Moonsighting (5)

In the previous blog, we discussed the view and rationale for requiring physical sighting with the eye/an optical aid. In this blog we will look at the rationale for the view of using the science of astronomy and astronomers.

There are two parts of this argument:

• “see” in the narrations mentioned in previous blogs is a means to an end (طريقي) i.e. all you need is to be sure that the moon is sightable (i.e. satisfaction [itmi’nan] or more – not probable [dhann]) in any way
• astronomical calculations is a way that can be used to determine if the moon is there to be seen (i.e. sightable)

Proof that “see” is only a means to the end – and the end is satisfaction/certainty

The point is not only that the moon has to be seen, but that you have to be satisfied (itmi’nan) that is there to be seen. This may be done through sighting, but also through any other means that results in satisfaction (itmi’nan) from you and this is supported by a range of narrations:

• e.g. “[fasting in] the month of Ramadan is one of the obligations from Allah so do not do it based on probability”,
• e.g. “fast until [the moon] is seen, and stop fasting when [the moon] is seen; and seeing the crescent is not just based on if one or two people come and say we have seen the moon – rather it is when someone says I have seen it, and the people say that they believe him.”…etc.
• e.g. a few narrations that say you need 50 witnesses for the moon!
• Many more⁰

All of these support the idea that seeing the moon itself may be sufficient but not necessary to determine the first of the month – rather it is being sure / confident (itmi’nan) in any means necessary.

Rationally, this can be explained by considering the situation: if Ali said "tell me when you see Muhammad comes home as I need to call him", and Muhammad phones you and tells you he's come home, would you wait until you see Muhammad, or would you realise the intention of Ali's request was not that you physically see Muhammad, but that you know he is at home - and seeing is one means to that end). This is the view of many scholars (e.g. Sayyid Musa al-Sadr¹, Ayatullah Fadlallah² and Ayatullah Seestani in my view [as discussed in the next blog]).

Proof that astronomy can be used to be sure:

Some argue that this idea of using astronomy is so standard in prayer times, determining if an earthquake has taken place for Salaat al-Ayaat and for determining Qibla for example - so why not now?

According to Ayatullah Fadlallah (and probably others), the question of the beginning of the month is one determined by the astronomical order which Allah (swt) has established, just as is the case with the rising and setting of the sun. This is a matter independent of whether or not people see it, and in fact has been the case even before Allah (swt) had created eyes. That is, even before the creation of man, the order of time and months was established. ³

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ

"Indeed the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah’s Book, the day when He created the heavens and the earth." [9:36] [also look at 2:189]

Sayyid Fadallah believes the astronomical science governing the motion of the moon is a precise one following laws, such that scientists can determine the beginning of a month 50 years from now. Just as how they can predict an eclipse a century from now. It is a matter like 1+1 = 2. Hence, when a specialist in astronomy establishes the beginning of the month, finish, the month has begun. There is no discrepancy between the astronomers on this matter.

The astronomers are supposed to determine whether the moon is sightable (not just that it is born – as there is no evidence to suggest this⁴). Some people have a question about the usage of astronomers’ views because they note that when it comes to sightability, there are differences in points of view (e.g. is the moon sightable when the moon is 15 hours old or 13). Shahid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr⁵ counters this by noting that although you cannot get ‘ilm from astronomers, you do not get ‘ilm from people sighting the moon either!⁶In reality though, you can get itmi’nan from this in the same way as you can from people sighting the moon.

Sources:

0.      Wasa`il al-Shi’a by Hurr al-‘Amili, Chapter 3, Hadith 6, 11, 13; Chapter 11, Hadith 3, 10, 11, 13, 14

1.      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws92I219Kyw&feature

2.      Note Fadlallah’s view is sightability (even with a telescope/optical aid)

3.      Juma Khutba by Sayyid Fadllallah (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQFAtpboic&feature)

4.      It seems that Sayyid Fadlallah used to believe that the new moon would determine the first of the month (Thubut al-Hilal by Muhammad al-Husayni, P60) but this view is not held by any other senior Shi'i scholar as far as I'm aware although it is the view of major organisations such as ISNA (http://www.isna.net/articles/News/First-day-of-Ramadan-2012.aspx (accessed 19 July 2012). In addition, the Bohoras seem to have a fixed calendar based on new moon (http://www.usvishakh.net/umesh/arabiccalendar.pdf)

5.      Al-fatawa al-wadhiha by Shahid al-Sadr, page 630 (from Thubut al-Hilal by Muhammad al-Husayni, P62)

6.      There have been cases where 10s of people have “seen” the moon when it has been impossible to be seen – even before the moon has been born!