MOON-SIGHTING: THE SCIENTIFIC (QURANIC) WAY

Astronomy Is A True Science

Moon-Sighting:

The Scientific (Quranic) Way

(M. Javed Naseem)

(Image courtesy: spaceflight.nasa.gov)

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According to the movements of the Moon

and the Earth, the new crescent will be

visible to the entire Muslim world

(from America to Australia) on Monday,

28^th of July, 2014. Hence, the Eid-ul-Fitr

on Tuesday, 29^th of July, 2014.

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Allah, the Almighty is Capable of All Things. He created the universe, the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and millions of galaxies; and everything else too that is in them and between them. He is in-charge as He controls them and runs the affairs of the entire universe. It is, therefore, only logical and reasonable that we turn to Him (or His Message – the Quran) to seek guidance in all our affairs.

Muslims are being ridiculed and laughed at by the world because they are not united; they cannot start their New Year, the Eid festivals and Ramadan unanimously on the same day in all countries or even in different regions of the same country. The simple and only reason for that is their ignorance (‘Jahalat’). They have gone astray and left the Quran, therefore, the guidance (or the Quran) has left them too. When you ignore the signs of Allah, Allah will ignore you too. A relationship is reciprocal and mutual. It is not a one-way affair. We need to look at our practices and review our relationship with our Creator – Allah, if we want to succeed.

Take ‘Educated Approach’

(The ‘Quranic Approach’)

To Moon-sighting!

It’s Authentic And

Promotes Unity!

Once again, it is time for ‘moon-sighting’ and getting together for celebrations. And once again, people will differ and would promote differences and disunity among the Ummah. If we take the Quranic or the ‘educated’ approach to this issue, we realize that it is no more an issue – no more a problem. Allah says in the Quran, Surah ar-Rahman:

ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
“The sun and the moon follow courses

(exactly) computed.”

(al-Quran 55:5)

So, why shouldn’t we compute the moon-sighting? Allah gave us a clear hint! Allah invites us to ponder upon the verses of the Quran throughout the Holy Book. Actually, in the beginning of the Quran, In Surah al-Baqarah, Allah tells us very clearly the purpose of moon cycles and how they should be used. They are the signs to mark or check time-periods and can be calculated precisely:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ
“They ask you concerning the new moons. Say:

They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time

in (the affairs of) men, and for pilgrimage.”

(al-Quran 2:189)

What’s the confusion and where? The courses of the sun and the moon are fixed; and the purpose of it is to mark or figure out the time-periods (even hours!) not only for pilgrimage but also for other affairs. We should only learn how to check those time-periods and how to convert those phases/stages into days, hours and minutes. It is a simple calculation.

This is the best way to do it but it has a ‘big’ problem – Mullah’s endorsement. The Mullah has monopolized the religion of Islam, just like the Catholic priest monopolized the Christianity to keep control and make big money. Mullah doesn’t want to loose control and ‘ownership’ (in Urdu: ‘Thekedari’) on Islam as this is a hen laying golden eggs for him. But Mullah has a double face. Remember, when the loudspeaker was introduced? Mullah gave a decree (‘Fatwah’) that the use of loudspeakers for Adhan is ‘Haraam’. Today, the same Mullah is making your life miserable by abusing the same loudspeaker day and night!

Getting back to the Quranic science, Allah, the All-Knowing, reminds us in Surah Yunus that He created the planets and He prescribed their movements so that we could reckon time (days, weeks, months, years, seasons, etc.). He did it in Truth and Righteousness. He didn’t create them for nothing! Therefore, it is only befitting that we follow the path of Truth and Righteousness in calculating time.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَٱلْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ

لِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذٰلِكَ

إِلاَّ بِٱلْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
“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 you might know

the number of years and the count (of time).

Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and

righteousness. (Thus) does He explain His Signs

in detail, for those who understand.”

(al-Quran 10:5)

Yes, for those who understand. Do we understand?

All knowledge comes from Allah and He bestows it upon whom He wills. We Muslims are obligated to get education, acquire knowledge (‘ilm’) and seek the Truth by all means. Today, the world has gone too far with its technological advancement and it would be a stupid act (or stubbornness) to deny its benefits. A wise man would take advantage of this technology and use it to his benefit to avoid complications, confusion and disunity or disruption. It’s only logical! And it is absolutely Islamic too.

We Muslims can use knowledge and technology to create unity, coherence, solidarity and coordination among Muslim groups living in different regions of the world. Astronomy is a centuries-old science. Early scholars of Islam were educated and trained in the sciences of math, physics, chemistry, astronomy, Quranic education, languages and the arts of self-defense. Today, we have deviated from this norm and have changed our priorities, like other fields, in education as well. The results are obvious. The world is producing more atheists, secular and non-believing corrupt people who are killing others for their personal, economic and political benefits. Humanity is at the verge of extinction and educated people lack knowledge.

Allah reminds us in the Quran, Surah ar-Raad that He prescribed laws/rules to regulate the movements of the sun and the moon; fixed their stages/phases; and they run in their pre-determined courses for fixed periods:

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ

وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِـأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّـى

يُدَبِّرُ ٱلأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
“Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any

pillars that, you can see, is firmly established on

the throne (of authority). He has subjected the sun

and the moon (to His Law)! Each one runs (its

course) for a term appointed. He does regulate all

affairs, explaining the signs in detail, that you may

believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.”

(al-Quran 13:2)

Now, where do we find the confusion in this verse? We must be either stupid or retarded, or too stubborn not to understand the plain language of this verse! Allah, the Almighty, repeats this piece of information for those who ignore His Message and Signs. He says in Surah az-Zumar:

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ يُكَوِّرُ ٱللَّيْـلَ عَلَى ٱلنَّهَـارِ

وَيُكَوِّرُ ٱلنَّـهَارَ عَلَى ٱللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّـرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ

كُـلٌّ يَجْرِى لأَجَـلٍ مُّسَـمًّى أَلاَ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفَّارُ
“He created the heavens and the earth in true

(proportions). He makes the Night overlap the

Day, and the Day overlap the Night. He has

subjected the sun and the moon (to His law).

Each one follows a course for a time appointed.

Is not He the Exalted in Power - He

Who forgives again and again?”

(al-Quran 39:5)

Very clear, no confusion at all! And we find this passage in the Quran, Surah Ibrahim, confirming that which He had already revealed about the planets:

وَسَخَّر لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ
“And He has made subject to you the sun and the

moon, both diligently pursuing their courses; and the

night and the day has He (also) made subject to you.”

(al-Quran 14:33)

For those ignorant people who did not pay attention to His revelations, Allah reiterates in Surah an-Nahl that He subjected the sun and the moon:

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱللَّيْلَ وَٱلْنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلْنُّجُومُ

مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ إِنَّ فِى ذٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ 
“He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the

sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection by His

command. Verily in this are Signs for men who are wise.”

(al-Quran 16:12)

It is Allah who cracks the dawn from the night, and creates the night from the day. He tells us again and again that He prescribed the movements of the planets for us to calculate time. In Surah al-Anaam He declares:

فَالِقُ ٱلإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلْلَّيْلَ سَكَناً وَٱلشَّمْسَ

وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَاناً ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
“He it is that cleaves the day-break (from the dark).

He makes the night for rest and tranquility, and

the sun and moon for the reckoning (of time).

Such is the judgment and ordering of (Him),

the Exalted in Power, the Omniscient.”

(al-Quran 6:96)

There are many Surahs (Chapters) of the Holy Quran that contain the verses pertaining to this subject. For example, in Surah Ya-Seen, there are quite a few verses that explain the movements of the planets and the alternation of the day and night:

وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ ٱلْلَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ
“And a Sign for them is the Night. We

withdraw from it the Day, and behold!

They are plunged in darkness.”

                                                                    (al-Quran 36:37)         

وَٱلشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
“And the sun runs his course for a period

determined for it; that is the decree of (Him),

the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.”

(al-Quran 36:38)

وَٱلْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلعُرْ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌جُونِ ٱلْقَدِيمِ
“And the Moon - We have measured for her

mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the

old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk.”

(al-Quran 36:39)

لاَ ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ ٱلقَمَرَ وَلاَ

ٱلْلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
“It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon,

nor can the Night outstrip the Day. Each (just) swims

along in (its own) orbit (according to Law).”

(al-Quran 36:40)

These verses, along with many others in the Quran, challenge our intelligence to probe and research. Unfortunately, it is the non-Muslims, most of the times, who do the research and educate the whole world about the creation of Allah. We Muslims, eat, drink, sleep and chase women to enjoy life without caring about Haraam or Halaal. And when the non-Muslim scholars present to the world the astonishing results of their research, we Muslims shamelessly declare: ‘Oh, that’s not a big deal. The Quran has spoken about it 1400 years ago.’ What an attitude!

Now, the question is, if Quran had spoken about things 1400 years ago, what did YOU do about it to educate and guide mankind? You could not even educate and guide yourselves or your offspring! What’s your contribution in the 20^th or the 21^st century towards educating mankind, making this world peaceful and a happy place worth living? Constructing big buildings (with the help/guidance of non-Muslims) by spending Petro-dollars is not an achievement!

Let’s talk about moon-sighting now. Ramadan is almost over and we are preparing for the Eid festival. According to astronomical readings, the Shawwal (the month after Ramadan) crescent moon will be born on Saturday, July 26, 2014, at 22:41:39 UT (Universal Time) somewhere in the Pacific region. It will NOT be visible in any country of the world at the time of sunset. It’s just an astronomical phenomena. See map-1:

A day after, on Sunday, 27^th July, 2014, the visibility curve extends to the islands of Pacific ocean and the countries of Central and South (Latin) America (like Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, etc.). It will NOT be (and cannot be) visible in any country of North America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Middle East or North Africa. South Africans would be able to see it with the aid of optical equipment only. See map-2:

But a day later, on Monday evening, 28^th July, 2014, the new crescent moon will be visible in most countries of the world in all continents. That means that the 1^st of Shawwal, 1435, or the Eid-ul-Fitr will be on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Insha-Allah. See map-3:

(Visibility curve images courtesy: www.moonsighting.com)

These findings are absolutely correct based on astronomical and mathematical calculations for the regions concerned. It cannot go wrong! There cannot be a second opinion on that either. It’s like 2+2 makes 4.

May Allah guide us all to get united and stick together through thick and thin. Aameen. A very Happy and Blessed Eid to you, Muslim Ummah!

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