There are places on the Earth where days and nights
are experienced for almost six months. Muslims live there also. For them seeing
the Hilal is impossible. Those who raise such questions should not think that
Islam is not practicable everywhere in the world. Does it mean that the Muslims
living there need not fast or celebrate Eid because they do not see the Sun or
the Moon? The Sun and the Moon are for calculating time. The Sun indicates the
Day and the Moon indicates the Date. Even if we do not see them both we can
know our Day and Date by other means
that Allah has provided for us. The people who live
at such places should calculate and observe the rituals. They should use the
common sense and calculate time and dates taking Makkah as the center, and
Makkah should base the Date on the first appearing of the Hilal on the Earth,
or on the Ahillah of the Moon.
Should we not unify the prayer of Zuhar and Asar
etc. also? Should we not say the Zuhar
prayer when Zuhar prayer is said in Makkah?
This is a childish question. The Prophet has never
said that the Zuhar prayer is when they say Zuhar prayer or that the Asar
prayer is when the people say Asar prayer. Islam does not decree uniformity in
this regard even among the people of a given locality. The people who raise
such questions do not understand that the Earth is a globe and the small units
of time must differ everywhere on the Earth. Islam is the right religion and a
right religion cannot order the people to do foolish and impossible things.
Zuhar prayer may be performed from the time of the sun's decline till the time
of Asar prayer. For the other prayers also there is allowance. Can we say that
the same duration can be permitted for the Eid prayers, two different Days? Is
it the same difference when we perform Eid prayers on two different Days? In
daily time-bound prayer remembering Allah is more important and so declares the
Qur'an. In Eid prayer the unity of the Muslims is more important. Sayings of
the Prophet (SAW) make it clear.
Imams of the four Madhabs and Salafi scholars like
Ibn Taimiyya say that it is essential to observe fasting and the Eid on the
basis of the first occurrence of the Hilal on the Earth without considering the
difference in the appearance of the Hilal. Those who find it difficult to say
that it is obligatory, as suggested by these scholars, should at least show
tolerance to say that it is not prohibited or Haram. In fact it is Haram to
oppose the unity and fast when their brothers are feasting. The Prophet (SAW)
has forbidden the fast on the Day of Eid of the Muslim Community. An Eid cannot
be on both Monday and Tuesday. The Eid can fall only on one Day of the week.
When we examine the Qur'aan, the Sunnah, the Hadith
and the works of the Imams and Scholars we can see that the uniformity in the
Days of fasting and Eid is a must. The disunity that prevails today is absurd
and illegal according to the laws of Shariah because there is no evidence what
so ever to allow two or three Days of Eid in the world. The Prophet (saw) has
not allowed it.
Unification of the Eid Day is only an indicator
towards the goal of unity of the Muslim Community. The only way to bring about this unity is by reviving the
practice of the Islamic calendar, which has almost disappeared from the world.
If we educate the Muslims about the Islamic calendar they will understand that
there cannot be two dates for one day in the Islamic calendar and everyone will
argue that the Eid must be performed on a single day in the world. We have to
do more work to bring the quarrelling factions of the Muslims to hold fast on
the rope of Allah (SWT). All praise is to Allah. May Allah help us in the
venture! He is our savior.
Oh Allah! If we have erred
or if we have forgotten in our duty forgive us our shortcomings.