THE MUSLIM WORLD
A Shared Lunar Calendar for Muslims Rejoice! The Muslim world advances toward adopting a Unified Hijri Calendar BY KHALID SHAUKAT
Görmez said that the Congress preparations started three years ago, with the formation of a commission of scholars in astronomy Unified Hijri Calendar became one step closer and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) to discuss on an international level, when representatives of Islamic countries and Muslims different perspectives on the issue in the Islamic world. He said, “The living as minorities, meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, commission paved the way for this congress to be a meeting where decided to adopt a single international lunar calendar. a solid decision is made, rather than it to remain an event where Turkey’s official Presidency of Religious Affairs (DİB; Diyanet the issue is merely discussed.” Referring to a separate calendar for İşleri Başkanlığı) announced the momentous step at the International the western hemisphere or specifically, for Muslims in North and South America, he said, “We had two proposals in the end, a dual Hijri Calendar Union Congress they hosted in 2016. Attendees included Islamic scholcalendar system or a single calendar.” ars, like Prof. Ali Mohuddin al-Qurra However, he pointed out that “A dual Daghi, professor of Jurisprudence in calendar would not end the problems the Faculty of Shari’a Law and Islamic and we focused on a single calendar Studies at the University of Qatar, which Muslims in every part of the an expert on Islamic jurisprudence, world can observe, so that Ramadan scribes, scientists, astronomers such can start on the same day.” as Mohammed Shawkat Awda, chairGörmez hopes that with this deciman of Islamic Crescent Observation sion — the product of three years of hard work — the 60 year old dispute Project and prominent astronomer Zulfiqar A. Shah (second from right) and Khalid Shaukat (third from right) represented the Fiqh Council of North America. in the Islamic world will come to an from the United Arab Emirates, and end. Muslims all over the world can decision makers from 50 countries celebrate their Ramadan and Eidain including Egypt, England, France, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, CALENDAR CORRECTIONS [two Eids] on the same day. Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, The congress confirmed the NORMALLY TAKE TIME South Africa, Turkey, , United Arab decisions of former congresses and AND WE NEED TO Emirates, and the United States. Islamic law academies. Thus the BE PATIENT TO LET PEOPLE Also present were related ministries basic principles and criteria adopted of Islamic countries, fatwa councils, by the 1966 Mecmeu’l-Buhusi’lUNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR and representatives of various Islamic CHANGE: REMEMBER THAT WHEN İlmiyye, the 1973 Kuwait, and the 1978 İstanbul Congresses, as well law councils. GREGORIAN CORRECTION WAS as those of the 1986 Organization The Congress had hosted a similar INTRODUCED TO THE CHRISTIAN for Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s event in 1979, only to see an agreeMecmeu’l-Fıkhi’l-İslami (Islamic ment to reach a unified calendar fall SOLAR CALENDAR IN 1582 C.E., apart in the following years. Law Academy), the European Fatwa IT TOOK ENGLAND AND THE This year the congress opened and Research Assembly and the 2012 COLONIES NEARLY 200 YEARS TO Rabıta Islamic Law Academy have with discussion of the issue of Ru’yat al-Hilal (observing the moon through been confirmed. The most important ADOPT IT.” astronomy to determine the days principle and criterion among these —Mohamed Ilyas, a professor at of Eid and the start of the Islamic are that the basic rule to determine the University of Malaysia Perlis months) from astronomical and the start of the lunar month is the Islamic legal perspectives. The social sighting of the crescent whether this is done by the naked eye or through and political aspects of using different calendars were also discussed. On the second day, the Scientific modern methods of astronomy. The sighting of the crescent in Council — formed beforehand — presented its proposals for a different places at different times, which is called “İkhtilaf-ı matalia”, Single Calendar and a Dual Calendar (one calendar for Americas will not be valid. If the crescent is sighted in one place it will be and another calendar for the rest of the world). accepted as having been seen everywhere. At the closing session, the participants were required to vote The congress’ decision will now be referred to the OIC, the for a “single calendar,” a “dual calendar,” or vote “undecided.” The group of 57 Muslim-majority countries, for official adoption in the majority voted for a single calendar. Görmez declared, “the congress Muslim world. Görmez said a few countries might have difficulty has ruled for unity. It has decided for the application of a single adopting the new calendar, but the OIC may be influential in its calendar. May this bring blessings to the Islamic world.” worldwide adoption.
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