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Topics of the Month 2007September/October2005 June/JulyApril/MayMarch January200420032002200120001999Articles On HajjWhat the Scholars SayAbout SufismWhat the ScholarsSay About MawlidInnovation in IslamOn DhikrThe Life of Hazrat KhwajaMoinuddin ChishtiSecrets of FastingRamadan in EgyptSalawat |
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January 2005 Eid al-Adha is Not Eid al-Hajj By Dr. Omar Afzal How do we determine the date of Eid al-Adha ? Is it Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Hajj? 1. The Messenger (SAW) made Eid al-Adha obligatory for all the Muslims in the second year of Hijrah. It was 9 years before he performed the Hajj. If Eid al-Adha is dependent on Hajj date in Makka then why did he start celebrating it 9 years before the Hajj became obligatory for the Muslims? 2. The Messenger (SAW) determined Eid al-Adha date solely by the sighted crescent. The Hadith specifies "Hilal D.Hijja" for "Udhiya". 3. The Messenger (SAW) used to fast the 9 D.Hijja and not "Arafah in Makka". 4. If Eid al-Adha is determined by the Hajj date then why did the Messenger (SAW) make no effort to ascertain the Arafah dates in Makka for his Eid celebration in Medina? At least after the conquest of Makka there was no problem in finding out when the Arafah was going to be. The Messenger (SAW) made no attempt to know or inform the Muslims in Medina when the Hajj was in Makka. Every Muslim community prayed according to its sighting of D. Hijjah crescent. The Messenger (SAW) at least once prayed Eid al-Adha during a journey and sacrificed there on the 10 D.Hijja. 5. The Khulafa and the Companions were aware of the problem that the D. Hijja crescent is not visible everywhere on the same day. They made no attempt to inform the Muslims living in nearby towns about the Hajj date. Muslims celebrated Eid-Adha according to whenever and wherever they saw the crescent. 6. The Companions opposed every attempt to impose the sighting in one town over the others, even in close proximity. If it was not seen on a clear horizon, or the horizon was cloudy on the 29th day they completed 30 days of the month. (See Kuraib's Hadith (in Muslim) and Ikrama/Salim Hadith (in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba) 7. All the Fuqaha are unanimous that Eid al-Adha is on D. Hijjah 10, and that it is determined by the sighting wherever a Muslims lives. None said it is ON 10 D. HIJJAH IN MAKKA or next day of Arafah in Makka. 8. The Qura'n says: 'Ahillah' (the crescents) are the 'mawaqeet' for the Islamic dates, and for the Hajj. What should we do if: a. The Hajj date is, for sure, not based on the 'Hilal of D. Hijjah in Makka'; OR b. The 'Hilal' is NOT SEEN on the date the Saudis claim it was the last day of D. Qa'da. Saudi dates are wrong for decades as pointed out by Muslim experts and prominent Ulema from many countries. In 1419 Saudis declared Ramdan, Eidian and Hajj dates before the New Moon was even born in Makka. We cannot change Saudis. But should we follow wrong Saudi Hajj dates for our Eid al-Adha? What if it results in two 10 D.Hijjah, one according to Hajj and the other according to sighting? It happens in N. America most of the years. What if D. Hijjah month becomes 31 or 32 days long and D. Qa'da only 28 days if we follow the Saudi date of Hajj? 9. Can we pray Eid al-Adha on our 9 or 8 D. Hijjah, only because the Hajj was fixed on a wrong date? 10. Unity of the Muslim Ummah or Sharing the same day: Both arguments are invalid because of geophysical realities. Muslims now live in every corner of the world. All do not share the Day of Arafah (Sacrifice) in Makka. Some have to pray and sacrifice before the Hujjaj (or next day?), and others will pray and sacrifice hours after the day of 10 D. Hijja is over in Makka. 11. If Saudis strictly follow 'the Hilal of D. Hijjah in Makka' then they may see the crescent a day after it is seen in countries west of Makka, especially in N. America. If Eid al-Adha is tied to the date of Hajj in Makka then the Muslims in N. America may have to celebrate Eid al-Adha not on the10 but on 11 D. Hijjah. ISNA Fiqh Council and some others want us to believe that it is Eid al-Hajj. Look for the facts and decide by yourself. HAJJ AND EID AL-ADHA ARE NOT TIED TO EACH OTHER. Both have 'Nahr' (Sacrifice) ritual and a common theme, but they are different in some very important ways: Common: Sacrifice on 10 D.Hijja Not Common: No Eid al-Adha prayer for the Hujjaj Dahiya for all possessing Nisab/Not obligatory on the Hujjaj doing Mufrad Hajj. No Wuquf / Talbia or any other ritual for other Muslims on 9 D. Hijja Takbirat during Tashriq days for all others but not for Hujjaj © 2007 Islamic Studies and Research Association (ISRA) |