The Truth About The Bases And Methods Of
Determining Beginnings Of Islaamic
Lunar Months
By Talib Ul Haq
The blessed month of Ramadaan the month of the Ummah according to Hadeeth,
will be upon us and with it the usual annual controversy and drama will grip
the Muslims of America how to
determine the beginning and the end of this Grand month – who to listen to,
whose FATWA to follow and who is
right, etc because there are three methods of determining the beginning of Islaamic Lunar Months that are practiced
at present – per FATWAS. These are:
1. Locality based hilaal (crescent moon) sighting
2. Regional hilaal sighting, calculation assisted or not
3. No hilaal sighting. Determination strictly on the basis of calculations
only
Obviously, all three can not be the proper and
right methods. The above mentioned methods are therefore being examined to
determine the truth. According to Muslim belief the only RIGHT 
, i.e. in the “ittebaa’” of him (following in his foot steps) which is enjoined by Allaah 
for Muslims to
do. And Muslims at large believe in that
and try to follow Allaah’s Rasool with ungrudging willingness, complete acceptance and strong
faith. For a Muslim these factors are grounded on more than a few DIVINE FACTS
(TRUTHS) which constitute his/her “belief system” – which provides the desire
as well as rationale to follow in the footsteps of the RasoolAllaah . These are included in the second part as a reminder because
it is the duty (fard) of every Muslim to know for him/herself:
a) What the Qur-aan
says about an “‘Ibaadah” (beneficial and
rewarding spiritual acts and practices).
In this case fasting – its purpose, duration, conditions and
b) How these “‘Ibaadah” were operationalized
and put into practice by the RasoolAllaah
himself in the presence of his Sahabah (companions may
Allaah be pleased with them all) to teach the
correct practice by words and acts of the commandments of Allaah in accordance with the “WAHY” from his Rabb as indicated in the Holy Qur-aan several times (see for eg. 6-50 & 107, 7-103, 10-15)
c) To point out to the unaware (and correct)
when someone is espousing (and/or) engaging in deviations from the practice of
the RasoolAllaah in the performance of the “ittebaa’”
d) And in the this context (c) to identify
i. and
critically examine the rationalizations given for the espoused deviant
practice(s)
ii. and reveal the assumptions,
premises, underpinnings, fallacies, posits, misrepresentations etc
involved
in the
espousal of the deviation(s)
iii. and inform if there are any
hidden agendas involved which the espoused deviation serves
iv. and inform the
unaware what Allaah clearly says about
the root cause of the espoused
deviant behaviors – taught or practiced.
This is the only purpose of this writing. The reader should read this critically and
thoughtfully with an open mind remembering that all of us individually are
responsible and accountable for our own acts/practices in all aspects of our “Ibaadah” on the Day of Judgment where
ignorance of Allaah’s 
injunctions and
commandments and His RasoolAllaah’s
practice, and/or
following of “leaders” [other than the RasoolAllaah ]
will not be accepted as an excuse or
defense. And neither would the things we
did because of our (self defined) conveniences, priorities,
expediencies, perspectives, interpretations and / or philosophies when they
negate that which is stated in the Hadeeth
Shareef: “None of you can claim to be believers (mumineen) unless one subordinates one’s desires to the way I have
brought”.
PART
XII. How the RasoolAllaah Established the
Beginning(s) of Islaamic Lunar Months
(Under the guidance of Allaah )
The crucial point to
note here is that the means and procedure of determining the beginning the Islaamic months is given in the Holy Qur-aan.
Soorah Baqarah 189 “They (will) ask you about “hilaals” (note the plural
here). Say: These are signs to indicate the periods (of time) and the pilgrimage
(Hajj Days)”.
Two matters are established in the above Aayaat:-
- Islaamic months are to be lunar months.
- Islaamic months are to begin / start
with the Hilaal.
PLEASE NOTE: Probably
the most important POINT OF THE TRUTH THAT WE
The word Hilaal does not apply to an unsightable crescent of or after the birth of
the crescent.
And under the guidance
of Wahy from Allaah
the RasoolAllaah established the criteria, steps and method of
determining the beginnings of Islaamic
Lunar Months which Allaah Himself made to be of 29 or 30 days in His design.
The RasoolAllaah practiced this divine method revealed to him,
and taught to his Sahaabah by word (Ahadeeth which are quoted later) and
his practice (Sunnah). The Sahaabah (May Allaah be pleased with them all) diligently followed
it and passed it on unchanged to the generations to come. This is also being
followed by most of the Ummah today. The Criteria of the RasoolAllaah
were: looking for the crescent to sight it – the
hilaal, considering the obscurity of
sighting horizon and “locality of residence” of the sighter(s) who must fast
during the month of Ramadaan if not ill and not in travel i.e. the locality was to be the
location when a person was NOT A “MUSAFIR” (traveler).
Qur-aan 2-185 “It was the month of Ramadaan in which the Qur-aan was bestowed as guidance unto
mankind with self evident proofs of that guidance, and as the standard by which
to discern right from wrong. Hence, whoever is present in this month shall
fast the whole month but he that is ill, or on a journey (“Safar”), shall fast on an equal number of other days (after Ramadan). Allaah intends that you shall have ease, and does not
intend for you to have hardship; but that you complete the number (of days
required), and that you extol and magnify Allaah
for having guided you so that you render your
gratefulness (to Him).
Regarding the obscurity
of the sighting horizon on the 29th evening and the hilaal not being sighted upon looking for it, the RasoolAllaah said, “When you see the hilaal, start fasting, and when you see the hilaal stop fasting, and if the horizon is cloudy then regard the hilaal of Ramadaan (to be of 30 days) – in another
Hadeeth Shareef…“then complete Shaban as 30 days”.
And this practice is
applicable to the (12) months of the year. (In this context) the RasoolAllaah has said that Allaah accepts the
day of ‘Arafat (during Hajj) on the 9th or the 10th
of Dzilhijjah. The day of ‘Arafat will “fall” on 10th
of Dzilhijjah when the hilaal for Dzilhijjah was
present on the horizon on the 29th of Ziqa’d but could not be sighted
because of clouds on the horizon and the month of Ziqa’d was considered to be of 30
days – and consequently the month of Dzilhijjah
was begun a day later, making the day of Arafat to occur a day later – which
would have been 10th of Dzilhijjah
if the hilaal was not obscured by clouds. Here it is to be
noted that clouds, dust storms atmospheric moisture conditions (which may
prevent hilaal sighting) take place by command of Allaah (not on their own). Thus when Allaah intends the day of ‘Arafat to occur a day later, and HE in His Mercy accepts it.
Is it not then true that
there is no contradiction(s)
in Allaah’s DEEN – perfect Islaam.
See 4-82 and 39-23
4-82 “Do they not then ponder (over) Qur-aan carefully. Had it been from
other than Allaah , they would surely have
found there in many a contradiction”.
The criterion of
sighting the hilaal in ones own locality of
residence was practiced by the RasoolAllaah . The RasoolAllaah fasted three days in Sha’ban (14-16) every year and also on the 9th day Muharram by the local sighting of hilaal in Medinah. Similarly,
he fasted on the 9th day of Dzilhijjah
and offered sacrifice on the 10th day of Dzilhijjah
during his ten years stay in Medinah
(before his last Hajj) and did these
acts of “ibaadah”
by the Medinah hilaal sighting. And there is no evidence that in Medinah he ever followed the day of ‘Arafat in Meccah
(a rukn of Hajj)
which is celebrated by the hilaal of Meccah (and not Medinah- the other sacred city).
Had he to observe the
day of ‘Arafat of Meccah in Medinah by the command of Allaah
there would have been no problem or difficulty
to acquire news of hilaal sighting in Meccah (or
environs) about 250 miles away, in eight days as will be explained later in
detail in part 4. In the same vein it would have been much more easier to
acquire news of hilaal sighting of Sha’ban in Meccah for the mid Sha’ban fasts of the RasoolAllaah In Medinah
which he never missed, if out of station hilaal sighting was to be an
accepted practice – in a span of 13 days.
In Short, The Points
Made Here Are:
1. Hilaal sighting by the RasoolAllaah
in Medinah
with his Sahaabah, the locality of his
residence
2. Accepting a 30 day lunar
month in case of non sighting of hilaal because of obscurity of
horizon.
3. Necessity of locality of
residence based sighting
Note: If there were
any further need to determine the ultimate truth we are seeking, the Hadeeth Shareef
quoted below does
it in the most poignant, uplifting and loving manner. It is a Du’aa after actually sighting the
hilaal
(not looking at a calendar of calculation). It also addresses the hilaal by saying “O hilaal my Rabb
and yours
is
Allaah ”
Hadeeth Shareef from
Darimee collection narrated by
Hadrat Ibn ‘Umar 
Translation:
1) When you see the Hilaal, say Allaah
Akbar and recite: O Dearest Allaah
please make this Hilaal of good fortune
and faith and safety and Islaam for
us and of Your Grace to us to practice what You love
and what pleases You. O Hilaal my
Lord and your Lord is Allaah.
2) A Hilaal of goodness and guidance. O Dearest Allaah, I ask You for the goodness of this
month and the goodness of fate, and I seek shelter in You from its evil, three
times.
4. And in this matter as in
all other ‘Ibaadaat the way of the RasoolAllaah is the right way (sirat-al-mustaqueem) – for which the Muslim Ummah pray to Allaah in each raka’ah
of its five daily prayers – and other optional ones. This Du’aa is of course The Soorah
Al Faatihah in which we recite “Ihdinas Siraatal Mustaqeem . . . “
5. Soorah Younus
“He it is Who appointed
the sun as the shining brightness and the moon as light, and measured for her
stages, that you might know the number of years, and accounting.
Hadeeth Shareef
Translation: From Bukharee collection 119 – 4 and Muslim
collection 1080.
It has been reported by Hadrat Abdullah Bin ‘Umar 
that the RasoolAllaah said: “Do not fast till you see the Hilaal and do not break your
fast until you see it as well, and if there are clouds obscuring it, then
determine its course,” and in another narration (from Bukharee and Muslim) “if clouds are obscuring it, then complete 30 days”.
Hadeeth Shareef
Translation:
It has been narrated by Hadrat Ibn ‘Abbas that a Bedouin
came to the RasoolAllaah and testified that he saw the Hilaal of Ramadan, so the RasoolAllaah said to him: “do you bear witness that there
is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His messenger?”, the man
said “yes”, then the RasoolAllaah said “O Bilal
go and declare to the people to start their fasting tomorrow”.
Hadeeth Shareef
Translation:
It has been narrated by Hadrat Kareeb that I went to Shaam and the month of Ramadaan
arrived while I was in Shaam. I saw
the Hilaal of Ramadaan on Friday night
then I went to Medinah by the end of
the month. Hadrat Abdullaah
bin ‘Abbas asked me when did you see the Hilaal? (meaning in Shaam). I responded: I saw it on Friday night. Then he said:
did you see it yourself? I responded: yes I saw it the people saw
it and they fasted, and Mu’aawiyah
the Ameer of Shaam fasted also. He said: but we saw it here on Saturday
night and we are still
fasting until we complete 30 days or see it here. I said isn’t it enough for
you that Mu’aawiyah saw it? He responded: no, this is how the Prophet commanded us. Narrated by Muslim
Then how is it that we recite
the Du’aa in Soorah Al Faatihah for “Ihdinas Siraatal Mustaqeem . . . “ and yet try to find ways by OUR own interpretations and perspectives and
do it differently from the RasoolAllaah
?
Dear Reader you figure
this one out.
One more ITEM that needs
to be addressed before closing is How To Determine
The Area of One’s Locality of Residence.
Allaah has ordained to shorten prayers when on
journey (see 4-101) which most of us do
gleefully. The area of one’s locality of residence ends where the area of
shortening of prayers begins as one reaches the status of a “musafir” (one
on journey). This is said to be between 48-56 miles (in our terms) away form
home. Remember that a “musafir” according to the injunction given in 2-184, 185
is to complete his fasts upon returning home from journey (i.e not to fast while on journey)
In Closing: in regard to
all of this one needs to remember what is said in 10-15… “say, (O My beloved) it is not for me to change it
(the words of Allaah revealed to the RasoolAllaah ) on my own accord, I ONLY follow (ittebaa) that is revealed to me”.
It does not behoove any
of us to change it either. May Allaah
keep all of us in
the ittebaa’ of His Rasool and in willing
submission to our Rabb in unity.
The Holy
Qur-aan Soorah 6 Aayah 153
“And indeed
this is my established path so follow it then and do not follow other paths (otherwise)
they will deviate you from the path of Allaah
. Allaah has ordained this upon you so that you may
witness the truth.”
The Holy
Qur-aan Soorah 3 Aayah 20
“So if they dispute with you (My beloved )
tell them “I have myself surrendered to Allaah
and so have those who have followed me (do my ittebaa’)”.
PART TWO
A REMINDER OF DIVINE TRUTHS THAT
It is essential to remind ourselves of the
DIVINE TRUTHS which constitute the “belief system” of Muslim Ummah to shed the self
sufficiency mindset, attitude and conviction.
This reminder is taken mostly from the Aayaats of Qur-aan and the rest from Ahadeeth of the RasoolAllaah where appropriate. And is
divided into several “headings”. To some this may appear to be somewhat
lengthy but is essential for remembering to keep our “belief system” alive,
healthy and operative and safe from instigations of Shaitaan.
I. Allaah , The Creator With
Perfect Knowledge And Control
13-16 Allaah is the creator of all things; He is the
15-86 Verily, your Rabbb is the
All-knowing Rabbb.
20-98 Your Allaah is only Allaah , He has complete
knowledge of everything
5-1 And to Allaah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth and all that is in between. He
creates what
He deems proper. And Allaah is able to do all things.
The above subject is often repeated. AS
II. Allaah , The Law And Guidance
Giver And His Is To Command
7-54 Indeed your Rabb is Allaah , who created the
heavens and the earth in six days…surely, His is the
creation and
command. Blessed is Allaah
, the Rabb of “Alimeen” – universe
10-31 ---- The Disposer of All affairs
13-2 ---- He manages and
regulates all affairs, He explains the Aayaat
in detail so that you may believe with
certainty in
the meeting with your Rabb.
20-50 My Rabb is He who gave to each thing its form, and guided it (right)
As To His Sovereignty
And Obedience To Him
41-11 Then He rose over (istawa) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to
it and to the earth,
“come both
of you willingly or unwillingly.” They both said: “We come in willing
obedience.”
7-172 And (remember) when your Rabb brought forth form the children of
Adam, from their lions, their seed and
had them
testify as to themselves; “Am I not your Rabb.”
They said “YES; we testify, “Least you say on the
day of
judgment/resurrection, “verily, we have been unaware of this.”
IV. The Advent of Nabis and the RasoolAllaah
Allaah after the pledge of humanity in this All- encompassing
RAHMAH (Grace) sends His Nabis and messengers to instruct humanity how to keep and
fulfill its pledges.
16-36 And verily, We have sent
among every Ummah a messenger
(proclaiming) “be obedient to Allaah (alone)
and shirk Taghut (false deities)”
V. DEEN
of Allaah is Islaam
and His Book- The Qur-aan Is For The Pledgees
3-19 Verily, the DEEN with Allaah is Islaam.
3-85 And whosoever seeks a DEEN (way of life) other than Islaam it will never be accepted of him
and in the
hereafter he will be one of the losers.
5-3 This day, (day of Arafat on farewell Hajj of the RasoolAllaah ) I have perfected your DEEN
for
you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your deen (way of life).
NOTE: This DEEN given to the Muslims via the
practice of the RasoolAllaah
, the last of Allah’s Nabi and
messenger is the perfected DEEN – Islaam. A perfected “thing” is COMPLETE
– not requiring corrections, additions, changes etc EVER. And so it is for all humanity for all time.
2-185 The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur-aan,
a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the
guidance and the criterion – between
right and wrong
25-1 Blessed is He who sent
down the criterion (Qur-aan) to His “Abd” that he may be a warner to Alimeen
(universe)
10-57 Mankind now has come to you
best warning from your Rabb, and a
cure for all illness in your hearts and
guidance
and (Rahmah)
mercy for all who believe.
4-82 Do they not ponder the Qur-aan thoughtfully.
Had it been from other than Allaah