"Arabs used to observe and have a name for all the phases of the moon"-Tafsir Ibn Kathir

[Chief Editor, Hijri Committee of India]

Dear Brothers & Sisters

Assalaamu Alaikkum Wa Rahmathullaahi  Wa Barakaathu hu

It is a pity that majority of Muslims believe that they have to look at the moon 

only in  Ramdhaan, Shawwal, Zul Hijjah and Muharram  for the first hilaal 

(for them it does not matter even if the  hilaal becomes visible  on the second 

or third day of the month !!) .  For the rest of the days, moon is just a means 

of light during night.  They completely ignore the direction given  Quran 2:189. 

The Majority of muslims  feel it is not at all  necessary to watch the moon 

through out  the month as they give a wrong meaning to "Soomu li ruyiathi hi...". 

To illustrate  what our predecessors were doing with the moon phases, 

we are quoting from Tafsir Ibn Kathir the following:

"The Arabs have a name for each set of three nights in a month, 

according to the phases of the moon. 

They call the first three nights "Ghurar"; 

the next three nights "Nufal"; 

the next three nights "Tusa"` (nine) -- because the last of them is the ninth. 

The next three nights are called `"Ushar" (ten) -- because the first of them 

is the tenth. 

The next three nights are called "Al-Bid" (white) -- because of the light of 

the moon which shines brightly throughout these three nights. 

The next three nights are called "Dura", the plural of Dar`a', because on 

the first of them the night is dark from the moon rising late. Dar`a' refers 

to the black sheep,  i.e., the one whose head is black; , 

the next three nights "Zulam";  then "Hanadis",  then "Da'adi" ; 

then "Mihaq", because of the absence of moonlight at the beginning 

of the month. "

UNQUOTE

The Sahabas (RA)  found-out the dates by observing all the moon-phases and 

followed the Calendar which  Almighty Allah has given for mankind. But 

majority of Muslims were seen clinging on to the word "RUY'IA" and 

totally misinterpret the hadeeth.  They in fact are not considering the 

full text of the hadeeth and for their convenience consider only the tail-end.   

They simply do not observe all the phases, as practiced by the  Prophet 

(Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). They ignore the authentic hadeeth which

says that the Prophet (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) used to observe the 

phases throughout, especially those of the Shabaan, so that Ramdhaan 

can be started on the correct day.

The Sahabas (RA) also were keen not to miss the fast of the first day 

of Ramadhaan.

Please note  the underlined sentence above.  The last set of  moon phases 

are called -"Mihaq" because of the absence of moonlight.

This above sentence from Tafsir Ibn Kathir also proves:

  i)  that hilaal is not seen on the last day of the month as believed by 

       the majority;

ii) that they knew very well that hilaal is seen only after the day-light

       part of the first day is over;

iii) that they started the month on the next day of conjunction without

      waiting for the hilaal which becomes  visible only when the sun sets.

We hope that the above quote from Tafsir Ibn Kathir will serve as an eye-opener 

for those who insist on seeing the hilaal in order to start the new month

and will pave way for understanding the phases of moon better, In sha Allah.

In this context, we would like to inform all that Waxing crescents are known as
"Manaazil al ijthimaa'iyya" and Waning crescents are known as " Manaazil al
isthiqbaaliyya"  in Arabic. 

Manaazil al ijthimaa'iyya (waxing) are not useful in   finding out the beginning 

of the month, but are helpful to find out whether the beginning was on the 

right day. They also indicate whether the current month has 29 or 30 days. 

Manaazil al isthiqbaaliyya (waning) help us to find out the beginning. We can 

find out the beginning exactly 3 or 4 days in advance by observing them 

methodically.  This is practiced by bedouins of Saudi Arabia even today.  

This was reported by Br.  Haroon Chowdhari in his article which was 

published  in Br. Khalid Shaukat's moon-sighting site. 

We request those who insist on the visibility of hilaal on the West in order to 

start the new month, to observe the phases of the moon, throughout the month, 

throughout the year.  They can identify "al urjoon al qadeem" and start the new 

month after nearly 48 hours of the appearance of "al urjoon al qadeem" 

irrespective of Conjunction time and/or sunset-moonset difference at 

Makkah or else where.

May Almighty Allah forgive all our sins, errors and faults and may He, 

the Almighty provide a place for all of us in Jannathul Firdouse. Aameen

Wa Salaam

For HIJRI COMMITTEE OF INDIA

S. N. Mohamed Sultan
(Chief Editor)

HIJRI COMMITTEE OF INDIA
7/858 B, AWH Building
S. M. STREET
KOZHIKODE - 673001. INDIA
www.hijracalendar.com  www.hijracalendar.in  www.mooncalendar.in  www.hijracalendar.org