The رؤیت ہلال میں فلکى حسابات اور کلینڈر کا اعتبار، پاکستانی رؤیت ہلال کمیٹی کے تناظر میں

Reliability of Astronomical Calculations and Calendar in Ruit Hilal, in the context of Pakistani Ruit Hilal Committee

Abstract

ABSTRACT

People in Pakistan have to contend with a typical predicament over the issue of moon sighting on the advent and conclusion of Ramadan every year, splitting them into three distinct groups. One group believes in total submission to Ruet e Hilal Committee’s decisions, the other has no faith in the committee and the third thinks the country should follow Saudi Arabia to settle this seemingly irresolvable issue once and for all. Unfortunately, the committee’s decisions only serve to fan mutual discord among the groups of different persuasions. This thesis is an attempt to find out an academic answer to the highly divisive issue by probing Sharia rules that govern moon-sighting, astronomical aspect of the question, preconditions for the acceptance of testimony for moon-sighting and justification of the testimony’s rejection on the basis of scientific evidence. Since Sharia does not prohibit use of technology for the wellbeing of humans and it certainly cannot ignore major advancements in astronomy, is it therefore justified in the light of Sharia to declare sighting of the moon or otherwise on the basis of astronomical evidence? The thesis tries to find an informed answer to the foregoing question through an in-depth study of the subject to help steer Pakistani society out of this perennial dilemma and contribute to ongoing efforts for uniting them on celebration of Eid on same day across the country.