ISNA’s Eid Decision Misled Muslims
Eid al-Fitr on the Last Day of Ramadan
ISNA until 10:00pm on November 2 has been proclaiming:
All Muslim astronomical consultants are unanimous that with
NAKED EYE it is IMPOSSIBLE to see it (Shawwal moon)
anywhere in North America.
At 10:00 pm ISNA declared:
Tomorrow, Thursday 3 Nov 2005 CE is the first day
of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr)
How did this miracle happened?
Please read what the witnesses themselves WROTE to ISNA:
In Phoenix Arizona… out of a large group… ONE witness saw Hilal at 5:42 (four minutes after the sunset) for a few seconds until about 5:41pm (??). (The moon appeared 7-2 on a clock??)…One other brother … was able to see it…Our Imam saw it at first sight but was not certain of his sighting.” (The full report is given below).
This is how ISNA made an IMPOSSIBLE into “Possible”, and millions of Muslims in N. America missed the last day of Ramadan.
Obviously, ISNA Fiqh Council and its experts proved again that they are NOT COMPETENT to decide Ramadan and Eidain dates. They also bear the responsibility of all those Muslims who did not fast on the last day of Ramadan.
10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
The Fiqh Council of North America, after consultation with its astronomical consultants, who related the credible moon sighting reports, declares tomorrow, Thursday 3 Nov 2005 CE as the first (1st) day of Shawwal (Eid-ul-Fitr). This conclusion was arrived at in accordance with the current Fiqh Council guidelines. Eid Mubarak!
10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Phoenix, AZ
The following is the Hilal Sighting Report from Phoenix, AZ.
Assalam Alaykum Dr. Durrani,
Here is the report as requested.
Along with large group of brothers, we arrived at the sighting place shortly before sunset. Mashallah we observed a beautiful sunset on a very clear skies. at about 5:38pm. There horizon is very clear at the sighting place.
At about 5:42pm I saw the very very thin, illusive Hilal, to the left of the position where the sun had just set – spanning the distance from the seven o’clock and two o’clock hand of an analog clock. The Hilal’s elevation was less than one finger width. The Hilal was indeed very very thin and illusive as such continuous observation of it was limited to few seconds. I was only able to continually observe it until about 5:41pm.
One other brother with the group, Brother ----- was able to see it at the point it was first sighted. Our imam saw it at first sight but because of it’s illusive nature was not certain of his sighting.
I did not observe the hilal setting as it had become illusive once again just as it neared the horizon.
5:05 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Germantown, MD
The following is reported as a FALSE sighting to ensure that others also do not mistake it as a “Hilal”.
At approximately 5:00 pm from my location I noticed the contrail (condensation trail) of a jet aeroplane about 20 degrees to the North (right) of the Sun and about four (4) finger widths (6 degrees) above the horizon. It seemed to go down and to the right.
It looked nearly like a straight line inclined from the top left to the bottom right. The inclination of the line was at about 30 degrees to the vertical. The end closer to the horizon was brighter than the top left end of the contrail.
Clearly, this was NOT the Hilal of Shawwal 1426 AH.
Posted: 10:03 PM - 02/11/2005
Shawwal (Eidul Fitr 1426) Announcement
There have been no valid confirmed reports of hilal/ moon sighting anywhere in North America. The Hilal Committee of Toronto & Vicinity announces that the month of Ramadan will complete its cycle of 30 days and the 1st of Shawwal (Eid ul Fitr) will be on Friday corresponding November 04, 2005.
We wish a blessed Eid Mubarak to all, including the congregation of 71 Masjids and Islamic organizations who are part of the Hilal Committee of GTA, Canada.
The Hilal Committee personnel (scholars and astronomy professionals) spoke directly to all those who claimed to see the crescent in cities across North America and the frail reports did not meet the sharee/religious principles to declare the commencement of the new lunar month. The alleged sighting reports also went against all professional astronomical data & calculations.
Please note that according to Fiqh when the horizon is clear, then it is necessary for a multitude of people to give testimony for eye witnessing the new moon.
(www.moonsighting.net)
This is a sad story about a happy occasion after fasting for so many days and it ends up this way. The Ummah is divided on a happy occasion. When the ulema will wake up and provide a clear cut direction based on sunnah and scientific facts. So that we will all celebrate at same time in North America.
Syed Rasheeduddin Ahmed
