What is now to be done if the situation is as follows? It is quite possible that the reporters manage to see, to film and to diffuse on television the new moon of Shawwal. The team remains until the end of the month in order to complete the story. Intrigued, an Algerian national television team is sent to the Hoggar to interview the people of the oasis concerned by the event. Imagine that this striking anomaly is discovered in the very midst of the month of Ramadan. Let us further admit that the people in the oasis, having observed a month of Sha’ban shorter by one day, have started to fast one day ahead of the national territory. Let us admit that, based on an observation that confirms the month of Sha’ban at 30 days in Algiers, all of Algeria has been asked to start the fast.

More generally, let us suppose that for a given country, say Algeria, the duration of Sha’ban and Ramadan are 30 days each in Algiers and 29 days each in some oasis in the Hoggar. Had the observation in Damascus been taken into account, Ramadan would have been arbitrarily reduced to 29 days! Let us then imagine that the month of Ramadan in consideration here lasted 30 days in Medina. Thus they started fasting and Mu’awiya fasted too.’ At this juncture Ibn Abbas said: ‘But we saw it during the night of Saturday, and either we see it (again), or otherwise we will pursue the fast on the thirtieth day.’ I asked: ‘Do you not accept the observation by Mu’awiya and his fast?’ Ibn Abbas replied: ‘No! It is thus that the Messenger of God has ordered us.’” (Reported by Muslim, vol. I met Ibn Abbas who asked me: ‘When did you observe the new moon (of Ramadan)?’ I replied: ‘We saw it during the night of Friday?’ Ibn Abbas inquired: ‘Did you see it yourself?’ I replied: ‘Yes, I saw it and other people as well. I returned to Medina and reached there towards the end of the month. I saw the new moon there on a Friday evening. I accomplished the mission and was still in Al Sham when Ramadan began. Kurayb said: “Umm Al-Fadhl, daughter of Harith, sent me on a mission to Mu’awiya in Damascus.

(Transmitted by Kurayb, according to the narration by Abdullah Ibn Abbas.) 2467, according to the narration by the son of Omar.) If you do not see it, determine it by calculation.” (Reported by Al Bukhari, vol. “If you see it, fast, and if you see it (again), stop fasting. 3476, according to the narration of Abu Hurayra, transmitted by Mohammed Ibn Ziyad.) If you do not perceive it, complete the month of Sha’ban with 30 days.” (Reported by Al Bukhari, vol. “Fast when you see the crescent and finish fasting when you see the crescent. 2485, according to the narration of the son of Omar, transmitted by Said Ibn Awz.) sometimes with 29 days and sometimes with 30.” (Reported by Al Bukhari, vol. The months are sometimes like this and sometimes like that, i.e. If you are asked about the phases of the moon, tell them: ‘They are marks in time, intended for men and for fixing the pilgrimage.'” (Koran, Surat 2, verse 189).Īs stipulated by the Prophet (saws) in several Hadiths, the Hegirian month begins with the visibility of the new moon. The celestial clock is thus fashioned, thanks be to God. It is known that, over a cycle of 30 years of the Islamic calendar, 19 years have 354 days and 11 years have 355 days (years of abundance). Calculation allows us to predict whether a given month will have 29 or 30 days. Consequently, the months alternate between 29 and 30 days. The synodic month is a fraction of the number of days. The sidereal month is of no importance for the Islamic calendar. Thus the moon reverts earlier to its position with respect to the background of fixed stars. The sidereal month is shorter than the synodic month because the earth drags the moon along with it in its orbit around the sun. We note that the sidereal month, that is, the duration after which the moon reverts to the same position with respect to the celestial sphere (the background of stars) is 27.31 days. The phases of the moon and thus the Islamic calendar are linked to the synodic month. The synodic month, that is, the duration after which the moon reverts to the same position with respect to the sun is 29.53 days. This means that it follows the revolution of the moon around the earth and that of the earth around the sun.

In order to elaborate an Islamic calendar both scientifically exact and faithful to the Sharia it is necessary to take simultaneously into account certain astronomical facts and the teaching of the Prophet (saws). I The problem: Specificities of the Islamic Calendar

Length of months in islamic calendar