{"id":32907,"date":"2024-10-06T09:26:19","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T09:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/?p=32907"},"modified":"2024-10-06T22:53:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T22:53:43","slug":"understanding-moon-sightings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/understanding-moon-sightings\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Moon Sightings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Fatwa ID: 07472<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Answered by Maulana Sarfraz Mohammad<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>Question<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Respected Recipient(s),<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">I hope you are in the best of health and doing great.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I noticed that Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman remained Chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (now re-named as Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council) as the lifelong Chairman \u201c<\/span><b>Gaddi Nasheen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d in the past. The point of my concerns are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Why do we need a Committee or Research Council for moon sighting, just on 5 occasions in a year?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 2. In the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s, these people were not ready to use any scientific equipment for the task, and that was based on the belief that using <\/span><b>naked eyes for moon sighting is what Sunnah was<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 3. After a long struggle, they agreed to use scientific equipment, which used to be placed on the rooftop of <\/span><b>Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">\u00a0 4. There have been issues in relation to moon sighting for the month of Ramadan &amp; Eid-Ul-Fitr during the 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s. Because of diversity on faith in different regions of my beloved country, that practice is still continued (like Peshawar\u2019s Masjid-e-Qasim and others).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 5. When there is a yearly calendar for five (5) times prayer of each day, then why can\u2019t a lunar calendar be made for each year to make a resolve on 5 occasions i.e. <\/span><b>Muharram, Ramadan, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Dhil-hajj <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Rabi-Ul-Awal?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nepotism and Religion Cards should not be practiced based on ill-fated deeds <\/span><b>&#8220;Nazaria-e-Zaroorat&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. All relevant personnel should bring out character building measures in it&#8217;s true spirit, rather keeping fairy-tale things around on <\/span><b>Islamic Principles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By doing so, we will be able to become developed as a <\/span><b>Civilized Nation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the face of the <\/span><b>Earth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. All policy makers and implementers should work on this matter collectively and devise a strategy with a true spirit of <\/span><b>What is Right<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>What is Wrong<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In my beloved country, Ministry of Religious Affairs &amp; Interfaith Harmony and Ministry of Science and Technology are the pillars of subject matter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am contacting your office, considering your institution&#8217;s vast knowledge and existence in our world, on <\/span>Islamic Principles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I believe, we are living in the 21st Century, and our world has become a global village NOW, where sharing of knowledge has become more convenient. Can you please share your consent as what significance and impact of using <\/span><b>Nepotism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and\/or <\/span><b>Religion Card<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on any society, particularly to be based on ill-fated deeds, and provide related references from <\/span><b>Quran<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and\/or <\/span><b>Sunnah<\/b><b>?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I am planning to write a research paper on subject matter, and your participation on providing guidelines will be highly appreciated. After all, it is about keeping the balance of momentum in <\/span><b>Civilization Evolution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and suggesting <\/span><b>Corrective Action Plan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>Answer\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Moon Sighting: Tradition and Modern Science<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">In the Hanafi school of thought, following the Sunnah is essential. When it comes to moon sighting, there has historically been an emphasis on using the naked eye, based on the hadith:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, &#8220;Fast when you see the moon and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured to you, then complete the number (of Sha&#8217;ban) as thirty days.&#8221; (Sahih Bukhari, 1909)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">This hadith reflects the reliance on direct observation. However, the Hanafi scholars, like other jurists, have evolved in their interpretations to accommodate technological advancements. While the foundational preference may have been for naked-eye sighting, the principle of maslaha (public interest) allows for utilising scientific tools such as eye glasses, binoculars, etc when the objective is to establish certainty, especially in an age where reliable calculations and equipment are available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">The existence of differing moon-sighting decisions in different regions of your country could stem from both the diversity of interpretations and local authority disagreements. From a Hanafi perspective, local moon sighting (ru\u2019yat al-hilal) is typically upheld, meaning each locality may follow its sighting. However, modern challenges and global interconnectedness often call for a unified, scientifically informed approach to avoid disunity and confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Only Allah knows best<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Answered by Maulana Sarfraz Mohammad<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Darul Ifta Birmingham<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u0648\u0627\u062e\u062a\u0644\u0627\u0641 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0637\u0627\u0644\u0639 \u063a\u06cc\u0631 \u0645\u0639\u062a\u0628\u0631 \u0639\u0644\u06cc \u0638\u0627\u06c1\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0630\u06be\u0628 \u0648\u0639\u0644\u06cc\u06c1 \u0627\u06a9\u062b\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0634\u0627\u0626\u062e \u0648\u0639\u0644\u06cc\u06c1 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u062a\u0648\u06cc\u060c \u0628\u062d\u0631 \u0639\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0644\u0627\u0635\u06c3 \u0641\u06cc\u0644\u0632\u0645 \u0627\u06be\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0634\u0631\u0642 \u0628\u0631\u0624\u06cc\u06c3 \u0627\u06be\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u063a\u0631\u0628 \u0627\u0630\u0627 \u062b\u0628\u062a \u0639\u0646\u062f\u06be\u0645 \u0623\u0648\u0644\u0626\u06a9 \u0628\u0637\u0631\u06cc\u0642 \u0645\u0648\u062c\u0628 \u060c\u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0632\u06cc\u0644\u0639\u06cc \u0627\u0644\u0627\u0634\u0628\u06c1 \u0627\u0646\u06c1 \u06cc\u0639\u062a\u0628\u0631 \u0644\u06a9\u0646 \u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u06a9\u0645\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u062e\u0630 \u0628\u0638\u0627\u06c1\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0648\u0627\u06cc\u06c3 \u0627\u062d\u0648\u0637<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>(\u06a9\u062a\u0627\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0648\u0645\u060c \u062c:3 \u0635:417\u060c418<\/b><b> \u0637:\u00a0 )<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>\u0628\u062f\u0627\u0626\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0646\u0627\u0626\u0639 <\/b><b>\u00a0:<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">&#8220;\u0627\u0630\u0627 \u06a9\u0627\u0646\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0627\u0641\u06c3 \u0628\u06cc\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u062f\u062a\u06cc\u0646 \u0642\u0631\u06cc\u0628\u06c3 \u0644\u0627\u062a\u062e\u062a\u0644\u0641 \u0641\u06cc\u06c1\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0637\u0627\u0644\u0639 \u060c\u0641\u0627\u0645\u0627 \u0627\u0630\u0627 \u06a9\u0627\u0646\u062a \u0628\u0639\u06cc\u062f\u06c3 \u0641\u0644\u0627\u06cc\u0644\u0632\u0645 \u0627\u062d\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u062f\u06cc\u0646 \u062d\u06a9\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0622\u062e\u0631 \u0644\u0627\u0646 \u0645\u0637\u0627\u0644\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u0627\u062f \u0639\u0646\u062f \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0627\u0641\u06c3 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0627\u062d\u0634\u06c3 \u062a\u062e\u062a\u0644\u0641 \u0641\u06cc\u0639\u062a\u0628\u0631 \u0641\u06cc \u0627\u06be\u0644 \u06a9\u0644 \u0628\u0644\u062f \u0645\u0637\u0627\u0644\u0639 \u0628\u0644\u062f\u06be\u0645 \u062f\u0648\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u062f\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><b>(\u06a9\u062a\u0627\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0648\u0645 \u060c\u0641\u0635\u0644 \u0648 \u0627\u0645\u0627 \u0634\u0631\u0627\u0626\u0637\u06be\u0627\u060c\u062c :2 \u0635: 83 )<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">\u0648\u0642\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0628\u064a -\u0635\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0648\u0633\u0644\u0645- \u0628\u0634\u0623\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0647\u0644\u0627\u0644: \u0635\u0648\u0645\u0648\u0627 \u0644\u0631\u0624\u064a\u062a\u0647\u060c \u0648\u0623\u0641\u0637\u0631\u0648\u0627 \u0644\u0631\u0624\u064a\u062a\u0647\u060c \u0641\u0625\u0646 \u063a\u064f\u0645\u0651\u064e \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0643\u0645\u060c \u0641\u0635\u0648\u0645\u0648\u0627 \u062b\u0644\u0627\u062b\u064a\u0646 \u064a\u0648\u0645\u0627\u064b. \u0631\u0648\u0627\u0647 \u0645\u0633\u0644\u0645.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fatwa ID: 07472 &nbsp; &nbsp; Answered by Maulana Sarfraz Mohammad &nbsp; Question &nbsp; Respected Recipient(s), &nbsp; I hope you are in the best of health&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32907"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32907"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32977,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32907\/revisions\/32977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}