Assalaamu Alaikkum wa Rahmathullaahi wa Barakaathu hu
Hijri Committee of India (HCI) has been engaged in researching and propagating an Islamic Lunar Calendar, to be applied universally for the whole mankind, for the last 4 decades. During the last 19 years it has published true Hijri Calendar which has dates exactly tallying with the phases of moon, as directed in Noble Qur’an 2:189.
In this regard, it is pertinent to note that, the original ‘Ummul Qura Calendar’ of Saudi Arabia, followed until 1420H, was fully in accordance and compliance with the noble Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, and established scientific facts. We are proud to mention that, the criteria implemented for ‘Ummul Qura Calendar’ until 1420H was the same criteria HCI has found out after studying the issue thoroughly.
But, during 1420H this criteria of Ummul Qura was modified to accommodate i) the conjunction to occur before Magrib at Makkah and ii) that the Moon must set at least after a minute of sun-set at Makkah on the Day of Conjunction in order to start the new month on the following day. These modifications were unfortunately incorrect. The Universal day in which Conjunction occurs does not end with the Magrib at Makkah. The Muslims in many countries in the West of Saudi Arabia do not pray their Asr prayer, when at Makkah, Magrib is finished. Therefore, these modifications, in fact, tainted the accuracy of Ummul Qura Calendar.
The correct criteria to be followed should be to consider the Universal day in which Conjunction takes place as the last day of the month and the new month to start on the following Universal day, at Fajr, irrespective of the time of Conjunction and/or the Sunset-Moonset difference at Makkah or at elsewhere.
Alhamdulillah, by using this error-free perfect criteria, we can tabulate Hijri Calendars for thousands of years, forwards as well as backwards, with only one date for a day of the week, as envisaged in Islam similar like Jummah prayers are conducted, within 24 hours on the Universal day of Friday, throughout the world. Just like if Eid falls on a Friday, it too will be celebrated on the same Friday throughout the world.
Islam is a collective social order in which all individuals are supposed to live as an indivisible whole and follow the same single prescribed way, observe and participate in religious activities with complete unity. Unfortunately, during the last many years, the Muslim world falls in utter confusion at every starting of Ramadan and Eid. By reverting back to the criteria followed till 1420H for Ummul Qura Calendar, all the confusion prevailing in the Ummah could be cleared, and it will show to the world that Islam is truly perfect and complete as mentioned in Noble Qur’an.
In this context, please note, the Jews have somehow cunningly introduced some of their traditions, like, start of the Day (24-hours period) is at Magrib and that Muslims must start the new month only on seeing the hilaal on the Western sky after sunset etc. Though there is no support in the Sharia for these traditions, enemies of Islam got them impregnated into Islam as if they are part and parcel of Islam!! By similar mischievous, shrewdness tactics the enemies of Islam were trying to create confusion in future generations to such an extent to aspire doubts and confusion on the historical recordings of Islam itself.
Visibility of Hilaal with naked eye on the West or probable visibility of Hilaal (by computation), both cannot be taken to determine the start of any month. It goes against Sharia since they violate ‘natural order’. Under both circumstances, setting Hilaal (on the West) is taken into account, ignoring the fact that the moon has already risen in the East in the morning itself and hence, by the time it gets visible in the West, the day-light part of ‘the first day’ would have already lost, which is very important considering that it (day-light part) would be the first day of fasting (in case of Ramadan) or celebration time of Eid (in case of Shawwal).
Relying on moon sighing by naked eye may result in the new month to start 2 to 3 or more days, which unscientific and un-Islamic. If we follow such naked eye sighting (Imkane Ruyi’ah), the Full Moon may occur, in a particular month itself, on 13th , 12th , 11th, or even on 10th for people in the different regions, which gives a very wrong, distorted and tainted picture of Islamic calendar.
We are providing herewith supporting evidences, derived from Holy Quran and the Sunnah, explained under different topics, which will conclusively prove that our claim is 100% in conformity with Sharia principles. We earnestly request our readers to evaluate all the issues discussed and appreciate the need to revert back to the original criteria used for the Ummul Qura Calendar till 1420H. Though the concept we are presenting here may not be in line with general belief prevailing among majority of Muslims, we request our readers to understand that majority has never been the yardstick to gauge Truth in Islam and that, what really matters is whether it is in compliance with the Principles of Sharia.
There may be repetition of the certain points under certain topics due to the reason that each topic is handled and explained independently in order to facilitate readers to get detailed information about each topic and to avoid cross references. Please bear with us. We sincerely welcome all comments, feedback and suggestions from our readers. If any further clarifications are required, feel free to contact: editor@mooncalendar.in.
Note: The E-book is so designed with hyperlinks for easy navigation)