Is it Possible to Celebrate Eid on the Same Day in the Muslim World?
By Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan
Garden Grove, CA
More than a decade ago when Muslims celebrated Eid on three consecutive days in one city a reporter of one of the leading English dailies wrote a big article about it. In this article there was a euphemistic taunt at the inability of Muslims to celebrate Eid on the same day in one city while claiming that their religion provides a solution to all problems of the world for all times to come. I wrote a letter to some leading Islamic scholars and institutions in America drawing their attention to the problem and suggesting some solutions.
More than a decade later the problem still persists even though some progress has been made. However, the desire of Sawad E Aazam (main body of Muslims) who wants to celebrate Eid on the same day in the entire Muslim world in the spirit of the Qur’anic injunction: Remain united by holding fast unto the rope of Allah and do not be divided, (Ch. 3 V 103), remains unfulfilled
The reason why this desire of majority of Muslims remains unfulfilled is because we don’t have a unified religious authority to which all Muslims are willing to pay heed. This leadership will not emerge until and unless there is a spirit to compromise. Compromise is not possible on the tenets of Islam which is based on Qur’an and Sunnah. But compromise should always be possible on our understanding and interpretation of it. The one thing that comes in the way of accepting a compromise in matter of Maroof (common sense realities) according to a Hadith of Nabi SA is: pride and insistence on one’s opinion (Tirmizi 3058).
Sighting of the moon is a very important tenet to begin and end the Ramadan fast as per the Hadith of Nabi SA. This Hadith of Nabi SA which was related to a time when Muslims were living in a small area of the globe has to be applied now to a time when Muslims live in the entire globe. It is not possible to sight the crescent on the same day in all parts of the globe. To say that it is perfect to have Eid on different days for people of this universal faith may be technically correct but it debases the universal nature of this religion and its Ummah.
Nabi SA was in Medina when he ordered Muslim to observe fasting after sighting of the moon and end it after sighting the moon of Shawwal (Tirmizi 688). Therefore the month of Ramadan should be considered to have started after the crescent of Ramadan is sighted in Medina. Giving the right to declare the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan at the local level was okay when the means of communications were limited. Now when the world has become a global village our desire to live in our own little village with our authority in the name of Sunnah has shattered all hopes of unity of the Ummah. If we are humble enough to forego this “right” and accept the authority of the people of Medina to declare the beginning of Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj based upon sighting of the moon there, then it is possible for us to present a semblance of the universality of Islam at least on one matter. This we should do out of respect for the place where our beloved Prophet SA is resting.
As it is possible for some mischief makers to disrupt this plan by their false evidence about sighting of the crescent it is better to stick to the method of astronomical calculation, but we should give enough time for the crescent to be actually sighted on the horizon of Medina after sunset and not assume that it is there. This advance forecast of actual sighting is also essential to give the Ummah, which is spread all over the world, enough time to plan for the celebration of these great festivals befitting their grandeur.
The question as to what will happen if the moon is sighted earlier or later than the forecasted day has been adequately solved by the earlier scholars while answering the question of delayed reports of sighting of moon. We can make use of the data available to determine how much of this time is reasonable in a given season for sighting of crescent of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijja on the horizon of Medina to avoid the problem of early and delayed sighting of the crescent than the astronomically forecasted day.
It is a well known fact that our shariah is not a static body of laws but has evolved over time in accordance with the needs of time and consensus of Islamic scholars. Therefore it should not be a problem for Islamic scholars to arrive at a consensus to declare that Ramadan begins and ends by the report of sighting of moon in the city of Medina. The only problem may be the willingness of local scholars to forego their right to determine the day of an important event in their locality. It is time that they should be willing to forego this right to avoid the trouble that they face on this count twice a year. Those who enjoy this trouble in the spirit of protecting shariah should heed to one of the more important Masliha of shariah for unity of Ummah and prevention of dissension in it.
One of the excuses which we always make in taking decisions to correct the outdated, outmoded, impractical and dangerous practices which are occurring in the name of Islam is, it is Bidaa to do so. While making this excuse we are actually extolling the age old aberrations in the name of Islam. We also say that by attempting to change these age-old practices we are discrediting the righteous people who preceded us by doing things which they did not do. While making this argument we are not extolling our predecessor, but we are evading our responsibility to needs of our time. Our predecessors have done their part sincerely and successfully for the needs of their time. Now the world is watching to see if we will do ours for our times. For this our scholars should understand the need of the time and be sincere in interpreting Qur’an and Hadith in real spirit rather than personal preferences.
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