Fwd: 'Ismaili Lunar Calendar'
Moyez Kamani
From: Ali Janmohamed <ali...@gosonic.ca>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Subject: 'Ismaili Lunar Calendar'
To: Ali Janmohamed <ali...@gosonic.ca>
'Ismaili Lunar Calendar': An ideal base to unite the 'Ummah'
By: Qazi Dr. Shaikh Abbas Borhany
PhD (USA), NDI, Shahadat al A'alamiyyah (Najaf, Iraq), M.A., LLM (Shariah)
Member, Ulama Council of Pakistan
The purpose of the following dialogue is to promote tolerance and intellectual
understanding among the Muslim community of the global village. The Modern
World humiliates the Muslims with the fact that while astronauts have
landed the Moon, and other scientists are busy in discoveries of the
universe, majority of the Muslims are still following the directions of
the clergy, regarding the sighting of the Moon, instead of following the
scientific course, upon which religion of Islam is based.
Part I
Published in 'Daily News', Karachi on 22-08-2008 & in 'Yemen Times' on 22
-09-2008
Origin of the Lunar Calendar: Base of the 'Ismaili Lunar Calendar' is Qur'an:
"The Sun and the Moon follow exactly computed
courses."[1]
This Ayat lays the foundation on which it is permissible to calculate the
emergence of new crescent from a Shariah standpoint, and refutes any claim
raised by people of limited-understanding who believe that crescent sighting
should be followed; because all such erroneous sightings would contradict the
findings of this Ayat and at the same time contradict the 'words of Qur'an',
explaining the orderly movement of the Moon and other celestial bodies. The
precise laws, made by Allah, governing the Universe, bear witness to Hikmat
ilahiyyah and Adal and also of His favours to His creatures.
It was Bani Fatimah who realized the need of the Lunar Calendar, and they
introduced it to the world at large, as soon as they established their vast
Empire, even spreading across Europe. This Lunar Calendar remained in practice
officially for more than 225 years, in North Africa and across the Atlantic
Ocean. The same calendar is in practice officially by the Ismaili Nizaries
& Musta'alavis (Dawoodi, Sulaiymani, & Alavi). The notable powerful
dynasty of the Sumrahs of Sindh (Pakistan) followed the Lunar Calendar from
365(A.H) to 974(A.H) for more than 609 years, and without any alteration. As
elites of Sindh, the Sumrahs handled the affairs of Al Dawah al Hadiyah as
Aa'mil of the Ismaili Fatemi Imams in Sindh, whose jurisdiction extended up to
the 'Attock Fort'. Their relationship continued to remain under the command of
Al Dai al Mutlaq, one after the other, during the period of Satar. The Ismailis
calculate their months according to this Lunar Calendar and least
bother(scarcely depend) on the sighting of the Moon for starting a New Year or
a New Month, as they have carried out an accurate scientific research on the
movements of the Moon. They have a very rich and valuable literature on the
subject of 'Lunar Calendar', the glorious origin of which goes to Amir al
Mumineen, Ali ibn Abi Talib through the references of Abi Abdillah Imam Jafar Assadiq.
An authentic scientific chart of 'Qaran-e-Saghir' and 'Qaran-e-Kabir' is
attributed to Ali. [2]
Calculation of the Lunar Cycle: On an average, a lunar month (or lunation)
comprises 29 days 12.73 hours, but it can sometimes be as short as 29 days 6½
hours, or as long as 29 days 20 hours. Fluctuations in length are cyclic. There
is a fast cycle averaging about 412 days (which is just under 14 lunar months);
which is associated with changes in the eccentricity, or shape of the lunar
orbit. This rapid cycle is modified by a slower one whose mean wavelength is
8.85 years (equal to one complete revolution of the axis of the Moon's
elliptical orbit). In addition, there are other oscillations, some causing
variations extending over many hundreds of years – when it may not even
make sense to look for an average wavelength. Other factors too contribute to
the Moon's complex behavior.
For instance, a longer than normal lunation tends to occur between October and
March because of the faster movement by the Earth in its orbit round the sun.
In February and March, this delays the instant when the Moon appears to
overtake the sun. Also, the sun lies closer to a newborn crescent than it would
if the Earth's speed was uniform - thus postponing the onset of New Moon
visibility. In October and November, on the other hand, the sun's position on
the ecliptic line is "behind schedule" - so the Moon overtakes it
earlier. Occasionally, four consecutive lunation will span more than 119 days.
Under these circumstances, it is possible to have four successive 30-day
months. When that happens, the Moon only just becomes visible at the beginning
of the first month in the sequence, and just fails to do so on the 29th of the
4th month. A predetermined calendar would certainly make it easier to plan
events. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to predict that a newborn
crescent will definitely be visible or invisible from a given location, because
of the wide grey area separating the two categories. This uncertainty is caused
by day to day fluctuations in atmospheric water vapor and dust content.
A Few Logical Examples: The Ismailis follows a pre-calculated calendar based on
a cycle of 30 Muslim years (eleven of which contain 355 days instead of the
more common 354–thus totaling 10631 days). The accumulated error in that
calendar is about one hour per century. This, together with the cyclic
variations in the behavior of the lunar orbit, can bring the Ismaili dates two
(or on rare occasions even three) days earlier than those governed strictly by
Crescent visibility. In 1412 (A.H), for example, their Ramazan commenced on the
morning of 4th March 1992, whereas throughout much of India and the Far East,
Sawm did not start till 7th March. There are of course other ways in which a
predetermined calendar might be constructed. Mathematical criteria could be
laid down – and adopted, regardless of whether or not the crescent
happens to be observed. Such guidelines might be based, for example, on the age
of the New Moon at dusk (suitably defined), or the lag between sunset and
moonset, or the number of degrees separating the sun and moon as they descend.
It is then essential to specify either the exact time at which the criteria are
to be applied–or the precise location; for example, Makkah would probably
be universally acceptable. [3]
Qur'an says:
"Allah enlightens the sun and effulgent moon and created stations for the
moon's movement so that you can keep the counting and records of
years". [4]
The Circulation of the Moon around the Earth is described in the Qur'an, and on
the basis of it the Lunar Calendar was designed. The 19th Al Dai al Fatemi,
Syedna Idris Imaduddin(d.872/1468, Shib'am, Yemen) discussed the issue and
proved that the Moon circulates one time around earth in 29 ½ days and some
minutes, and a single circulation is counted as one month. According to
calculations, in the Lunar Calendar, a 30 days month is considered complete,
and a 29 days month is called incomplete. The first month of Muharram is of 30
days and the second month is of 29 days, so according to this, the last month
of Zilhajjah will be of 29 days. At the end of 12 months, some fraction is left
between the movement of the Moon and 12 months, and as per calculation 11
leap-years are set in every 30 years in the lunar calendar. That means a
leap-year will have 30 days instead of 29 days in the last month, which is
Zilhajjah. [5]
Shia Ismaili Point of view: Shia Ismailies argue that Rasulullah (S) always
observed Siy'am by particular calculations and commanded the Ummah to do
accordingly. A valuable reference of Maaz bin Kasir is available in
"Majm'a al Bahraiyn" which has been transmitted by Huzaifah bin
Mansur who asked Abi Abdullah Imam Jafar Assadiq that people say:
Rasulullh(S) observed some months of Ramazan for 29 days and some for 30 days.
Imam Jafar Assadiq spontaneously rejected this allegation and replied:
"These people are telling lies; Rasulullah(S) has always observed 30 days
Siy'aam in the month of Ramazan. From the day Allah created the Sky and the
Earth, Ramazan has never ended in 29 Naqis (incomplete) days".
[6]
As Muslims of the early era were not familiar with calculations at that time,
the day on which everyone observed Sawm, and celebrated Eid, used to be
announced. Once when Rasulullah(S) was leaving Madinah for expedition of
'Ghazwah Hunain', people behind him questioned, "We observed Sawm of
Ramazan with you, and celebrated Eid with you, as you are leaving, how should
we observe it?" Rasulullah(S) guided as follow:
"Observe Sawm of Ramazan by watching Him and celebrate your Eid by
watching Him too." [7]
Children of the Ismaili Dawah argue that the meaning behind the word of Hadith
"Ley Ruyate Hee" was Ali, as Rasulullah (S) had appointed him 'Wali
al Amar' on his seat, in his place. Similarly, there is no doubt that
Rasulullah(S) is the Sun of Nubuwah while Ali is the Moon of Imamah. Pointing
out this divine reality, Syedna al Moayyid al Shirazi (d.470/1078, Qahera,
Egypt) says in a couplet, available in his "Diw'aan" as follow:
"Wa Ya Qamaran B'aada Zakas Siraji; Muniran Bada Lid'diyaji Mubira"
[8]
(O Moon which appears after the Sun; in order to remove darkness)
Selected Bibliography
[1] "Al Qur'an", Surat No.55, Ayat No.5
[2] Alibhai Sharafali, "Sahifat us Sal'aat", Chart of' Qaran-e-Kabir
wa Qaran-e-Saghir', Mumbai
[3] David Mc Naughton, "Crescent- sighting & Islamic Calendars",
Hamdard Islamicus, Karachi, January 1997
[4] Al Qur'an
[5] Syedna Idris Imaduddin, "Kit'aab Izah ul Ael'aam", (in
explanation of 29 days of Shab'an and 30 days of Ramazan),manuscript.
[6] 1-"Majma al Bahraiyn", 2- 39th Alavi Dai, "Kit'aab al
ib'anate wal Hil'aal",
Manuscript, (Cross-examination by the learned
Shaikh on books like "Kit'aab al
Hid'ayah" and "Man La Yahzuruhul
Faqih" and established logical scientific approach of the Ismailies)
[7] Syedna Idris Imaduddin, "Kit'aab Izah ul Ael'aam", (in
explanation of 29 days of
Shab'an and 30 days of Ramazan). Hadith
[8] Syedna al Moayyid al Shirazi, "Diw'aan", Qahera
The writer is Attorney at Law & Religious Scholar
Email address: qazishk...@hotmail.com
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Qazi Dr. Shaikh Abbas Borhany. Contact the author for all other rights, which
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Have an excellent day.
Moyez ,
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