Punjab

Moon sighting: 50 muftis issue edict against Popalzai

Say observing fast or celebrating Eid on Popalzai’s announcement is wrong

Rana Tanveer June 03, 2016

Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: More than 50 muftis issued a fatwa on Friday against Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan saying that he always announces the start of Ramazan and Eid celebrations a day before the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee.

The muftis, including Muhammad Imran Hanfi, Mufti Muhammad Hasib Qadri, Mufti Pir Syd Karamat Ali and Mufti Muhammad Abdul Sattar Saeedi, issued the fatwa on the request of Muhammad Ziaul Haq, head of Ittehad Ummat Islamic Centre. They said Popalzai’s actions were unethical, illegal and violative of sharia. They said observing the fast or celebrating Eid based on Popalzai’s announcements was a violation of sharia. They also said that in the presence of the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, announcing the start of Ramazan or Eid celebrations separately in Peshawar amounted to interference in state affairs.

The muftis said that under the law, only the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee could make announcements regarding moon sighting. They said the citizens who happened to have sighted the moon should inform the committee. Others, including Popalzai, should inform the committee about those claiming to have sighted the moon. They said arranging a dialogue with Popalzai was like negotiating with the Taliban. “It is a waste of time,” they said.

The muftis said that instead of holding talks with Popalzai the government should act against him in accordance with law. They said all Muslim sects were represented in the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee. They said Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority should not allow the coverage of announcements by Popalzai.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (36)

Musa Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Why not our govt make him a member of Moon Sighting comity? Popalzai proclaims eid after hearing the witnesses of KP people. It's void to ban him for that. I have heard from people that are eye witness to the decisions taking criteria there in Qasim Ali Khan, that Shawal & Ramazan are decided after a very healthy inquiry from Moon sighting witnesses. We followed Popalzai, follow Popalzai and will follow.

shee | 8 years ago | Reply Reply to all those who are criticizing Shahbuddin Populzai, one of the person told he should go to NASA, because his or their eyes are faster and powerful than microscope etc. now the question is if each and every individual sight the crescent on their eyes one day after Populzai's announces, so is there any need of such a Ruet-e,hilal committee? whenever they try to sight the crescent in microscope etc. they never ever sighted it once, did they? they always announce when everyone sight the crescent by there own eyes.....so it shows there is no need for their fake technology and their drama...

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John | 8 years ago | Reply @rich: If your religion allows you to celebrate Eid on whatever day you feel like, then its your business. Don't poke your nose in the religion of Islam and its Festivals

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Faisal Hamid: Was there any controversy of moon during British Raj

Faisal Hamid | 8 years ago | Reply Can Ruet-i-Hilal Committee ever allow women to participate in moon sighting ritual? Will they be divided or remain united to decide whether to allow women to participate in moon sighting ritual? I remember last year when Ruet-i-Hilal Committee take part in moon sighting, the bench or stool or dice on which there were lot of people were standing close to telescope, that bench or stool or dice collapse. On the other hand, same year, few member including women were doing the same ritual from a roof top in Indonesia and Malaysia.

mujeeb ur rehman | 8 years ago | Reply All around the world moonsighting is carried by following saudi. Then, why pakistan is denying the unity. In our country, only ruhit-e-committee worried about their jobs, I.e. if they start to follow saudi, then no justification for these thousands of employees to keep by pak govt. Hence, please adjust these people (so called misfits) in other department of Pakistan & dissolve this so called committee. Simply like other countries follow saudi to start Ramadan & celebrate did. For God sake, please Don,t politicised this religious events.

ZAHEER I AHMAD | 8 years ago | Reply fatwah of 50 or 100 does not work on mullan, these fatawa only effect a common man, all law and all fatawah are effected only on common man, it dont effect mullan and politicians.

Abrar Ahmad | 8 years ago | Reply if we analyze the past 3 years .. we should clearly understand that Rout e hilal committee was wrong .. and all the Muslims in pakistan missed 1 or 2 roza .. and many of friends here is right that why the committee is not accepting the witnesses from KP and FATA ..i personally called many time the committee but they aren't responding to our calls .even that we had sighted the moon many times. we are living in the age of modern technologies , why mufti sahb not avail the facilities of modern technologies? its just a politics nothing else :(

genesys | 8 years ago | Reply Why this fuss bout sighting of moon.Modern astronomy can fix it to the second and there is no need for this discourse.

Waqas Awan | 8 years ago | Reply Why there is no mufti Popalzai on Moharram moon sighting

Mirza Asif Baig | 8 years ago | Reply @rich: Your comment = LOL...

Muhibullah | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: Oh what grounds? Accepting the testimony of people who say they've seen the moon?

Muhibullah | 8 years ago | Reply There's no logical reason why the Muslims of Peshawar should celebrate Eid on the same day as the Muslims of Karachi, which is 1600km away rather than with the Muslims of Kabul, which is just 300km away.

M. Jan | 8 years ago | Reply There is no need for a committee to be looking for a moon. Science is there to predict the timing of the moon very precisely. This should be a job for the department of meteorology not a bunch of self serving clerics. It is ridiculous to go through the same farcical exercise every year with mullahs at each other throats. If the government wants to keep the current arrangement then the committee should be directed to accept the moon sighting claims by the residents of KPK. It is extremely rude and arrogant to doubt and dismiss the moon sighting claims from KPK by the mullahs of the committee.

Sam | 8 years ago | Reply Maybe we should let these mufti's live without latest technologies too. They are not using them anyway.

Shahgul | 8 years ago | Reply Maybe they have nothing better to do, Getting too much taxpayer money?

Raisani | 8 years ago | Reply Popalzai should be sent to jail. Simple is that.

Abdullah khan | 8 years ago | Reply He always Anounnces every month sightenig of moon but people only interested in ramzan ans eids so they never heard popalzai. When there are witness of moon sighters from majority of kpk districts how can he reject them. When all Ummah Celebrated ramzan on one day and pakiatan celebrated it after one or two days later, is it not shamful? The molvies first decide the sightening of moon is Important or the birth of moon than issue fatwa all molvies including committee molvi should answer the question why they are not celebratting the events with all ummah

Bakhtiat | 8 years ago | Reply Why the central committee doesn't accept the witnesses of general public except their own?

Bakhtiat | 8 years ago | Reply Why the central committee does not accept the witnesses of general public except their own.

Maqbool Basha | 8 years ago | Reply I request China to declare moon sighting for Pakistan. We don't believe in our mullah moulvis.

Shaukat ali | 8 years ago | Reply Ramzan and eid times should be set up in the beginning of the calender year. All attempts at moon sighting should be disbanded. All private and govt sector employers should be on the same page on this issue.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply The muftis said that under the law, only the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee could make announcements regarding moon sighting. They said the citizens who happened to have sighted the moon should inform the committee. Others, including Popalzai, should inform the committee about those claiming to have sighted the moon. They said arranging a dialogue with Popalzai was like negotiating with the Taliban. “It is a waste of time,” they said. A load of crap; how can the law stipulate citizens citing the moon should inform the committe e. Tough luck for the commttee members that they were unable to see the moon in the horizon. Let the Governent follow Popalzai and not those who missed the sighting. Let the sleepy Lahore walas and karachiwalas go their way and the Popalzais walas go theirs. The uniformity in a community is not binding for all world communities. Rex Minor

such bolta hoon | 8 years ago | Reply Dear Bloggers / Readers, This is ridiculous thought process of Maulvis First of all the time difference between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is just 3 and a half hours. It should ideally be celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia. In this day and age we don't have to just rely on these so called Maulvis, (most of them cant see without specticles anyway ) the observatories should be assisting in the sighting. NASA have a 25 year work plan based on thier calculatons and movements in the solar system. Funding of which is approved through the government/ Congress. I find this strange that why do we have separate Eid days from the centre of Islam- Saudi Arabia. No clock in the world has a difference of 24 hours. So if the moon is seen on one side of the earth then within 24 hours it should be seen else where. The maximum timing difference is from American to Australasian continents about 18 hours or so. It is simple understanding of the solar system. So because of these Maulvis Pakistan should have its own Hajj day- Kayam-e-Arafat. The nation has to think who is correct. Popalzai is always with Saudi Arabia that is what I have noticed and for goodness sake deploy a few of members of Moonsighting Committees with Popalzai.

M.S. | 8 years ago | Reply These Muftis have also fallen to the same low level. They are using the method which should not be allowed by anyone. If Mullah has been doing something wrong then law of the land should move against him, if not then amend the law or leave him alone. These Fatwas have always done more harm then good. Fasting on one day and celebrating Eid same day is not mandatory nor it should be. Practice it as you wish and don't force others to obey your commands. This kind of mentality will create more unity and harmony.

wb | 8 years ago | Reply @rich: You're a heretic.

Pacer | 8 years ago | Reply Religion should not be regulated like this. Everyone has their own way of practicing islam and should celebrate eid any day they want. Unity comes by accepting diversity not by rejecting it.

Voiceless Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply There are 11 other Islamic months too but this popalzai pops up only for Ramazan and Eid moon because of the media coverage. He is petty publicity greedy fraud.

Reality Check | 8 years ago | Reply Popatzai is nothing but a person who wants attention clerics like him should be taken to the back and be done with them... He has yet t o provide a proof once of his so called moon sightings and his sightings have nothing to do with the moon but rather with what Saudi Arabia says thats why he waits till they announce it... its pathetic this chap and its sad that hes allowed to operate in kpk after NAP

irfan | 8 years ago | Reply It's time to put a stop on this Shahabuddin Popalzai . People like him have play divide and rule game for decades . These guys should be recruit by NASA for discovery of new planets because their eyes can seen much better than any Telescope , even can discover a sign of planet , where there is no planet even .

kk | 8 years ago | Reply where is popalzai rest of the year.he only comes in Ramazan n Eid with clear intentions to divide the Ummah .he belongs to ulam e shaar catagory

rich | 8 years ago | Reply I will celebraete eid when I feel its correct , u celebrate when u feel its correct so what is the issue insecure?

khan | 8 years ago | Reply Why the central committee never accepts the witnesses from KPK

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply How a handful of misdirected people hold the masses hostage. How some people gain media coverage only by negativity.

iPakistani | 8 years ago | Reply why the chief of Ruet e Hilal Committee never changes? Maybe a better leader can get some breakthrough with Popalzai,

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply Provincial or Central Government should chairmanship of some commission like faciliries given to Molana Fazal Rahman or atleast give AC fitted big car with VVIP treatmentand he will also be tamed

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