Laws of fasting 5Laws of fasting 5Moon sighting part oneMoon sighting part one

Is sighting the moon Is sighting the moon obligatory?obligatory?

The issue of sharing the The issue of sharing the sighting of other city.sighting of other city.

ALBAQARAH (THE COW 185)ALBAQARAH (THE COW 185)

• و�م�ن ه� م� ل�ي�ص� ف� ر� ه� الش� نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ف�ي�ام�

� أ م�ن� ع�د�ة� ف� ر� ف� س� ع�ل�ى و�أ� ا ر�يض& م� ك�ان�

ر� خ� أ�

• therefore whoever witnesses the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days;

ر� ه� الش� نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ر� ف� ه� الش� نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ف�• SHAHIDA is testimony or witness:• And in the English interpretations of the Qur’an : (four

opinions)1. KNOWS THE BEGINNING: Any one of you who knows

that the month of RAMADHAN has begun, he must start to fast-SARWAR

2. WITTNESSES THE MONTH: So let those who witness it (the month) fast in it- QOLI/Mir Ahmed

3. WITNESSES THE MOON: Who ever observes the moon

4. PRESENT IN HIS HOME: Therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, -SHAKIR

TABATABAI TABATABAI نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن نك�م� ف� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ف�

• The witness of the month by the knowledge of its coming.

• It happens by the knowledge of its start.• It does not mean that the moon has to be

sighted, nor a person must be present in the home town (in oppose to the traveling person), for there is no evidence for such claim.

• Yes the moon sighting can be an indication for the entrance of the month.

ALKHOEI ALKHOEI نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن نك�م� ف� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ف�• The real existence of this month is the cause

of the obligation in fasting it.• The plenty narrations (about 30) indicate that

the new month emerges by the emerge of the sun light on the moon in a way that it can be seen or sighted. (Religious new moon)

• If such emerge occurs for a region then it is enough for the entire earth, but since the night does not cover the whole earth at one time, then the unity of the night should be observed in the sharing of the moon sighting.

• The night sharing regions could be in the sunset and the dawn.

SABZAWARI SABZAWARI نك�م� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن نك�م� ف� م� د� ه� ش� م�ن ف�• The criteria is the real existence or the

coming of the month, by moon sighting or by any other measures of such was possible.

Other scholars of TAFSEER:SHAHIDA of the month means:

• SHAHIDA of moon, that means every one must sight, if not then no fasting is obligated.

• Being resident in the home town (Sh. MAKARIM)

Why moon has to be in a status Why moon has to be in a status where it can be sighted?where it can be sighted?

• There are about 30 narrations (many of them are authentic and correct), narrated by the Infallibles (AS), which indicate the command of fasting and breaking the fast (on EID) on the sighting of the moon. (Vol. 10 WASAEL ALSHIA page 252-261)

• Based on that the scholars who follow AHLUL BAYT (AS) unanimously agree that the moon should be in a status it can be sighted with the naked eye, or the possibility of its sighting with the naked eye if the sighting was prevented by clouds, dust, humidity, fog, smog, redness of the sun, or the reflections of the city lights…...

The religious and the astronomical The religious and the astronomical start of the lunar monthstart of the lunar month

• The astronomical new lunar month is when the moon reflects the first sunlight (crescent) from the portion which faces the earth even if it was not seen by the people of the earth with naked eye.

• Religiously the lunar new month is when that light (crescent) is in a way the people of earth can sight it with naked eye.

New MoonNew MoonWhen the Moon is between the Earth

and the Sun in its orbit. It can not be seen for the people of the earth, because dark surfaces faces the earth (the sunlight exists on the other half of the moon which is not visible to the people of the earth. This typically marks the end of the Lunar Cycle which lasts.

 When the sunlight or the sunray

moves towards the surface of the moon facing the earth, then that first appearance of the sunlight which is visible for the people of the earth in a way that they can sight it with the naked eye, is considered the first crescent and marks the first day of the lunar month.

The moon cycle: 29 1/2 daysThe moon cycle: 29 1/2 days

Astrologer (MONAJIM) vs. Astrologer (MONAJIM) vs. Astronomer (FALAKI)Astronomer (FALAKI)

• Astrologer gives predictions based on the observations of the movement of the stars, planets and other celestial bodies.

• Astronomer is a scientist who makes the predictions based on the scientific facts and figures, mathematical calculations, and the science of astrophysics of the celestial bodies .

• The words of the great scholars mention the Astrologer or MONAJIM and some times the astronomer.

When can the moon be sighted?When can the moon be sighted?

1. AGE of the moon: Time passed after New Moon Birth. Sighting is possible at different age in different months.

2. The age when it can be sighted varies based on the speed of the movement of the moon, geographical factors, seasonal factors, and others. So, age cannot be a criterion for sighting. It could be from smaller age (like 17 hours), to larger age (like 23 hours). The main factor that makes the moon visible is the angle between moon-earth-sun. When this angle becomes about 9 degrees, the moon starts to be visible. How much time it takes to get this angle depends upon the speed of the moon in its orbit.

The distance of the moon from The distance of the moon from earth varies in seasonsearth varies in seasons

Three important facts Three important facts 1. If the age of moon was old enough

that it can be sighted with the naked eye.

2. If the moon was above the horizon where it can be sighted with the naked eye.

3. If the time of moonset was after the sunset in a way it can be sighted with the naked eye.

The ruling:The ruling:If these facts were proven by trustworthy

experts, professionals, scientists or astronomers, and for some reasons it was not sighted, and such predictions gave certainty and satisfaction of accuracy, then based the FATWA of almost all the JURIISTS (MOJTAHID) contemporary and the past ones, one must follow such predictions, and the sighting is not required.

Reference: TAWDHEEH of all the JURISTS in Persian, Urdu, English, and the laws in Arabic. This can be found in the section of moon sighting in the chapter of the LAWS of FASTING.

The FATWA regarding the The FATWA regarding the predictions of the astronomerpredictions of the astronomer

• 1741. The first day of a month will not be proved by the prediction made by the astronomers. However, if a person derives full satisfaction and certitude from their findings, he should act accordingly. (laws of S. SISITANI (MAP))

• Two conditions:1. Knowledge or certainty 2. Satisfaction

The scholars who support the The scholars who support the Prediction of the Astronomer:Prediction of the Astronomer:

• S. ALKHOEI (MAMH)• S. KHOMENI (MAMH)• S. GOLPAYGHANI (MAMH)• S. SABZAWARI (MAMH)• SH. WAHEED KHORASANI (MAP)-QUM• SH. MIRZA JAWAD TABREEZI (MAP)-

QUM• SH. NASIR MAKARIM (MAP) -QUM• SH. FADHIL LANKARANI (MAP) -QUM

Moon sighting curve may not be Moon sighting curve may not be accurate????accurate????

The issue of sharing the sightingThe issue of sharing the sighting• These narrations can be found in WASAEL ALSHIA• http://www.rafed.net/books/hadith/wasael-10/v12.html#111• These are four SAHEEH correct HADEETH authenticated by S.

ALKHOEI and many great JURISTS:• عليه : ( عبدالله أبا سألت قال عبدالله أبي بن عبدالرحمن عنمن ) وعشرين تسع في علينا يغم رمضان شهر هالل عن السالم

آخر : بلد أهل شهد فان ، تراه أن إال تصم ال فقال ؟ شعبانفاقضه

• 1st narration: narration# [ 13347 ] 9 WASAEL: ABDURRAHMAN IBN ABO ADBDILLAH said: I asked ABO ABDILLAH (Imam ASSADIQ –as-) about the crescent of the month of Ramadhan which is concealed from us on the night of 29th of SHABAAN (what should we do)? So he (Imam (AS)) said: Do not fast (as the first of the month) until you sight it, and if people of different city fast (that day and you found out later) then make up that day.

• 2nd narration # [ 13412 ] 3 in WASAEL: same as above but narrated by ISHAAQ IBN AMMAR from IMAM ASSADIQ (AS):

• عن : ( ) السالم عليه عبدالله أبا سألت قال ، عمار بن إسحاق عنرمضان هالل

أن : Dإال تصمه ال فقال ؟ شعبان من وعشرين تسع في علينا يغمفاقضه رأوه أنهم آخر بلد أهل شهد فإن ، تراه

• 3rd Narration # [ 13381 ] 13 WASAEL ـ • السالم ( ) عليه عبدالله أبي عن ، الحكم بن هشام عن

له : كانت إن قال وعشرين تسعة صام فيمن قال أنهرؤيته على ثالثين صاموا أنهم مصر أهل على عادلة بينة

يوما قضى• Narrated by HISHAAM IBN ALHAKAM, who narrates

from ABO ABDILLAH (IMAM ASSADIQ –as-) who said about the one who fasted 29 days (of RAMADHAN) he said: If he had just witness from people of a region that they fasted 30 days on its sighting (the beginning of the month of RAMADHAN was based on their sighting), then he has to make up one day (and rely on the sighting of the people of such region).

• That means that if a person had completed 30 days of SHABAAN, and fasted 29 days of Ramadhan and after that if he finds that any other region had started Ramadhan after 29th SHABAAN, they he has to rely on the sighting of that region and make up the fast of that day.

• 4th Narration in WASAEL # [ 13447 ] 1 • سئل ( ) أنه السالم عليه عبدالله أبى عن ، بصير أبي عنأن : إال تقضه ال فقال ؟ رمضان شهر من يقضى اليوم عنرأس كان متى الصالة أهل جميع من عدالن شاهدان يثبت

أن ! : إال يقضى الذي اليوم ذلك تصم ال وقال ؟ الشهرفصمه فعلوا فان ، االمصار أهل يقضي

• Narrated by ABO BASEER, that he asked ABO ABDILLAH (IMAM ASSADIQ –as-) about making up (the missed) day of the month of RAMADHAN? he (AS) said : That do not make up unless if two just witnesses from all of the people of SALAAT (i.e. Muslims) for when was the beginning of the month? And he (AS) said: Do not fast that day which is to be made up, unless if the people of the regions make up, so if they do such then you do so.

• In this narration Imam (AS) commands him to follow the Muslims of different regions.

• The fast of 30th SHABAAN which might be 1st Ramadhan is not required if moon was not sighted, yes if it was sighted in other Islamic regions then it needs to be made up.

What is the criteria for following What is the criteria for following other cities moon sightingother cities moon sighting

• These four authentic narrations were understood and interpreted by our great scholars and jurists (MOJTAHIDS) in four different ways, based on their intellectual analysis of the sharing region or sharing city in sighting:

• Unity of the horizon and closeness of the cities

• Unity of the continent • Unity of the night• Unity of the EARTH

Unity of the horizon and Unity of the horizon and closeness of the citiescloseness of the cities

• That means that the cities share the horizon can follow each other:

1. They share in the time of sunset2. They share the vertical or horizontal lines in a way

that if the moon is sighted in a city it has to sight in another if the clouds or mountains were not obstructing.

3. These cities must not be very far (some say 880 km).

4. The western regions can follow the sighting in the eastern regions if there was no obstructing factor it would have been sighted.

Unity of the horizon and Unity of the horizon and closeness of the citiescloseness of the cities

• Those who support this opinion:

1. S. SISTANI (MAP) -NAJAF

2. S. KHAMENAI (MAP)- TEHRAN

3. S. GOLPAYGHANI (MAMH)

4. S. KHOMENI (MAMH)

5. Sh. NASIR MAKARIM (MAP) -QUM

Unity of the continentUnity of the continent

• S. MOHAMMAD SAEED TABATABAI ALHAKIM –NAJAF

• The west can follow the sighting in the east

• The east can follow the sighting of the west

• If they share the continent

Unity of the nightUnity of the night• The cities of east and the west can

follow the sighting of each other if they share one night.

• The reason for the concept of sharing the night is that the moon is sighted in the with the naked eye night, so if a city does not share the night when the moon was sighted, then that city can not depend on that sighting.

Unity of the nightUnity of the night• The first great scholar who supported this

concept with strong evidences was the MASTER of JURISTS ALSYED ABO ALQASIM ALHOEI (MAM)

• Then some of his strong students followed him, those who support this concept:

1. SH. WAHEED ALKHORASANI (MAP)–Qum

2. SH. MIRZA JAWAD ATTABRIZI (MAP)–Qum

3. Sh. LANKARANI (MAP) -QUM

Unity of the EARTHUnity of the EARTH• If any spot on the earth sights it, then it will be

enough for the entire earth.• The concept says once the moon is out from the

shadow, then it is out for the entire earth, so on any spot it is sight, then it is enough for the whole earth.

• SH. AFAYAADH- NAJAF• SH. BASHEER –NAJAF• SH. BAHJAT-QUM• This opinion must be supported by some types of

limits, other wise if taken absolutely then it has few practical problems such as some parts of earth might missed the whole day of EID.