Sight the moon by using modern equipment.

Posted on 7:30 AM by Media IOU

Is it permissible to rely on the calculations of the astronomical observatory regarding the beginning and end of a month? Is it permissible for the Muslim to use the modern equipment to sight the moon? Or must it be seen by the naked eye?.
 
 Praise be to Allaah. 

The shar’i method of proving that the new month has begun is for the people to sight the crescent moon. That should be done by people whose religious commitment and strong eyesight are to be trusted. If they sight it, then it is obligatory to act upon this sighting, by fasting if it is the new moon for the month of Ramadaan and by breaking the fast if it is the new moon for the month of Shawwaal.  

It is not permissible to rely on astronomical calculations if the moon is not sighted, but if there is a sighting, even if it is done by an astronomical observatory, then it counts, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him): “When you see it then fast, and when you see it, then break the fast.” 

With regard to calculations, it is not permissible to act upon them or to rely on them. 

With regard to using a telescope to see the crescent, there is nothing wrong with it, but it is not necessary, because the apparent meaning of the Sunnah is that we should rely upon ordinary sighting and not anything else. But if it is used and the moon is sighted by a trustworthy person, then this sighting may be acted upon. In the past, the people used that because they used to climb up the minarets on the night before the 30th of Sha’baan and the night before the 30th of Ramadan and look for it by means of a telescope. 

Whatever the case, once it has been proven that it has been sighted by any means, then it becomes obligatory to act upon this sighting, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him): “When you see it then fast, and when you see it then break the fast.” End quote. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (May Allaah have mercy on him). 
Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam (p. 192, 193) 

we have quoted a fatwa from the Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas concerning this issue in the answer to question number 1245, in which it says: It is permissible to use telescopes etc. to sight the moon, but it is not permissible to rely on astronomical data to confirm the beginning or end of the blessed month of Ramadaan. End quote. 

See: Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (9/99) 

Thus it is clear that those who claim that our scholars say that it is haraam to use modern equipment to sight the moon and say that it is obligatory to sight it with the naked eye are lying and making things up. 

We ask Allaah, may He be exalted, to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and enable us to avoid it. 
And Allaah knows best.

Reference 

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Ramadan: Between culture and religion

Posted on 6:04 PM by Media IOU

By Abu Muawiyah Ismail Kamdar

It is that time of the year again. Everybody is excited and ready for Ramadan! In this month, Muslims all the world fast and pray. Unfortunately, due to lack of knowledge, many of us have ritualized this religion and do not attain maximum benefit from it. In this short piece, I want to list some of the reasons why Ramadan and fasting are prescribed then highlightsome common cultural mistakes we often make.

The wisdoms behind Ramadan:

There are many lectures and books available online mentioning the benefits of fasting and Ramadan with all their evidences. I will just mention some in point form. You may listen to those lectures or read those books for more details.

1. The Qur'an clearly states that fasting is prescribed to assist us in attaining Taqwa (God Consiousness). This Taqwa is attained when we fast for the pleasure of Allah, and realize that if we can stay away from basic necessities like food and drink to please Allah, then we have the ability to stay away from sin to please Allah.

2. Self-Control: The hadeeth makes it clear that if you sin while fasting then you attain no reward for that fast. With this in mind, when we fast to pelase Allah, we are careful not to do or say anything Haraam. This is training so that we may learn to control our tongues outside of Ramadan

3. Growing close to the Qur'an: Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an, the purpose behind taraweh and recitation is to expose people to the message of the Qur'an so that we may benefit and grow closer to Allah through it. Of course, this means one must recite the Qu'an with understanding during Ramadan.

4. Reflection and Repentance: Through fasting, staying away from sins and useless deeds, we have more time to reflect on our own lives, especially if one sits for Itikaaf. This reflection should lead to repentance and a positive change in our lives.

Cultural issues that clash with the above:

1. Overeating: If one overeats for Iftaar or Suhoor, you have defeated the purpose of fasting. The Sunnah is to have a light meal for both Suhoor and Iftaar. By overeating, we are damaging our bodies and in the case of Suhoor, we do not feel our fast (what then is the point of fasting), and in the case of Iftaar, we are too tired and full during Taraweh which leads to mass burping competitions in the back rows.

2. Wasting time: Three hours left till Iftaar? Lets watch the Lord of the Rings so we don't feel it. Once again we are trying to avoid feeling the fast, so our fast passes like any other day without any spiritual benefit. Even if something is Halal, if it is not beneficial, try to stay away from it in Ramadan and focus on more important things like studying Islam, reciting Qur'an and helping others.

3. Missing our prayers: I have observed people skipping Maghrib while enjoying Iftaar. This is a futile exercise which shows lack of understanding or priorities. Salah is the second pillar of Islam and even more important than fasting. We nullify the reward of our fasts if we sleep through Asr or skip Maghrib because we are eating.

4. Ritualized Taraweh: It is your choice if you want to pray eight or twenty Rakah Taraweh but pray it properly. I firmly believe that praying eight rakah slowly with concentration and understanding is far more rewarding and beneficial than rushing through twenty rakah at superspeed. As Dr Bilal Philips once told us, "the way we pray Taraweh today (ritualized and superspeed) is bidah and might not be accepted by Allah,"

5. Khataming Qur'ans: We grew up with the idea that in Ramadan, we should finsih the Qur'an as many times as possible since Abu Hanifa use to recite it 60 times every Ramadan. We forget that Abu Hanifa had already studied and mastered the knowledge of the Qur'an before doing so. Instead of speed reading the Qur'an so that we can boast how many times we completed it. Read it just once or twice with understanding and resolve to practice and follow it.

6. Counting down the days to Eid: Some people can't wait for Ramadan to end and count down the dyas till Eid. You can not benefit from Ramadan if you do not appreciate it and are waiting for it to end. Change your mindset and appreciate each and every one of these blessed days as they come.

7. Cigarette Iftaar: Instead of using Ramadan to give up their sinful habits, many Muslims stand outside teh Masjid waiting for the Adhaan so that they can make Iftaar by polluting the air and their lungs with this evil substance. You don't see alcoholics waiting outside with bottles in their hands or drug addicts waiting with their shots, so why do smokers do so? If you can stay away from it all day in Ramadan, you can stay away from it permenantly. Just make the effort and resolve to do so.

May Allah make this Ramadan beneficial and spiritually uplifting for us all.

http://caller2islam.blogspot.com/2010/08/ramadan-between-culture-and-religion.html

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