Majlis AlHidayaOnline.com »
by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah
“By M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan
RIYADH, Arab News — Saudi Arabia together with some Islamic countries are working on a pioneering project to launch a satellite, which will be used for moon sighting to decide accurate dates of religious rituals and festivals in the Islamic calendar.
A 15-member panel from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain has already decided in consultation with the Cairo University’s Space Studies Center to award the contract for manufacturing this first Islamic satellite to an Italian company at a cost of SR30 million.
“The Islamic satellite, expected to be used in crescent sighting and studying environment pollution and movement of clouds, will be put in orbit by the end of this year”, said Dr. Ali Juma, chief of the 15-member panel. Dr. Juma said that “the satellite would solve many problems related to crescent sighting . Differences over the lunar months have prompted Arab and Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia to support the project”. “
It is comforting to know that Muslim countries are finally starting to do something about the Ramadan “Which day to fast?” problem. Yet inspite of this, I believe we are losing fact of the main reason why this problem occurs in the first place. I have summed it down into two basic problems:
1. Muslims don’t trust each other
This is how it looks like every year. Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Tunisia, and Malaysia see the Hilal (new moon) while Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Dubai, and Libya do not. The Muslims Ummah is split, neighbor against neighbor. Why then doesn’t just Libya follow Egypt, Saudi Arabia follow Yemen, and India follow Pakistan even though they are all neighbors? The answer is because nobody trusts each other.
The Egyptians will say that the Saudis don’t even use a telescope and sight the moon by eye. Not only that!, they say, but anyone can just call up the authorities and say that he saw the Hilal and they will believe him. The Saudis will say about the Egyptians that they have some ‘Falahi’ (Peasant farmer) sitting atop a hill with an outdated telescope and the first thing he sees that glows he determines as the Hilal. In America, they will deny anyone who sees the Hilal because their latest computer model shows that it is scientifically impossible to within a 5% difference that the moon will be able to be seen. Therefore everyone who saw the Hilal was a straight up Liar. The Arabs will all agree that the Pakistanis can’t be trusted. The Pakistanis all agree that the Arabs can’t be trusted. Nobody listens to the Indonesians (even though they make up the majority of Muslims in the world). The Yemenis overthrew their Kingdom to become a Republic, so the Saudis can’t listen to them. The Moroccans, well they’re just so far west and their culture has too much French influence anyway. The Asians, well…how they possibly sight the moon with those eyes? They’re too far east anyway.
2. No-one plans ahead
Every year, the day before the sighting, the Muslims leadership scrambles together to try and figure out what they are going to do with this year’s calculation. Are they going to follow the countries that see it?, are they going to sight it themselves?, or are they going to follow the computer readout? EVERY YEAR it is the same exact problem and yet they don't learn. It is like a lab rat that knows when he touches the cheese will get shocked and yet just keeps going after it over and over again…and gets shocked over and over again, without ever learning.
The questions that arise EVERY SINGLE RAMADAN should be planned months ahead of time if not the day after the Eid theyear before. If all the groups and the leaders got together and just agreed on one decision, AHEAD OF TIME, then as soon as Ramadan comes everything would, insha Allah, run smoothly. They could possibly agree to a Majority decision, where if a majority of the Muslim countries sight the Hilal then their word should be trusted. There are so many things that could be done but the important thing is to begin the discussion WAAAY ahead of time and give ample time for everyone to agree on a decision. It is like a group of people who never attend class all year and the night before the final exam they form a study group thinking they could put their collective knowledge together to ace the exam. Of course they are all going to fail.
I hope that with a 10.2 million dollar satellite that perhaps will be able to agree on Ramadan. But I believe that the real problem lies much deeper than meets the eye and a unanimous decision could really be made with no more than a few phone calls each year, emails, and a friendly fruitbasket to one another(perhaps even an Eid present). That’s it, Muslim leaders around he world should just send each other Eid presents…I thinks that’s a good way to start in breaking down the barriers between each other and start building an Ummah.
May Allah help us to be united and brotherly towards one another.
Salaam:
The only way the satellite will work is to understand that the lunar calender cannot start on the same date with respect to positions all across the globe. It is impossible, just by the mere fact that ALLAH has made the phases of the moon contingent upon the movement in its orbit around the earth, and that there is no skipping in this movement. So, there is no way in this universe that the date of when the moon is "born" lets say with respect to Mecca will be the same date when it was born in Tokyo.
I am pretty sure there will be a lot of grappling of information provided by the satellite, and the muslims would eventually come to a compromise...I hope!
If the satellite was aimed so that muslims should have one date for Ramadan and or Eid all across the globe, then they are just plain in error.
However, if the aim was to predict and forecast the lunar calender based on the actual phases of the moon with respect to positions on earth then there is merit to this endeavor.
I havent read much on this project, so am not sure what are those muslim scientist aiming at. But I hope they have set their expectations right in utilizing the data from the satellite.
Allahu Aalim!
on April 30, 2005 2:38 PMDear Broher Rami
To compliment your discussion of muslim communities around the world acting in an ignorant fashion that allows generalities such as you have stated to further exist, is to also give voice to how people of the south asian ethnicity are SCARED OF BLACK PEOPLE and i can not stand it.
From personal experiences i have seen time and time again "desi" people are scared of black people. Especially when they ask them for directions, go to business establishments (food/stores) that are primarilly black or walk/drive through predominantly black communities. What i really find funny is that amongst the desi and arab youth the urban hip hop culture is thriving and they actually try to act black. When in reality they are afraid of black people!!! this is hilarious.
All my life my friends have been predominantly black but never have I been afraid of them...maybe that is another reason why I refuse being called desi.
Sorry rami but i just had to comment on your article i know this has nothing to do with the sattlelite or moon sighting but for the matter at hand, if its not for the one or two black people that desi people brag about that they are accompanied by THEY ARE FOR THE MOST PART SCARED OF BLACK PEOPLE. AND BLACK PEOPLE KNOW IT. DESI PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF BLACK PEOPLE........(well for the most part)
on May 2, 2005 6:03 PMSalaam:
OK I can comment on desis and the African Americas...but there is something more pressing I need to know, NOW!
I am trying to make travel arrangements to NJ Airport at the end of the month...Who knows how far is the NJDawah place from the airport in Newark, NJ? How long is the commute?
Also, If I stay in NJ and have to commute to manhattan every morning from Monday-Wednesday, how long will it take to do that and what is the best option, car/taxi, Train/Subway?
Please give me some inputs here.
Jazakum Allah Khair
asif
Salaaam:
hahahahahaha....man you give me way too much credit...I am just a puny little thing...my pseudo-reputation precedes me...Well, if you still insist...I wont come to NJ!
on May 3, 2005 12:44 AMAsalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
Br. Asif, I'm not sure where the Dawah conference is going to be. Hopefully someone can post some information on it because I cannot find any.
As far as commuting is concerned, it all depends on your itinerary. The train and bus is very reliable means of transportation and will save alot of hassle in driving and parking. The only downside to the train and bus is that service ends around midnight or a little before midnight so if you plan on staying out late it is better to have a car. If you take a car parking will cost you anywhere from $15-$25 for the day. $15 for eary bird special (get in before 10am leave by 6pm) and $25 for 24hour parking. One you get in the city you will be on foot and taking subways anyway, so don;t count on driving from place to place.
As far as traveling in NJ, it is impossible to get around without a car. NJ (other than jersey city and Hoboken) is not public-transportation friendly and you will find getting around here impossible without a car.
Br. Mohammed, what you were talking about was not off topic as the broader issue in this article was racism between muslims as well as mistrust. Putting fear aside, Muslims have got to start learning to become colorblind. Because, as was told to me my my martial arts instructor (who is african-american) 'How can racism be ended in the world when Muslims still act racist towards one another'.
Waslaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
Don't let stupid commenters bother you brother. You will be taking from his deeds anyway.
Abu Dawud
Book 41, Number 4791:
Narrated Jarir:
" The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: He who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good."
Sahih Bukhari
Volume 8, Book 73, Number 61:
Narrated Masruq:
We were sitting with 'Abdullah bin 'Amr who was narrating to us (Hadith): He said, "Allah's Apostle was neither a Fahish nor a Mutafahhish, and he used to say, 'The best among you are the best in character (having good manners)."'
Waslaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu
NJ Dawah location:
Holiday Inn
3050 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullah,
MashAllah, just the article that Muslims needed in this day and age. Racism is a mark of Iblees himself, it comers from superiority complex. It could also come from inferiority complex. Allah Talah knows best, where it comers from.
Its sad to see Muslims being racists, because it goes against our beliefs--- Islamic Aqeedah.
But the Day is coming when all the wrongdoers will be made to answer for their evils. And believers should fear Allah Talah and fear the consequences of the Day of Judgment. For a man with even a seed's worth of arrogance will not be able to enter Jannah( according to Sahi Hadith --check Bukhari and Muslim).
May Allah Talah, The Most Magnificent, cure the diseases in our hearts.
JazakAllah Khair
I could say a lot about this topic,having experienced racism in different aspects of my life but I will write an article on this topic as well, after finals for later in shaa Allaah.
Subhanallaah, it is so true about the racism rampant in our communities.
About the 'desi people being afraid of Black people'
thanks that to the media,
however, I can assure it is because of one or two incidents. When the first iraq war was going on back in '92 I believe or earlier, there was an iraqi family takin the train in Chicago and they got beaten up on the train(well only the man).
It is not just racism purely, people are afraid of strangers and people who's culture they do not understand, also, naturally they are afraid of going into socio-economically disadvanataged neighborhoods that have high crime rates.
I would be afraid to walk through by myself in all black neighborhood as I would be afraid to walk through a southern all-white hick town. I know these people dont view muslims as friendly and I know because of the media hype, they hate muslims, so I am not being racist or necessarily scared by taking pre-cautions, am I?
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullah,
Precautions r good, but fearing anyone except Allah Talah is a sign of weak Emaan. Muslims around the world should use internet facilities to read the volumes of Sahi Hadith one can find online. The Noble Quran, the Miracle bestowed upon mankind, and authentic hadith are Blessings upon mankind from Allah Talah. We got to make sincere efforts to tap into the resources Allah Talah has Bestowed upon us. The Ummah of the Seal of the Prophet (pbuh) has to unite, and it dismantling racism amongst Muslims is a good start.
As salaamu alaikum to my brothers and sisters If anyone needs traveling details regarding attending the Dawah Conference, feel free to e-mail me at handancer@excite.com. I live near Edison, NJ and provide anyone with further information. Staying at the hotel is the best recommendation, since traveling in NJ during the holiday weekend is not adviseable. The hotel in Edison is near a train station, but traveling in NJ requires a car. Or contact one of the people at njdawah.org and confirm if they will be providing any shuttle services to and from the train station.
on May 23, 2005 10:10 AM