To: Eidain
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British Muslims Decide on Dates for Ramadan & Eid
Based on Scientific Moonsighting
(Q-News, UK, December 2000)
Leading Imams and scholars representing all the country’s
leading school of thoughts have come to a unanimous decision
over the normally controversial beginning and ending of the
holy month of Ramadan. Over fifty Imams, after hours of
scholarly deliberations, have issued a joint fatwa.
According to the fatwa Ramadan in Britain would start on
Monday 27 November 2000 and Eid ul-Fitr would be celebrated
on Wednesday 27 December 2000. The fatwa is based on scientific
sighting of the moon.
"We cannot take the risk of attempting to sight the moon with
the naked eye in this weather", according to one of the Ulema.
"The option of following the nearest Muslim country or Mecca
are divisive and can be politically manipulated."
If the meeting of such a variety of Islamic scholars and
community leaders was unique it was also historical. The four
hour meeting was the first to be held by Britain’s Ulema in
the House of Lords. True to the etiquettes of the place the
discussion was held in a highly civilized, intelligent and
extremely mature way.
Technically, the fatwa also became the first one to be
issued from inside of House of Lord which is technically the
highest law-making body in the country. Though many similar
efforts have taken place in the past the House of Lords fatwa
on Ramadan is most likely to succeed not only because of the
quality of the Ulema but the unconditional support it managed
to get from the four Muslim Parliamentarians.
Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, the convener and chair of the meeting
said, "It was very beautiful to see our Imams and scholars
engaged on a subject of such importance and putting the interest
of Islam and the community before everything else, I hope what
we have done in this meeting shall set a precedent in involving
and giving our religious leaders the rightful role they have to
play in the affairs of our community."
Lord Patel also praised the gathering saying there was much
that Muslims can achieve if they unite and make a genuine
effort to work together.
Baroness Uddin, who was the only woman to attend the meeting,
said she was moved by the whole gathering. "We, as mothers,
look up yo our scholars and expect them to provide leadership
that would lead to our communities being united and strong. A
common Eid for all British Muslims would be good for our children,
our neighbours, schools and everybody else. It would make the
possibility of confusion less and show the world that we are
capable of making joint decision for the benefit of
our community and the whole society."
Mohammed Sarwar MP, said he supported the philosophy behind
the meeting and wished it succeeded. But, he added cautiously,
"I would only fully celebrate if we manage to carry the decision
we have agreed upon to the end. Many times in the past we have
made similar agreements only to see them broken and ignored
when the time comes."
Plese visit the following for more information:
http://moonsighting.com
http://moonsighting.com/britain.html
Eid al Fitr 1421
The new moon will be born on December 25, 2000 at 12:23 pm,
Easten Standard Time, USA. This corresponds to 9:23 pm Pacific
Standard Time USA and 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time (UTC).
On the evening of 25th December in the continental United
States the age of the new moon will be only 5 - 8 hours at
sunset. This moon will not be old enough, or far away enough
from the sun, or high enough in the sky for it to be seen. In fact
on the evening of December 25, 2000 it is not possible to sight
the moon any where in the world. Hence, December 26th
cannot be the first day of Shawwal 1421.
On the evening of December 26, 2000, at sunset, the moon will
still not be visible in most of Asia and Europe. However, with
high powered telescopes and good preparations it may be seen in
the Middle East, and Africa.
In most of North America, however, it would be possible to
see the moon on the evening of December 26, 2000 at sunset.
Therefore Eid-al-Fitr in North and South America
will be on Wednesday, December 27, 2000,
Inshaa’aAllah.
For more detailed information about the sighting of the moon
please visit the following web page.
http://moonsighting.com/index.cgi
: 
When was i for real?
I am myself a dream
I always see you
watching me tenderly