Asking for Moon: Sighting of Eid Moon

Asking for Moon

Eid, the most important Muslim festival, is marked by controversy involving the sighting of moon almost every year. To the embarrassment of the faithful, various clerics make conflicting statements and occasionally it becomes impossible to celebrate it together on one day.

In an age when it has become possible to measure the movements of various planets including moon with almost total accuracy, the refusal of Muslim clergy to make use of the scientific knowledge and insistence on literal approach to Shariah results in difference of about two to three days in observing Ramadan and Eid all over the Muslim world.

They solely rely on the Hadith where the Blessed Prophet has said: "Begin fasting when you see the new moon, and end fasting when you see the new moon, and when you cannot see it then complete the 30 days" But in another tradition the rationale for this physical sighting has been explained in detail: “We are a people (Ummah) who are unlettered (Ummiyah), we do not write (in astronomical circles) nor do we calculate (to arrive at the exact lunar dates)”

Arab Historian Baladhuri has recorded that during the time of Prophet there were only 17 persons in Mecca and 11 in Medina who possessed the ability to read and write. They picked up rudimentary knowledge while on trade trips to Syria and Jerusalem, as there existed no schools or books in Arabia. In these circumstances the importance of relying on moon for calculation of time cannot be overemphasized.

But the impact of the teachings of the Prophet created such hunger for knowledge that a society that was described by Quran as the society of illiterates became great recipients and keepers of knowledge from all corners of the world within next 200 years. He made it mandatory for his followers, men and women both, to seek knowledge and told them that wisdom is the lost property of the faithful and they should receive it from wherever they can find it. He further said that the superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the full moon, over the stars and described the scholars as the heirs of the Prophets.

In addition to the sayings of the Prophet, Quran itself highlights the importance of wisdom in more than 600 verses. The Quran describes animals, birds, trees, ships, mountains, rivers, oceans, winds, rains, sun, moon, stars and other physical phenomenon as divine signs asking man to observe them and contemplate about them and then tells him that “He (God) it is Who created for you all that is on earth”. It is clear from these verses that through observation and contemplation man can learn about the nature of things and subsequently he can use this knowledge for the advancement, progress and comfort of mankind. Quran further asserts that man has been given the faculties to acquire knowledge but laments lack of effort on his part: “It is He Who has created for you (the faculties of) hearing, sight, feeling and understanding: little thanks it is you give.” (23.78)

The Islamic perception is that wisdom is manifestation of knowledge that exists potentially in every soul. It is like seed in the soil that grows into a fruit bearing tree by the process of learning and training. Learning leads to wisdom that has been described by Quran as (KHAIRAN KATHEERA) “abundant good”. By refusing to utilize the scientific input to determine the appearance of moon, we deny ourselves this abundant good and the joy of celebrating the Eid together in harmony.