11.
Letters
Regarding the symposium
hosted by ISNA on November 19, 2000 we would like to present the following
facts about the Islamic Calendar for your kind consideration and necessary
action. ISNA has not looked into all aspects
of the problem and discussed properly as desired by the Qur’aan and Sunnah of
the Prophet (SAW).
In fact Ikhthilaf or Ithihad of Mathalia has no relevance in preparing the Islamic calendar. A calendar is based on certain principles and calculations and seeing the Hilal with the naked eyes has nothing to do with it. Islam must have a calendar and the fasting must be compulsory on the first of Ramadan of the Islamic Calendar according to the Islamic Shariah. Without a practicable and perfect calendar Islam is incomplete.
1. Do the Ulema argue that Islam has no calendar?
2. Is the Hijra
Calendar baseless, unpredictable and impracticable in the use of our day-to-day
life in this world?
3. Is the Hijra Calendar inferior to the other calendars
that exist in the world today?
4. Can the
Muslims adopt the Gregorian calendar and use the Gregorian dates, which have no
connection with the moon?
5. Can a child be
born on two or three dates, in other words can a month begin on two or three
days? For example, Ramadan first on Sunday, Ramadan first on Monday and Ramadan
first on Tuesday?
Our story is like that of
the Mullah who searched for his key under the streetlight because there was no
light where he had lost the key! Even
if all the Ulema and the scientists of the world joined together and made a
hectic search leaving no stone unturned, they will not find a solution because
they are not searching at the proper place, the Qur’aan and the Sunnah of the
Prophet (SAW). They have deviated far
away from the path of Truth, Islam.
We have seven days, which
have names. These days are common for all in the world. Dates in any calendar stand in place of
days, when the day is common the date, which stands for it, must also be
common. That would mean, if the first of
Ramadan is Sunday in Libya first of Ramadan in America also must be
Sunday. There cannot be difference of
opinion in this.
All renowned Imams and
scholars have agreed that if the fasting of Ramadan is confirmed at one place
and this information is conveyed in an authentic way, then fasting is
compulsory for all those who get that information.
The Qur’aan says “if you
disagree on a matter, then you refer it to Allah and His Rasool “ (Q
4:59). Now we have disagreed in this
matter of fixing the first of Ramadan for more than thousand years! Why do we not follow the instructions of
Allah and do what He has commanded us to do?
Allah has provided a perfect
calendar for the people to use in the daily life in civil and religious matters
of this world. The Qur’aan says “they
ask thee about the waxing and waning nature of the moon. Tell them that they are dates for the people
and the pilgrimage” (Q 2:189). This
verse clearly informs us that the changing phases of the moon show us the dates
of Nature’s Calendar, which Allah has designed for our use in this world. This is very simple and any one can know the
date by looking at the moon. But we are
gone mad after looking for the first Hilal, which is not visible, now-a-days
because we have polluted the atmosphere.
The Prophet (SAW) has not asked the Muslims to begin fasting of Ramadan
or celebrate Eid only after seeing the Hilal with the naked eyes. He said that he has not come to make things
difficult for the people, but he has come to make things easy. Seeing the Hilal
for fixing the first of the month is very difficult and erratic and it creates
a lot of unnecessary problems for the people.
The Prophet would never have asked the people to do such meaningless
things. It must be a satanic suggestion
to seduce the servants of Allah. Let us
be careful and think about it.
There are twelve months in a
year according to the book of Allah and how are we to discern them? Rasoolullah (SAW) has informed us that the
months will be of twenty-nine or thirty days alternating in different sequences
of combinations in different years.
Ramadan may have twenty-nine or thirty days, like wise the other months
also. There will not be a fixed number
of days of twenty-four hours for every month like the Jewish lunar calendar,
which had thirty, twenty-nine alternating always in the same order, with leap
years to adjust with the natural system.
The Qur’aan says that Allah has appointed phases or Manzils for the
moon, starting from crescent till it returns to the old crescent in order to
show the dates of the months of the Nature's calendar to people who live in
this world. (Q 2:189, 10:5, 36:39). To
create such variations in her phases the moon must change its position every
day. So we know for certain from the Qur’aan that the moon goes around the
earth and a cycle of the moon in reference to the sun is a month for the
people.
Now, how do we calculate the
number of rotations of the moon around the earth in which we are? The reference mark given to us by Allah is
the sun. So whenever the moon comes in
line with the sun in its course we count one rotation for the moon. The moon takes 29.53059 days to make one
rotation. The people of the Prophet’s
(SAW) time were not used to writing, recording or calculations of time. It would make things difficult for them if
he had asked them to do so. He said,
“We are an unlettered people. We do not
write or keep accounts, our month is like this and like that, fast at its
appearance and break fast at its appearance.”
We should not interpret the Qur’an or the Prophet’s words in a literal
sense because they have deep meanings.
If we took them literally we would be like the obedient servant who did
foolish things by ‘obeying’ the master.
We must realize that it was the Qur’aan, which has brought us to this
advancement, from darkness to light.
Without the Qur’aan, people would have remained where they were, stand
still for thousands of years. It was
the Prophet (SAW) who ordered them to read, write, calculate and learn every
thing. There is no Islam without
knowledge.
Neil Armstrong landed on the
moon in 1969 and returned home with material from the moon for further
study. How could we say that we do not
know how to count the number of rotations of the moon around the earth taking
the sun as the mark of reference? We go
around the Ka'ba when we visit Makkah and we know how we count the rounds.
The followers were not like
the Prophet who could learn every thing over night. It would take time for them to learn. But they had to know their
dates for their immediate programs like fasting and feasting. So the Prophet gave them a very easy and
practicable method of finding their dates accurately by simple observation of
the moon and they were familiar with it because they were wanderers in the open
desert under a very clear sky.
Since the months have
twenty-nine or thirty days and the dates should tally with the Manzils or
phases of the moon, he asked them to look for the appearance of the Hilal on
the twenty-ninth. If the Hilal appeared
by that time the month should commence from the next morning and if the Hilal
did not appear by that time they should complete thirty days and begin the next
month without seeing the Hilal with their naked eyes once again. Now if we did exactly what the Prophet had
asked to do throughout the year for every month, we will learn the principles
of observing the moon’s Ahillah or Hilals.
We will see that most of the months begin before we see the Hilal with
the naked eyes! There are twelve months
and only one among them is Ramadan. Then how can we say that every Ramadan
should begin after seeing the Hilal with the naked eyes? The statement that every month in Islam begins after seeing the
Hilal is wrong. It is a blatant lie
fabricated to mislead the Muslims. The
Qur’aan says that people who were given the book earlier carried them like
Asses. We should not be like them. The Hadees “soomoo li ru’uyathihee wa
afthiroo li ru’uyathihee…” means, fast at its appearance. The usual rendering “fast when you see it”
is not the appropriate meaning, because the first Hilal will not be seen
everywhere on the same day but the dates cannot be different. The words of the Prophet cannot be
meaningless.
The right criterion for
fixing the Islamic months according to the Qur’aan and Sunnah is the birth of
Hilal, which takes place just after the conjunction. So the correct method of computing the Islamic Calendar should be
to take the day of conjunction (conjunction can occur at any part of the day)
as the last day of the Islamic month.
Those who have little knowledge in astronomy reject this method saying
that the Hilal and the new moon are different.
In fact the Hilal could appear at some places on the earth many hours
before conjunction. They have no
knowledge about this. How can there be
any error in the method taught by the Prophet?
The Hilal and the new moon are the same. There is no gap between two months. When a month ends, the other month must begin immediately without
an interval.
The wrong statement that the
Hilal should be visible to the naked eye to begin every month had become
popular long ago and Muslim astronomers who were ignorant of the rules of
Shariah have worked in vain to develop a method on this basis to locate the
Hilal by scientific means. Some
scientists have drawn the diagrams of the so-called lunar date lines to show
where the first Hilal would appear every month. Their wonderful idea to begin the dates from there is baseless,
non-scientific, un-Islamic and impracticable.
They have not understood what a date line means. A date line cannot change; it is a permanent
line running from north to south. The days begin there and the people living on
either side of the Dateline will experience two Fridays. This line cannot pass through a land, for it
will create trouble for the people living there. The date line has nothing to do with the moon. The Moon has no authority over time. The sun
indicates time. The shadow cast by the sun lengthens and shortens as it
apparently moves from east to west. (Q 25:45).
The moon has authority only over the dates that are indicated by her
phase changing every day. A date stands
for a day of the week and it must begin with the day from the Date line. There is no other alternative.
Islam teaches man to keep
time and its order in the earth by establishing prayers at five different times
a day, 1) before sunrise, 2) after meridian, 3) after half way between meridian
and sunset, 4) after sunset and 5) after dusk.
Time follows with the sun from east to west. No one except the travelers
should violate the time order and the canonical prayers should not be performed
after the lapse of the prescribed time.
Travelers are allowed to lessen and combine the prayers. Otherwise those ahead in time will always be
ahead. The travelers and the residents have different rules in these matters in
the Shariah.
Islam also teaches the
people the inviolability of the seven days of the week by ordering them to
establish the Jumu'a prayer on every Friday at noon. Islam teaches them where to put a Date line to begin the day and
date on earth by ordering them to turn to Ka'ba (Kiblah) during the prayer from
wherever they pray on the earth.
Naturally, when people departed from the Ka'ba to all directions they
dispersed towards the east and the west and took their day and Kiblah wherever
they went. People cannot live in the
poles and no body traveled through the polar region. So they dispersed towards east and west and established their
Qibla and Jumu'a. It is note-worthy that
the Qur’aan mentions east and west for the Qibla and north or south are not
mentioned for it. Islam also teaches
the time of the changeover of the world-day by ordering to perform the Jumu'a
prayer at the time of after meridian prayer.
Naturally, one revolution of the earth will be counted when the Date
line coincides with the sun. This is
the time when the first Jumu'a prayer in the world is performed. Here on the eastern side of the date line
the after-meridian prayer of Thursday is performed while the Jumu'a prayer of
Friday is performed on the western side indicating the place and time of the
world-day changeover. This is the
scientific zero hour on earth when all calendar-dates must change. This coincides with the dawn of Makkah, the
center of Islam. The Islamic date is
changed at that time since the days of our Prophet (SAW).
Lot of money and time has
been spent in propagating the false statement that all Islamic month begin
after seeing the Hilal with the naked eyes at sun set. The calendars are prepared on the basis of
this visibility of the Hilal, which happens only one day after its birth. Thus the dates would not tally with the
phases of the moon as ordered in the Qur’aan (2:189). The dates lag behind and when the Moon attains full the date is
only twelfth of thirteenth, instead of fourteenth or fifteenth and the new moon
occurs on twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth instead of twenty-ninth or
thirtieth. As a result the calendar
remains just as it was during the time of ignorance when the Prophet (SAW) was
born. The Prophet (SAW) gave clear
instructions during the Hajjathul wida to reform the calendar making it fully
natural and gave the instructions to observe one day and one date for all
mankind. But today it is not in
practice. Instead, Muslims have
discarded the Hijra calendar and adopted the Gregorian dating system, which has
no connection with the Moon for use in the daily affairs. This is against the orders of Allah (swt).
(Q 59:7)
Postponement of this Ramadan
(1421) by one day in Makkah proves that the Muslims have no practicable
calendar even in the twenty first century.
Transposing of a date is not allowed in the Shariah. Even a savage tribe will not allow it. The Qur’aan says, “The transposing is an
addition to disbelief”. (9:37).
The Hilal of Ramadan had
appeared at 23:11 hours UT on Saturday the 25th of November 2000 AD. Sunday the 26th of November 2000 AD is
the first of Ramadan 1421 AH. But
the authority at Makkah could not study and understand this even though many
requests were made again and again.
They ignored the facts and announced that the Hilal was not seen and
left one day of the holy Ramadan without fasting. Thereby they have allowed what Allah has forbidden (Q. 9:
39). They had begun the fasting of
Ramadan on the second day and the odd dates of the month became the even
days. This ridicules the saying of the
Prophet and the verses of the holy Qur’aan that the Lailathul Qadre is one day. How can the Lailathul Qadre be one day for
the World if Ramadan began on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at different places in
the world?
Allah (swt) orders the
Muslims to begin the fasting on the first of Ramadan, but not on the
second. According to the Qur’aan,
Ramadan must begin the next morning after the birth of Hilal, and this took
place on Saturday evening. All human
beings witness that the new moon took place on Saturday the 25th of November
2000. The Qur’aan says “Those who
witness the month let them fast in it … and let them complete the period…”
(2:185). The Qur’aan admonishes the
people to tell the truth and condemns the liars. The period of Ramadan 1421 is thirty days from Sunday 26th
November 2000 to Monday the 25th of December 2000 for all people living in this
world. No one has the right to change
the dates and periods defined by the Moon, which Allah (swt) has prescribed as
the calendar for the people.
Tuesday the 26th of December
2000 AD is the 1st of Shawwal 1421 AH on which we are ordered to celebrate the
Eid-ul-fitre. Fasting on this day is
Haraam in the Shariah. We calculate and
find out the day on which an eclipse would occur. Then why should we not calculate and find out our dates for the
Eids? Islam does not prohibit
calculation of dates.
The statement that the
Islamic day begins after sunset is un- Islamic. How can the day begin at sun set? The day begins at daybreak in a true religion. Islam is straightforward and Islam admonishes
to speak the truth. Is it true that the
day begins at sunset?
The statement that the
astronomical new moon cannot be used to start the Islamic month is also
wrong. If the new moon can occur at any
time within the twenty-four hours of a particular day, then the Hilal also can
appear at any time of the day.
The Qur’aan says, “We have
raised many men and Jinn for the hell. They have minds with which they do not
think. They have eyes with which they
do not see. They have ears with which
they do not hear. They are like the
beasts. Nay, they are worse. They are
the heedless.” (Q7: 179). Let us fear
of falling into this category. We have
seen many half moons and full moons, but we do not think about it even though
Allah (swt) has clearly informed us that they are means of calculating the
passage of our time. “He has appointed
Manzils for it (the moon) that you may know the ages (of the moon phase) and
the calculations (thereof).” (Q 10:5).
Today no one looks at the
shadow 0of the sun to know the time for the prayers shown by the sun's
angle. Then why should we need to look
at the moon to know the date shown by the moon's angle? We should understand our Prophet (SAW) and
Islam properly. Only then we can reach
the hereafter safely.
May Allah forgive us and
lead us to the right path!
M. Alimanikfan
Email: manikfan@email.com
Ernakulam. December 1, 2000/
Ramadan 6.1421
Dear Brother in Islam
Assalamu alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Bismillahir Rahmaanir
Raheem, Wassalatu Wasslalaamu alaa
Rasoolihil Kareem wa alaa aalihi wasahbihee ajmaeen walhamdu lillahi rabbil
aalameen.
Youmul Arafat falls on
Thursday (21-02-2002AD)
Please send this important
message to all and try to get answers to the following questions. I am giving a
few addresses below. Let not the Muslims commit the mistake of celebrating the
Eid on different days, which is forbidden once again. Please do not keep
silent. All of us are responsible to Allah (swt).
1.Do the Ulema argue that
Islam has no calendar?
2.Is the Hijra Calendar
baseless, unpredictable and impracticable in the use of our day-to-day life in
this world?
3.Is the Hijra Calendar
inferior to the other calendars that exist in the world today?
4.Can the Muslims adopt the
Gregorian calendar and use the Gregorian dates, which have no connection with
the moon?
5.Can a child be born on two
or three dates, in other words can a month begin on two or three days? For
example, Shawwal first on Saturday, Shawwal first on Sunday and Shawwal first
on Monday?
6.The Prophet Muhammed (saw)
was born on Monday the 12th of Rabiul Awwal 53 years before Hijrat and passed
away on Monday the12th of Rabiul Awwal in the 11th year of Hijrat according to
the calendar used in Arabia at that time. What is the span of the Prophet’s
life?
7.What is the use of the
eclipses for the people? What do they indicate?
8.What is the scientific
measure (29 or 30) of Ramadan of 1422H? - From what day to what day?
9.What day is the first of
Zul Hajj1422H?
10.Is there is any objection
in the Islamic Shariah in fixing our programs in advance? Should we wait till
we see the Hilal on the 29th? Can we not fix the day of Eidul Adha
1422H in advance. Should we put the common man into embarrassment due to our
meaningless disputes over the dates?
Even the laymen could fix it
without any difficulty if they spend some time for watching the moon. Please
observe the moon according to the following instructions:
By observing the phases of
the moon for the last month we knew that Zul Qaid began on Monday. The first of
Zul Qaid falling on Monday was confirmed by the observation of the first
quarter on the 7th and 8th, that is on Sunday and Monday
evening at the sunset.
It can easily be understood
that the day on which the first falls would be the 29th of the month
on which the Hilal for the next month should be looked for. If the Hilal is
known to be present on the 29th then the next month begins on the
next day. If not 30 days must be completed and the month begins irrespective of
the Hilal as per the instructions of the Prophet (saw).
When a month has 29 days the
full moon would occur between 14th and 15th and when a month
has 30 days it would occur between 15th and 16th. This
can be noticed by observing the full moon during which the sunset and the
moonrise would occur almost at the same time. By experience we can easily know
whether the month would end in 29 or 30, even at the first quarter.
Now the third observation
comes during the last quarter. We know that the first was Monday. We should
observe the waning Hilal early in the morning. On Monday morning you would see
the moon in the gibbous form. It has not yet become a crescent (Hilal). Again
look at the moon on Tuesday morning before sunrise. You would see that it is
almost half and overhead. Again observe it on Wednesday morning. Now you would
see that it has attained the form of Hilal with well-developed horns. This day
(Wednesday) would be the first of the next month.
You can confirm this again
at the last stage of the course of the moon. Look for the old Hilal early in
the morning on Monday the 29th of Zul Qaid. You will see the last
visible Hilal of the month rising about an hour before the sunrise. If the
month has 29days, then you would not see it. You cannot see the Hilal on the
last day of the month. Observe again on Tuesday morning. You will not be able
to see the Hilal even though it would rise before the sun. The moon would
overtake the Sun in the course of Tuesday and appear in the western horizon.
But you would not be able to see the hilal due to its proximity to the Sun.
This is the last day of the month. We have already completed 30 days for the
month. The next day (Wednesday) is undoubtedly the first of Zul Hajj. If the
first is Wednesday the Arafat the ninth of Zul Hajj will be Thursday. If you
practice this you will not have confusion about the Islamic dates, which are
shown to us every day by the changing phases of the moon. Allah (swt) has
provided all this for us to cross check our dates but we are quarrelling over
our dates without realizing the facts.
Please treat this as a very
important matter and give me an immediate reply.
May Allah (swt) reward you
for the good action!
Khalid Shaukat wrote:
Do you
understand the problem of Conjunction?
I have analyzed the conjunction as the basis, but the problem is the
conjunction can occur at any time between 24 hours. Suppose the conjunction
occurs at 11pm Universal Time (Sunday), then at that moment Makkah time is 2am
(Sunday). Now should England start the month on Monday and Saudi Arabia start
the month on Tuesday. So, you tell me how can we adopt that?
Khalid Shaukat
This is a
reply to Mr. Ali Manikfan's query "Why not make conjunction as the
basis?"
Let us examine the conjunction as a possible basis of starting a month.
Remember, the conjunction can occur at any time between 24 hours. Suppose the
conjunction occurs at 11pm Universal Time (Sunday), then at that moment Makkah
time is 2am (Monday). Should England start the month on Monday and Saudi Arabia
start the month on Tuesday?
Now, if
someone says that let us make Makkah as our basis and whatever day in Makkah,
the conjunction occurs the next day the new month starts. The problem with this
is that if conjunction occurs at 0:01am (Monday) of Makkah time then at that
moment it is 11:01am (Sunday) in Hawaii. Should Hawaii start the month on
Monday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Tuesday?
Look at
another case: Suppose the conjunction occurs at 11:59pm (Sunday) Makkah time
then at that moment it is 5:59am (Monday) in Tokyo. Should Japan start the
month on Tuesday and Saudi Arabia start the month on Monday? If someone says,
ignore what time it is in other locations of the world, just go by Makkah time,
then why do we have different prayer times for every city? Why not adopt Makkah
Prayer Time all over the world.
Muslims have
looked at the conjunction as a possible basis, but there is no solution?
Khalid Shaukat
Khalid Shaukat wrote:
Before you ask
the question, "Is it true that Fasting began on Saturday in India and on
Friday in America" you must lay the ground rule.
1. Do you want
to go by sighting?
2. Do you want to go by birth? If yes, then birth where? In India or In USA. If
moon was born in USA on Thursday and at exactly at the same time it was Friday
in India, then what to do? Would it not be different in USA and in India? I
have told you this over and over in my several emails in the past but you do
not seem to grasp this point.
Manikfan wrote:
Dear Brother in Islam, Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
Thank you for your letter. In Kerala the fasting began on Friday. In the other parts of India they began on Saturday. This is because they have not observed the Hilal in the proper way. They have committed a mistake. Here too there are astronomers who know that Hilal cannot be seen on Thursday. It is true that the Hilal would be seen only on Friday. But all months in the Islamic Shariah do not begin always after seeing the Hilal. Whenever a month gets 30 the next month begins without seeing the Hilal. This fact is overlooked. This Ramadan began after completing 30 days on Thursday for Shaban. When Makkah starts fasting on Friday all Muslims must accept that Ramadan has commenced on Friday. The Prophet (saw) has clearly said, “If two Muslims witness you begin the fast and if two Muslims witness you break the fast.”
America is many hours behind Makkah and India is ahead of Makkah. We pray the Jumu’a prayer two and half hours before Makkah and Americans pray it after many hours of Makkah. Adhering to this order of time keeping in the world is compulsory in Islam. Violation of it is Haraam. When America begins fasting on Friday India also must begin on Friday because India is ahead in time. If they miss the fast on the first of Ramadan (Friday) they must compensate by fasting one day for it after the Eid. This is the law of the Islamic Shariah.
I think you do not understand Arabic and the Islamic Fiqh. That is why you are finding it difficult to believe. I have written this many times in my letters and others too have written the same to you. But somehow you seem to ignore it. Please understand that Islam is science. Islam never contradicts the science.
The idea of lunar date lines is unscientific, un-Islamic and impracticable. But you want to stick on to the fallacy. Days and dates begin only on the Meeqatul Qibla (International Date Line). The new moon takes place on a particular day of the week. It may take place at any time of the day. The new moon day is the last day of the Islamic month. Next day is the first. Wassalam Yours truly, Ali Manikfan 13-09-1422/28-11-2001
From: shaukat To :
ali manikfan
Subject: Whenever a month
gets 30 the next month begins without seeing the Hilal
It appears that you
understand Quran and Hadith better than Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas.
He asked Hadrat Kuraib to
fast 31 days (Subulus-salam).
Subject: Important Matter
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 02
21:52:05 IST
From:shaukat@moonsighting.com
To: NABEELA COMMUNICATIONS
This Matter copied from your
moonsighting.com Web site. Eid-al-Adha: The new moon birth on February 12, 2002
is at 7:42 Greenwich/Universal Time OR
2:42 am, Eastern Standard\Time OR February 11, 11:42 pm Pacific Standard Time. On February 12, this moon cannot be
seen in North America, nor any place east of American continent. You can see
the visibility curve. On Feb 12, this moon will not be far enough from the sun,
nor high enough above the horizon to be spotted anywhere except Hawaii.
Although, it remains above the horizon for 30 minutes after sunset on west
coast, and the age will be up to 18 hours, it cannot be seen even by telescope,
because of the scattered sunlight on the horizon being greater than the
reflected crescent light. Therefore, 1st Zul-Hijjah will not be on Feb 13
anywhere in the world except Hawaii. In North America, 1st Zul-Hijjah will be
on Feb 14, and 10th Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday). According to
consensus of Ulamaa' for 14 hundred years, Eid-al-Adha has been on 10th
Zul-Hijjah and not on the day after Arafah. This consensus has been practiced
all over the Muslim world, and also adopted by Shurah Council of North America.
Therefore, Eid-al-Adha in North America cannot be on any other day, but Feb 23,
2002 (Saturday), no matter what Hajj date is announced by Saudi Arabia. Any
claims of sighting in Middle East on Feb 12 should be considered as bogus or
mistaken sighting
(Moonsets before sunset in
Makkah for example on Feb 12).
Thank you for pointing out
the mistake. I have removed it. However, that 12 minutes after sunset does not
mean Hilal appears there. Hilal is not the moon. Hilal is the crescent, which
does not form until the moon gets some degrees away from the sun. It is
scientific fact that hilal is not formed until moon gets 7 degrees away from
the sun and in Makkah it is not so. The moon is only 5.6 degrees away from the
sun on Feb 12.
NABEELA COMMUNICATIONS
wrote: Assalamu Alaikkum Dear Brother Dr.Khalid shaukat, I visited your site
today. I read it. Last line (Moonsets before sunset in Makkah
for example on Feb 12). It is wrong information. Please correct it as soon as
possible because Sunsets in Makkah 10 minutes 56 Seconds before moonsets. So Hilal is appeared there. Also Sunsets In
India (Delhi) 2 minutes 39 seconds before Sunset. (Visible, not visible doesn't
matter). We must know about the Hilal) We can start the new month Dul
-Hajj next day 13th Wednesday
2002. 9th day of Dul hajj (Arafat) is
February 21st Thursday 2002. Eid- al-
Adha is February 22nd Friday 2002. This is for your kind
information. Please Check once again.
My Data is wrong please guide me.
Your loving Brother Siraj
Ali Manikfan wrote:
Dear Brother Khalid Shaukat,
Assalamu Alaikum Wr. Web.
I am sorry to inform you
that your wrong information would create confusion and mislead the Muslims. You
claim to be an astronomer and you talk about seeing the crescent for fixing the
first of Zul hijjah 1422H. This is strange. Please understand that the Islamic
calendar is the best calendar for the people to use. It has calculations. Past
and future dates of the Islamic calendar could be calculated scientifically for
infinity. If you do not understand the rules of Islamic shariah for the
Calendar you should keep silent. You are responsible.
In fact the month of Zul
Quida began on Monday. You have not observed the moon, so you do not know the
facts. Last Ramadan ended on Friday. People in America witnessed the eclipse on
Friday. Can you deny this? Thus the First of Shawwal fell on Saturday. The 29th
of Shawwal was on Saturday. The Hilal had not appeared on Saturday. So
according to the instructions of our beloved Prophet on whom be peace and the
blessings of Allah, 30 days for Shawwal was completed on Sunday. Thus Zul Quida
began on Monday. The naked eye observations made by many people here prove that
this is in accordance with the Ahillat of the moon. The 29th of Zul
Quid falls on Monday.
Our experience in observing
the moon, tell us that the crescent would not appear on Monday. So 30 would be
completed as per the Sunnah on Tuesday and Zul Hajja 1422H will commence on
Wednesday. No Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen
after completing 30 days for the outgoing month.
It is strange to note that
according to you Zul Hajj begins on Thursday. Your calculations are certainly
wrong. Please study well and make corrections immediately.
May Allah guide us all to
the right path! Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam, Ali
Manikfan 22-11-1422/04-02-2002
From: Khalid Shaukat To:
ali manikfan
Subject: Re: Zul Hajj firtst
on Wednesday
Date: Tue, 05 Feb 02
05:35:15 IST Cc: Sayyid Syeed DrSiddiqi
Dear brother Ali Manikfan,
wa alaikumus salam Wr. Wb.
Your statement, "Past
and future dates of the Islamic calendar could be calculated scientifically for
infinity" is not correct. Science cannot tell this for even hundred years,
not to mention infinity.
Your statement, "No
Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen after completing
30 days for the outgoing month" is also wrong. You may not have seen the
footnotes in the book of hadith, "Subulus salaam" where Hadrat Abdullah
Ibn Abbas asked Hadrat Kuraib to fast the 31st day in his Ramadan, because the
moon was not visible on 30th day on clear sky. Hanafi Fiqh also is of the
opinion that it is possible that the beginning of a month was due to a mistaken
claim and after 30 days the moon is still not visible in clear skies, it is
proof enough that the beginning of the month was wrong, so you must correct
that mistake by waiting until the moon is seen, meaning waiting after the 31st
day.
You have accused me that my
calculations are wrong. They are not wrong. I have checked them carefully. It
does not suit a Muslim to accuse someone even non-Muslim, because you may not
know the facts. AND Allah knows best.
I am sending this email cc:
to ISNA headquarters, because sometimes they receive an email from you and
direct me to respond, while I had already responded to you.
Your brother in Islam,
Khalid Shaukat
mwlhq@aol.com nabeela@vsnl.com
SSyeed@aol.com
Dear Brother Khalid Shaukat,
Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
Allah(swt) informs us in the
Qur’aan that He has appointed Manazil for the Moon so that we may know the
count of the ages and the calculation. (10:5). It means that human kind can
find out their dates by calculations of the Manazil of the Moon. May be you
have not yet found out this method.
You have not replied to my
questions so far. How long did the Prophet (saw) live on this Earth?
According to the Manazil of
the Moon which Allah (swt) has designed for the people to calculate the dates,
the First of Zul hajj 1422H is Wednesday, not Thursday. So your calculation is
certainly wrong. You are not looking at the Moon.
I think you have not read my
reply sent in Ramadan regarding Kuraib’s fasting on his 31st, which
was actually the 30th of Ramadan that year. The people at Sham had
mistaken something for the Hilal and Ibn Abbas ® who knew how to observe the
Manazil of the Moon ordered Kuraib to fast on the 30th of Ramadan.
Kuraib accepted it and fasted. If he were sure of his seeing the Hilal he would
have objected. Allah has not ordered to fast 31days for Ramadan. How can Ibn
Abbas ® order a thing which Allah has not ordered. I have read Subulus Salam
many times. I think you do not understand Arabic. Your interpretation is
certainly wrong.
Your lunar date lines are
un-Islamic and unscientific. There cannot be two dates for one day. It is
certainly dangerous to make wrong statements, which defame Islam. According to
your statements the Isalamic calendar cannot be used in this world. My
statement "No Alim or Scholar has ever said that the crescent must be seen
after completing 30 days for the outgoing month" is certainly in
accordance with the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
Almost all the Muslims on
earth have fasted on the Day of Eidul Fitre (1422H) Saturday. You are
responsible for it. It is the duty of a Muslim to guide and advise when a
Muslim goes wrong. Please do not take my advice as an accusation. We are
answerable to Allah. If you are not sure of your calculations you need not make
such statements. You say “the Science can not tell this for even hundred years,
not to mention infinity”. Then why do you want to confuse people with such a
science? Let the people decide. Your statement: “Therefore, 1st Zul-Hijjah will
not be on Feb 13 anywhere in the world except Hawaii. In North America, 1st
Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 14, and 10th Zul-Hijjah will be on Feb 23, 2002
(Saturday). According to consensus of Ulamaa' for 14 hundred years, Eid-al-Adha
has been on 10th Zul-Hijjah and not on the day after Arafah. This consensus has
been practiced all over the Muslim world, and also adopted by Shurah Council of
North America. Therefore, Eid-al-Adha in North America cannot be on any other
day, but Feb 23, 2002 (Saturday), no matter what Hajj date is announced by
Saudi Arabia. Any claims of sighting in Middle East on Feb 12 should be
considered as bogus or mistaken sighting (Moonsets before sunset in Makkah for
example on Feb 12)”. This will mislead the people. It is certainly a false
statement. All the Ulema have opined that all Muslims must observe their Days
according to the decision at one place on earth.
According to you there can
be many Days of Eidul Adha on earth in one year. Islam does not allow it. May
Allah guide us to the right path!
From M. Ali Manikfan,
Advisor, Hijra Committee of
India,
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League,
Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K.S.A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,
A letter received from KACST says that the beginning of the Hijra month used to be determined before 1420H based on the beginning of the day in Greenwich at midnight and that this is not congruent with the Hadith "Soomoo li ru'uyatihi" and that they want to change the month when the Hilal becomes visible at Makkah. This will not coincide with the Islamic Day change. The Sahar time of Makkah or the midnight of Greenwich is the time of Day change in the Islamic world since the time of the Prophet (saw).
I think their view is not
congruent with the text of the Qur’aan, which should be the basis for the rules
of the Shariah. The Messenger of Allah has not said anything, which is not
congruent with the Qur'aan.
"Soomoo li
ru'uyatihi" has vast meaning. It is just like "Aqimissalatha li
dulookisshamsi" We cannot say that the Prophet (saw) has ordered us to
begin the fasting when we see the Hilal. It would be a wrong interpretation.
According to the Qur'aan the
lunar months should be measured depending on the cycle of the moon. This would
be from new moon to new moon. This is the Islamic lunar month and a month
begins with a particular day of the week. It cannot begin in the middle of the
day. So the new moon day would be treated as the last day of the month and the
next day would be the first of the ensuing month.
The days do not change at
Greenwich or Makkah. Days change only at the Meeqatul Qibla or the
International Date Line, the place where the East Qibla changes to West Qibla
on the Earth. This was defined in1886AD by non-Muslim Navigators. It passes
through Bering Strait between Russia and America. Day or date cannot be changed
where people live. The Islamic Shariah does not permit it in a town. The two
sides should be separated by travel. So changing the day at Makkah is wrong and
not congruent with the Qur'aan or the Hadith.
The calendars given in the
volume containing the Ummul Qura calendars from 1882AD to 2007AD are correct,
except for a few printing mistakes. The rule adopted in that work is purely
scientific and congruent with the Book of Allah (swt) and the teachings of His
Messenger (saw). There is no need to change this rule.
The calendar used at the
time of the Prophet (saw) in Arabia was the lunar calendar of the Jews. It was
an artificial lunar calendar and the Prophet (saw) ordered to make the calendar
purely natural for which observing the moon was necessary. Since they did not
know the methods of calculations they fixed the first day of the month by
observing the moon. Now we have learnt the laws of the moon and we have changed
it into calculations just as we have done with our time. We no more look at the
shadow, but we look at the watches.
The change of day does not
take place at the Ka’aba, it takes place only at the Meeqatul Qibla or the
International Date Line. The calendar day should begin from there only. The
time of day change in the world would be the time when the first Jumu'a of the
Friday is prayed on the Earth. Please remember that the first Jumu'a is not
prayed at the Holy Kaaba. So there is no need to deviate from the natural
order. It will create problems and our actions would become ridiculous. KACST
has already given the statement: "New UmmUlQura Calendar Changed ~1420H by
KACST (King Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology, Riyadh). Has a single
criterion: Sunset is before Moonset in Makkah. Insha’Allaah starting 1423H it
will change again to directly take astronomical new moon into
account." The present statement of
KACST is contradictory to this.
Therefore I request you to
follow the original rule of the Ummul Qura calendar when you prepare the
100-year calendar from 2000 to 2100AD.
If you have any difficulty
in understanding my explanations please arrange an interview with me so that we
can discuss everything in detail. The Ummul Qura calendar for 1423H should be free
of errors and according to the Qur'aan and and Sunnah. Hope you will take the
responsibility and do the needful for the cause of Islam.
May Allah (swt) reward you
for the good work! Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
08-09-1422=23-11-2001
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League,
Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K.S.A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Subject: Change of rule of
the Ummul Qura calendar and mistakes in the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal 1422H-
Regarding.
Please refer my letter of
08-09-1422/23-11-2001. I am a scholar of the Islamic calendar. I have sent many
letters to the Rabitha regarding the Islamic calendar. It pains me very much to
inform you that the matter has not been given proper attention. The mistake in
the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal of 1422H proves this.
I had informed the KACST in
my letter dated 04-09-1422/19-11-2001that Ramadan 1422 has only 29 days
according to the correct calculations of the Manazil of the Moon as per the
instructions of the Qur’aan (2:189, 10: 5 36:39) and the Sunnah. Original Ummul
Qura Calendar also gives the same. Ramadan ends on Friday with an Annular Solar
Eclipse, which can be witnessed in the world. Therefore, the first of Shawwal
of 1422H falls on Saturday the 15th of December 2001.
As immediate action was not
taken the Muslims have committed the serious mistake of fasting on the Day of
the Eidul Fitre of 1422H. You know that there is only one Day of the Eidul
Fitre in a year. The annular solar eclipse, which the world witnessed on Friday
the 14th of December 2001, proves that the holy month of Ramadan is over on
Friday. This means that the First of Shawwal must be Saturday. This is the Day
of Eidul Fitre according to the orders of Rasoolullah (saw) on which he has
forbidden to fast.
You know that Islam is perfect
and that Islamic calendar also is perfect. Then how could this serious mistake
take place? We cannot say that we do not know how to calculate our dates even
after 1400 years. The dates of the Islamic calendar depend on the Manazil of
the Moon and now we know how to calculate this. The holy Qur’aan informs this
in the verse 10:5.
It is not correct to say
that the Islamic dates depend on seeing the Hilal by people. It not a
practicable method and the Prophet (saw) has not ordered us like that. It is a
wrong interpretation of the Hadith “Soomoo li ru’uyathihi”. Did anyone see the
Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday the 15th of November 2001 before
they began the fasting of Ramadan? We are making a mockery of the religion of
Allah (swt). We will be questioned about this on the Day of Judgment.
The Muslims have celebrated
the Eidul Fitre of 1422H on three days. (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Has
Rasoolullahi (saw) permitted such practice? You are responsible for it. Please
let me have a reply regarding the matter.
May Allah (swt) forgive us
and lead us to the right path.
Please accept my sincerest
greetings and respect. Wassalam.
Your Brother in Isl;am
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
05-10-1422/19-12-2001
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League,
Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K S A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Sub: Islamic calendar
regarding.
I understand that there are
two versions for the Islamic calendar for the year 1423H in Saudi Arabia. It is
wrong to have two versions for the Islamic calendar. It will create confusion.
The dates of the Islamic
calendar must tally with the Manazil of the Moon. (2:189)
Please furnish me the first
days of the Islamic months for 1423H so that we could print the Islamic
calendars here also. This will avoid the confusion in the important Days of
Islam.
Please accept my sincerest
greetings and respect.
Wassalam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
23-112-1422/07-03-2002
Kindly send me the data as
soon as possible by E-mail. It should not be difficult for you because you
already have the calendars with you. The matter is very urgent.
28-12-1422/12-03-2002
mtapia@miami.edu
Dears Brothers in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
It high time that we did
some thing to counter the threat that Islam is facing now. The Muslim world is
on the verge of accepting a wrong version for the Hjra calendar. The Ulema and
the Muslim scientists are taken away. They hold many conferences on the subject
every year. But the matter gets more and more complicated because people
without real understanding and having no time to spare take part in them. Dr
Ilyas himself told me that he is very busy with many affairs and he has very
little time to spare for the work of the Islamic calendar. As a result the
Muslim Ummah suffers and becomes a laughing stock. All ask the question “who
will bell the cat?”
I herewith send an old
letter of mine sent to His Majesty The King of Saudi Arabia, for your perusal
and information.
Please do not forget to
observe the moon tomorrow morning. Today you would have seen it just half. Tomorrow
at fajre it will be less than half. This means that next Saturday will be the
first of Safar. If you observe it on Sunday again at fajre you will see that
the moon is much less than the half and it will not be difficult for you to
know that Sunday will be the second of Safar. Allah has made it so simple, but
who cares to look at His signs and learn?
Ali Manikfan,
05-01-1423/22-04-2002
To
His Majesty The King Fahad
bin Abdil Azeez, Khadimul Haramain Asshareefain,
The King of Saudi Arabia,
Makkah Al Mukarramah.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum Wr. Wb.
Please refer my letter of
Ramadan 1420.
Your Majesty may remember that the date of Ramadan was changed at the Ummul Qura at the pretext that the hilal of Ramadan was not seen in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday the 29th of Shaban corresponding to the 7th of December 1999! In fact the Hilal of Ramadan had risen at London and set after 11 minutes of the sunset on that day. Scientific records prove this fact. How did the people fail to Know this in spite of the scientific knowledge that we have today by the grace of Allah (swt)?
It was Fardh for the Muslims all over the world to fast on Wednesday the first of Ramadan corresponding to the 8th of December 1999. But even in the Holy city the Muslims did not observe fasting on that day. As soon as I noticed this failure at the Ummul Qura I had sent a telegram to your Majesty requesting to investigate the matter and ban the false Hijra Calendars, which created this confusion at Makkah. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, your Majesty could take action in time and the Idul Fitre of 1420 was celebrated on the right day. Alhamdu lillah! Here in Kerala and in the other parts of India, the Muslims fasted on the day of the Idul Fitre! Fasting on the day of Eed is forbidden in the Islamic Shareeah. But the people out of mere ignorance have committed this sin. This is not the first time. This has been happening long since. In the previous century people did not have the communication facilities that we have today and the people did it without knowledge.
Fatwas, which state that the
unification of the festivals and the Islamic dates is not necessary, are wrong
and baseless. Unity of days is
compulsory and therefore the unity of dates also must be compulsory.
I am aware of the work
carried out by the Rabitha to have a practicable calendar for the Muslims all
over the world. When I visited Makkah
in Rajab 1420 I had met Dr. Muhammed Ilyas, the convener of the International
Islamic Calendar Program. During our
discussion he confessed that he is not competent to say anything on the
Shareeah point. He said that he simply
followed the advice of the Ulema that every month should begin after seeing the
hilal with the naked eyes. This goes against the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the
Prophet. The Qur’an says very clearly
that the Ahillah mark the dates for mankind and hajj (2:189). The Prophet whose very life is the Qur’an
could not have said any thing contradictory to the Qur'an. I had also met Mr
Habeeb Alawi, the former Astronomer of Rabitha. Both of them have the wrong
notion that the hilal must be visible to the naked eye before beginning every
month. According to the Qur'an and Sunnah this is not necessary.
From the Qur'an it is
clearly known that the moon during its course around the earth, marks dates,
months and years for the mankind. The Prophet informed us that a month would be
29 or 30 days. It will not be less or more. If one has to get the dates
tallying with the phase or the Manzils of the moon, one should begin the month
from the new moon. This can be calculated in advance without any mistake with
the help of the astronomical tables.
If people argue that the
calculations should not be used, it is only because of ignorance. Allah has ordered us to use the lunar calendar
for planning our day-to-day affairs. He will not say that we should not use the
calculations because He knows that without calculations we cannot know our
dates in advance. If we have to fix a program for the next month we must know
the dates in advance. Allah knows that
we need all these things and He will not forbid what is good for the mankind.
I have studied the calendars
prepared by Dr. Md Ilyas for the I I C P. His calendars are based on the Imkaan
Arru’ya system. That is, to begin the months after the moon comes to the
position visible to the naked eye. This
would be one day after the new moon.
When the dates are calculated according to this basis, the dates will
not tally with the Manzils or the phases of the moon and this is contradictory
to the Qur'anic injunction. (10:5).
Dr. Md Ilyas has arrived at
the wrong idea that the months begin only after seeing the hilal. The hilal
appears at different places every month and the graphic line drawn based on
this is curved and falls at different places on the map of the world. This
cannot be a date line. The date line is an immoveable line marked at a
suitable place on the Earth with reference to the Kaaba and the days begin from
there. Since the months begin with the day, a month can begin only from the
date line. So the lunar date lines
of Dr. Ilyas have no meaning at all. It is not possible to explain this in a
letter.
The Ummul Qura calendar is
correct. It is based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. It is prepared with the
scientific data, which is reliable. This calendar should be enforced. Use of
all false Hijra calendars should be banned. Muslims all over the world should
practice the Umml Qura calendar in the day-to-day affairs along with the
conventional calendar. Only then the Muslims will understand the importance of
the calendar. We can be grateful to Allah by obeying His orders.
I feel that a meeting of the
Ulema and the scientists should be convened urgently so that things can be
explained and discussed before arriving at a final decision in the matter.
Soliciting a favorable reply
from your Majesty.
May Allah protect us and
shower His blessings upon us.
Your Brother in Islam,
Ali manikfan, present
address,
C/O.Amanath Traders, P.B.
No.59,
K S R T C Road, Perumbavoor,
Kerala, INDIA.
Dated: 24-02-1421 / 20-05-2000.
ansarmd@rediffmail.com haristm@hotmail.com
gluelab@vsnl.net cid@isesco.org.ma fakru1@yahoo.com mtapia@miami.edu mwlhq@aol.com nabeela@vsnl.com
globalhilal@yahoo.com hamzakis@rediffmail.com m_asherpt@yahoo.com fawsan@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in salman@baytul-iman.org
Dear Brethren,
Assalamu Alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu
Please send this important
message to all.
Subject: Eidul Adha of 1422H
falls on Friday the 22nd of February 2002 and all Muslims must
celebrate it on Friday.
All of us know that the last
Eidul Adha (1421H) was celebrated on the wrong day in India. Allah (swt) and
his Rasool (saw) have ordered all believers to observe the Eid on the same day
just as the Jumua, which is observed on
the same day through out the World. Youmul Jumu'a is the celebration day of
the week. People gathering in a Jumu’a mosque and offering special prayers with
a sermon at the time of Zuhar prayer celebrate it. There is no Zuhar prayer on
Friday. All the Muslims in the world observe the Jumu'a on one day (24hours).
If we perform the Jumu’a on one day then we must perform the Eid also on one
day according to the orders of Allah and His Messenger. We have seven days in a
week and an Eid falls only on anyone of these days. It cannot fall on two or
three days. Rasoolullah (saw) has forbidden the fast on the Eid day and if the
Eid falls on two days, (Friday and Saturday) his words would become
meaningless. He never talked meaningless words. (53:3). Making false
allegations on Allah and His Rasool is dangerous.
The Eidul Adha must be
observed on the tenth of Zul Hijjah of the Islamic Calendar named by the Sahaba
as the Hijra calendar. Please remember that a calendar cannot have two or three
versions. If the dates are changed the Halaal and Haraam of Allah (swt) will be
violated. This is very serious in the sight of Allah (swt). He is one and His
calendar must be one for all. There will be only one day of the Eidul Adha in
the Islamic calendar for one year.
According to the fixed
Manzils of the Moon the Eidul Adha of 1422H falls on Friday the tenth of
Zulhajj 1422H coinciding with 22-02-2002 AD of the Christian calendar. There are
many calendars in the world. All calendars have equivalent dates in their
counter parts. For example 10-12-1422H is equal to 22-02-2002 AD. It is foolish
to say that 10-12-1422H is equal to 23-02-2002 AD also! The Ummul Qura the
Center of Islam has declared that the Eidul Adha is on Friday and this news has
been widely published by the Government of Saudi Arabia. There is no reason for
the Indians to celebrate it on Saturday. Has not time come for the Muslims to
realize this silly mistake, which they have been committing since a long time?
Islam does not entertain
such foolish ideas and ignorance. A date in any calendar will denote only one
day of the week. Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught the importance of days and dates
during the farewell address at the Arafat on the 9th of Zulhajj 10H. This is
recorded in the tradition. Islam is perfect and complete. Islamic calendar
taught by the Prophet also is perfect and complete without any defect.
People argue without knowledge that a date of the Islamic calendar could mark two or three days and they create confusion and split in the Muslim community. Some people want to celebrate the Eidul Adha of 1422H on Saturday defying the orders of Allah and His Messenger. There is only one Day of Eidul Adha in a year. Therefore, they would violate the order of Rasoolullah (saw) that no one should fast on the Eid Day. The Qur’aan says "Let those who disobey his orders beware that a trial befalls them or a severe chastisement be inflicted on them" (24:63). Disobedience to the Messenger of Allah is a great sin in the sight of Allah. Special repentance is needed for its forgiveness. The argument that a date of the Islamic calendar could denote three days is baseless and wrong. It ridicules Islam and the Prophet. Can anyone prove that two dates could be used to denote one day of the Islamic Shariah?
The Qur’aan informs in clear
words that Allah (swt) has appointed Manzils for the Moon (10:5) so that we may
calculate the dates (the ages of the moon) the months (the counts of its rotation
around the Earth) and the years, which have12 months. Is it not our duty to
observe the Moon and study this?
Further more the Qur’aan informs us that the Sun and the Moon move with
precision under certain calculations (55:5). Man has observed the Sun's angles
for many years and invented watches so that he may know his time without seeing
the Sun. What prevents us to do the same with the Moon, to know our dates
without seeing the Moon? It would be silly and kufur to say that we should not find out our dates in advance by
using observations and calculations of the Moon. Qur’aan and Hadees command us
to fix our programs in advance and discharge our duties properly. Who forbids
what Allah has allowed?
We must shun all bidh'ah
and superstitions and come to Islam the correct and perfect way of life. Many
letters sent to the leaders and the authorities concerning the matter remain
unanswered. It is hoped that they will take proper action and study the Islamic
calendar. The Qur’aan says that we should not stand on what we have no
knowledge. (17.36). He orders us to learn from those who possess Knowledge.
Knowledge is vast and our life is short. We are aware of the incident of Moosa
(AS) when he was ordered to go to a servant of Allah and learn from him. Let us
turn to Allah (swt) and repent for our wrong doings. Let us come to the Qur’aan
and Hadees and give them proper meaning. Let us not be arrogant and repeat the
sin once again.
May Allah guide us to the
right path and shower his blessings upon us!
Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam,
Ali manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India,
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
Pavaratti:
20-02-2002/08-12-1422
From M. Ali Manikfan,
Advisor, Hijra Committee of
India,
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League,
Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K.S.A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,
A letter received from KACST
says that the beginning of the Hijra month used to be determined before 1420H
based on the beginning of the day in Greenwich at midnight and that this is not
congruent with the Hadith "Soomoo li ru'uyatihi" and that they want to
change the month when the Hilal becomes visible at Makkah. This will not
coincide with the Islamic Day change. The Sahar time of Makkah or the midnight
of Greenwich is the time of Day change in the Islamic world since the time of
the Prophet (saw).
I think their view is not
congruent with the text of the Qur’aan, which should be the basis for the rules
of the Shariah. The Messenger of Allah has not said anything, which is not
congruent with the Qur'aan.
"Soomoo li
ru'uyatihi" has vast meaning. It is just like "Aqimissalatha li
dulookisshamsi" We cannot say that the Prophet (saw) has ordered us to
begin the fasting when we see the Hilal. It would be a wrong interpretation.
According to the Qur'aan the
lunar months should be measured depending on the cycle of the moon. This would
be from new moon to new moon. This is the Islamic lunar month and a month
begins with a particular day of the week. It cannot begin in the middle of the
day. So the new moon day would be treated as the last day of the month and the
next day would be the first of the ensuing month.
The days do not change at
Greenwich or Makkah. Days change only at the Meeqatul Qibla or the
International Date Line, the place where the East Qibla changes to West Qibla
on the Earth. This was defined in1886AD by non-Muslim Navigators. It passes
through Bering Strait between Russia and America. Day or date cannot be changed
where people live. The Islamic Shariah does not permit it in a town. The two
sides should be separated by travel. So changing the day at Makkah is wrong and
not congruent with the Qur'aan or the Hadith.
The calendars given in the
volume containing the Ummul Qura calendars from 1882AD to 2007AD are correct,
except for a few printing mistakes. The rule adopted in that work is purely scientific
and congruent with the Book of Allah (swt) and the teachings of His Messenger
(saw). There is no need to change this rule.
The calendar used at the
time of the Prophet (saw) in Arabia was the lunar calendar of the Jews. It was
an artificial lunar calendar and the Prophet (saw) ordered to make the calendar
purely natural for which observing the moon was necessary. Since they did not
know the methods of calculations they fixed the first day of the month by
observing the moon. Now we have learnt the laws of the moon and we have changed
it into calculations just as we have done with our time. We no more look at the
shadow, but we look at the watches.
The change of day does not
take place at the Ka’aba, it takes place only at the Meeqatul Qibla or the International
Date Line. The calendar day should begin from there only. The time of day
change in the world would be the time when the first Jumu'a of the Friday is
prayed on the Earth. Please remember that the first Jumu'a is not prayed at the
Holy Kaaba. So there is no need to deviate from the natural order. It will
create problems and our actions would become ridiculous. KACST has already
given the statement: "New UmmUlQura Calendar Changed ~1420H by KACST (King
Abdul Aziz City for Science & Technology, Riyadh). Has a single criterion:
Sunset is before Moonset in Makkah. Insha’Allaah starting 1423H it will change
again to directly take astronomical new moon into account." The present statement of KACST is contradictory
to this.
Therefore I request you to
follow the original rule of the Ummul Qura calendar when you prepare the
100-year calendar from 2000 to 2100AD.
If you have any difficulty
in understanding my explanations please arrange an interview with me so that we
can discuss everything in detail. The Ummul Qura calendar for 1423H should be
free of errors and according to the Qur'aan and and Sunnah. Hope you will take
the responsibility and do the needful for the cause of Islam.
May Allah (swt) reward you
for the good work! Wassalam,
Your Brother in Islam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
08-09-1422=23-11-2001
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League, Secretarial
General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K.S.A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Subject: Change of rule of
the Ummul Qura calendar and mistakes in the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal 1422H-
Regarding.
Please refer my
letter of 08-09-1422/23-11-2001. I am a scholar of the Islamic calendar. I have
sent many letters to the Rabitha regarding the Islamic calendar. It pains me
very much to inform you that the matter has not been given proper attention.
The mistake in the dates of Ramadan and Shawwal of 1422H proves this.
I had informed
the KACST in my letter dated 04-09-1422/19-11-2001that Ramadan 1422 has only 29
days according to the correct calculations of the Manazil of the Moon as per
the instructions of the Qur’aan (2:189, 10: 5 36:39) and the Sunnah. Original
Ummul Qura Calendar also gives the same. Ramadan ends on Friday with an Annular
Solar Eclipse, which can be witnessed in the world. Therefore, the first of
Shawwal of 1422H falls on Saturday the 15th of December 2001.
As immediate
action was not taken the Muslims have committed the serious mistake of fasting
on the Day of the Eidul Fitre of 1422H. You know that there is only one Day of
the Eidul Fitre in a year. The annular solar eclipse, which the world witnessed
on Friday the 14th of December 2001, proves that the holy month of Ramadan is
over on Friday. This means that the First of Shawwal must be Saturday. This is
the Day of Eidul Fitre according to the orders of Rasoolullah (saw) on which he
has forbidden to fast.
You know that
Islam is perfect and that Islamic calendar also is perfect. Then how could this
serious mistake take place? We cannot say that we do not know how to calculate
our dates even after 1400 years. The dates of the Islamic calendar depend on the
Manazil of the Moon and now we know how to calculate this. The holy Qur’aan
informs this in the verse 10:5.
It is not correct
to say that the Islamic dates depend on seeing the Hilal by people. It not a
practicable method and the Prophet (saw) has not ordered us like that. It is a
wrong interpretation of the Hadith “Soomoo li ru’uyathihi”. Did anyone see the
Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday the 15th of November 2001 before
they began the fasting of Ramadan? We are making a mockery of the religion of
Allah (swt). We will be questioned about this on the Day of Judgment.
The Muslims have
celebrated the Eidul Fitre of 1422H on three days. (Saturday, Sunday and
Monday). Has Rasoolullahi (saw) permitted such practice? You are responsible
for it. Please let me have a reply regarding the matter.
May Allah (swt)
forgive us and lead us to the right path.
Please accept my
sincerest greetings and respect. Wassalam.
Your Brother in Isl;am
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
05-10-1422/19-12-2001
To
The Director for the Islamic
Jurisprudent Academy,
Muslim World League,
Secretarial General,
Makkah Al Mukarramah,
K S A.
Dear Brother in Islam,
Assalamu alaikum
Warahmathullahi Wabarakathuhu,
Sub: Islamic calendar
regarding.
I understand that there are
two versions for the Islamic calendar for the year 1423H in Saudi Arabia. It is
wrong to have two versions for the Islamic calendar. It will create confusion.
The dates of the Islamic
calendar must tally with the Manazil of the Moon. (2:189)
Please furnish me the first
days of the Islamic months for 1423H so that we could print the Islamic
calendars here also. This will avoid the confusion in the important Days of
Islam.
Please accept my sincerest
greetings and respect.
Wassalam
Ali Manikfan,
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India.
E-mail: manikfan@rediff.com
23-112-1422/07-03-2002
Kindly send me the data as
soon as possible by E-mail. It should not be difficult for you because you
already have the calendars with you. The matter is very urgent.
28-12-1422/12-03-2002
To
Dr. Muzammil .H. Siddiqui,
President of ISNA.
Ref:- Your letter on
Eid-ul-Azha and Hajj dated 26-2-2001
Assalamu Alaikkum Wr. Wb.,
Hope this letter will find you in the best of your health and Islamic spirit.
It gives me much pain to
state that Muslim brethren of our times fail to find out the real teachings of
Qur’an and Sunnah, which is also acceptable to our common sense.
The recent decision taken by
the ISNA and other organizations of the world to observe Eid on different days
is not in accordance with the Book of Allah (SWT), the Sunnah of His Messenger
(SAW) and our common sense. We forget a simple fact that a Calendar cannot be
for a region. All of us know and claim that Islam is the Universal religion and
that the Islamic Calendar cannot be a regional one. Another point is that all
people agree as to the unity of the seven days of the week. These days do not
change from one country to another. The only difference that exists at
different places is in hours. The day is common for all. It begins from the
Date Line, continues till 24 hours and ends in t he same place. When all have
the same day, the date, which stands in place of a day, must be the same. The
dates are not connected with the places.
The Qur’an says that Allah
(SWT) sent His Messenger to bring the people from darkness to light. So the Messenger
will not lead the people into darkness. The Messenger of Allah (SWT) ordered us
to observe the Eid-ul-Azha on the 10th of Dhul Haj of the Islamic
Calendar and He has forbidden the fast on the Eid day. If the Arabs observe the
Eid-ul-Azha on Monday and the Americans on Tuesday as it happened on the last
Eid, it would mean that the people observe the Eid on Monday and Tuesday (2
days). Thus the day of the Eid on which fasting is forbidden becomes obscure
and the words of the Prophet (SAW) are rendered meaningless. The Calendars of
Islam get two versions. All these are not permissible in the Shariah. The
Qur’an or the Teachings of the Messenger of Allah (SWT) cannot contain such
errors. The fact that there is only one Jumu’ah day in a week through out the
world proves beyond doubt that there is only one day of Eid-ul-Azha in a year
and that Eid-ul-Azha cannot fall on two different days. All the Imams and the
scholars of the past have agreed that there is no consideration for the
differences of the ‘Mathla’ in the case of the ‘Hilal’. All of them agree that
one sighting is enough for all in the world.
The former decision of ISNA
to observe the Eid-ul-Azha on the same day with Makkah and the Eid-ul-Fitr
according to the local sighting was correct. This was the decision taken 100
years ago. At that time, they did not have the facilities to convey the message
immediately to the distant places. As regards to the Eid-ul-Azha , there is a
sufficient time because it falls on 10th and there is no excuse for
delaying the celebration . But since there is no sufficient time to convey the
message of the Eid-ul-Fitr, there is an excuse. That is why they took different
rules for the two Eids. But today we do not have any excuse to delay the Eid by
one day because we have the facilities to communicate. We must use our common
sense and celebrate the Eid on the same day all over the world as commanded by
the Prophet (SAW). The Muslims should not become a laughing stock for the other
people.
I am attaching a paper entitles "Have the Islamic Calendars 3 versions? What do the Fuqah say about this?" and a copy of my letter to Dr. Khalid shoukat . Please read them In your next meeting and take a correct decision.
Let your organization lead
the world to the right path. May Allah (SWT) help us to arrive at the right
decision.
Wassalam,
With all good wishes,
Your Brother in Islam
ALI MANIKFAN
Advisor to the Hijra
Committee of India
E-Mail :- manikfan@rediff.com
<mailto:manikfan@rediff.com>
10-7-2001
To
The Islamic Society of London,
London.
Moon
sighting is not the criterion to define the Islamic months.
The decision of
the British Muslim authorities to confirm the date of Ramadan and the Eid
basing on the scientific moon sighting of their country is wrong according to
the Qur'aan and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) for the reasons given below.
1.Moon Sighting is not the
criterion to define the months of the Islamic calendar. The Qur’aan says: “They
ask thee concerning the Ahillah; tell them they are the dates for the people and
the pilgrimage”. (2:189). It is very clear from this verse of the Qur'aan that
the changing phases of the Moon show the date for the day so that people on
earth could keep count of days and plan their programs. It is clear from this
that the Moon is the calendar set by Allah, the creater of this world for Man
so that he could reckon the passing of time and record the events. Some other
verses of the Qur'aan tell us that the Moon goes round the earth, thereby
causing the change of position and the phase every day to show us the date to
be used in our affairs of civics and religion. Further the Qur'aan says that
the Moon runs its course till it returned to the stage of old date-stalk. It is
not difficult for a regular observer of the Moon to tell the exact date of the
day as shown by the Moon. Therefore the moon observation is the criterion to
define the Islamic months.
2. The Qur’aan says that
there are 12 months in the records of Allah (swt) ever since He created the
Heavens and the Earth. (9:36). It informs us that our calendar should have 12
months only. The Prophet (saw) said that our months should be either 29or 30
days, depending on the appearance of the new moon. One can find out the
beginning of the month either by observation or calculation. If one is sure of
the calculations one may do away with the observation just as it is done in the
case of the Sun. The Qur’aan says that both the Sun and the Moon move
punctually under calculations. (55:5). When we study the Ayahs of the Qur’aan
and the sayings of the Prophet (saw) deeply, we understand that the Islamic
dates should tally with the Manzils of the Moon. That is to say that if the
Manzil of the Moon is seven the date should be seven.
3. Rasoolullahi (saw) taught
the followers how to find out their dates by observing the Ahillat of the Moon.
Astronomy was not developed in their times and they were not used to keep
records in writing. The only method available to them was the observation
method. So he told them to look for the appearance of the first crescent
(Hilal) on the 29th of the month. They knew very well without any
calculation or recording that if the first of the month was a Friday, the 29th
also would be Friday. If the Hilal was known to be present definitely, the next
month should begin the next day. If it were not present the month would begin
after completing 30 days. When 30 days are completed there is no need to
consult the Hilal again. So some months would begin before one could see the
crescent with the naked eyes. In a year there could be 6 months of 29 days and
6 months of 30 days or 7 months of 30 days and 5 months of 29 days. The months
that begin without seeing the crescent are more than the months that begin
after seeing the crescent. Any of these 12 months could be Ramadan or Shawwal.
When such is the case how could one say that every Islamic month should begin
after seeing the crescent with the naked eyes? The Prophet (saw) has never
asked people to begin every month after seeing the crescent with the naked
eyes. The meaning of the Hadith “Soomoo li ru’uyathihi wa afthiroo li
ru’uyathihi” means that we should commence fasting at the appearance of the
crescent and end fasting at its appearance. We should fast according to the
correct dates of the month as defined by the Moon. We know very well that a
month is a measure of time and that time will not wait till we see the
crescent.
4. The final instructions of
the calendar were issued at the Hajjathuil wida. The leap years were to be
abolished and the true lunar calendar was to be strictly observed. The Islamic
calendar in the name of the Hijra calendar came into being during the period of
Omar ®. The first date of the Hijra calendar is Thursday
01-01-0001AH=15-07-0622AD.
5. Muslims all over the world
must follow this calendar in all their affairs, religious as well as civil.
Islamic Shariah does not allow the use of different calendars because it could
create confusion among the people. Fasting should begin on the first of
Ramadan. The Eidul Fitre should be observed on the first of Shawwal. The Youmun
Nahar should be on the 10th of Zul Hajj. We know that all these are
the dates of the Islamic calendar. One date in any calendar could denote only
one day. How can there be 3 days of Youmun Nahar in one year? Now you will say
that it is silly to have 3 Youmun Nahrs in on year, but we have been doing this
since a long time. We must realize that the Prophet of Allah has never taught
such meaningless things. Let us refrain from committing such blunders. Our
celebrating Eidul Fitre or Eidul Adha on different days is a great blunder and
such actions ridicule the fundamentals of Islam. This is very serious in the
Sight of Allah (swt).
6. Rasoolullahi (saw) said:
“Fasting is on the day (of the week) on which people fast, Eidul Fitre is on
the day on which people observe Eid and the Sacrifice is on the day that people
observe it.” We should note here, that the Day means the particular day of the
week on which the occasion would fall according to the Islamic calendar. People
means, people of the world, not people of London alone. Islam is the Universal
religion and the Prophet is for all people for all time. We should not give
wrong interpretations to the words of the Prophet (saw) so as to make his words
meaningless. The Prophet (saw) has never allowed two or three days for Eidul
Fitre or Eidul Adha. Then how can England celebrate their Eid forgetting their
Brethren in the other parts of the world?
We request the authorities
to reconsider the matter and take proper decisions basing on the correct Fatwas
according to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
By Islamic Research Center,
Eruvadi-672 103. Please
reply to: irc@irctamil.com
Dated: 21-03-2001