On which day of the week 1-1-1 H started?
1-1-1 H was started on a Thursday. Umar (RA) in whose Caliphate, the present Hijri Calendar was started, knew about the solar eclipse which occurred on the previous day ie. Wednesday, even though it was not seen in Arabia. We are happy that astronomers have accepted that the Eclipse was there on Wednesday and it goes without saying that eclipse occurs on the Day of Conjunction (to put it in simple language) and that it is the last day of the month. They (RA) were true followers of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) who lived 100% as per Quran and observed the moon-phases which Quran 2:189 says are the dates and who found-out “al Urj Oonil Qadeem” which Quran 36:39 says as the last visible phase of the moon and who easily identified the day of conjunction (the last day of the month). They (RA) were not like majority of present-day Muslims who look at moon only on 3 or 4 times a year. They (RA) were also not like majority of present-day Muslims who missed the first fast of Ramdhaan nor they (RA) ever fasted on the Eid Day like majority of present-day Muslims.
Just imagine without computers or calculators how much difficult it would be for us to findout on which week-day was the date – 1st of Muharram 1417 H. ( We challenge anyone to findout correctly without using computer or calculators, on which week-day was 1-1-1417 H with the dates of conjunction in each month. Then tell us who is “illiterate”) Umar (RA) and the Companions (RA) were competent enough to pin-point the 1st of Muharram of 1 Hijri year to Thursday. They (RA) did it by back-tracking the dates of more than 200 months. It shows how much they (RA) were wellversed with recording accurately the start and end of each month for nearly 17 years. Allaahu Akbar !! Almighty Allah bestowed them with immense knowledge on the subject. Maasha Allah !! Now a days many Muslims, by not studying the hadeeth properly, are branding them (RA) as illiterate and as the ones who do not know calculation !!! What a pity !!! Let us now examine ” where Al Biruni has recorded the 1-1-1 H as Thursday”. We are giving below the relevant parts from “Islam – An Historical Introduction” Edited by Gerhard Endress (translated by Carole Hillenbrand) where he has quoted from Al Biruni’s book ” Al Aathaar al Baaqiya”. Following data hereunder proves that 1st Muharram of 1 H was started on the following day of “CONJUNCTION/NEW MOON/ECLIPSE”. 1-1-1H = 15 JULY 622 THURSDAY, (following day of conjunction). ISLAM – An Historical Introduction, 2 Edited, GERHARD ENDRESS translated by CAROLE HILLENBRAND EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS ISBN 0 7486 1620 9 (paperback) Appendix – 3. The Islamic calendar Now the most authentic date, which involved no obscurities nor possible mishaps, seemed to be the date of the Hijra of the Prophet, viz. of his arrival at MadÈna on Monday, the 8th of the month RabÈÆ I [20th September 622], whilst the beginning of the year was a Thursday (1st Mu˙arram = 15th July 622]. Now he adopted this epoch, and fixed thereby the dates in all his affairs. This happened in the year 17 after the Hijra. (Al-BÈrËnÈ [973–c. 1050]: al-åthÅr albÅqiya [‘The Chronology of Ancient Nations], edited by C. Edward Sachau, Leipzig 1878, pp. 29– 30, transl. by C. E. Sachau, London 1879, pp. 33–4.)
Data on Eclipse of 14 th July 622 PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE (NEW MOON) on Jul 14 05:26 UT Excerpts from English Translation of “Al Aathaar al Baaqiya” Links: Extract_pages_from_Islam_An_historical_introduction-2ED0.pdf PHASES OF THE MOON: 601 TO 700 NASA We are sure all are now convinced that 1-1-1 H was on a Thursday. Umer (RA) who formulated the the Hijri Calendar himself started the Muharram of 1H on the following day on which Conjunction/Eclipse took place. Then, how can one start the new Hijri month after seeing the hilaal on the west sky, now?? Every one will agree that Umar (RA) and the Sahaba (RA) present at that time would never go against the instructions of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) who taught them about Sharia. This itself proves that the starting of new month after seeing the hilaal is a Bid’ah !! Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) never practiced it nor the Sahaba (RA). WHY SHOULD PRESENT-DAY MUSLIMS FOLLOW A BID’AH ????? Points to remember: 1) You may recall that Omar (RA) tabulated the Hijri Calendar with 1st of Muharram of 1H falling on a Thursday. On the previous day, ie., on Wednesday there was a Solar Eclipse and hence, from the beginning itself, there was no role for sighting the hilaal on the Western sky, in order to start the new month. 2) Omar (RA) took the cue of the correct basedate from the speech of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) on Yaumun Nahar of Hajjathul Wida. On that day the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) asserted that it was the Day of Nahar and confirmed that the ” Time has returned to its original state of the Day of Creation (Friday) “. This date – Friday 10th Zul Hijah of 10H – was taken as the base date for formulating the Hijri Calendar. Omar (RA) and the Sahaba (RA) tabulated nearly 120 months backwards and nearly 80 months forwards from this base-date and fixed 1-1-1 H as falling on a Thursday’. Al Biruni has recorded that the date 1-1-1 H was on a Thursday. But, during the time of Ottomans, this day of the week was changed to Friday !!!!