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Explained: Let’s Clarify ‘Eid Ka Chand Hua Ke Nahin?’

What are the factors that determine the date of Eid?

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India
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Muslims around the world observe Ramzan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month. But for many reasons, the day on which Eid is celebrated differs region-wise as well as sect-wise.

The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon (lunar calendar). So Muslims keep a track of moon-sightings, not just for Ramzan, but for every month of the lunar calendar. Ramzan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. You might’ve heard of some of the other months (because holidays):

  1. Muharram
  2. Safar
  3. Rabi-ul-awwal
  4. Rabi-us-Sani
  5. Jamad-ul-Awwal
  6. Jamadi-us-Sani
  7. Rajab
  8. Shaban
  9. Ramzan
  10. Shawwal
  11. Zil-qad
  12. Zil-hajj

These months are either 28, 29 or 30 days long. Never 31, like the Gregorian calendar.

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Now coming to the moon sightings.

  • Whether it’s Eid ka chand or moon-sighting for any other month, the only correct way to decipher it is, for the moon to be visible with the naked eye.

The Director of Nehru Science Centre, Arvind Paranjpye, states, “If the moon is at a 7 degree angle, then it will be seen with the naked eye”.

  • The only ikhtilaaf (Islamic scholarly religious disagreement) on the matter is whether scientific instruments, namely the telescope, can be used to ascertain the sighting.
Most scholars agree that although scientific instruments can be used to see it CLEARLY, but the crescent moon must be SIGHTED with the naked eye. Though rarely, but sometimes, scholars do believe that a telescope can be used for sightings, even if it is not visible to the naked eye. But that’s only a scholarly disagreement.
Mustafa Ali Khan, Islamic Scholar

Because there are only 30 days in the calendar, even if the moon is not sighted, the new month would start the next day.

What are the factors that determine the date of Eid?
The phases of the moon. 
(Photo Courtesy: NASA)

There’s one more ruling factor. This one is different for the Sunni and Shia community. The last word is of the King (for Sunnis) and Ayatollahs (for Shias) of the time.

  • For Sunnis, if the moon has not been sighted with the naked eye but the King declares it, then it’s Eid. This often happens in Saudi Arabia where Eid is declared by the King. Hence, Kerala is celebrating Eid on 15 June, based on Saudi Arabia’s declaration.
  • For Shias, it’s the rulings of the Ayatollahs of the time that one follows. (Aside: There are many ayatollahs at any given point in the world. Ayatollahs who are Marja of Taqleed – clerics who have the authority to declare fatwas and decrees into all matters of Islamic jurisprudence. Only several exist at any given time.)

But typically, in countries like Pakistan and India, moon sightings determine Eid ka chand.

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Astronomical Aspect of Moon Sighting

The sun’s light does not fall on the moon, after 27 days and 3 hours later when it reaches a certain angle. So it becomes difficult to spot it. And 2.5 days after this, the moon is seen distinctly, once again. That’s the new crescent moon.

There are a number of factors considered by Islamic scholars, for the sake of uniformity in the “sightings”. There are geographical conditions to this.

East to West

If the moon is sighted in the East, then it would most likely be sighted in the West, provided the skies are clear.

If the moon is just about sighted from a place then it is highly likely that it would be sighted from a place which is at West of this place. However, the converse is not true. That is, if the moon is just about sighted from a place then it is quite unlikely that it would have been seen from a place to its East. 
Arvind Paranjpye, Director, Nehru Science Centre

So, for example, if the moon is sighted in Kolkata then whether it’s seen in Patna or not, Eid would be declared in both regions.

But there are a few conditions drawn up by Islamic clerics.

Islamic scholar, Mustafa Ali Khan says, “If the moon is seen in Delhi, it’s enough for Lucknow to declare Eid. It’s at a distance of merely 450 km. So distance is quite important”.

Now, if the moon sets before the end of the twilight then it is very hard to sight it. At this time, the moon-earth-sun angle is just about 7 degrees. On 14 June, for example, the moon set over Mumbai 38 minutes after the sunset. To the best of our knowledge there were no sightings anywhere in the country.
Arvind Paranjype

Longitude

Along the same longitude, moon-sighting can be determined for the cities. For example, if the moon is sighted in Chennai then it will likely be sighted in Lucknow as well. Religious scholars would agree on this. So if the moon is seen in Kerala, or Mumbai, or Vishakhapatnam, or Kochi – Eid would be declared.

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Topics:  Saudi Arabia   Eid al-Fitr   Islamic Laws 

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