EDUCATED APPROACH TO MOONSIGHTING

29^th June = 1^st of Ramadan 1435

Let’s Get United And Start

Ramadan On The Same Day

Follow The Visibility Curve!

(M. Javed Naseem)

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَمَاوَاتِ وَٱلأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ

ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى ٱلْلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثاً

وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلاَ لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ

وَٱلأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ
“Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the

heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly

established on the throne (of authority). He draws

the night as a veil over the day, each seeking the

other in rapid succession. He created the sun,

the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws

under His command. Is it not His to create and

to govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher

and Sustainer of the worlds!”

(al-Quran 7:54)

Allah tells us in the Holy Quran that He created us as One Ummah (‘Ummat-an Wahida’) or one nation. The Faith of Islam binds us together regardless of color, race or ethnic background. All believers of One God are one nation, therefore, they should be united as one big community. We are commanded to hold unto the Rope of Allah all together and be not divided. So, there is no room of sectarianism in Islam. Sectarianism violates and disobeys the command of Allah. Now, anybody who disobeys Allah and His commands, can he/she still claim to be a true Muslim?

People in America and Europe get confused (it is hard for them to understand) that in one city (New York, London, Birmingham, Paris or Copenhagen, etc.) different groups of Muslims (Arabs, Indo-Pakistanis, Egyptians and Africans) start Ramadan on different dates and celebrate Eid festivals on different days. It gets more ridiculous in countries like Pakistan, India, Canada where people from the same ethnic group observe Ramadan on different dates. Even two neighboring Muslim countries observe Ramadan and Eid on different dates. Non-Muslims laugh at them and ask: Have you ever seen Christians celebrating Christmas on a date other than 25^th December?

Muslims sheepishly try to justify by saying that Islamic festivals and occasions are governed by the lunar (moon) calendar and not by the Gregorian (sun) one. But that does not justify two (sometimes three) Eid festivals in one city. Most Muslims don’t know that the lunar (moon) calendar is as correct and specific as the Gregorian one. They ‘read’ the Quran but they don’t “study” the Quran. The Quran guides you on all aspects of your Deen. To avoid confusion about the lunar calendar, it is important that we acquire some basic knowledge/education.  

ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
“The sun and the moon follow courses

(exactly) computed.”

(al-Quran 55:5)

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)

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)

Allah has created the universe with Truth and knowledge and some of this knowledge was bestowed upon human beings too. We should study the Quran where Allah has explained everything that we need to know to live on this planet Earth. He tells us that the movements of all elements (entities) of the constellation in the atmosphere are fixed and pre-programmed.

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)

Everything is floating on its prescribed axis in its measured orbit. They cannot deviate or collide with each other. Allah has created a celestial system, which is perfect, and He regulates or controls it. No discrepancies! If we follow the system carefully, we can prepare a faultless calendar not only for the entire year, but even for 100 years. There cannot be two Eids in one city any more.

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)

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Ramadan 1435 gives you the best

opportunity to get united as the new

crescent moon would be visible in

many countries of Americas, Europe,

Africa, Asia and Australia. This could

be the first step toward solidarity,

brotherhood and coordination. Let’s

start Ramadan on 29^th June 2014.

********************************

لَّهَـا ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ

“That is the decree of (Him), the Exalted

in Might, the All-Knowing (Allah).”

(al-Quran 36:38)

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)

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)

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)

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)

وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ

لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness

has Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward.”

(al-Quran 5:9)

Moon Phases:

Here’s some basic information about the lunar cycle and phases from astronomical point of view:

From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon's appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part of the moon.

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)

These phases of the Moon, in the sequence of their occurrence (starting from New Moon), are listed below.

New Moon - The Moon's un-illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon is not visible (except during a solar eclipse).

Waxing Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

First Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Waxing Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Full Moon - The Moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Last Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Waning Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

Following waning crescent is New Moon, beginning a repetition of the complete phase cycle of 29.5 days average duration.

The time in days counted from the time of New Moon is called the Moon's "age". Each complete cycle of phases is called a "lunation".

Because the cycle of the phases is shorter than most calendar (solar) months, the phase of the Moon at the very beginning of the month usually repeats at the very end of the month. When there are two Full Moons in a month (which occurs, on average, every 2.7 years), the second one is called a "Blue Moon".

The first time that the thin waxing crescent Moon is visible after New Moon (low in the evening sky just after sunset) marks the beginning of a month in the Islamic Calendar.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ

كُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
“It is He Who created the Night and the Day,

and the sun and the moon; all (the celestial

bodies) swim along, each in an orbit.”

(al-Quran 21:33)

تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجاً

وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا سِرَاجاً وَقَمَراً مُّنِيراً
“Blessed is He Who made constellations

in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp

and a Moon giving light.”

(al-Quran 25:61)

Although Full Moon occurs each month at a specific date and time, the Moon's disk may appear to be full for several nights in a row if it is clear. This is because the percentage of the Moon's disk that appears illuminated changes very slowly around the time of Full Moon (also around New Moon, but the Moon is not visible at all then). The Moon may appear 100% illuminated only on the night closest to the time of exact Full Moon, but on the night before and night after will appear 97-99% illuminated; most people would not notice the difference. Even two days from Full Moon the Moon's disk is 93-97% illuminated.

New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter phases are considered to be primary phases and their dates and times are published in almanacs and on calendars.

وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلسَّمَاءِ بُرُوجاً وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ

“And verily in the heaven We have set

mansions of the stars (galaxies), and We

have beautified it for beholders.”

(al-Quran 15:16)

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُواْ بِهَا فِى

ظُلُمَاتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
“It is He Who makes the stars (as beacons) for

you, that you may guide yourselves, with their

help, through the dark spaces of land and sea.

We detail Our signs for people who know.”

(al-Quran 6:97)

فَٱسْتَقِيمَا وَلاَ تَتَّبِعَآنِِّّ سَبِيلَ ٱلَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
“… So stand straight, and follow not

the path of those who know not."

(al-Quran 10:89)

The phases of the Moon are related to (actually, caused by) the relative positions of the Moon and Sun in the sky. For example, New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are quite close together in the sky. Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are at nearly opposite positions in the sky - which is why a Full Moon rises about the time of sunset, and sets about the time of sunrise, for most places on Earth.

First and Last Quarters occur when the Sun and Moon are about 90 degrees apart in the sky. In fact, the two "half Moon" phases are called First Quarter and Last Quarter because they occur when the Moon is, respectively, one- and three-quarters of the way around the sky (i.e., along its orbit) from New Moon.

The relationship of the Moon's phase to its angular distance in the sky from the Sun allows us to establish very exact definitions of when the primary phases occur, independent of how they appear. Technically, the phases New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter are defined to occur when the excess of the apparent ecliptic (celestial) longitude of the Moon over that of the Sun is 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, respectively. These definitions are used when the dates and times of the phases are computed for almanacs, calendars, etc. Because the difference between the ecliptic longitudes of the Moon and Sun is a monotonically and rapidly increasing quantity, the dates and times of the phases of the Moon computed this way are instantaneous and well defined.

For practical purposes, phases of the Moon and the percent of the Moon illuminated are independent of the location on the Earth from where the Moon is observed. That is, all the phases occur at the same time regardless of the observer's position.

Crescent Moon Visibility:

Although the date and time of each New Moon can be computed exactly, the visibility of the lunar crescent as a function of the Moon's ‘age’ - the time counted from New Moon -depends upon many factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. During the first two days after New Moon, the young crescent Moon appears very low in the western sky after sunset, must be viewed through bright twilight, and sets shortly after sunset.

The sighting of the lunar crescent within one day of New Moon is usually difficult. The crescent at this time is quite thin, has a low surface brightness, and can easily be lost in the twilight. Generally, the lunar crescent will become visible to suitably-located, experienced observers with good sky conditions about one day after New Moon. However, the time that the crescent actually becomes visible varies quite a bit from one month to another. Naked-eye sightings as early as 15.5 hours after New Moon have been reliably reported while observers with telescopes have made reliable reports as early as 12.1 hours after New Moon. Because these observations are exceptional, crescent sightings this early in the lunar month should not be expected as the norm.

Ignoring local conditions for the moment and visualizing the problem from outside the Earth's atmosphere, the size and brightness of the lunar crescent depend on only one astronomical quantity: the elongation of the Moon from the Sun, which is the apparent angular distance between their centers. For this reason, the elongation has also been called the ‘arc of light’. If the value of the elongation at any instant is known, the width of the crescent can be computed.

The elongation as a function of the Moon's age depends on several factors.

The Visibility Curve:

I am writing and appealing to the Muslim Ummah to observe Ramadan, all together on the same day, on the basis of the ‘Geographical Truth’ of the Visibility Curve.

The following two ‘visibility curve’ maps are shown by courtesy of the website ‘moonsighting.com’. The first map shows, from astronomical point of view, the first day of the new moon which is geographically visible only in Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, etc.) on 27^th of June. Therefore, any country in Europe, Middle East, Africa or Asia cannot claim the start of Ramadan because moon was not (and could not be) visible there. The visibility in these regions is bound by geographical limits whereas the birth of New Crescent Moon is on the celestial scene with no geographical limits.

The second map shows the same astronomical phenomena with geographical visibility extended (the 2nd day of New Crescent Moon, 28^th of June) to Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia. Therefore, a Muslim country in these regions can claim the start of Ramadan from the next morning, i.e., 29^th of June, 2014. The moon would be visible with the naked eye on the evening of 28^th of June, whether somebody cares to see it or not. There should absolutely be no dispute about the start of Ramadan from the USA to Australia including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc. from the 29^th of June. Now, this is an ‘educated’ approach based on the scientific (astronomical) data – the basis of all lunar calendars.

A Brief Introduction to the Islamic Calendar:

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, which begin when the thin crescent Moon is actually sighted in the western sky after sunset a day or so after New Moon. For Islamic calendar purposes, the sighting must be made with the unaided eye.

The names of the 12 months of the Islamic calendar, transliterated into the Roman alphabet, and their formal tabular lengths are:

Name	Length	Notes
Muharram	30	Holy month
Safar	29
Rabi' I	30
Rabi' II	29
Jumada I	30
Jumada II	29
Rajab	30	Holy month
Sha’ban	29
Ramadan	30	Month of fasting
Shawwal	29
Dhul-Qaada	30	Holy month
Dhul-Hijjah	29	Holy month; in a leap year Dhul-Hijjah has 30 days.

Since 12 lunar months are, on average, 11 days shorter than the (Gregorian) civil year, the Islamic year shifts earlier in each civil year by about this amount. The count of years for the Islamic calendar begins with 1 Muharram 1 A.H. (Anno Hegira), which corresponds to Friday, 16 July AD 622 (Julian calendar).

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلْلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلْلَّيْلِ

وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِيۤ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ                      
“See you not that Allah merges Night into Day

and he merges Day into Night; that He has

subjected the sun, and the moon (to his Law),

each running its course for a term appointed; and

that Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do?”

(al-Quran 31:29)

يُولِجُ ٱلْلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلْلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ

وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ذٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ

وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
“He merges Night into Day, and he merges

Day into Night, and he has subjected the sun

and the moon (to his Law); each one runs its

course for a term appointed. Such is Allah,

your Lord; to Him belongs all Dominion.”

(al-Quran 35:13)

Tabular Islamic Calendar:

A tabular Islamic calendar has been established for some non-religious purposes in which the lengths of the months alternate between 29 and 30 days. This calendar consists of a 30-year cycle in which 11 of the 30 years are leap years. In leap years, an extra day is added to the last month, Dhul-Hijjah. Civil dates corresponding to important Islamic dates in this tabular calendar are:

First day of Ramadan 1434: July 9, 2013

Islamic New Year 1435:  November 5, 2013

First day of Ramadan 1435:  June 29, 2014

Islamic New Year 1436: October 25, 2014

First day of Ramadan 1436: June 18, 2015

Islamic New Year 1437: October 15, 2015

First day of Ramadan 1437:  June 7, 2016

Islamic New Year 1438: October 3, 2016

(Note: These dates are the astronomical ‘first day’ of New Moon. The start of Ramadan (or any other month) should be determined by the geographical visibility-curve map for that particular region.)

The Islamic dates begin at sunset of the previous evening and end at sunset on the date listed above. These dates may or may not correspond to the evenings on which the crescent Moon is first visible, and it is the visibility of the crescent Moon that determines when the religious observance begins. The Moon's visibility at these times varies with location; generally, the visibility increases to the west, and locations in the tropics are favored over those in middle or high latitudes.

(Courtesy: Astronomical Applications Dept., U.S. Navy)

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