KARACHI: It was impossible to sight the Shawwal moon in Pakistan on August 18 as the maximum duration between moonset and sunset was around 16 minutes in Karachi while this duration was even lesser in Peshawar and the adjoining areas, said Dr Muhammad Jawed Iqbal.
In-charge of Karachi University’s Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA), Dr Iqbal explained that “for the moon to be visible, the duration between moonset and sunset must be at least 38 minutes for the naked eye and 35 minutes for a telescope."
Dr Shahid Qureshi, an expert in astronomical studies whose doctoral thesis was on the visibility of the lunar crescent, not only endorsed the above stated calculations but also termed the duration between moonset and sunset as the only authentic perimeter for moon sighting.
Dr Qureshi also said that the age of the new moon, in contrast to conventional beliefs, is not related to its visibility.
“The age of the moon in fact is the most misleading criteria,” said Dr Qureshi.
Explaining further, Dr Iqbal said that the moon is perceived as astronomically new when the lunar disc rotating around the earth comes in conjunction with the sun-earth line. He added that the time of conjunction can be accurately predicted but it should not be confused with the first visible crescent of the moon.
“It is scientifically rare to observe a new moon through naked eyes earlier than 20 hours from the instant of conjunction,” said Dr Iqbal, adding that “the beginning of a month in lunar calendar in marked only after the visibility of new moon.”
Dr Iqbal snubbed the possibility of moon sighting on August 17 as the conjunction took place at 8:54pm Pakistan Standard Time. “The claim of moon sighting in North Waziristan Agency even before the conjunction was ridiculous and wrong,” he stated. “The moon could not be seen anywhere in the world by naked eye or even through high powered telescopes on Friday,” he added.
Elaborating this point further, Dr Qureshi said that the earliest recorded evidence of the moon’s visibility was received from Tasmania, where it was observed by a telescope for 15 hours and 36 minutes after the conjunction, which was on August 18 at 7:30am Greenwich Mean Time.
Commenting in the light of Islamic laws, Dr Qureshi said the "Shariat cannot go against the laws of nature because it was fixed by God."
“For example, God allows us to pray facing anywhere in a situation where we have no knowledge or means to find the direction of Kaaba but the knowledge and means make it obligatory on us to determine the location for prayer,” Qureshi said, adding that the “denial of evidence based scientific knowledge on moon sighting is equal to denying both the laws of Islam and the laws of nature.”
He added that even the Muslim scientist Abu Rehan alBeruni had stated around 1000 years ago that moon sighting was an issue which requires good knowledge of astronomy.
COMMENTS (32)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Can the scientists please give it a rest?! Its Eid. Live and let live for once.Crazy comments as well in this section. I'm going to celebrate my religious event of Eid and no one is going to stop me from it!
But can someone explain this to KP and Bilour? Also our minister for religious affairs did not want to comment! But I remember KP in the history also celebrated eid a day or two earlier.
If, the laws of Thermodynamics can be rewritten in Pakistan, why not the principles of Astrophysics?
After all these are 'man made laws' only.
PS- What is happening on the 'water (car) front'?
@FU: I think you misunderstood what the author wrote. Think again before spreading misinformation. For a statement like yours there is a saying in Urdu, "Tanqeed barae Tanqeed"
Let us assume this scientist knows what he is talking and take for granted that one need a gap of 38 minutes at least to see the moon. If yesterday the gap between sunset and moonset was only 7 minutes, is it logical that this gap was increased to 38 minutes in one day! seems to me illogical.
I think pakistan should just sack his mufti who gets so much funding but in return doesn't deliver any good. Just follow Saudi and make life easy for yourself I would say. After all in other things we follow them as well so why not in this? we like to be poodle to countries like saudi and america for bad reason, let us do it also for one good reason.
Blasphemy! MiLaad, please take suo motu of this.
Excellent interview of Dr Shahid Qureshi. He should be the Chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. The current ulema should be retired.
"Dr Shahid Qureshi, an expert in astronomical studies whose doctoral thesis was on the visibility of the lunar crescent" Ha! Someone should tell him that the first humans landed on the moon 43 years ago and since then a dozen people have walked on the moon.
He's still trying to figure out how best to detect the moon...
BLASPHEMY! Only Mullahs should look at the Moon - not these scientists!
Pakistanies are too relegious. hope they get this regid about couropption and moral duties aswell.
thanks for such elaborative artical By Noman Ahmed
Reminds me of the Catholic Church and Galileo --- hard to believe that in these modern times there would be dispute about basic astronomy.
Brilliant, ET! This kind of journalism is indeed commendable. Still I wonder how many Pakistanis will get to know about this and then bother to read it...
Like in Jewish calender why this moon sighting issue with the help of kittle science cannot be resolved for good. When scientists are landing on Mars, its unfortunate that Muslims are still disagreeing on the sighting of moon.
and perhaps Astronomical studies are a zionist conspiracy to divide the "baraadar Muslim mumalik". They are against the interests of Islam and Muslims. Why should Pakistan the fortess of Mullahs embrace logic
PTI mardan, go n ask the ones who did this crime. I have checked other websites n there was no moon over kpk or afhanistan last night.
Moonsighting should be termed as "moonfighting of the mullahs"
Why Saudis do not need to see moon to celebrate Eid.
A nice article but its clearly biased. Why does it also not tell us that it is impossible to see the moon on 19 th as well?
@PTI Mardan: Cause they're the leaders of the Islamic world. Even if it means they are responsible for the wrongful breaking of fasts on the part of millions of Muslims. Tribal thugs that hide behind the Quran and preach with a gun while profiting from theft, drugs, guns and intimidation. Gotta be great.
Now could the government please appoint scientists for the sighting of the moon rather than the maulvi's...
Problem is with acceptance of open shahadat (witness) from anyone, anywhere as the sole criterian, which is employed by Masjid Qasim Khan cleric. Even in a village with 10000 population, you can always find a couple of non serious guys who would say they have sighted the moon. Question is, how can Mulla Popalzai, who sits in his mosque to recieve shahadat, can challenge central official mullas who with the help of state of the art equipment and experts cannot see crecent?
I always wondered why reverse never happened i.e Official mullas sighting the moon, but Peshawar mullahs denying it. Just for the sake of randomness, if this controversery had any element of geniuneness.
Probably, the People of North Waziristan saw the Drone and thought it was the moon.
everything is bogus in Pakistan.
*“For example, God allows us to pray facing anywhere in a situation where we have no knowledge or means to find the direction of Kaaba but the knowledge and means make it obligatory on us to determine the location for prayer,” *
For your kind Information Earth is spherical no matter where you pray apart from Mecca, you will not be facing Mecca at all. Very smart mixing religion and science to prove your religion right. Better get your facts right before spreading misinformation.
Here is the Scientific Proof that Sighting Moon was Impossible in Aghan-Pak-Iran-India on 17-18 August. http://moonsighting.com/visibility.html
The only solution is to accept the scientific basis of calculating the new moon phase. . Because if we can use it to determine 1st Dhu-al-Hajjah, then we can also use it to determine 1st of Ramadan and 1st of Shawwal
Glad we have experts in this field :)
Brilliant Article. Nice one.