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Each new month of the Hijrah calendar commences on the next day of the appearance of the crescent of the new moon. The thin crescent of the new moon appears at dusk, relatively closer to the horizon. It remains visible for a brief time only.
On the evening of the 29th or 30 day of Sha’ban (8th month of the Islamic calendar), Muslims look for the new moon of Ramadan.
Allah (God) has Commanded for seeing the new moon to determine the commencement of Ramadan.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ |
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur-an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the moon, he must observe fast in that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe fast, must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. He wants that you must complete the same number of days, and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him."
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:185 |
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم had also emphasized on the sighting of the new moon, for the month of Ramadan.
Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه : I heard Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, "When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)".
(Bukhari) |
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was extra careful in counting the days of Sha’ban (8th month of Islamic calendar), and looked forward to the sighting of the new moon to begin Ramadan.
Ummul Mu”minin, ‘A”ishah bint Abu Bakr رضى الله عنها narrated:
The Apostle of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. (Abu Dawud)
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Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet or Abu-l-Qasim صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban." (Bukhari)
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If the weather was cloudy on the evening of 29th day of Sha’ban (8th month of the Islamic calendar), the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to wait for one more day, to complete 30 days of the month.
Fasting begins after seeing the new moon of Ramadan (9th month of the Islamic calendar) and ends a month later after seeing the new moon of Shawwal (10th month of the Islamic calendar).
It is a duty of all Muslims to make sincere effort for the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan. Any one, who succeeds in seeing the new moon, should immediately tell others also so they may see it too. People living in urban areas with tall structures, should also make arrangements for sighting of new moon. They can either see it from the rooftops or from some nearby open fields.
Government or private agencies usually make arrangements for sighting of moon in countries with Muslim majority or sizable Muslim populations.
Even in countries or areas where they live in small numbers, Muslims should make collective or individual efforts to see the new moon for Ramadan.
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to recite a Du’a (Supplication) after seeing the new moon of Ramadan.
الله اكبر اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ وَالتَّوْفِيقِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ
Allah O Akbar, Allah humma ahil-la-hu ‘alaina bil-amni wal imani was-salamati wal Islami wat-taufiqi lima tuhibbu wa tarda Rabbana wa Rabbuk-Allahu
Allah is the Greatest. Let the crescent loom above us in safety, faith, peace and Islam, and in agreement that You love and that pleases You. Our Lord and Your Lord is Allah.
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People used to ask the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم about the new moon. Allah (God) gave them their reply.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ |
They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allah. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allah that you may be successful.
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:189 |
Many Muslims and especially the young ones, do question the logic of sighting the moon in this day and age of satellites and computers that can precisely calculate the position of moon at any given point of time.
Muslims always try to follow tha Qur-an and the Sunnah (Traditions of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to the best of their ability because they have been Commanded by Allah (God) to do so. Sighting of the moon is Commanded by Allah (God) and it is also a Sunnah (Traditions of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). |
