Eidul Fitr
on November 3: The Decision Process
By Dr. Muzammil H.
Siddiqi
Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America
Some people have asked us to give some details
about the process that the Fiqh Council and National
Shura used to make the decision about the Idul
Fitr to be on Thursday, November 3, 2005. Our
statement about Id decision was short because
of the time constrains. We were not able to arrive
at the decision before sunset in the Pacific Time
zone, the teleconference lasted for one hour so
as to allow sufficient discussion, and there were
a lot of persons and communities waiting for a
word so as to prepare for Id the following days.
However, here are the details for those who want
to know how we reached to the decision.
1.The decision was based on the local moon sighting
reports in accordance with the current criteria
approved by the decision-making bodies. The criteria
say:
A CONFIRMED CRESCENT SIGHTING REPORT IN NORTH
AMERICA WILL BE ACCEPTED AS LONG AS SUCH A REPORT
DOES NOT CONTRADICT INDISPUTABLE ASTRONOMICAL
INFORMATION. CONFIRMATION OF ASTRONOMICAL INFORMATION
AND ASSOCIATED POSSIBILITY OF MOON SIGHTING WILL
BE BASED ON THE MAJORITY-BASED RECOMMENDATION
OF AN INDEPENDENT TEAM OF MUSLIM ASTRONOMY CONSULTANTS.
2. On Wednesday, November 2, 2005, ISNA received
several moon sighting reports from various parts
of the United States. A total of nine reports
from five different cities were received.
i. Jacksonville, Florida: Two Muslims testified
that they saw the Hilal. The persons were confirmed
as trustworthy by the local Imams.
ii. Chicago, Illinois: One of three male members
of a family testified that they all saw the Hilal.
They are known Muslims members of the community
and are considered trustworthy.
iii. Amityville, New York: One Muslim testified
that he saw the Hilal.
iv. Phoenix, Arizona: Three Muslims, one Imam
and two members of the community testified that
they saw the Hilal.
v. Tucson, Arizona: Mr. Jim Stamm who regularly
watches Hilals reported that he saw the Hilal
through his telescope.
3. Our astronomy consultants: Dr. Muhib Durrani
and Dr. Ahmad Salamah spoke to the witnesses and
took the details of their observations. Dr. Khalid
Shaukat was not willing to speak to any witness
as his position was that there was no sighting
possible.
4. At 9 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) a teleconference
took place. Following members of the Fiqh Council,
National Shura and Astronomy Consultants participated
in the conference call:
i. Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh
Council
ii. Shaikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, Vice Chair of
the Fiqh Councl and President of ISNA
iii. Dr. Adam El-Sheikh, Executive Director of
the Fiqh Council
iv. Dr. Jamal Badawi, Member of the Executive
Board of the Fiqh Council
v. Dr. Ihsan Bagby, Member of the Executive Board
of the Fiqh Council and President of MANA
vi. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Member of the Fiqh
Council
vii. Imam Abdur Rahman Khan, Imam of the Islamic
Foundation, Villa Park, Illinois
viii. Dr. Syed Syeed, Secretary General of ISNA
ix. Dr. Zaheeruddin, Representative of ICNA
x. Imam Pasha, Representative of Imam W.D. Muhammad
xi. Mr. Kareem Irfan, Representative of the Islamic
Council of Chicago
xii. Dr. Khalid Shaukat, Astronomy Consultant
xiii. Dr. Mohib Durrani, Astronomy Consultant
xiv. Dr. Ahmad Salamah, Astronomy Consultant
5. After the opening of the meeting, the Chairman
of the Fiqh Council asked the astronomy consultants
to report their findings after their conversation
with the witnesses. The consultants agreed that
the reports of the witnesses from New York, Chicago
and Jacksonville were not acceptable because they
failed to meet the scientific data available as
to the location, shape and timings of crescent
that evening. Dr. Durrani and Dr. Salamah also
reported their discussions with the witnesses
in Phoenix, Arizona. Both of them indicated that
they would not rule out the Phoenix sightings.
Dr. Khalid Shaukat disagreed.
6. When Dr. Khalid Shaukat was asked whether he
talked to any witnesses, his answer was, “No.”
Dr. Salamah was asked how he could accept these
naked eye testimonies when it was said earlier
that it was impossible. His answer was that he
never said that it was impossible. He reminded
us that he sent his email about a month ago informing
us that if there were any sightings he would not
reject them outright. Other members agreed receiving
this information from Dr. Salamah. Dr. Durrani
expressed his total surprise at the positional
accuracy of the sighting reports from the Phoenix
witnesses. He told us that their description of
the Hilal’s location, shape and timings
all meet the expected positional astronomical
data. He told us that he was willing to accept
these sightings even though they were against
his earlier predictions. His position was that
the actual sighting data was empirical and could
be revised.
7. Dr. Durrani also informed the participants
about the telescopic sighting of Mr. Jim Stamm.
Mr. Stamm was very cooperative and even allowed
some Muslims to be at his site to observe the
Hilal from his telescope. However, the Muslim
observers failed to see the Hilal from the telescope.
The Fiqh Council was thankful to Mr. Stamm for
his cooperation and considered his report, not
as a Hilal witness, but as supportive evidence.
It was discussed as to why other Muslim observers
were not able to see the Hilal from his telescope
and the answer was given that it might be because
of their lack of experience. Dr. Durrani told
us that Mr. Stamm was a respectable and honorable
person. He would not try to mislead us knowingly.
8. It was well known to all participants that
the age of moon was almost 24 hours at the sunset
in Pacific coast and it set that evening about
21 minutes after sunset. Thus after due deliberation
over the astronomical information, the sighting
reports and the agreed upon criteria (as mentioned
above) Dr. Jamal Badawi expressed that according
to his opinion, the sighting reports did not contradict
any “indisputable astronomical information”
as it is mentioned in our criteria. Majority of
our astronomy consultants were willing to accept
the Phoenix sightings. Hence we should announce
Idul Fitr to be on Thursday, November 3, 2005
according to our present criteria.
9. All Fiqh Council members unanimously accepted
this resolution. Imam Pasha representing Imam
W.D. Muhammad expressed his reservation. He told
us that Imam Muhammad had already announced the
Id to be on Friday, November 4, 2005. We informed
him that the Shura required that no announcement
should be made before the decision of this body.
10. Most participants accepted the decision. Dr.
Shaukat abstained. Dr. Zaheeruddin said that he
would inform ICNA President and would leave the
decision to him.
11. The Meeting concluded at 10 P.M. Easter Standard
time. We pray to Allah subhanahu wa ta’la
to accept our humble service and forgive us if
we have made any mistakes. We tried our best to
reach the right decision.
For details about witnesses’ reports consult
www.Hilalsighting.com
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