They ask you about the new moons

Authored by Suhail bin Muhammad bin Ali Al-Rathi'e They ask you about the new moons Introduction Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Creator of time and space, and the divider of them into sections. He made the night a place of rest, and the sun and the moon as signs of calculation. I praise Him with all praise as long as the sun runs to its resting place, and as the moon passes through its phases, returning with precision and estimation. I thank Him for His countless blessings that cannot be counted. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the unlettered Prophet. May peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and all his companions, forever until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows: The science of astronomy is among the beneficial sciences related to some acts of worship in Islam, such as prayer, fasting, and Hajj at all times. Allah the Almighty said: “It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light, and determined for it phases” [Yunus: 5]. And from His wisdom and encompassing mercy, He made acts of worship in Islam related to appearance and observation, and the clear, undeniable matter that leaves no concealment: the time of the Fajr prayer is known by the dawn’s appearance and spread; the time of Dhuhr is known by the sun’s setting; the time of Asr is when the shadow of everything becomes equal to it after the disappearance of shade; the time of Maghrib is at sunset; and the time of Isha is when the red twilight disappears. The time for fasting in Ramadan is known by seeing the new moon visible to the observers; if not seen due to clouds, then by completing the number of Sha’ban as thirty days, and similarly for the month of Hajj. The timing based on the new moons makes it easy for all people to know, whether knowledgeable in calculation or ignorant, whether urban or Bedouin, whether a writer or illiterate, because the new moon’s matter is well-known among people, witnessed, and visible to the eyes since Allah created the world: “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the Book of Allah since the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the straight religion” [Al-Tawbah: 36]. Mu’adh bin Jabal asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, why does the new moon appear thin like a thread, then increase until it becomes full and round, then decrease again until it returns as it was, not remaining in one state?” Allah revealed: “They ask you about the new moons. Say: They are times for the people and for Hajj” [Al-Baqarah: 189]. The greatest truths are what is seen with the eye, for observation is better than hearsay. Imam Badr al-Din al-‘Ayni said: “Because observation necessitates knowledge and testimony, and certainty over suspicion, what leads to certainty is more deserving” (1). Since this knowledge may sometimes be difficult for some people, and the paths and issues of astronomy, the cycle of the new moons, and calculation are complex, especially since this science has now reached a level of precision that amazes calculators and astounds minds and intellects, I wanted to write and strive according to my ability, sincerely seeking Allah’s help and counting on Him. Then, to facilitate for those interested in this science, I clarify the phrases as much as possible, mixing the words of scholars and astronomers, benefiting from those who preceded me in writing in this field. And Allah is the helper, and upon Him I rely. (1) “Al-Binaayah Sharh Al-Hidayah” (9/184). Written by / Suhail bin Muhammad bin Ali Al-Rathi'e 01/08/1445 AH