Eid Al-Adha In The Light Of Quran| When Should Eid Al-Adha Be Celebrated
The Islamic calendar is based on sighting of the Moon. The beginning and ending of the months relies on witnessing the Moon sighting.Allah Subhanahu Wa-Ta’ala clearly mentions this in the Holy Qura’an :
‘They ask you about the new moon. Say you, ‘They are the signs of time for the people and pilgrimage (Hajj).’ 2:189 (Sura Al-Baqarah, Verse 189)
“And We made night and day as two signs, then put the signs of the night blotted and the sign of day shining, that you may seek grace of Allah and that you may know the numbering of years, and the reckoning. And We have explained well every thing separately.’ 17:12 (Sura Bani-Israil, Verse 12)
“Allah Subhanahu Wa-Ta’ala created moon for mankind to determine time. So by sighting the Moon, start fast and end fast (Eid). If that Moon does not appear then complete the count of thirty (30) days.’ (Tafseer Ibn-e-Katheer, Book 1, Page 214)
For the Muslim Ummah, Qura’an and Hadith are the norm. By virtue of the Qura’an and Hadith we know that Islamic months begin and end upon sighting of the Moon. The day after the Moon is sighted is the first day of the following month. If the Moon does not appear, for any reason, on the 29th day of any given month, then 30 days of that month should be completed and the following month be started after the completion.
Some people, upon sighting the New Moon, start assuming that the New Moon seems to be of the second day. They rely upon the supposition of the second day Moon and say this is not the first day Moon (New Moon). The following Hadith will be sufficient to nullify these comments:
“Hadhrat Abul Bakhtari (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) said, ‘We started our journey for Umrah. When we reached Batn-e-Nakhla, we saw the Moon. Someone commented that this seems like a third day Moon. Another person suggested that this is a second day Moon. Then we approached Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbas (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) and respectfully informed him that we saw the Moon on the way. Some of us made comments of it being a second day Moon and others, third day Moon. Then Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbas (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) asked which night you saw the Moon. We told him such and such day. He replied that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said that the night you witnessed the New Moon is the night you rely on.’”
(Tafseer Qurtabi, Book 1, Vol. 2, Page 344)
This dilemma is now quite clear that Moon sighting is the basis of a month’s beginning and ending. If the Moon is not sighted on the 29th day of a given month, then thirty (30) days must be completed. At the same time when the Moon, if appearing to be thicker and staying longer on the horizon, is sighted upon a completion of 30 days, do not start speculating or assuming that it may be such and such day’s Moon. This is against the commands of our Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
