|
|
The ECFR said astronomical
calculations indicate the moon cannot be sighted on Friday,
September 22.
|
CAIRO — The European
Council for Fatwa and Research has said that
the first day of the holy fasting month of
Ramadan will fall on Sunday, September 24,
based on astronomical calculations.
"The crescent of
Ramadan will be born at 11:45 GMT (14:45
Makkah time) on Friday, September 22,"
the council said in a statement, a copy of
which was sent to IslamOnline.net.
"The Sun will set in
Makkah at 18:18 on Friday, while the moon's
silver will disappear at 18:15 on the same
day.
"Accordingly, it would
be impossible to sight the crescent in Makkah
or European countries, making Sunday,
September 24, the first day of Ramadan,"
it said.
The ECFR is headquartered
in Dublin, Ireland, with a mission to serve
Muslims living in the West and facilitate
their positive integration into society while
preserving their Islamic identity.
The Council, headed by
prominent scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi,
meets twice a year in Europe, with one session
always held in Ireland.
The Islamic Crescent
Observation Project (ICOP) has said that the
first day of Ramadan will astronomically fall
on September 24.
Scientific Evidence
The ECFR said that though
the start of the holy month is based on moon
sighting, hard scientific evidence must
indicate that the crescent can be observed in
any country.
"If astronomical
calculations show for certain that the moon
can by no means be sighted, then individual
sighting cannot be trusted as it could be
erroneous or based on speculations."
Moon sighting has always
been a controversial issue among Muslim
countries, and even scholars seem at odds over
the issue.
One group says that Muslims
everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar
of Saudi Arabia.
A second, however, believes
that the authority in charge of ascertaining
the sighting of the moon in a given country
(such as Egypt's Dar al-Iftaa [House of
Fatwa]) announces the sighting of the new
moon, then Muslims in the country should all
abide by this.
