Moon-sighting row: Two Eids in Pakistan, again
A mosque in Peshawar has held up its odd tradition of sighting the Shawwal moon before the rest of the country with its chief cleric announcing the end of the fasting month of Ramazan late Monday night.
Officially, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government did not endorse the decision of Mufti Shahabuddin Popolzai, the chief cleric at Peshawar’s historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, to celebrate Eidul Fitr on Tuesday (today).
The long-running controversy between Masjid Qasim Ali Khan and the official moon-sighting panel – the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee – will again lead the Pakistani nation to celebrate Eidul Fitr on two different days.
Mufti Popolzai’s ‘decree’ coincided with an official announcement from the Saudi religious authorities that the Shawwal moon has been sighted and Eidul Fitr will be celebrated in the kingdom on Tuesday.
Other Middle Eastern and Gulf states – including Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran and Iraq – also announced the end of Ramazan. Muslims in Europe and the United States will also celebrate Eidul Fitr on Tuesday.
(Read: Eid expected to be on the same day world over)
In Peshawar, Mufti Popolzai told the media after a meeting of his own unofficial moon-sighting committee that they have received ‘testimonies’ about moon-sighting from 10 persons from different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“The ulema heard the testimonies and examined the evidence in the light of shariah,” he said, referring to the members of his committee. “We are convinced that the Shawwal moon has been sighted and Eidul Fitr will be on Tuesday,” he added.
Interestingly, Popalzai’s committee did not entertain the ‘testimonies’ until the Saudi authorities announced the sighting of the moon at around 9.15pm.
Asked about the moon-sighting row, the mufti put the blame squarely on the federal government, implying that the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee ignored shariah laws. “I’ve asked the religious panel of the Senate standing committee to hear our viewpoint,” he added.
Meanwhile, a local committee in Mohib Banda mosque in Mardan also announced that it has received 20 ‘testimonies’ about moon-sighting. Jamiat Ulema-i-Afghan in Charsadda also announced sighting moon.
Eidul Fitr will also be celebrated in the tribal regions, including Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai and North Waziristan agencies, on Tuesday. However, people in Hazara and Malakand divisions will follow the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee decision which will be convening today to decide the sighting of Shawwal moon.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (59)
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I sent you a piece on dual moonsighting. Do you intend on publishing it here?
Take the petro dollars out, there will be no more moon sightings by these MUFTI's
btw it was SCIENTIFICALLY proven that the moon sighting was on tuesday and thus eid
lol i love how pakistanis are always a day of ahead of the rest of the world. no offense, but come on.. theres a reason ppl tend to follow saudi btw, think about it. u have to follow the ummah. if 99% celebrate tuesday why deviate and celebrate wednesday.
There was absolutely no chance of moon visibility in Pakistan or Saudi on 29th of August. Only possibility where it was actually seen was south America which is 9 hours behind Pakistan time, and by then it is already 30th in Pakistan. One can bring me 1000 "witnesses", and they are all wrong. Same as I am not going to beleive any number of witnesses if they come at midnight in Pakistan telling me they saw sun and it is time for Zuhr prayers.
Dr. Rafi Khattak: Doctor sahab, with all due respect, I wish you had asked an astronomer before making such an astronomically incorrect statement. For your info, our astronomy club is Pakistani, has a healthy demographics and the last thing we'd ever worry about is the ethnicity of our members. So let me tell you in all earnest that it is visually impossible to see the Moon of the 1st before sunset even if you are using the most powerful of telescopes. Secondly, the setting time of the Moon of the 1st is not five minutes. If the Moon set five minutes after sunset, an observer won't see it in the first place. This duration is variable.
See this link; I hope it helps.
Also, you might find this interesting that the president of our astronomy society, who is one of the most experienced astronomers in the country, is a pakhtoon. Our society has found that the official ruwiyat in Pakistan is astronomically correct 95% of the times.
Perhaps these would help:
Shawwal 1432 Moon Sighting Prospects for Pakistan
Eid-ul-Fitr 1432 Moon Photographed from Tasmania, Australia, by a fellow Pakistani astronomer on 30th August 2011
A VERY VERY HAPPY EID TO EVERYONE, MAY THIS EID BRINGS LOADS OF HAPPINESS FOR ALL OF US!!!
@Raza:
Dear Raza - I think you're mistaken. Moonsighting.com has mentioned that new crescent moon seen in South Africa by the naked eye on Mon. 29th August, hence all of Europe, America and Middle East is celebrating Eid on 30th. Eid Mubarik.
@Ali Mohsin: Moon sighting was only possible in southern tip of south America which is about 9 hours behind Pakistan time, and by then it is next date (30th August already) in Pakistan. Any comments on that?
Why fuss. Let us enjoy both the days.
Eid Mubaarak,it is a right time for muslims to accept the notion of one Wolrd,one moon,one callender,hence one Eid.I hope prophet Muhammad need us to live in such legacy as "UMMAH".The important issue for muslims is to learn our religion and Ullamah fatwahs should not depend on politics.
@lily: I understand that photography is against Islam. Is it true ? BTW Eid Mubarak to All......
@Maqsood: Pipe dreams.
The most authentic Shahadut is that the only place in the world where Shuwwaal Helaal has been seen on Monday Aug. 29, 2011 was in Chile in south western south America over six hours after those in Riyadh declared celebrating their "Festival". The "Festival" of feasting on the last day of Rumzaan. Ref: www.moonsighting.com . This is nothing new as they have been doing so for many many years now. What more, everyone in Musjidulheraam knows that they enforce this "Sacrilege" on Musjidulheraam against the wishes of the Saudee Ulamah who suffer such a sinful act in silence. Everyone is reminded here that saying something which Allah has not permitted is a sinful act and hence calling the last day of Rumzaan a day of Eid is a sinful act. It is true that many a people in the world are now celebrating the Saudee "Festival" but there still are many steadfast people who hold the rope of Allah tight and they do not entertain the fiction that is announced from Riyadh. The next door neighbour of Saudees the Omanis are one of them. The Moroccans are as strict as is Rev. Muneeburrahman Saheb. The Libyans for the first time after a long time are celebrating Eidulfitr as commanded by Allah i.e. on Wednesday. so are many people in Britain and also in N America. So we can say to these people "Happy feasting on the last day of Rumzaan". Eid Mubarak to all who obey Allah and Allah alone and will celbrate Eid on the day chosen by Allah i.e. on Wednesday from Indonesia to Morocco. It appears very much that the enemies of Islam are attacking Islam from where the Muslims will never guess and hence it appears that a Papacy has been established in Riyadh. What more many people calling themselves Muslims from our continent are now showing their allegiance to the Papa of Riyadh. So we can say to them "Welcome to the Papa of Riyadh".
@ Arindon thank you for greeting .Punjab is busy in abusing pakhtoons instead of wishing us.once again thanks
Issue of Two Eids is no longer an issue. KPK people do not believe in Science and they have developed their own definations on Moon Sighting. Lets enjoy Eid and do not try to correct them!
Perhaps they have a third eye :)
Eid Mubarak from India!
Yaar Lets Just forget our differences for at least one day or two and make this Eid Peaceful and send the message of brotherhood across the world, that with all the differences we have we still can live together and are nothing without each other, I Miss being Pakistani Seriously, Be Pakistani yaar, Thank you.
Well if you follow the Hanafi Fiqq's rule about sighting of moon than the matter is resolved within seconds. According to Hanaf if moon is sighted ANYWHERE around the globe than its obligatory for rest of the world to follow that. I can't understand why everyone; who is criticizing Uple Zai, doesn't turn to the Shariat's rule. For reference you can see the Mubashar Luqman's program in which Mufti Muneeb and Ibtisaam Ilahi Zaheer were present.
Anyway, Eid Mubarak to all Pakistani Muslims!
Why cant they give photographic or video evidence so that we can all believe them....they dont live in the stone age! :@
If history of defamation of 'ULLAMA' and 'MUFTIES' on the land of pures will be written, name of Popalzai will definitely be at top. This person has sick thoughts of self righteousness and want popularity at any cost even if it virtually breaks the country.
Big deal?? Wats new in that ???
Bohat si Eid Mubarak. May the Allah's Blessings and Peace be upon all you.
Brothers and Sisters above... instead of looking what these ulemas saying.... can we please look at the hadiths, practise of our sahaba r: and what our four imam said about this matter???
Moon needs to be 'seen' thoruhg naked eyes by ANY muslim from ANY part of the world--- and its fard upon the whole ummah to act accordingly!!!!!
seriously.... how long shall we trust our govt paid committees when the govts itself try their level best to keep us disunited????
Do we all think that qayamat is going to come in 3 different days--- on diff days in diff part of the world??
its really high time we all gain some knowledge how islamic calendar works...---- there is not 3 or 4 moons... but rather ONE moon.... every year along with proving Allah swt that this ummah is utterly disunited and deeply in nationalism---we also prove that somehow our islamic calendar is all craps.! naudhubillah.
One Allah-One Quran-One Moon---ONE EID---- and yes NOT one country but rather ONE UMMAH-------------- dont call for nationalism when rasool pbuh has himself warned us against it.
Appearance of the new moon is not a mystery. Lunar calendar is published every year and is accurate; would it be un-Islamic to follow a scientifically deterministic calendar, rather than depending on whims and other motivations of a few barely literate mullahs? And why is it only the Shawwal moon and not the Muharram moon that is subject to controversy?
@faizan pervaiz: We have 1 Quran, 1 Allah, 1 Religion, 1 Country… then why two Eids?? iF ONLY THE EARTH WAS FLAT??
Saudi and Pakistan do have quite a bit of distance in between them, but there is chance of observing the moon at nearly the same day regardless of the distance. The proof of todays decision will be evident and true, as seen previously on the day of Governments announcement for month of Ramadan, when every child, woman and man will be able to see the moon crystal clear and for an extended period of time...nearly 20 minutes on the night of August 30, 2011. The crescent of 1st day new moon is never visible for more than 5 minutes and is seen before sunset not after sunset.
The whole world including KPK is celebrating eid today, not the rest of Pakistan.
Salaam and Eid Mubarak to All Muslims Everywhere!
May Allah grant us unity so that the oppression of the muslims can be relived, so that the resources of the muslims can be used for their benefit, so that the world can live in peace.
Our disunity can only come about with the unification of our lands and the appointment of ONE Khalifah/Imam/Sultan over all the muslims, whose decision would be binding upon all and then we will do Eid on one day.
May Allah bing that day befor ethe next Eid!
Wasalaam Your Brother Maqsood
@ Bangash, Its a public matter, therefore these witnesses should be shown on TV. If they are credible, then we must trust them.
We have a habit of making hue and cry if some where in Pakistan,the Shawwal moon is sighted, in any of the provinces, we feel humiliated if the moon had not been sighted by our "own" men. so what if moon has been sighted in northern area isn't it in Pakistan. and so what if the moon has been sighted by not our own people or muftis.Ain't the muftis who see the moon in that area Muslims? We should celebrate Eid one day to gather no matter in which province of Pakistan it has been sighted Its a shame for us we haven't been able even on the matters like sighting the moon.
Check the link http://www.moonsighting.com/1432shw.html, you'll know how much there sources are reliable. The Astronomical New Moon is on August 29, 2011 (Monday) at 3:04 UT. On August 29, by naked eye it can be seen in Southern part of South America and Polynesian Islands. With binoculars it may be seen in Cape Town South Africa, Northern part of South America, and in Hawaii. On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, it can be easily seen everywhere except Northern Asia and Northern Europe. Moon couldn't be seen in any part of Pakistan on 29 Aug. Logically if it happens then in Pakistan, moon can be seen by Sindh and Balochistan people, not by KPK or Punjab. For God sake Mullas don't divide Pakistanis for your personal grudges.
Eid mubarak
Looking forward to fill my stomach with Boltan Market Biryani tomorrow :). I am going to follow Popalzai Sahib.
According to the website moonsighting.com, it is not even physically possible to see the new moon on monday night. What did these maulvis see in Saudi?!?
I have searched most of the web sites relating to moon sighting and according to all these sites and other material available on internet, new Moon is not even born in these parts of the world( which is first condition to be seen). How can these people see something, which is not there?. Their declaration is hundred percent incorrect and false. This year, Saudi Arabian authorites are also wrong. There is absolutely no Moon at Arabian Countries Horizon. These people don't believe Science and their own eyes. Whatever their agenda is, but it has nothing to do with Moon.
One fails to understand why is it that the Popalzai Committee members have never been able to sight the moon themselves but have always had to rely on 'shahadat' of others? Maybe Allah does not want them to see the beautiful crescent that heralds happiness for the pious!!
Pukhtuns always the first to sight the moon......:)
Why don't Pakistanis want to trust the 10 reliable witnesses that the Mufti is quoting.
A very famous circulating joke these days, that if it rains in Saudi-Arabia our Pathan brethren from KP would take out umbrellas. I mean why the hell dont they realize the fact that moon cant be sighted in Saudi Arabia and KP simultaneously keeping in view the distance that separates S.Arabia and KP is more than 3000miles. Why is it that the moon is so biased that it only appears to the extreme minded muftis of KP
We have 1 Quran, 1 Allah, 1 Religion, 1 Country... then why two Eids???
News Flash :Mufti Popalzai has been contacted by the creators of Karate Kid 3 because of his uncanny resemblance to the karate baba in Karate Kid 1. When asked why Popalzai has been selected, the creators said " We just wanna give him something better to do,which he obviously does not at the moment, we can't see a talent like him be a good for nothing for life"
As if it wasn't expected! Didn't we all know what these geniuses will come out with even before they met.
Though Pakistan is ahead of time from Saudi Arabia, Mufti Popalzai always end up sighting the moon whenever Saudi Arabia announces decision about Moon Sighting.
How does mullah popalzai manage to see the moon a day earlier than mullah muneeb ur rehman?
hi all mubarak eidufitr