Ramadhan Announcement (Moon Sighting)

[Hashi_Al-Eritre]

Just to let Muslims as well as the catholics who are interested to know:

For those Muslims following North American Moon Sighting:
Since there were no reports of confirmed moonsighting in North America tonight, Its been announced the first Day of Fasting is Wednesday October 5th, 2005.

For those Muslims following International Sighting:
Muslims in many parts of the world have already announced the beginning of the Month of Ramadan. Thus, those Muslims following the Gobal Moonsighting will be observing their first fast Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005.

 

[KathleenElsie]

For those of us that do no know what “moon sighting” is please explain.

 

[LuigiColetta]

Muslims, similar to the jewish calendar, is based on the lunar calendar. So months are established based on the moon. Ramadan, being celebrated in the beginning of a specific month (for specifics please wait for a muslim brother or sister), begins on the sigthing of the moon (again, for specifics wait for our muslim brethren).

This was just a very broad statement, not knowing the specific types of moon signifying a new cycle (30 days or so), so until later I hope this will help…

Peace,
Luigi

 

[Edris]

(They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons. Say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage…) (Qur’an 2:189)

The Islamic or Hijri calendar is based on a lunar month of 29 to 30 days, with the day starting at sunset.  The new moon announces the arrival of a new month, but due to differences in the weather (rain and fog, et cetera) that may prevent a clear view of the moon, or due to great distances between countries, the start of a new month is neither definite nor conclusive. Therefore scientists have developed a number of norms to help predict when the first sighting of the crescent moon will be, but there will be small discrepancies between countries when determining the birth of the crescent heralding the month of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, indicating the end of the fast.

The Prophet (pbuh) 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.” (Vol3, Book31, hadith133 Sahih Bukhari)

The Islamic year consists of twelve months: (1) Muharram, (2) Safar, (3) Rabi Awwal, (4) Rabi Thani, (5) Jumada Awwal, (6) Jumada Thani, (7) Rajab, (8) Shaban, (9) Ramadan, (10) Shawwal, (11) Dhul- Qidah, (12) Dhul- Hijjah.
Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, its year is 10 or 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. This means that Muslim months fall in different seasons. For example, Ramadan and Hajj can fall in the summer as well as in the winter.

 The months falling in different seasons is considered a merci from Allah (swt).   So that every country or part of the world, will not keep fasting on summers or winters, but the month of Ramadan will occur in different season every number of years.  Like for example, Christmas on December,  is always a winter in many countries,  but other countries (continents) like Australia for example, December is the mid-summer,  they never have Christmas on Winter.   December is winter in countries north of the equator, and summer in countries south of the equator. This is because of the tilt of the earth’s axis.   But Ramadan will fall in a different.

If you follow the Islamic calender then all countries around the world will have the chance to enjoy a christmas on winter

Peace