Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam Aleikum Burhan, I would like to follow up on the question of sighting the moon. I sincerely believe that Rasoolulah (saw) message was to adhere to Islamic calendar in all Islamic related events but to suggest that we have to sight the moon with our naked eyes sounds too naive. At that time I am sure the accuracy of the mathematics was not up to par as now and therefore, why not take advantage of science! Similarly, prophet(saw) used to fight (islamic pillar jihad) on horse backs and today, I do not see any Islamic country following the tradidition and doing the same. Actually, they use modern weapons (tanks, airpalnes etc. purchased from the western countries). Are you then suggesting that all 1.1 billions Muslims are comitting bida`a? I feel that in this case we Bohora`s have interpreted the message correctly and I am proud of the fact that everywhere in the world we celebrate the holy month of Ramazan and Eid on the same day and all Bohora`s always do 30 roza`s. In other sects its embarrasing to see one sect celebrating Eid while the other one is fasting in the same city or one country celebrating Eid while in another fasting (within the same sect). Do you really think that make sense ?

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Answer:

Eid on separate days

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 189:They ask you (O Prophet) about the phases of the moon. Tell them, “These are signs for the people to reckon dates, and fix the periods for Hajj”.

In the above aayah of the Holy Quran, Allah declares that the phases of the moon are signs for the people to determine or reckon the dates of the months. It was indeed the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and the early muslims, that they would determine the days and months by sighting the moon. It is also true that in those days, they did not have access to the modern technological devices, and thus used to sight the moon with the naked eye. There is absolutely no harm, if today, the muslims use and take advantage of these modern instruments to sight or determine the advent of the moon (just as they use the watch to determine the prayer times) to start and date their calendar months. What is important is that some muslim, with or without the use of instruments, sights the moon to start the months.

Your Comment: In other sects its embarrasing to see one sect celebrating Eid while the other one is fasting in the same city or one country celebrating Eid while in another fasting (within the same sect). Do you really think that make sense?
In Islam, the moon is used to determine the number of days in a calendar month; and the sun is used to determine the time for the obligatory ‘fard’ prayers. Just as the prayer times are different in the various geographical locations of the world, it is only natural that the advent of the lunar months will also be different, depending on the various geographical locations. The times and dates are linked to the sun and the moon, and not through the various sects in Islam!

Just imagine, if someone was to say that all the people of one sect must pray the ‘fajr’ prayers at the very same time, no matter where they reside in the world! Now that is something that would not make sense!

Similarly, if one sect announces that, irrespective of the advent of the new moon, they must all start and end the month on the very same day, no matter where they reside in the world; that would not make scientific or logical sense, if indeed they determine their days of the month through the advent of the moon as commanded by Allah Subhanah in the Glorious Quran.

It is also a scientific fact, that some months in the lunar calendar have 29 days and some have 30 days. Thus it would be incorrect to always determine the month of Ramadan (or any particular month) as 30 days, without referring to the moon.

Your Statement: I am proud of the fact that everywhere in the world we celebrate the holy month of Ramazan and Eid on the same day and all Bohora`s always do 30 roza`s.

You might be proud that the Bohras everywhere in the world celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid on the very same day, but it does not make scientific or logical sense! It is obvious that the Bohras are not obeying the command of Allah to determine their days by the moon, but have devised their own calendar for their own sect, using estimation! It makes as much sense to start and end a lunar month on the very same day all over the world, as it would make if everyone of the Bohra community would pray their ‘fajr’ (or any) prayers at the exact same times all over the world, without referring to the sun! That would mean that although it might be time for ‘fajr’ in USA, and ‘magrib’ in Makkah, all the Bohras, all over the world, would pray ‘fajr’! Now, does that make any sense?

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan