Moon Observation and Islamic Calendar
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ
“They ask you about the crescents — say: they are appointed times for people and for Hajj.” — Quran 2:189
This book explores the science of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, proving that the Moon is Allah's perfect calendar for mankind. It challenges false interpretations and presents astronomical calculations as the correct method for determining Hijri months — exactly as directed in the Noble Quran.
1
Time and Its Measurement
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Time is measured through two natural objects: the Sun and the Moon. The Sun marks the day; the Moon marks the month.
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A day begins at Subh Sadik (dawn/Fajr) — not at sunrise or sunset — as confirmed by the five daily prayers in Islam.
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The Quran states: “the night is not the forerunner of the day” (36:40) — confirming the day begins with daybreak, not sunset.
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A Solar year = 365.2422 days. A Lunar year = 354.3671 days. The Quran orders mankind to use the Lunar year.
2
The Lunar Month and Conjunction
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Conjunction (Amavasai/New Moon) marks the end of one month and the birth of a new one — this is the astronomical basis of the Hijri calendar.
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After conjunction, a part of the moon becomes visible to part of the Earth — the crescent waxes to Full Moon, then wanes until it disappears at the next conjunction.
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The Moon’s orbital plane is 5 degrees tilted — this is why lunar eclipses don’t occur every month.
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The lunar calendar cannot have 30 consecutive days more than 3 times or 29 days more than twice — a simple rule to verify Hilal observations.
“Conjunction marks the end of one month and gives birth to a new one.”
— Ali Manikfan
3
The Problem of Multiple Calendars
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The Muslim world currently follows 2 to 3 different Lunar calendars simultaneously — causing confusion in Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha dates.
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Lunar calendars in India and Saudi Arabia give at least 3 different dates for the same day — a serious problem the author seeks to resolve.
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Missing one day in a month causes a day’s difference for months together — errors compound year after year.
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The Muslim world is generally behind time — not ahead of it — meaning they are late in entering new months.
“There can neither be more than one Lunar calendar nor can any other object that has not got Allah’s sanction as a calendar be considered one.”
— Ali Manikfan
4
One Universal Date for All Mankind
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The maximum time difference between any two places on Earth is 12 hours — not 24 hours — so there is only ONE day/date on Earth at any time.
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“There is only one day/date on Earth, only one month on Earth and one year on Earth.” — The Moon cannot show two different months simultaneously.
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If the crescent of Ramadan is born anywhere on Earth, it is Ramadan for the whole world — not just for that country.
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The idea that “it can be Shaban in one country and Ramadan in another” is illogical and contradicts the nature of a universal calendar.
5
Astronomical Calculation is Valid and Necessary
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The Moon moves in a definite orbit following Allah’s laws — just like the Sun — and its movements can be calculated for years in advance.
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The word “Ru’yah” (رؤية) in the Hadith means “to know” — not just physical sighting with the eyes. Calculation fulfills this requirement.
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The author has been calculating moon movements for every Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and worked out a calendar for many years backward and forward.
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Simple formula: Subtract moonset time from sunset time and divide by 48 — gives an approximate Hijri date confirmation.
“When the companions asked the Prophet (SAW) how the moon changed phases, he replied: it was a calendar.” — The Moon is Allah’s calendar for mankind.
— Hadith reference
6
The Sun vs The Moon as Calendar
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The Solar calendar is imperfect — it has been altered multiple times (Julian → Gregorian, 10 days dropped in 1582, Augustus Caesar changed August to 31 days).
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“The Sun is not a dependable calendar” — it is only an effective watch to show the time of day, nothing more.
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The Moon is a perfect calendar — we can work backwards to find exact dates of historical events and forwards to predict moonrise/moonset precisely.
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Proof: The Holy Prophet’s ﷺ sermon on Friday 9th Zul Hajj — working backwards with the Lunar calendar confirms this exactly, while false calendars miss by 1-2 days.
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The Quran says: “Allah has not called the Sun a calendar but He has called the Moon” (Quran 10:5, 9:36, 55:5).
7
Importance of Correct Dates in Islam
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Knowing the correct date is a religious obligation in Islam — many duties depend on specific months and dates (Ramadan fasting, Eid, Hajj).
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It is forbidden to fast on Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) — but if the date is wrong, Muslims may fast on Eid or celebrate Eid during Ramadan.
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Both the Ulema and false printed calendars are responsible for keeping people in a month that has already passed.
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The author calls for Ulema to learn this science of lunar calculation to lead the community correctly.
“We neither know the science of the lunar calendar nor are we conscious of this ignorance. The disease that we are ignorant of our ignorance is to be remedied through this book.”
— Editor’s Preface
🌙 How AHILLA 2:189 Fulfills This Book’s Vision
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Conjunction-based calendar — AHILLA uses the exact Astronomical New Moon (UTC) as the start of each Hijri month — exactly as the author advocates.
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4000-year precision — AHILLA covers Hijri years 1 AH to 4000 AH with ±2 minute accuracy using Jean Meeus algorithms.
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Universal Time (UTC) — AHILLA uses UTC for all conjunction times — supporting the author’s vision of ONE universal calendar for all mankind.
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Named after Quran 2:189 — “Ahilla” (الأهلة) means crescents — the very word Allah uses to describe the Moon as mankind’s calendar.
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Proves calculation is valid — AHILLA demonstrates that the Prophet’s ﷺ Friday sermon on 9 Zul Hajj can be verified astronomically.
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Hijri Committee of India — continuing Ali Manikfan’s 40-year mission of propagating the correct astronomical Hijri calendar.
Conclusion
The Moon is not merely a celestial object — it is Allah’s perfect calendar for all of mankind, as clearly stated in the Noble Quran. Ali Manikfan’s pioneering work proves that astronomical calculation is not only valid but necessary for determining the correct Islamic dates. AHILLA 2:189 is the digital fulfillment of this vision — bringing 4000 years of precise Hijri dates to every Muslim on Earth.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ
“They ask you about the crescents — say: they are appointed times for people and for Hajj.” — Quran 2:189