ramadan 1427/2006: will the fitna return?

what follows is an excellent (i think) discourse surrounding the ramadan drama.
inshAllah, more and more Muslims will work towards unity in the ummah.
(someone posted this on the family halaqa yahoo group).

6 Sha’ban 1427
(August 30, 2006)

Special Note: What follows is my own humble response to a controversy that’s been building within one of the online groups that we are a part of (and I’m certain that others are commenting on the controversy as well). What
follows is my own (personal) opinion on the matter. This should not be taken as the opinion of all of the members (or supporters) of The Peace And Justice Foundation. I just wanted to offer it as a little food for thought,
insha’Allah. (May Allah pardon me if I am wrong.)

Assalaamu Alaikum Sisters and Brothers:

I’m going to weigh into this unfortunate controversy with a little nasiha (sincere advice) of my own, insha’Allah.

Can we have a little perspective please? Back in the days of our beloved Prophet (salalahu alayhi wa’salam), Muslims would determine the time of day - and more importantly, the prayer time - by looking up at the heavens and
measuring the position of the sun and/or moon. Modern day Muslims (for the most part) no longer subscribe to this “sunnah.” Instead, the majority of today’s Muslims (especially in the West) consult calendars (with their PRE-DETERMINED TIMINGS for each salat), and then we consult our CLOCKS.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should point out the fact that, for the past few years, I have relied upon a Muslim scientist (a practicing Muslim scientist), an astronomer - not to be confused with an astrologer, please - to assist me in determining the correct date for starting and ending my fast; because of all the fitnah that’s been going around this ummah for too many years over this issue. And what I’ve found is that, more often than not, his calculations coincide with those sources within the ummah that I consider to be the most reliable in observing the fast in the more traditional way.

With that being said - and as someone who has been critical of some of our major Muslim organizations (including ISNA) on far more IMPORTANT (indeed critical) issues, I sincerely believe that some of us are taking this issue (particularly the harsh criticism of ISNA for their decision) much too far.

While I pride myself with being a deeply respectful and fairly astute student of history, I am not the type of history buff who can say with certainty that clocks had been invented before or during the time of the Prophet (saaw). What I do know, however, is that if they were, they were NOT widely in use on the Arabian peninsula. And thus, the people of that age determined the time of day in the traditional way that they had always determined the time of day. And likewise, they determined the change of months and seasons in the same manner that they had always (traditionally) been accustomed to.

Respected Brothers and Sisters, I think it important that we remind ourselves of the fact that Islam and true science are not incompatible. There is nothing un-Islamic about using a car, or a bus, or a train, or a plane - as opposed to using a horse or a camel. There is nothing un-Islamic about using a calendar (formulated by scientific calculations), along with a clock, to determine the time for prayer. And likewise, there is nothing fundamentally un-Islamic (as this humble brother sees it) to use science in an effort to: (a) be more precise in acknowledging the new moon; and (b) in an attempt to diffuse
some of the fitnah that we encounter each year, when we begin our approach into the sacred month of Mercy and Forgiveness, called Ramadan!

It would also be good for us to remind ourselves of the purpose of the Prophet’s sunnah. It was never meant to be a source of division; it was always meant to be a source of clarification and illumination. Toward this end I will conclude with a lesson conveyed by one of the outstanding sons of Islam, from the last century, [Shaheed] Imam Hassan al-Banna.

As the story goes, the Imam was invited to speak at a village on the outskirts of Egypt during the month of Ramadan. Before he arrived, two groups of Muslims were embroiled in a fierce argumentation over a difference of opinion (according to the sunnah) on how many rakahs should be performed during the tarawih prayer. When the atmosphere became too heated, someone wisely advised that they should wait for the arrival of Imam Hassan, and let him decide who was right, and who was wrong. What came next should be a memorable lesson for us all.

Imam Hassan then asked: “And what is Allah’s decree on the issue of Muslim unity?” Both sides agreed that it was a “Fard.” It is an obligation on all truly committed Muslims to work to cultivate and maintain Muslim unity. Imam Hassan than wisely raised a rhetorical question: “Are you willing to give up a FARD for a SUNNAH?!”

Dear Muslims, we are obligated by our DEEN to be mirrors of each other; to correct each other, and to hold each other accountable; and sometimes this does entail strong criticism (even of our “leaders”). But we must always, always, strive to do this in the better way - never with the intent to tear down, always with the intent to build up!

And we must always remember that The Lord on High, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) has conveyed through his beloved Messenger to all mankind (saaw): “Actions are judged by intention.” And this maxim applies whether the action is
right, or whether the action is wrong. A manifestation of ALLAH’s divine mercy. (Just a little food for thought.)

I conclude with my own humble nasiha, to my beloved sisters and brothers who have been wrangling over this issue. Do not allow this decision of ISNA to serve as yet another source of unnecessary fitnah among us. Simply follow your heart. If it makes you feel better to follow the traditional route, then by all means follow the traditional route. If on the other hand you choose to follow the recommendation of ISNA (and others), in the more non-traditional route, than by all means do so.

I pray that the Month of Sha’ban is a month of bounty for all committed Muslims who read this humble offering; and that the blessed month which follows (Ramadan), will see the blessings (of Sha’ban) multiply that much more. Ameen

Your brother in the fold of Islam,

El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan
Director of Operations
The Peace And Justice Foundation
11006 Veirs Mill Rd, STE L-15, PMB 298
Silver Spring, MD. 20902
www.peacethrujustice.org