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Statement Regarding Eid Al-Fitr 1441/ 2020
May 30, 2020
Statement Regarding ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr 1440/ 2020
We pray that your Ramaḍān was filled with accepted fasting, worship and charity; and also the joys of ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr.
Islamic Moon Sighting on May 22, 2020.
The Crescent Council of Canada hereby confirms that our declaration for ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr (Shawwāl 1, 1441) to be on Saturday May 23, 2020 was based on multiple islamicaly reliable reports of moon sighting from Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Mauritania. All reports met Islamic fiqh guidelines enshrined in the Qurʾān and Sunnah. We also received reports later, of sightings in Hawaii and Arizona on May 22. These sightings were also accepted by a number of Canadian Islamic organizations and councils.
Predictions of Astronomical Calculations
At Crescent Council of Canada, our policy entails the use of astronomical calculations for aid, however since these predictions are not absolute, Islamic law dictates that, on the 29th of the lunar month, if believers testify for the moon sighting, it is to be accepted, despite being contrary to the predictions of astronomy. In any circumstance the moon was scientifically born on the 22nd. All the discussions surrounding the waning moon, mercury, venus, moon maps and calculation charts are from the predictions of astronomy and can never substitute the authentic teachings of the Qurʾān and Sunnah. We have confirmed with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada that the predictions of astronomical calculations are merely a guide and the reality on the nights of observation can drastically be affected by weather, optical aid, light pollution and other factors.
In 1999, a metric calculation mishap caused the loss of a NASA $125-million Mars climate orbiter. MoonConnection.com declares that moon maps and images can be accurate at times, however are approximations. StarDate.org states that there is no real formula for determining the visibility of the young moon, it depends on several factors. Calendar.com writes that calculated lunar calendars may have been accurate when establishing months but they are a bit off. Obliquity.com declares that like any mathematical models based on real data which contains measurement errors, their accuracy will decrease as the date is extended further into the past or future. NASA also declared that without incredible timekeeping precision, these calculations could be wildly inaccurate. The U.S. Naval Observatory is on record to admit that there is a large ‘gray area’ when it comes to commenting on the visibility of the moon in any given place at any given time.
Fasting
As per our declaration, fasting for Ramaḍān concluded with 29 days. There is no need to make up a day’s fast. The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) declared that lunar months are either 29 or 30 days.
Diversity, Respect and the Way Forward
We do understand that many organizations follow other methods to determine lunar Islamic months, such as pre-calculated dates, local sighting, regional sightings, and or Saudi announcements, hence many Muslims celebrated ʿEīd on Sunday and also Monday. Regardless, Muslims, with their diversity, must stay united in the hearts, respecting all.
Our commitment and the way forward is to work with both religious and science experts along with mainstream moon sighting organizations to bring larger unity for our fasting and celebrations in our local communities, here in Canada.
Sincerely,
Crescent Council of Canada
http://crescentcouncil.ca/
Statement Regarding ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr 1440/ 2020
We pray that your Ramaḍān was filled with accepted fasting, worship and charity; and also the joys of ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr.
Islamic Moon Sighting on May 22, 2020.
The Crescent Council of Canada hereby confirms that our declaration for ʿEīd Al-Fiṭr (Shawwāl 1, 1441) to be on Saturday May 23, 2020 was based on multiple islamicaly reliable reports of moon sighting from Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Mauritania. All reports met Islamic fiqh guidelines enshrined in the Qurʾān and Sunnah. We also received reports later, of sightings in Hawaii and Arizona on May 22. These sightings were also accepted by a number of Canadian Islamic organizations and councils.
Predictions of Astronomical Calculations
At Crescent Council of Canada, our policy entails the use of astronomical calculations for aid, however since these predictions are not absolute, Islamic law dictates that, on the 29th of the lunar month, if believers testify for the moon sighting, it is to be accepted, despite being contrary to the predictions of astronomy. In any circumstance the moon was scientifically born on the 22nd. All the discussions surrounding the waning moon, mercury, venus, moon maps and calculation charts are from the predictions of astronomy and can never substitute the authentic teachings of the Qurʾān and Sunnah. We have confirmed with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada that the predictions of astronomical calculations are merely a guide and the reality on the nights of observation can drastically be affected by weather, optical aid, light pollution and other factors.
In 1999, a metric calculation mishap caused the loss of a NASA $125-million Mars climate orbiter. MoonConnection.com declares that moon maps and images can be accurate at times, however are approximations. StarDate.org states that there is no real formula for determining the visibility of the young moon, it depends on several factors. Calendar.com writes that calculated lunar calendars may have been accurate when establishing months but they are a bit off. Obliquity.com declares that like any mathematical models based on real data which contains measurement errors, their accuracy will decrease as the date is extended further into the past or future. NASA also declared that without incredible timekeeping precision, these calculations could be wildly inaccurate. The U.S. Naval Observatory is on record to admit that there is a large ‘gray area’ when it comes to commenting on the visibility of the moon in any given place at any given time.
Fasting
As per our declaration, fasting for Ramaḍān concluded with 29 days. There is no need to make up a day’s fast. The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) declared that lunar months are either 29 or 30 days.
Diversity, Respect and the Way Forward
We do understand that many organizations follow other methods to determine lunar Islamic months, such as pre-calculated dates, local sighting, regional sightings, and or Saudi announcements, hence many Muslims celebrated ʿEīd on Sunday and also Monday. Regardless, Muslims, with their diversity, must stay united in the hearts, respecting all.
Our commitment and the way forward is to work with both religious and science experts along with mainstream moon sighting organizations to bring larger unity for our fasting and celebrations in our local communities, here in Canada.
Sincerely,
Crescent Council of Canada
http://crescentcouncil.ca/
