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The situation in Delhi was so bad that around 10 pm, we were told that tomorrow is Eid. Shortly thereafter, came another announcement that the moon-sighting is not confirmed.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival at the end of the long fasting month of Ramadan should bring joy on every believer’s face. But this very festival is a bone of contention among our myopic clergy each and every year. In a case of one-upmanship, every sect and even important mosques have set up their own “Ruyat-i hilal” (moon-sighting) committees in all big cities and towns. These committees enjoy no official status or legal authority, but their irresponsible functionaries play havoc with the lives of millions of people. Due to their differences, it is normal now to celebrate Eid on two different days within the country, but this year it got worse. People celebrated Eid on three consecutive days. Some people in Kerala celebrated it on 23 October, following Saudi Arabia; people in Delhi and many other places celebrated it the next day, while in Bombay and Hyderabad, people celebrated Eid on the 25th. The situation in Delhi was so bad that around 10 pm, we were told that tomorrow is Eid. Shortly thereafter came another announce-ment that the moon-sighting is not confirmed. Later at 11.35 pm, came another announcement from the “Shahi Imam” of Jama Masjid telling us that tomorrow is Eid. In the confusion, some people went to bed thinking that there was no Eid next day. They got up before dawn and ate their suhoor and only in the morning came to know that Eid was going to be celebrated same day! As a result, people came late to mosques for Eid prayers which had to be delayed in order to allow people to take bath and come to the mosques.
This is a disgrace for a community whose religion teaches us unity in each and every religious and temporal act. Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Haj, all teach us unity. We are told that even if two Muslims travel together, they must choose one of them as amir (chief). But as things are developing fast in our country, there is no hope that our clergy will change its ways and come to a single platform and raise a single voice. This places a clear and definite responsibility on the shoulders of the government at the Centre. Already issues like Awqaf and Haj are managed by the State. The same should be done for moon-sighting, affecting the lives of millions of the subjects of the State. To achieve this issue of public interest, the State should set up a board or committee to determine moon-sighting in order to rid us of the chaos which is seen every year and affects even Muslim and non-Muslim employees of the State who till the end are in the dark about the exact date of Muslim holidays. This board or committee may be part of the Central Waqf Council or attached to the newly formed Ministry of Minorities Affairs. It should consist of ulama, scholars and astronomers. Their task will be to ascertain and declare the exact dates of Eids and other Islamic occasions.
This is a responsibility and prerogative of the State for its 150 million Muslim citizens. It should not be left to myopic ulema who hardly rise above their petty and sectarian considerations, and there is no hope that they will suddenly realise the injustice they inflict upon their victims year after year after year.
(The writer can be reached at zik@vsnl.com)
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