Issue # 8: Does the hadith of the Messenger concerning the observation of the new moon establish an immutable rule of law?
Since the beginning of the 20th century, many Islamic thinkers have questioned the arguments presented against the use of calculations. They consider that the Messenger’s recommendation to the faithful was merely adapted to the culture of the times, and should not be confused with the acts of worship (‘ibada). In their opinion, the hadith about observation did not establish an immutable rule of law, no more than it forbade the use of a calendar based on astronomical calculations. (4) (15) They note that, over long periods of Islamic history, the hadith under discussion was not interpreted to mean the visual observation of a new moon, but only the acquisition of information, according to credible sources, that the month had begun. (16) This opens entirely different vistas in the discussion of this question. They observe that Saudi Arabia’s Umm al Qura calendar (which is used for administrative purposes only) has been prepared for years based on the calculation of the schedules of sunset
Related Questions
- Issue # 4: Shouldn’t the observation of the new moon, wherever it is carried out, mark the beginning of a new month for all Muslims?
- Issue # 8: Does the hadith of the Messenger concerning the observation of the new moon establish an immutable rule of law?
- Issue # 3: Can we identify in advance the most favourable sites for the observation of each new moon?
