"The Celestial Decree of Arafah: Unveiling the Unity
of the Lunar Horizon"
A Divine Mandate for
Unity and Precision
In the pursuit of
unity and adherence to the divine command, the Muslim Judicial Council and the
Ummah of South Africa, across the world, are respectfully presented with a
comprehensive analysis of the lunar horizon's unity. This document, "The
Celestial Decree of Arafah: Unveiling the Unity of the Lunar Horizon,"
brings forth irrefutable evidence from the Quran and astronomy, highlighting
the imperative of aligning Islamic practices with celestial reality.
Guided by the Quran
and Sunnah
As we embark on this
exploration, we are reminded of Allah's command in Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:103) to
"Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, all together, and do not divide."
This divine mandate serves as the foundation for our discussion, as we seek to
unify the Ummah under the banner of knowledge, wisdom, and adherence to the
Quran and Sunnah.
Unveiling the Truth
Through a meticulous
examination of astronomical facts and Quranic principles, this document
demonstrates the unity of the lunar horizon, proving that the gibbous moon's
visibility is a global phenomenon, observable with the naked eye. We invite the
Muslim Judicial Council and the Ummah of South Africa to join us in embracing
this truth, fostering unity, and upholding the divine calculation that governs
our celestial bodies.
May Allah Guide Us to
Unity and Wisdom
As we strive for
unity and adherence to the divine command, we pray that Allah guides us to the
straight path, illuminating our understanding and unifying our Ummah under the
banner of knowledge, wisdom, and devotion.
"The
Celestial Decree of Arafah: Unveiling the Unity of the Lunar Horizon"
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Allāh (ﷻ) commands in Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:103):
"Hold firmly to the
rope of Allāh, all together, and do not divide."
Allāh (ﷻ) states in Surah Ar-Raḥmān (55:5):
"The sun and moon
move by precise calculation."
"Discipline's Legacy"
"As the cane once instilled discipline in me, so
shall I uphold stringent standards in my own pedagogy."
"The Immutable
Measure"
"A scholar's stature is not gauged by the multitude
of his adherents, but by the jurisprudents who extrapolate legal wisdom from
the foundational principles he has illuminated."
"Unity in the Heavens"
"Divine calculation unites, human error divides; let
the celestial signs guide us to unity."
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
Published:
27 April
2025
A
Qur’anic and Astronomical Proof: The Universal Visibility of the Gibbous Moon
on the True 9th of Dhul-Hijjah
All praise is due to Allah, who ordained the
sun and moon as precise measures of time, and may peace and blessings be upon
the final Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his family, and companions.
Introduction
The determination of Islamic months must
align with Qur’anic calculation and astronomical
reality. Yet, some communities—such as those
following the South African moon-sighting method—often declare Eid and Hajj
dates contrary to undeniable celestial facts. This paper presents irrefutable evidence that
when Makkah observes a clear
gibbous moon (more than half-illuminated) on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the same moon is visibly gibbous across the world,
proving the inaccuracy of claims that the moon is only 8 days old in other regions.
1. The Qur’anic Command: Calculation Over
Speculation
Allah says:
"It is He who made the sun radiant and
the moon a light, ordaining its phases so you may know the count of years and
time..." (Yūnus 10:5)
"The sun and moon move by precise
calculation." (Ar-Raḥmān
55:5)
These verses establish:
·
The moon’s phases are mathematically precise (husbaan).
·
Its illumination follows a fixed, predictable cycle.
·
Human error in sighting does
not override divine calculation.
2. The Astronomical Reality: A Gibbous Moon
Cannot Be on Day 8 Dhul-Hijja or any month of the Hijri
Calendar
Modern astronomy confirms:
·
A gibbous
moon (more than 50% illuminated) cannot appear before day 9.
·
If Makkah witnesses a gibbous moon on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the same moon will be:
o
Visible in South Africa,
America, and Asia with near-identical illumination.
o
Impossible to be "8 days old" in any location, as the moon’s phase is globally consistent.
Case
Study: The Night of the 9th Dhul-Hijjah
·
In Makkah: The moon is clearly gibbous (55-60% illuminated), confirming day 9.
·
In South Africa (or elsewhere): If local moonsighting bodies claim the moon
is only 8 days old, this is scientifically
false, as:
o
A half-moon
(50%) occurs at 7.38 days after
conjunction.
o
By day 8, the moon is never more than half-lit—thus, a
gibbous sighting is impossible.
3. Naked-Eye Confirmation: The Moon’s Phase is Universally Observable
·
The gibbous moon’s brightness and shape are unmistakable to the naked eye.
·
If Muslims in Makkah, Indonesia, and South Africa all see a gibbous moon on the same night,
it must be the same lunar day globally.
·
Claims that the moon is "younger" in one region violate astronomical laws and Qur’anic principles.
4. The Fiqh Implications: Rejecting Impossible Claims
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Fast when you see it (the crescent) and
break your fast when you see it." (Bukhari)
However, this hadith does not mean:
·
Ignoring established science.
·
Accepting physically impossible sightings.
·
Dividing the Ummah with contradictory dates.
When observation contradicts calculation:
·
Calculation takes precedence, as it aligns with the Qur’an.
·
False sightings must be
rejected, as they lead to bid’ah (innovation) in worship.
5. A Direct Challenge to Contradictory
Moon-Sighting Claims by the Muslim Judicial Council and the
United Ulama Council
To those who insist on regional differences:
1.
How can Makkah be on day 9 with
a gibbous moon while South Africa claims day 8 (Naked Eye Sighting?
2.
Does the moon change its phase
based on geography? (Astronomy says
no.)
3.
Will you continue causing
division by rejecting the Qur’anic command of calculation?
Global Unity on Qur’anic
Calculation
The evidence is clear:
·
The gibbous moon on the 9th of
Dhul-Hijjah is visible worldwide with
the naked eye.
·
Any claim of a "younger
moon" in one region is astronomically false.
·
Muslims must unite under divine
calculation, not human error.
Silence
on these questions constitutes:
- An admission of error
- A violation of Qur'anic commands
- A disservice to the Muslim community
"By divine ordinance, the veracity of Makkah's Hijri
calendar is universally applicable, transcending geographical boundaries. The
celestial synchrony of Ramadan,Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as ordained by the
Quran and observable by the naked eye on the night of Arafah, serves as
irrefutable testament to the global validity of Makkah's lunar reckoning. Thus,
I deduce that the Hijri calendar's accuracy in Makkah ipso facto confirms its applicability to South Africa, and indeed,
the entirety of the world."
Allah warns:
"And do not mix truth with falsehood or
conceal the truth while you know." (Al-Baqarah
2:42)
Allah warns:
And declare, “The truth has come and
falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish.” (Al-Anbya 17:81)
Hadith
Narrated
'Abdur-Rahman bin Ya'mar: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Hajj is 'Arafat, the Hajj is
'Arafat, the Hajj is 'Arafat. The days of Mina are three: But whoever hastens
to leave in two days, there is no sin on him, and whoever stays on, there is no
sin on him (2: 203). And whoever sees (attends) the 'Arafah before the rising
of Fajr, then he has performed the Hajj." Ibn Abi 'Umar said: "Sufyan
bin 'Uyainah said: 'This is the best Hadith that Ath-Thawri reported.'"
Jami`
at-Tirmidhi 2975
May Allah guide us to follow His signs with
wisdom and unity.
by:
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
Distribution: Free for educational use to clarify this critical
Islamic issue.
https://taqwimalummah.blogspot.com/
"For further
elucidation, consult your regional observatories both within our great nation
and across the globe."
