Eid really Friday? - Another Controversy
Published by Haseeb November 3rd, 2005 in Current News, ICNA, Islam, Zaid ShakirWell yesterday, most of us in America were reallly excited that everyone in America would FINALLY be celebrating Eid together. Those that follow the opinion that once the moon is sighted anywhere in the world, were going to celbrate Eid on Thursday no matter what since Wednesday was the 30th day of Ramadan for them. For the rest (and majority) of Muslims, who follow the opinion of followng local sighting, we celebrated Eid today because ISNA, and ICNA and the "North American Fiqh Council" confirmed the sighting of the moon in North America. Or did they…
It was initially reported and scientifically calculated that the moon would be impossible to see on Wednesday, therefore Thursday being the 30th of Ramadan, and Eid on Friday. But on Wednesday the moon was ‘miraculously?’ sighted in llinois and Arizona… So Ramadan is over, and Eid Mubarak…?
Well according to Moonsighting.net (not to be confused with moonsighting.com), ISNA and the Fiqh council MISLED millions of Muslims Wednesday. It claims the two moon sightings as unreliable - they were false sightings.
Moreover, the very credible and trustworthy Zaytuna Institute (who I believe is the most respectable and trustworthy American Muslim organization), also didnt verify the sightings, and therefore declared Thursday the 30th of Ramadan, and Eid on Friday. Imam Zaid Shakir wrote a statement on this matter.
Based on the considerations mentioned …, we believe that none of the sightings reported in North America on the night of Wednesday, November 2, 2005, were credible. Not only were the reported sightings in Maryland and Chicago outside of projected visibility curves, even with optical aids, by 3000 miles, they apparently occurred in areas where there was no confirmed sighting of the crescent at the beginning of Ramadan.
…
Based on the criteria we are employing, we consider the sightings discussed above doubtful. Therefore, we feel out of precaution, it is best to adhere to the legal principle that certainty cannot be removed by doubt. We are certain about Ramadan, while the entrance of Shawwal is doubtful. Hence, the original state of fasting should be maintained. Therefore, at the Zaytuna Institute we advise fasting Thursday, and celebrating the ‘Id on Friday, November 4, 2005.
Oh man, so did we all celebrate Eid on the wrong day? Well it all comes down to the organizations in charge. ISNA, and ICNA and their ‘fiqh council’ are the ones we all follow, as they are our (unelected) leaders; and they did make the decision so the burden ultimately lies on their shoulders, not us. Nonetheless, to be safe inshallah I believe we all should make up an extra day of fasting. But ultimately, since everyone around us here in New York at least, was celebrating Eid on Thursday, that by itself should be a good enough reason to celebrate eid on this day for the sake of Unity. Imam Zaid confirms:
However, there is another consideration, that is the spirit and intent of ‘Id. As one of the great signs of Allah
, whose underlying spirit is unity, and celebration, we feel that if a Muslim is in an area where the overwhelming majority of his/her community, family, and friends are celebrating the ‘Id on Thursday, November 3, 2005. He/she should join them if his/her heart is at peace with that decision.
… we really need to get this moon-sighting thing straighted out… :-/
anyways… Eid Mubarak… again!?!?
actually it was the same in Australia. The moon was not sighted at all, but most of the mosques got together and decided that thursday was it. But some individuals decided to play it safe and went ahead on friday. What’s wrong with calculations anyway?
Eid Mubarak
craziness
The lack of consistency is killing me. Either use Astronomical sightings or don’t. Because it makes the scientific community look pretty stupif when the moon is impossible to sight, yet a few Muslims always manage to find it. Subhannallah.
The Qu’raan, Our Holy book, says you should do whatever your Fellow Muslim Brothers and Sisters do , so if they (your fellow muslim brothers and sisters) say that they saw the moon in any other part of the world, you should believe that it is Eid and Celebrate Eid El-Fitr on that day.
No ISNA Of INCA should or could change that.
Thank you.
Sihem_
What about prayer times? Why not we look at sun and our shadows? Why do we depend on calculations? I think it’s fine to depend on calculations, and if the majority agree that calculations are better, shouldn’t we trust them?
The moon is always there. THEREFORE it should always be done as soon as possible. The moon doesn’t ever disappear. If one were to shine a powerful light, they would see the moon despite the earth’s shadow.
yes I agree, so you should celebrate Eid as soon as possible and as far as local moon sighting goes, it should be based on the city locality.
WHen you say local, go local. Every town has its own sighting where folks come out under the stars to look for the moon. How nice would that be rather than relying and then arguing about hilal committees that they are not doing their job of sighting the moon.
ICNA and ISNA have been old Islamic organizations that have worked for a while in the US. I would give them great respect for their contribution to the Muslim community. They know what they are doing and if they make a mistake, then they are responsible, we shouldnt care. We should just partyy for Eid.
that isn’t exactly what i meant. I meant to say that everyone should celebrate it on the earliest day possible b/c the moon is always there. I don’t think it’s a good idea for locals to come out and look up at the sky to decide - then youll have eid’s spread out over an entire month based on whoever is deciding whatever for his community. I think ICNA and ISNA should decide here b/c they are respected organizations. If they get it ‘wrong’ which is impossible since the moon is always there, at least they tried to do their part and tried to get everyone to do it on the same day.
no, Eid wont really be spread out over the month, lol!
you might have two or three cities coincidently celebrating at the same time, lol!
but it would be local. Besides, its fun to take out your telescope and sight the moon.
WHy do these city people dont get the fun of this? LOL!
The day we celebrate eid on doesnt really matter. As long as most muslims celebrated on the same day, I’m happy
I think that it is rediculous to say “we will accept your moonsighting if it agrees with what we think is right. Otherwise you don’t know what your talking about.” Personally I am glad I don’t have to make these desicions.
I think that is not right becauase it depense on the moonsight.
%
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http://www.moonsighting.com/1428shw.html
This site has clear indication when new moon will be sighted…. Hopefully in Australia it will be on Saturday.
Thanks