERE GIFTED FROM ALLAH AZZA WA JAL BECAUSE OF THE BARKAH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD SWALALLAHOU `ALAIHI WASALLAM. THIS IS AN AMANAH TO BE PRESERVED TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS UNTIL THE DAY OF QIYAMAH.*
If moon sighted with telescope, then nude eyes should be able to sight it. Else without naked eyes sighting, then sighting not valid.
The moon calendar is based on sighting and cannot be predetermined before time. This is a very serious mistake that touches the Symbol of Islam(Shara-ir).
Furthermore, know that when sun is setting in Australia, we are at midday in Mauritius and in the morning in south Africa. As such, global sighting is impossible as to different times prevailing in different countries. Hence all countries should stick to the sunnah of moon sighting and should ignore astronomical calculations.