Muslims will not be able to enjoy Eid
THE EDITOR: The Government has declared Friday November 4, as a Public Holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, when the actual day of Eid is on Thursday November 3. Once again Muslims would be unable to enjoy the day of Eid, after a month of fasting and abstinence, since it would be difficult for them to get time off from their employers as a Public Holiday has already been set aside for this purpose. Schools would also be in progress and many Muslims would therefore be deprived on the Eid-ul-Fitr Prayer. Eid is celebrated on the first day of the tenth month on the Islamic Calendar. The months of the Islamic Calendar are determined by the phases of the moon and the Islamic day begins at Sunset. Thus beginning of any month is determined by the appearance of a Crescent (Hilaal) above the horizon after sunset. The appearance of a Crescent is a phenomenon associated with the position of the moon as it reflects light from the sun and it is not subjected to weather or atmospheric conditions. Thus, the fact that conditions might prevent one from seeing the Crescent, does not in any way annihilate the appearance of the Crescent which heralds the beginning of the lunar month. When a Crescent is less than 16 hours old it appears in the sky for less than 10 minutes but it is so close to the horizon that it makes sighting difficult. On Wednesday November 2, at sunset the Crescent would be 20 and a quarter hours old and would be above the horizon in the sky for 17 minutes. This would be a clearly visible Crescent and thus the month of Ramadan ends at Sunset on Wednesday November 2. Records would show that a similar dilemma occurred in 1984 when on the recommendation of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman, the Government declared Eid on Saturday June 30 on the basis of the fact that the crescent was 19 hours old. Muslims who were in furore then, had to recant as the 19 hour crescent was seen. Once an 19 hour crescent has been seen it is logical to conclude that a 20 and a quarter hour crescent will appear and bring the month of Ramadan to a close. Twenty One years have passed and Muslims have not matured and learnt from their experiences. Muslims who believe that they must see the Crescent with their naked eye to believe that it exists will have a problem in believing in the existence of Allah, who is Unseen (Al-Ghaib) and Who can never be seen with the naked eye. IMAAM IQBAL HYDAL (Ahmadiyya Anjuman) Chaguanas
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"Muslims will not be able to enjoy Eid"