Every year as Ramadan comes around, we get excited about the spiritual month and all the blessings it brings in our lives. As the month of Shaban nears the end, there are questions on everybody’s mind around when exactly the month of Ramadan will start:
“When’s the first day of fasting?”
“Why don’t we know already? We go through this every year.”
“Why do we follow moon sighting? Why can’t we just follow the calculation method?”
Every year at the beginning of Ramadan and at the end of Ramadan moon sighting becomes a contentious issue in the community and causes confusion but it does not have to be that way. In this post we will review the rulings and guidelines around moon sighting and why MICCA follows the moon sighting method to begin and end not just Ramadan or Dhul-Hajjah but every month of the Islamic calendar.
The short of it:
Moon sighting is a practice and Sunnah for beginning and ending a Hijri (Islamic) month. Prophet Muhammed SAWS has prescribed this method to his Ummah in the following authentic hadith:
Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah SAWS as saying: “Whenever you sight the new moon (Hilal of the month of Ramadan) observe fast and when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.”
This is one of many hadiths that refer to the prescribed method of determining the beginning and ending of the Islamic months. From this hadith and other hadiths it is clear that Prophet Muhammed SAWS has commanded us to “Sight the new moon”(Hilal).
Hilal by definition is the visible new moon and not just the birth of moon.
The birth of a new moon (which is a technical term for when the sun and the moon are aligned, with the sun and the earth on opposite sides of the moon) is usually not visible in the sky, hence it is not considered Hilal.
The calculation method – albeit highly accurate, accounts for birth of the moon and not necessarily the Hilal (visible new moon). According to the calculation method, we have a new moon with just the birth of the moon and therefore the Islamic month can start with the determination (calculation) of the birth of the new moon regardless of whether the moon is visible (Hilal) or not.
However, this does not align with the guidance provided by Prophet Muhammed SAWS in the hadith mentioned above – that the moon must be sighted, it must be Hilal (visible). This is the primary difference between the calculation method and the moon sighting method. Calculation method accepts the birth of new moon regardless of whether the moon is visible in the sky or not whereas moon sighting method accepts new moon only after it is visible in the sky. Moon sighting method further relies on the testimony of two Muslim adults to bear witness that they sighted the new moon (Hilal). The Islamic month can commence once the Hilal is sighted and we have testimony from at least two Muslim adults. As clarified in the hadith, if in case we are unable to sight the moon due to obstruction – clouds, rain etc., then Prophet Muhammed SAWS advised his Sahaba to complete 30 days for the current Islamic month.
As evident from this hadith, the available technology or calculations methods have never been a requirement or an impediment for sighting the moon. We do not find any hadiths in which Prophet SAWS has commanded his Sahaba to calculate or strive to find better ways to sight the new moon, instead he gave simple instructions to sight the moon on the 29th day of the Islamic month and if the Hilal is not visible then complete the 30 days for that month.
As Mehdavis, we strive to perform all the Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and when there are multiple ways of performing an action, Mehdi Maud AS has advised us to take the way of Aaliyath. Aaliyath is the superior or better way of doing something- it’s the Ihsaan in performing an action. One of the most important blessings we have received from Mehdi Maud AS is the confirmation of Dugana or Lailatul Qadar on the 27th night of Ramadan. As we all know the significance of Lailatul Qadar, and God forbid the loss of missing it, we cannot be cavalier in our methods of determining the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Nothing can be better or more sound than following the way of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS in determining the beginning and end of Islamic months. Therefore, all Mehdavi dairas globally including Medhavia Islamic Center of California follow the Aaliyath of sighting the moon as the Sunnah of both Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS and will continue to do so Insha Allah. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS and upon all of those who follow them. Ameen.
The long of it:
Issues with Moon Sighting:
Let’s first look at the problems or issues that the long-established practice of moon sighting presents for some people.
When it comes to the Islamic calendar and moon sighting, the issue is that lunar cycles are not very predictable, even with the advanced technology we have today – some months are 29 days whereas others are 30, it all depends on how close the moon is to the Earth, the elliptical cycle of the moon, etc. Therefore, if we follow the moon sighting method, there is really no way of knowing or figuring out exactly when the month will end/begin, other than the actual physical sighting of the moon.
This clearly presents a problem for Muslims – especially in the western countries where everything is planned in advance, sometimes months or even years in advance. The problems that arise with irregular lunar cycles and moon sighting include:
- Taking time off work
- Scheduling events – like Taraveeh prayers, Eid prayers
- Getting governments to recognize Eid as national holiday – which has to be done at least a year in advance
- And even just for purposes of unity within the Muslim communities – at least across the nation
Due to these considerations ISNA, working with the Fiqh Council of North America and highly qualified mathematicians and astronomers, has decided to adopt the calculated method to set dates for Islamic lunar calendar for North America.
- However, not all Imams/Masajids across the country adhere to this method. They reject this method as not being firmly based in teachings from the Quran and Sunnah.
Also, when it comes to moon sighting, there are various criteria for accepting the sighting of the moon- they are often decided and implemented by a local community or Islamic center and include:
- Local sighting (town or city)
- Sighting anywhere in the country (USA or North America)
- Sighting anywhere globally
- Following Saudi Arabia
- Following the sighting in the home country (Bangladesh, India)
Each of these groups present their own reasoning and justification for their criteria for acceptance of moon sighting.
Moon Sighting and Calculation
It is also important to point out that it is the sunnah of the Prophet SAWS and the sahaba, that our differences do not divide us. They strengthen our bond and force us to come together for the sake of Allah (swt).
In order to determine the differences and adoption of moon sighting and the calculation method, we will need to review the guidance from the Quran, Sunnah and proofs and positions of scholars on this subject in the history of Islam.
The calculation method to determine the beginning and end of the Islamic months is a fairly new phenomenon. Whereas the moon sighting method to determine the beginning and the end of the Islamic months has been the commandment of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and has been followed by our ancestors for over 1,400 years. Islam has always been a balanced religion, as science and religion are not at odds in Islam. Islam allows for innovation and improvements for Deen but not in Deen. Innovations in deen are considered biddah and are frowned upon as it invites the displeasure of Allah and His Prophet SAWS. Therefore, any ruling in regard to changing an existing practice in deen that has been not only performed by Prophet Muhammed SAWS but also been commanded by him requires utmost attention and importance lest we err in making rulings that could be considered biddah. This is the reason the pious Muftis and the Fuqaha of the past refrained from making changes to well established practices of the Prophet SAWS.
For any guidance or legislation in Islam on a particular subject, there are four sources that need to be considered in the following order of importance:
- Quran – What does Allah SWT tell us in the Quran about this subject?
- Sunnah – What does Prophet Muhammad SAWS tell us regarding this subject?
–As Mehdavis, we are also obliged to look into the Sunnah of Mehdi Maud AS to seek guidance on a particular topic. - Ijma’ – Is there any consensus of the Muslim scholars on this subject?
- Qiyas – If there is nothing available in the first 3 steps, then we can apply Analogical reasoning to determine the best path forward.
As we will see in the Ayahs and hadith below, we have clear instructions from Prophet Muhammed SAWS on how to determine the beginning of the Islamic months. Therefore, this matter does not require us to get into Ijma’ or Qiyas, although even the Ijma’ from the most notable scholars in the history of Islam also prescribe the moon sighting as the only acceptable way to determine the beginning of each Islamic month.
Moon and Moon Sighting in Quran and Sunnah:
Now let’s see what we can learn from the Quran and Sunnah about the Moon and moon sighting:
- 9:36 – “Surely the months with God are twelve in the book of God since the day He created the heavens and the earth; four of them are sacred”
- 2:189 – “They ask you about the crescent moons; say they are a means to measure your specific times (mawqit) and are also for the commencement of the hajj”
- According to a noted scholar Imam Abdullah bin Ahmad Al-Nasafi – “This verse is to clarify that the legal rulings in shariah are to be determined by lunar months that are calculated by the crescent moons irrespective of the solar calendar.”
- Pre-Islamic Arab calendars were also based on Lunar cycles
- The Jews followed the Lunar cycle and the physical sighting of crescent moon (Hilal) for their religious activities up until 300 AD and it is believed that by 1178 AD, the observation-based calendar was gradually replaced by a mathematically calculated one. However, the Lunar calendar was not fully abandoned, instead, they incorporated the Lunar calendar with the Solar calendar- Lunisolar calendar – along with a complex set of rules to determine the special days of worship.
- The Christians abandoned the practices around new moon and Lunar calendar as it was seen as purely Jewish practices and something that is no longer required for Christians since the Messiah had already arrived. However, the moon still plays a part in Christian calendar every year in determining Easter.
- All of the Muslim practices are time bound, whether it is Salah, Saum, Hajj or Zakah and they are based on the movement of both the sun and the moon. Therefore, it is imperative for Muslims to examine, study and follow the Lunar and Solar cycles to perform the acts of worship.
- Islamic law considers sacred timekeeping (tawqit) a communal obligation, so once someone in a community fulfills this duty, the rest of the community is relieved of it.
- Not only is it an act of worship to monitor the sun and the moon’s courses for prayer times and for the other acts of worship contingent upon certain months, but, according to the Prophet SAWS, it is one of the most pleasing and beloved acts to God. In a sound narration related by Al-Hakim, the Prophet SAWS has been reported to have said that “The best of God’s servants are those who watch the sun, moon, stars, and shadows in order to remember God.”
- Prophet Muhammad SAWS commanded the Muslims to keep track of the crescent moons and to inform him when it is sighted. If a new moon was sighted for the devotional months of Ramadan or Dhul-Hijjah (the month in which hajj is performed), the news was announced to all. According to Imam al-Tirmidhi, upon seeing the crescent moon, the Prophet would recite the prayer: “O God, cause this new moon to come upon us in safety and sound faith, security and submission.” Then, addressing the moon, he would say, “My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
- Islamic calendars containing great details of Solar and Lunar cycles were adopted in Muslim lands after the spread of Islam. We are all aware of the great contributions Muslim mathematicians and astronomers have made in their respective fields. Their drive to excel in these fields was in part due to the significance of Solar and Lunar timetables in Islam. They had developed Moon phase charts and predictions in early Islam itself but never used them solely to determine the beginning or end the Islamic months – Sighting was still used in conjunction with the calculations.
What is Hilal and does it have to be sighted?
Hilal
- Definition: “The first light of the moon, when we can actually see the crescent in the sky at the outset of a month”
- Crescent (Hilal) according to another linguist denotes, “the moon specifically on the first and second night”; after that, it is simply called Qamar (moon)
Is it necessary to see it? Why can’t we calculate it?
Well, as it turns out…it’s difficult to calculate:
- A great Muslim scholar and astronomer Abu Rayhan al-Bayruni comments on moon sighting:
- “As for the scholars of astronomy and anyone who ponders this [new moon’s] situation extremely well concludes that the sighting of the new moon has no continuous pattern. This is due to the variations in the actual observed movement of the moon, which at times is fast and at others slow; sometimes it is nearer to the earth than other times; sometimes it heads north and other times south in its various ascensions and descensions through its ecliptic. Moreover, all of these various states occur throughout every point of the ecliptic. Sometimes its moonset is very fast at the points of elongation and other times it is slow. Not only that—these states also differ based upon the variance of longitude and latitude of the countries [from which one is viewing the moon], as well as the disparity in atmospheric conditions. Add to that the difference in people’s eyesight and the gradations of strength and weakness thereof.”
Having established that it is actually quite difficult to calculate Hilal, it is better for us to accept Hilal as a sign of Allah, and not something Allah has made easy for us to calculate, unlike the time for Salah:
- Allah SWT informs us that Hilal (crescent moons) are a means of measure for us – 2:189 – “They ask you about the crescent moons (Hilal); say they are a means to measure your specific times (mawqit) and are also for the commencement of the hajj..”
- Prophet SAWS instructs us to sight the Hilal– “Fast upon sighting the crescent moon (Hilal), and end the fast upon its sighting. And should it be obscured, then complete thirty days of Shaban.”
- Another hadith with instruction to “see” the Hilal – “Do not fast until you see the crescent moon (Hilal), and do not break the fast until you see it. If it be obscured, then complete a fast of thirty, and then break your fast.”
- Two adult Muslim witnesses and their testimony is required to consider the sighting valid.
Then why and how do some Muslims rely on the calculation method?
- Most scholars do not agree with the calculation method since there is no ambiguity in the hadiths mentioned above. However, some scholars sight the following ambiguous hadith in favor of calculating: According to a narration, Prophet SAWS had said: “Fast upon sighting the crescent moon (Hilal), and end the fast upon its sighting. And should it be obscured, then determine it.”
- More recently, this hadith has been cited in defense of the calculation method – the argument is that “then determine it” part of the hadith allows for us to make a determination based on calculation. However, from the unambiguous hadiths it is clear that “determining or calculating it” refers to conditions in which the Hilal is not visible due to weather – rain, fog or clouds.
- They also cite Imam Shafi’ as having given the permission for calculating it:
- “Whoever is schooled in the ability to determine the course of the stars and the mansions and phases of the moon, and it is clear to him from his knowledge that the crescent moon will appear on a given night, but then, it is obscured by clouds, then, in that case, it is permissible for him to consider it time to fast and sleep with the intention [of fasting the next day], and he will be rewarded.”
- Both the citations mentioned above do not explicitly call for calculating the birth of the moon but for determining the new moon in case of obstructions. We do not find any instructions in these references to determine the Hilal if the horizon is clear and there are no obstructions or difficulty in sighting the moon.
- It would also be incorrect to assume that the calculations of lunar calendar did not exist for the past 1400 years. It was not the lack of knowledge in the mathematical and astronomical sciences but rather the Muslims’ adherence to the word of God and instructions of the Prophet SAWS that inclined them to continue to physically sight the moon.
- Since we are not inclined to follow the calculation method based on the overwhelming evidence in support of moon sighting; namely the Sunnah of both Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS, and the guidance of the four great imams. We have not delved into or investigated the reasoning, justification and daleels for following the calculation method. However, if a person, community or an Islamic Center decides to use the calculation method, then it is their prerogative and we are not in a position to judge them. May Allah accept all of our efforts to sincerely follow the deen.
The Four Madhabs:
Hanafi:
- The relied upon opinion of the Hanafi school is that sighting the moon is a condition for the obligation of Ramadan and no consideration is given to the astronomers even if they are trustworthy. Moreover, whoever relies on their opinion is believed to have violated the sacred law.
Maliki:
- Imam Malik prohibited reliance upon calculation in ascertaining the crescent moon’s birth and said, “Any imam who relies on calculation is neither to be imitated nor followed.”
Shafi’ee:
- Imam al-Nawawi says, “Fasting is not an obligation unless the month has arrived. Furthermore, its commencement is ascertained through sighting the crescent. If, however, it is clouded over, then people are obliged to complete thirty days of Shaban. They should then commence their fast irrespective of whether the next day is clear, or more or less cloudy. Thus, the means by which the month is determined are contained in either sighting or completing thirty days. There is no room for reliance upon calculation.”
Hanbali:
- The Hanbalis do not depend on astronomical calculation, even if it was repeatedly proven to be accurate.
It’s clear from the positions of each of the Madhabs that calculations are not a preferred or recommended method to start or end an Islamic month. The four great scholars were masters in jurisprudence and the sciences of Islam and they have not approved the calculation method for Islamic months.
Then why is the moon so big?
We are more than often faced with a situation when the moon is not sighted anywhere in the country but the institutions that follow the calculation method declare the beginning of the next month/ or end of the current month.
Then, the next day, the hilal appears in the sky and we come across comments such as, “Well, look at the moon, it’s too big, it’s the moon of the 2nd. The calculation method was right, we should have gone with calculation. This thicker crescent cannot be the moon of the first.”
So, the size of the moon is used as a daleel to follow the calculation method.
The problem with this comment or position based on size of the moon on the first day of the month are multi-fold:
- Hilal means the moon needs to be visible – there is no consideration or requirement for thickness or size of the moon. It’s either visible or not.
- If the moon is not sighted anywhere on the 29th – then it’s not sighted – we are instructed by Prophet SAWS to complete 30 days for that month. Then if the moon is sighted the next day and is “too thick” – it makes no material difference – it was not visible the day before and it’s visible on the following day, therefore, that “extra-large” crescent moon is the Hilal.
- Again, in all of the instructions provided by Prophet Muhammed SAWS, we do not find any reference to the acceptable size or thickness of the moon for Hilal. The instructions are simple, and we are making it complicated by adding size and thickness of the crescent to the mix.
- In fact, we have this hadith related by Imam at Tabarani, the Prophet SAWS said, “Among the signs of the end of time is the swelling of the crescent moons (Hilal), and also that people will see a first-day crescent moon and remark, “It is clearly two days old!”
Then why do we use clocks to determine the time to pray and use apps that use calculations for Salah?
This is another argument we hear in defense of using calculation method to determine new moon. However, this is a false equivalency:
- Islam does not prevent us from using technology – when technology and modern inventions can benefit muslims in their lives and in their worship, we are allowed to and even encouraged to use the tools at our disposal.
- Unlike the instructions we have from the Prophet SAWS to sight the Hilal and to complete the 30 days if the Hilal is not sighted, we do not have such instructions for determining the times of Salah. We do have defined methods to determine the Salah times based on the movement of the Sun and these can easily be translated and programmed into watches and apps.
- Prophet SAWS never instructed his Sahaba to determine the Salah time by going out and looking at the sun or the shadows in a particular way every single time to determine if it was time for Salah. Had he done that; we would have followed that Sunnah as well.
- Even today, Muslims buy Miswak to brush their teeth to follow the Sunnah when we already have the latest and greatest toothbrushes and toothpastes available to us. There is no ruling on using the “miswak only” for brushing teeth, otherwise all Muslims would have only used miswak for brushing teeth. Thus, we can use any method to clean our teeth. Similarly, there is no single prescribed method to determine the time for Salah. Therefore, we can use any method to determine the time for Salah based on the movement of the Sun.
- However, according to multiple hadiths, we do have a singular method described by Prophet Muhammed SAWS to determine the Hilal – to sight it. Therefore, sighting the moon is following the Sunnah and commandment of Prophet Muhammed SAWS. And we can absolutely use modern technology and methods to help us sight the moon.
- Technology, advanced knowledge of astronomical sciences, or state of the art equipment have never been the requirement or dependency for sighting the moon. No matter how advanced we get in this area, according the Prophet SAWS, we need to sight the moon with our God-given eyes to begin and end the Islamic months. Sighting the moon is a practice, a tradition, a sunnah and a form of worship – not something we do because we are uneducated or because we lack the technology.
- Modern technology and advancement in various sciences can absolutely be used to help Muslims in various aspects of our daily lives, however, moon sighting is not one of them because it was never dependent on the available technology or resources.
What about the inconvenience and the solidarity?
- Yes, moon sighting does bring some inconvenience in our busy lives. The ambiguity around the start and end of Ramadan can create hardship in scheduling Taraveeh prayers, Eid prayers, taking time off work etc. However, moon sighting has not been an issue for more than 1400 years of Islam.
- Allah SWT has blessed us and we live in a first world country and enjoy all the conveniences and benefits in the world. We live in a non-Muslim country and we still get to practice our religion and live our lives in accordance to Islam. Alhamdulillah, we are in America and are grateful for the peace and stability in our lives to focus on and to improve our Islamic and Mehdavia practices. For all the conveniences and peace we enjoy year around, it seems to be a very minor inconvenience to schedule prayers and to take time off based on moon sighting a couple of times a year.
- When it comes to solidarity, starting Ramadan together or celebrating Eid together is not the only way to show solidarity with our Muslim/Mehdavi brothers and sisters. Yes, it would be nice, however, it would be impossible to achieve that solidarity even if the entire Ummah decided to adopt one method, since people live in different time zones and will experience Ramadan in their own respective locations in their own way. This points to the diversity in Islam. Alhamdulillah, we all get to practice our religion in our own geographic locations without forcing an artificial moment of solidarity with people we may never meet or know.
Conclusion:
- Quran is clear in the instructions – 2:189 – “They ask you about the crescent moons (Hilal); say they are a means to measure your specific times (mawqit) and are also for the commencement of the hajj”
- Hadiths are clear about the moon sighting: “Do not fast until you see the crescent moon (Hilal), and do not break the fast until you see it. If it be obscured, then complete a fast of thirty, and then break your fast”
- Hilal – refers to the birth of moon, it has to be visible in the sky by definition. If a new moon is born and it’s not visible in the sky, it’s not considered a new moon Islamically, hence not a Hilal, which is required as per the Sunnah.
- According to all the four Madhabs, calculation is not a preferred or recommended method to begin or end an Islamic month.
- Notable Muslim mathematicians and astronomers of the past had the ability to calculate moon phases and indeed created moon phase calendars for reference but never used them to replace the practice of moon sighting.
- Moon sighting is not just some stubborn old way of doing things, it’s a practice based on guidance, instructions and Sunnah of both Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS.
- We can indeed utilize the latest and greatest tools and technology available to us to help sight the moon. The moon charts from moonsighting.com are a great example of that; we can use moonsighting.com to track the phases and visibility of the moon for our geographic location to help in planning moon sighting.
As Mehdavis, we strive to perform all the Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and when there are multiple ways of performing an action, Mehdi Maud AS has advised us to take the way of Aaliyath. Aaliyath is the superior or better way of doing something- it’s the Ihsaan in performing an action. One of the most important blessings we have received from Mehdi Maud AS is the Dugana or Lailatul Qadar on the 27th night of Ramadan. As we all know the significance of Lailatul Qadar, and God forbid the loss of missing it, we cannot be cavalier in our methods of determining the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Nothing can be better or more sound than following the way of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS in determining the beginning and end of Islamic months. Hence, all the Mehdavi dairas globablly, including the Medhavia Islamic Center of California (MICCA), follow the Aaliyath of sighting the moon as the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS and will continue to do so Insha Allah. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on Prophet Muhammed SAWS and Mehdi Maud AS and upon all of those who follow them. Ameen.
by Wasim Mehdi
(Approved by MICCA)
If you have any questions or comments, or inquiry about the sources, please contact Wasim Mehdi at wasim@mymicca.org