A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Date for Eid Announced |
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| gift |
| 01/22/04 at 03:59:42 |
| [slm] Saudi have announced the date for Eid-ul-Adha for this year inshallah: [color=Black]Just a short time ago, Fatwa-Online was informed of the official decision and announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia that since the moon of Dhul-Hijjah was not sighted here in Saudi Arabia, we shall be completing thirty (30) days of Dhul-Qi'dah, inshaa.-Allaah. Subsequently, 1 Dhul-Hijjah will be tomorrow, Friday 23 January, and the Muslims performing Hajj will be in 'Arafah on Saturday 31 January (9 Dhul-Hijjah), and the Muslim Ummah shall be celebrating 'Eed al-Adhaa on Sunday 1 February 2004, (10 Dhul-Hijjah 1424), inshaa.-Allaah. [/color] |
| Re: Date for Eid Announced |
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| jannah |
| 01/22/04 at 12:19:48 |
| In North America, this announcement from the Shurah council: The National Islamic Shura Council and the Fiqh Council of North America decided for Eid ul Adha 1423 (February 2003) to follow the announcement in Makkah about the beginning of the month of Dhul Hijjah and the day of Eid ul Adha. (The statement issued last year is below. Also below is a previous article from the Fiqh Council explaining that recommendation.) Therefore, according to Ummul-Qura calendar, Hajj date i.e. the Day of Arafat (9th Dhul-Hijjah) is expected to be January 31, 2004, and Eid-al-Adha (the day after the Day of Arafat) would be February 1, 2004, insha’Allah. We will be looking forward to hear the decision about Hajj dates from Makkah. Eid mubarak. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statement of the National Islamic Shura Council of North America, Concerning the Determination of Eidul Adha December 17, 2002 - The National Islamic Shura Council decided unanimously to adopt the following statement and recommendation of the Fiqh Council of North America. Last year, the Fiqh Council of North America recommended to the Shura Council of North America that the determination of Eidul Adha be based on sighting the Crescent in North America. This recommendation was based on numerous Fatwas of several prominent scholars from various parts of the world. They indicated that there is no sound basis for distinction between the determination of Ramadan and Eidul Adha, either by unity of Matla’ or difference of Matla’. A long-standing position of the Fiqh Council has been to determine the beginning and end of Ramadan on the basis of sighting the crescent in North America. Determination of Eidul Adha on the same basis was seen as being more consistent. Furthermore, a considerable segment of the Muslim community in North America appeared more inclined to the above Fatwas. It was the best estimate of the Fiqh Council that by adopting theses Fatwas, there may be greater unity among Muslims. The Fiqh Council’s recommendation was contingent on educating the Muslim community prior to Eid about the impending change and the reasons behind in. This did not materialize. Due to the unfamiliarity with this information prior to Eidul Adha, heated discussions and lesser unity occurred in several communities, contrary to what was hoped. There is room in Islamic Fiqh to adopt a weaker, but still acceptable opinion if that achieves greater benefit (maslaha); in that case greater unity. Therefore, the Fiqh Council recommends the restoration of the previous method of determination of Eidul Adha to follow the announcement in Makkah about the beginning of the month of Dhul Hijjah. It is hoped that this recommendation will bring greater unity, though not unanimity. We strongly urge the Muslim community in North America to show greater unity by following the announcements of the Shura Council of North America. The Fiqh Council recommends, however, that the determining of Ramadan and Eidul Fitr should continue to be based on the sighting of the crescent in North America. A minimum standard of unity is to celebrate Eid on the same day on the metro area level. Meanwhile, the Fiqh Council shall continue to consult other scholars and to work with the authorities who decide the timing of Hajj, until this issue is resolved. The Fiqh Council is in the process of issuing a more detailed statement on scholars’ opinions on this issue. An effort will be made to contact Saudi authorities concerning their methodology of moon sighting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Element of Place is Dominant in Eid-ul-Adha In studying the question of determining the dates of the Eid celebrations, the Fiqh Council of North America considers a number of factors form the Shari'ah perspective. Chief among these is the concept of unity. Allah Most High said: "This is your Ummah. It is one Ummah; and I am your Lord. So worship Me! (21:92). From this verse the concepts of unity and group worship are clearly shown to be at the core of the deen of Islam. Thus, regardless of how circumstances may change with the passing of time, Muslim must do their utmost to maintain their unity. On the continent of North America, where Muslim unity is closely linked to Muslim identity, this factor is all the more important. We ask Allah to bestow His mercy on all of those who go for Hajj this year, and on all of those who stay at home. And we ask all Muslim to heed Allah in respect of the Hajj performed by the hajjis, and to show consideration for the unity of this Ummah, and not to spread dissention. Likewise, we ask Allah to show us the truth and the truth and the falsehood as falsehood, and to protect us form all evil. Allah Most High has replaced the many festivals practiced by the Arabs during the period of ignorance with two Eids for Muslims. Each Eid is linked with an essential act of worship. About the end of fasting, Allah said: Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. He wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you shall be grateful (2:185). About the end of Hajj He said: Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and again circumambulates the Ancient House (22:29). The first of these two verse is considered the legal basis for the Eid-ul-Fitr. The Eid-ul Adha, on the other hand, was established as a celebration for completing the rites of Hajj and the move from Arafat. Allah said: So when you have accomplished your holy rites, celebrate the praises of Allah (2:200). The classical jurist determined that the two Eids, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, are determined by factors relating to time and place, with he difference that the element of time in the Eid-ul-Fitr is dominant element, whereas the element of place in the dominant element in regard to the Eid-ul-Adha, which is linked to the place of Hajj (the sacred places in Makkah, Mina, Arafat, etc). In both celebrations there are two kinds of celebrants; those who celebrate their having performed acts of Ibadah, and those who celebrate the Ibadah performed by others. In case of Eid-ul-Adha, the dominant element is placed, and during this Eid those celebrating their own performance of the Ibadah are located in the sacred places. Of course, in the past Muslims outside the sacred place had no way of knowing when the celebrations were held in the sacred places, and had to rely on their local calendar. With modern communications, however, this is no longer necessary. The classical jurists of Islam have held that once the dates for the pilgrimage have been established, they may not be disputed. Some scholars have stated that if someone is certain that he/she has sighed the crescent, and is convinced that the announced dates for the pilgrimage are incorrect, the person may not publicize or announce his/her sighting and thereby spread dissention among the pilgrims. This is because such behavior will lead to disruption between the hajjis, and to negation of their Hajj, which is Haram. Among the great scholars of the past to subscribe to this view were al Imam Muslim, Ibn Taymayah and al Imam al Nawawi. Some scholars have even stated that the person who announces a correct but contradictory sighting should have his/her Hajj negated. Rather, they opine, such a person should remain silent about his/her conviction about the error. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all Muslims that Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, an example of the equality in which Islam holds all humankind, and a symbol of the unity that binds the entire Ummah together as one. In view of the above considerations, the Fiqh Council requests all the Muslims in the United States and Canada to celebrate the Eid with the hajjis on the same day that they stand in prayer in masjid al Heef at Mina, celebrating the praises of Allah for the bounty that He has granted them. In this way our prayers may include them, and their prayers may include us. |
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