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Allah has given us the moon with changing phases so that we may know our dates by watching it.


The holy month of fasting is approaching. Most of the calendars begin Ramadan 1427H as on Sunday whereas it begins on Saturday according to the phases or Manazil appointed for the Moon. Today the moon phase data are available on the internet. Allah has made things easy for us.


We can know well in advance about first quarter, the full moon, last quarter and the new moon. We have advance information about solar and lunar eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs in the end and the lunar eclipse in the middle of the lunar month. All these data are prepared by the world astronomers and we can check them by our observation just as we check the data of the sun. “Both the sun and the moon move under precise calculations. (Surah 55: Verse 5).


Jamadi Awwal ended on Sunday and it had only 29 days. But some calendars give 30 days to it. This is certainly wrong. Allah has assigned the days for the months in the very beginning and He has given us the moon with changing phases so that we may know our dates by watching it. But unfortunately we do not look at it.


We look for the Hilal only and we do not correct our dates according to the moon phase. We do not follow the sunnah of the Prophet (Pbuh) in looking for the Hilals (Ahillah). The moon phases have no meaning for us. But Allah has not created anything without purpose. The Quran clearly informs us that Allah has appointed Manazil (phases) for the moon so that we may know the count of its ages (dates) and the calculations. (Surah 10: Verse 5).


On the seventh day, Sunday the moon was overhead at the sunset. It has not passed meridian. This observation assures that the month began on Monday. The growth of the crescent was not as fast as the last month and the crescent on the seventh day was somewhat lean. This indicated that the month would have 30 days.


Next Monday was the 15th of the month. The moon rose before the sunset and it was somewhat high on the horizon. Next morning (Tuesday) the moon set was almost at the sunrise indicating that it was the 16th. The moon rises after the sunset on the 16th.


Next Monday morning (22nd) before the sunrise the moon was slightly more than half overhead. It had not reached the zenith yet. Watch again on Tuesday morning. Now you will see that the moon is almost half and it has not declined from the zenith. Repeat the observation on Wednesday morning.


Now you will see the moon less than half like a big crescent, past zenith declining towards east. This indicates that next Wednesday will be the First of Rajab.


To confirm whether Rajab begins on Wednesday look for the Ujoonul Qadeem, that appears one day before the end of the month. Look for it on Sunday morning (28th) before sunrise. You will see a beautiful crescent well above the horizon. You can say that it will be seen tomorrow also. Then look for it on the last Monday (29th) of the month early morning before sunrise. You will see a very thin crescent and you can surely say that it will not be seen tomorrow. Tuesday morning it will not be seen and you are sure that it is the last day of the month. Wednesday is the first day of Rajab. Rajab 1427 H has only 29 days. Repeat the same observation for Rajab and Shaban also. You will know without anybody’s help when you should begin the fasting of Ramadan. Say Alhamdu lillah, because Allah has guided you to the truth.


Last year Ramadan began after a solar eclipse on the 30th of Shaban. This year too Ramadan begins on Saturday after a solar eclipse on Friday, the 30th of Shaban.


(The writer can be reached at manikfan_ali@hotmail.com)The views expressed here are his own