A statement Re. the commencement of Ramadan 1438HJ – 2017 CE
The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research
A statement Re. the commencement of Ramadan 1438HJ – 2017 CE
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds and may Allah’s peace blessings and mercy be upon our prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research would like to take this opportunity and appeal to all the Muslims to hold fast to Allah’s religion together and to be united in full conformity with the verse in which Allah states:
واعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ 3:103
“Hold on firmly together to the rope of God, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember the favours God bestowed on you when you were one another’s foe and He reconciled your hearts, and you turned into brethren through His grace. You had stood on the edge of a pit of fire and He saved you from it, thus revealing to you His clear signs that you may find the right way perchance.”
The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research is praying to Allah for the acceptance of Muslims’ fasting, Salah, and their entire good deeds and also for making this month a mark of triumph and blessings for His weakened worshippers, as Allah has the power to deliver.
Regarding Ramadan’s and Shuwal’s crescent 1438HJ – 2017CE, on the basis of the stipulations adopted by the ECFR in a resolution taken in its 19th session held in the period 08-12 Rajab 1430HJ corresponding to 30th of June – 4th of July 2009, what the International Fiqh Academy confirms in its 18th resolution reached in the third session held in 1986, the approvals issued by the United Hijra Chronology in its first session held in Istanbul in the period 26-29 Dhul-Hijja 1389HJ corresponding to 27-30 November 1978, what was issued by the International Conference on Proving the Commencement of the Lunar Months by Islamic and Astronomy Scholars conduced in the period 19-21 of Rabi Al-Auwal 1433HJ corresponding to 11-13 of February 2012 by the Fiqh Academy, Islamic League in Mecca, what was issued by the scientific seminar on the commencement of the lunar months and the lunar chronology held in Paris in the period 12-13 of Rabi Al-Auwal 1433HJ corresponding to 4-5 of February 2012 and attended by a great number of Islamic and astronomy scholars, who deliberated on a number of studies of Fiqh and astronomy, and what has been recently issued by the conference of unifying the Hijri chronology held in Istanbul in the period 21-23 of Sha’ban 1437 corresponding to 28-30 of May 2016, in which more than 70 countries were represented by officials, departments of religious endowments, Fatwa governorates, scholars, jurists and astronomers in addition to representatives of the world’s Fiqh academies that agreed on a fundamental criteria among which is the following:
In origin the commencement of the lunar months is proved by sighting the crescent either by the naked eye or with the help of astronomical observatories or modern equipment and that astronomical calculations inform us of the correct timing of sighting the crescent in advance and that they do not contradict it and that the theory of different location is irrelevant since the Prophet’s address is expressed in general terms: “Fast when sighting the crescent and break your fast when sighting the crescent.” Agreed upon And Also the Prophet, peace be upon him, says: “The day of fasting is the day you fast and the day of breaking the fast is the day you break your fast and the day of sacrifice is the day you offer your sacrificial animals.” Reported by Abu Dauud and Ibn Majjah. At-Tirmithi ranked it as Sahih.
Based on the above-mentioned argument, the general Secretariat announces the following:
- According to accurate astronomical calculations Ramadan’s crescent 1438 Hiri appears in the horizon at 19.44GMT on Thursday 25th of May 2017 corresponding to 29th of Shaban 1438HJ at 22.44 Meccan time.
- According to astronomical calculations, sighting the crescent will be impossible on the same day in any part of the world but will be possible on Friday 26th of May 2017 corresponding to 30th of Shaban 1434HJ in many parts of the world and it will be perfectly clear in Africa, the Arabian peninsula, USA, South America and Australia.
- As a consequence, the blessed month of Ramadan 1438 commences on Saturday, May 27, 2017.
Regarding Shuwal’s crescent 1438HJ – 2017CE
1- According to accurate astronomical calculations Shauwal’s crescent 1438 Hiri appears in the horizon at 02.31GMT on Saturday 24th of June 2017 corresponding to 29th of Ramadan 1438HJ at 05.31 Meccan time.
2- According to astronomical calculations, sighting the crescent will be possible in the USA, South America, part of western Africa, South Africa and also central Africa with a telescope.
Based on the above-mentioned the first day of Shauwal,
Eid-ul-Fitr in 1438HJ on 25th June 2017CE.
We pray to Allah for blessing Muslims and granting them honour and protection. May Allah accept our and your good deeds.
The General Secretariat – Dublin
