Is not Islamic dating system pre-destined? Or is it on probability?
Dear Brothers & Sisters
Assalaamu Alaikkum Wa Rahmathullaahi wa Barakaathu hu
As a Muslim you would be unhappy to that Eid is celebrated in 3 days in the Muslim world. We Muslims believe in One Allah; we have same Prophet as the Last one; we have the only One Noble Quran. But, still we have same date with three week-days !! 1 st of Shawwal falls on Saturday, Sunday and on Monday !! No one is bothered at all, what a pity !!
Even scholars try to justify such an anomaly by quoting some weak hadeeths or the tail-piece of a hadeeth or from some Fiqh kitaabs. They never discuss the verses from Noble Quran, the prime sbasis of our Dheen, to know about what Almighty Allah says about the dating system. Really a deplorable situation !!
Even though all Muslims believe in Quran Verse 5:3 and are convinced that Islam –The True Religion, is perfect and complete. But at the same time majority of Muslims, feel that Islam has defined a calendar which is for the current month and that too for the days from 2 nd to 29 th. They also believe that Islam lack a Calendar system and look earnestly to the man-made Gregorian Calendar. Even Muslim Organisations who come out with Calendars every year, put the Gregorian dates prominently and display Hijri Dates on the corner or insignificant corner and in smallest possible font size !! It seems they are ashamed to announce the correct Islamic dates.
The truth is that Islam which is perfect and complete has also given an error-free calendar which can be calibrated forwards as well as backwards for any number of years and in which the dates tally with the moon-phases. In fact, in no other calendar, the dates given can be cross-checked to verify its authenticity. How can any one check whether a date 11 th October 2012 on Monday is correct ? As you are aware, many times the Gregorian Calendar was corrected – corrected to that extent that at times even 10 dates were omitted and our Majority of brothers believe that this Gregorian Calendar is correct !!! What a pity !!!
Where as a correct Hijri date can be verified with moon-phases and no man can manipulate the dates decreed by Almighty Allah for the moon.
You would have definitely heard about this hadeeth:
== Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said : "When the month of Ramadaan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
Please give attention to the high-lighted portion - "When the month of Ramadaan starts"
If the month of Ramdhaan is started on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at different man-made countries, on which day (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) the gates of heaven will be opened and on which day (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) the gates of the hell will be closed ???
I am sure you will agree that Lailathul Qadar is on odd day, in the last 10 days. Tell me how will it be possible if different cities started Ramdaan on different days? If it is odd night for someone, that night will be even for others. So, Prophet's (Sallallaahu Alaihi wa sallam) description that it occurs on odd night becomes wrong if on that night someone has counted it as even. Only if all started the Ramdaan on the same correct day, all will achieve Lailathul Qadar on an odd night.
These facts categorically stresses that Islam prescribes only ONE CALENDAR.
In Quran 2:189, Almighty Allah says, “They ask you (O Muhammad) about the phases of the moon. Say: "These are the dates for mankind and for the pilgrimage.''
According to the Asbab Al nuzul of the verse, it is as follows:
Said al-Kalbi: “This was revealed about Mu‘adh ibn Jabal and Tha‘labah ibn ‘Anmah, both of whom were of the Ansar. These two men said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! How is it that the moon first looks fine like a thread, then it grows until it becomes full and round, but then it starts to decrease and become fine again as it initially was. It never stays in one form?’ And as a response, Allah revealed this verse (2:189)”.
So, the sahabas (RA) were asking about the waxing and waning phases and not about the first hilaal.Please understand that Almighty Allah has not appointed moon as a time keeper. Time keeper is the sun. The work of the moon is date keeping. It shows the dates and months. 12 months make a year in the kithaab of Almighty Allah.
The hadeeth which is often quoted by the majority in support to their Bid’ah of hilal sighting is “ Soomu li ruyiathi hi ….” which actually is the last part of a long hadeeth which is “ Ja’alallaahul ahillatha mawaaqeetha li naasi fa soomu li ruyiathi hi, wa afthiru li ruyiathi hi, fa in gummah alaikum fa udhu salaaseena yauman”
Only when we read the full text we can understand the correct meaning of the hadeeth. The full text of the haddeth is quoted in Tafsir Ibn Kathir and only the last part of the hadeeth is recorded in Bhukari as well as in Muslim.
Full-text of the hadeeth directs us to look at the moon phases through- out the month, as practiced by the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi wa sallam) and not just the first one alone. But, the majority quote only the high-lighted part which they misinterpret without knowledge on the subject.
In Quran 9:36, Almighty Allah says that “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah in His Book, on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred. That is the right religion, ..”
The Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) explained about this verse, during Hajjathul Wida, on Friday, 10 th of Zul Hijjah as:
“The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada (Ath-Thaniyah) and Sha`ban.'' The Prophet then asked, (What is the day today') We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better. He kept quiet until we thought that he might give that day another name. He said (Isn't it the day of Nahr) We replied, "Yes.'' He further asked, (Which month is this) We again said, "Allah and His Messenger know better,'' and he kept quiet and made us think that he might give it another name. Then he said,(Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah) We replied, "Yes.'' He asked, (What town is this) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better,'' and he kept quiet until we thought that he might change its name. He asked, (Isn't this the (Sacred) Town) We said, "Yes.''
So, the verse 9:36 not merely says that a year has 12 months. It clearly states that all the months till the End were ordained by the Almighty Allah on the very day He, the Almighty created the heavens and the earth, long before man was created. The correct week-day on which each year starts and ends and the week-day on which each month of that year starts as well as ends were fixed long before the creation of man. So, each month has to be started on the correct day according to the moon-phases. The visibility of man, nor the visibility curves developed by man nor clouds have any role in changing the months fixed by Almighty Allah. Any one who harbours such a thought is in fact committing Shirk- the greatest sin, which Allah will never forgive.
This verse also puts emphasis on the fact that the RIGHT RELIGION is to follow the correct months, according to the moon-phases. Subhaanallah !!
The following verse, 9:37, categorically confirms that changing the months according to the whims and fancy amounts to “NASSIE” which is “ziadathun fil Kufr”. So, to be in the Right Religion, we all should follow such a calendar in which a date shows only ONE week-day; the date which tallys with the moon-phases; the moon-phases as ordained by Almighty Allah on the very day of creation.
Quran further explains about the moon-phases in verse 10:5. “ It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages (manaazil) that you might know the moon-age and the reckoning of years”.
Almighty Allah has decreed ( QADHARAHU) manaazil (stages) for the moon on the Day of Creation. The moon traverse from one stage (manaazil) to another, each day, during its path around the earth. These stages come under the Qadh’r of Almighty Allah and hence, man has no role in changing them. Any one who thinks that the leaders or the Ruler can start the month as they wish are committing Shirk. Even when there is no leaders or the ruler, the moon was showing the months correctly as decreed (Qadharahu) by the Almighty Allah.
Quran further explains in 6:96, “He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.”
This verse says that sun as well as moon are for reckoning and the words used by Almighty Allah is “TAQDHEERUL AZEEZUL ALIM” – ponder on the gravity of these words. In this verse as well as in 55:5 Quran implies that Sun and Moon move with precisely calculated pace and their movements can be calculated.
In verse 17:12 also Almighty Allah says, “And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and to count (periods of time). And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.”
All the above verses (6:96, 55:5, 17:12) further shatter the concept of majority Muslims that moon-sighting as the only way of starting the new month. These verses categorically state that Islam prescribes a pre-calculated calendar.
In this context we should remember that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) has never gone against Quran and in fact he (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) lived as per Quran – in full and that he (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) will never permit anything contrary to the essence of Quran. Any one who thinks otherwise, is in fact, committing blasphemy. (NAUDUBILLAH).
Coming back to the manaazil (stages), Quran further explains in 36:39, “And the moon, We have decreed for it stages, till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.”. Here also the word used is “QADHARNAHU” – decreed.
Almighty Allah has decreed manaazil (stages) for the moon and the last visible phase is “al urj Oonil Qadeem”.
In Tafsir Ibn Kathir, it is explained as, “As for the moon, Allah has decreed that it should pass through different phases. At the beginning of the month, the moon appears small when it rises. It gives off little light, then on the second night its light increases and it rises to a higher position, and the higher it rises the more light it gives -- even though it is reflected from the sun -- until it becomes full on the fourteenth night of the month. Then it starts to wane until the end of the month, until it appears like the old dried curved date stalk. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This is the original stem (which connects the bunch of dates to the tree).''
Ibn Kathir also explains that the Arabs were of the habit of observing the moon throughout the month and they have a name for each set of three nights in a month, according to the phases of the moon. This shows that they were not like the present day majority of Muslims who look at the moon only on 3 or 4 occasions in a year. Amusing part is that they quote the tail-end of the hadeeth and advocate for “ruyi’ah”, but never observe the moon throughout the month !!!
Explaining “We have measured for it mansions” in this verse, it is further said that `We have caused it to run in a different orbit, from which passing of the months can be deduced, just as night and day are known from the sun.'
So, with the manaazil (stages) and by finding out the “Urj Oonil Qadheem”, we can know the passing of a month.
The beauty of Quran is that in the very next aayath, Allah says that" it is not for the sun to overtake the moon", which means that it is the moon which is overtaking the sun. This is exactly what happens on the next day of seeing the Urj Oon. On the conjunction day, next day of Urj Oon, the moon first comes in line with the sun and then overtakes the sun or moves to the other side of the sun thereby starting the new month. Allahu Akbar !! Almighty Allah says in 69:51 that "Verily, it (Quran) is an absolute truth
with certainity”. Subhaan Allah! Alhumdulillah !!
Almighty Allah has taught us how to find-out the last visible phase and the next day is the Day of Conjunction on which no moon will be seen. The Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) describes it as “ghummah”.
The new month starts at Fajre of the following day on which Conjunction takes place. Or in other words, the new month starts after about 48 hours from the appearance of the crescent “alurjoonal qadeem” on the Eastern sky at Fajre.
In the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir where Surah Al Shums Verse 2 ( wal qamara iza talaaha) was discussed, Ibn Kathir (RA) explains,” (By the moon as it Talaha.) Mujahid said, "It follows it (the sun).'' Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, (By the moon as it Talaha.) "It follows the day.'' Qatadah said, "`as it Talaha (follows it)' is referring to the night of the Hilal (the new crescent moon). When the sun goes down, the Hilal is visible.'' (Both the sun and moon cannot be visible on the first day of the month).
The reference given in Ibn Kathir also categorically establishes that the Companions (RA) were observing the moon phases throughout the month and that they (RA) knew very well that they will lose the fast of the first day, if they waited for the hilaal and that the 24-hour period in Islam started at Fajr and not at Magrib.
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf
Dear Brothers & Sisters
Assalaamu Alaikkum Wa Rahmathullaahi wa Barakaathu hu
As a Muslim you would be unhappy to that Eid is celebrated in 3 days in the Muslim world. We Muslims believe in One Allah; we have same Prophet as the Last one; we have the only One Noble Quran. But, still we have same date with three week-days !! 1 st of Shawwal falls on Saturday, Sunday and on Monday !! No one is bothered at all, what a pity !!
Even scholars try to justify such an anomaly by quoting some weak hadeeths or the tail-piece of a hadeeth or from some Fiqh kitaabs. They never discuss the verses from Noble Quran, the prime sbasis of our Dheen, to know about what Almighty Allah says about the dating system. Really a deplorable situation !!
Even though all Muslims believe in Quran Verse 5:3 and are convinced that Islam –The True Religion, is perfect and complete. But at the same time majority of Muslims, feel that Islam has defined a calendar which is for the current month and that too for the days from 2 nd to 29 th. They also believe that Islam lack a Calendar system and look earnestly to the man-made Gregorian Calendar. Even Muslim Organisations who come out with Calendars every year, put the Gregorian dates prominently and display Hijri Dates on the corner or insignificant corner and in smallest possible font size !! It seems they are ashamed to announce the correct Islamic dates.
The truth is that Islam which is perfect and complete has also given an error-free calendar which can be calibrated forwards as well as backwards for any number of years and in which the dates tally with the moon-phases. In fact, in no other calendar, the dates given can be cross-checked to verify its authenticity. How can any one check whether a date 11 th October 2012 on Monday is correct ? As you are aware, many times the Gregorian Calendar was corrected – corrected to that extent that at times even 10 dates were omitted and our Majority of brothers believe that this Gregorian Calendar is correct !!! What a pity !!!
Where as a correct Hijri date can be verified with moon-phases and no man can manipulate the dates decreed by Almighty Allah for the moon.
You would have definitely heard about this hadeeth:
== Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said : "When the month of Ramadaan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
Please give attention to the high-lighted portion - "When the month of Ramadaan starts"
If the month of Ramdhaan is started on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at different man-made countries, on which day (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) the gates of heaven will be opened and on which day (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) the gates of the hell will be closed ???
I am sure you will agree that Lailathul Qadar is on odd day, in the last 10 days. Tell me how will it be possible if different cities started Ramdaan on different days? If it is odd night for someone, that night will be even for others. So, Prophet's (Sallallaahu Alaihi wa sallam) description that it occurs on odd night becomes wrong if on that night someone has counted it as even. Only if all started the Ramdaan on the same correct day, all will achieve Lailathul Qadar on an odd night.
These facts categorically stresses that Islam prescribes only ONE CALENDAR.
In Quran 2:189, Almighty Allah says, “They ask you (O Muhammad) about the phases of the moon. Say: "These are the dates for mankind and for the pilgrimage.''
According to the Asbab Al nuzul of the verse, it is as follows:
Said al-Kalbi: “This was revealed about Mu‘adh ibn Jabal and Tha‘labah ibn ‘Anmah, both of whom were of the Ansar. These two men said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! How is it that the moon first looks fine like a thread, then it grows until it becomes full and round, but then it starts to decrease and become fine again as it initially was. It never stays in one form?’ And as a response, Allah revealed this verse (2:189)”.
So, the sahabas (RA) were asking about the waxing and waning phases and not about the first hilaal.Please understand that Almighty Allah has not appointed moon as a time keeper. Time keeper is the sun. The work of the moon is date keeping. It shows the dates and months. 12 months make a year in the kithaab of Almighty Allah.
The hadeeth which is often quoted by the majority in support to their Bid’ah of hilal sighting is “ Soomu li ruyiathi hi ….” which actually is the last part of a long hadeeth which is “ Ja’alallaahul ahillatha mawaaqeetha li naasi fa soomu li ruyiathi hi, wa afthiru li ruyiathi hi, fa in gummah alaikum fa udhu salaaseena yauman”
Only when we read the full text we can understand the correct meaning of the hadeeth. The full text of the haddeth is quoted in Tafsir Ibn Kathir and only the last part of the hadeeth is recorded in Bhukari as well as in Muslim.
Full-text of the hadeeth directs us to look at the moon phases through- out the month, as practiced by the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi wa sallam) and not just the first one alone. But, the majority quote only the high-lighted part which they misinterpret without knowledge on the subject.
In Quran 9:36, Almighty Allah says that “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah in His Book, on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred. That is the right religion, ..”
The Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) explained about this verse, during Hajjathul Wida, on Friday, 10 th of Zul Hijjah as:
“The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada (Ath-Thaniyah) and Sha`ban.'' The Prophet then asked, (What is the day today') We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better. He kept quiet until we thought that he might give that day another name. He said (Isn't it the day of Nahr) We replied, "Yes.'' He further asked, (Which month is this) We again said, "Allah and His Messenger know better,'' and he kept quiet and made us think that he might give it another name. Then he said,(Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah) We replied, "Yes.'' He asked, (What town is this) We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better,'' and he kept quiet until we thought that he might change its name. He asked, (Isn't this the (Sacred) Town) We said, "Yes.''
So, the verse 9:36 not merely says that a year has 12 months. It clearly states that all the months till the End were ordained by the Almighty Allah on the very day He, the Almighty created the heavens and the earth, long before man was created. The correct week-day on which each year starts and ends and the week-day on which each month of that year starts as well as ends were fixed long before the creation of man. So, each month has to be started on the correct day according to the moon-phases. The visibility of man, nor the visibility curves developed by man nor clouds have any role in changing the months fixed by Almighty Allah. Any one who harbours such a thought is in fact committing Shirk- the greatest sin, which Allah will never forgive.
This verse also puts emphasis on the fact that the RIGHT RELIGION is to follow the correct months, according to the moon-phases. Subhaanallah !!
The following verse, 9:37, categorically confirms that changing the months according to the whims and fancy amounts to “NASSIE” which is “ziadathun fil Kufr”. So, to be in the Right Religion, we all should follow such a calendar in which a date shows only ONE week-day; the date which tallys with the moon-phases; the moon-phases as ordained by Almighty Allah on the very day of creation.
Quran further explains about the moon-phases in verse 10:5. “ It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages (manaazil) that you might know the moon-age and the reckoning of years”.
Almighty Allah has decreed ( QADHARAHU) manaazil (stages) for the moon on the Day of Creation. The moon traverse from one stage (manaazil) to another, each day, during its path around the earth. These stages come under the Qadh’r of Almighty Allah and hence, man has no role in changing them. Any one who thinks that the leaders or the Ruler can start the month as they wish are committing Shirk. Even when there is no leaders or the ruler, the moon was showing the months correctly as decreed (Qadharahu) by the Almighty Allah.
Quran further explains in 6:96, “He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.”
This verse says that sun as well as moon are for reckoning and the words used by Almighty Allah is “TAQDHEERUL AZEEZUL ALIM” – ponder on the gravity of these words. In this verse as well as in 55:5 Quran implies that Sun and Moon move with precisely calculated pace and their movements can be calculated.
In verse 17:12 also Almighty Allah says, “And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and to count (periods of time). And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.”
All the above verses (6:96, 55:5, 17:12) further shatter the concept of majority Muslims that moon-sighting as the only way of starting the new month. These verses categorically state that Islam prescribes a pre-calculated calendar.
In this context we should remember that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) has never gone against Quran and in fact he (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) lived as per Quran – in full and that he (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) will never permit anything contrary to the essence of Quran. Any one who thinks otherwise, is in fact, committing blasphemy. (NAUDUBILLAH).
Coming back to the manaazil (stages), Quran further explains in 36:39, “And the moon, We have decreed for it stages, till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.”. Here also the word used is “QADHARNAHU” – decreed.
Almighty Allah has decreed manaazil (stages) for the moon and the last visible phase is “al urj Oonil Qadeem”.
In Tafsir Ibn Kathir, it is explained as, “As for the moon, Allah has decreed that it should pass through different phases. At the beginning of the month, the moon appears small when it rises. It gives off little light, then on the second night its light increases and it rises to a higher position, and the higher it rises the more light it gives -- even though it is reflected from the sun -- until it becomes full on the fourteenth night of the month. Then it starts to wane until the end of the month, until it appears like the old dried curved date stalk. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This is the original stem (which connects the bunch of dates to the tree).''
Ibn Kathir also explains that the Arabs were of the habit of observing the moon throughout the month and they have a name for each set of three nights in a month, according to the phases of the moon. This shows that they were not like the present day majority of Muslims who look at the moon only on 3 or 4 occasions in a year. Amusing part is that they quote the tail-end of the hadeeth and advocate for “ruyi’ah”, but never observe the moon throughout the month !!!
Explaining “We have measured for it mansions” in this verse, it is further said that `We have caused it to run in a different orbit, from which passing of the months can be deduced, just as night and day are known from the sun.'
So, with the manaazil (stages) and by finding out the “Urj Oonil Qadheem”, we can know the passing of a month.
The beauty of Quran is that in the very next aayath, Allah says that" it is not for the sun to overtake the moon", which means that it is the moon which is overtaking the sun. This is exactly what happens on the next day of seeing the Urj Oon. On the conjunction day, next day of Urj Oon, the moon first comes in line with the sun and then overtakes the sun or moves to the other side of the sun thereby starting the new month. Allahu Akbar !! Almighty Allah says in 69:51 that "Verily, it (Quran) is an absolute truth
with certainity”. Subhaan Allah! Alhumdulillah !!
Almighty Allah has taught us how to find-out the last visible phase and the next day is the Day of Conjunction on which no moon will be seen. The Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) describes it as “ghummah”.
The new month starts at Fajre of the following day on which Conjunction takes place. Or in other words, the new month starts after about 48 hours from the appearance of the crescent “alurjoonal qadeem” on the Eastern sky at Fajre.
In the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir where Surah Al Shums Verse 2 ( wal qamara iza talaaha) was discussed, Ibn Kathir (RA) explains,” (By the moon as it Talaha.) Mujahid said, "It follows it (the sun).'' Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, (By the moon as it Talaha.) "It follows the day.'' Qatadah said, "`as it Talaha (follows it)' is referring to the night of the Hilal (the new crescent moon). When the sun goes down, the Hilal is visible.'' (Both the sun and moon cannot be visible on the first day of the month).
The reference given in Ibn Kathir also categorically establishes that the Companions (RA) were observing the moon phases throughout the month and that they (RA) knew very well that they will lose the fast of the first day, if they waited for the hilaal and that the 24-hour period in Islam started at Fajr and not at Magrib.
You may please click the link below for animation on Lunar
phases:
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf
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