By Rizwan Syed, (Student in Advanced Islamic Sciences at Mathabah Institute) This concept of a moon god never existed in Islam. Rather it was attributed to it much later on, in the twentieth century when an excavation occurred in Palestine. This excavation unearthed a temple with two statues, one of which held a crescent [i].…
Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt Question: For moon-sighting, can we accept the verdict of a Muslim judge from a Muslim country, in order to unite Muslims in Canada for Ramaḍān and ʿEīd? What is the status of a judge’s (qāḍī’s) verdict in comparison to a local moon sighting committee? Answer: In the Name of God,…
Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt Question: Is it permissible in Islam to use optical aid when sighting the new moon to commence the lunar Islamic months? Answer: In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting us related to your question. Yes, Islamicaly it is permissible to use…
Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt Question: We are a few board members of our Islamic center. Our question is, if we follow the international sighting stance to commence lunar months, is it permissible to declare and announce the beginning of the month as soon as we receive reliable verified information of moon sighting from the…
By Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt Question: Is it farḍ (mandatory) to offer the lunar eclipse prayer? Answer: In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind Jazak Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for your question. Offering prayer (ṣalāh) during a lunar eclipse is an emphasized prophetic practice (sunnah muʾakkadah) in the view of the Shāfīʾe and Ḥanbalī…
By Sarosh Mohna Zaidi A new wind blows the rise of a new moon A new hope stirring in the heart too soon And as the crescent appears in front of the eyes The dark, sinful heart turns away and dies The month of virtues comes upon us all As the angels to…