- A solar year or called “Syamsiyah” in Arabic is a year calculation according one period time of earth to revolve around the sun or circles the sun one time. While a lunar year or called “Qamariyah” in Arabic is a year calculation by analyze the time for the moon to make 12 times circles the earth.
- The long of the month on solar year fixed according the exact rules except for February 28 days became 29 on long year calculation, so the problem is none. But, the months fixation on lunar year is sets through analyzes into the last month calculation (month before), it can be 29 days or sometimes became 30 days with the obligation to sets the new month in every month cycles by analyzing the end of the month before and starting again the new month by seeing the first visible crescent (in Arabic called “Hilal”).
- The day on the solar year calculation (A.D. and also the other same kind calculations) starts since 24.00 or 00.00 o’clock midnight, but for the lunar year calculation (Hijri and also the other same kind calculations starts the day from the sunset).
- On the solar year calculation found the date line called “the international date line”, sets up on 0 o line through Greenwich England and 180 o through Bering Strait between Asia and America, which separates as all countries between 0 o – 180 o faster the date than all countries between 180 o – 360 o. This international date line stay at place forever never get changed because the solar year calculation just take attention into 2 sky objects, the sun and the earth, and also as the international deal, the 180 o line sets up at Bering Strait because it is closely enough with earth’s 180 o longitude. While on lunar year calculation especially Hijri calendar there are differences date line called “the international Islamic date line” which always changes the place / moving / shifting every its new month. This condition happen because of this calendar system take attention into 3 sky objects, the earth, the moon, and the sun, make it more complex. If for a certain times the lunar date line close enough with the solar date line, there are big possibility to get a same new month in one day. But, sometimes when the solar date line and lunar date line located far away each other or located on the other side of the earth, not in the same position, that’s making some places on earth get its new moon late one day than the other side.
- Discussing the fixation of a new month on the lunar year especially Islamic Hijri for sure actually was fixed easily with latest astronomic technology to do some calculation (in Arabic called “hisab”) which was very good in accuracy and technically with no problem any more. What often blooming the problems is when sets the new month concerned with religion tradition (“ibadah”) of Ramadan and Syawwal, which because of many differences of thought (“khilafiyah”) between the experts and many Ulema about the way to fixing the new month and also interpretation above al-hadist which guides the followers to sets the new and the end of Ramadan by seeing the first visible crescent. Some of them use the “mathla’” theory, some use “wilayat-l-hukmy”, some use one visible crescent for all earth, and many others “khilafiyah” on it.
- Just like we all knew, the lunar year period is same with 12 time for the moon goes around the earth, and at the same time the earth rotating on its place point which is make day and night, and also earth goes around the sun resulting / providing dates on solar year period. Because of the moving and interaction from those 3 sky objects, sometimes moon reflecting sun’s light which made it looks as a new visible crescent and for the next became bigger until full moon and later smaller again then disappear for a few days and came back as a new visible crescent again to indicate the new month on the lunar year calendar. This term “first visible crescent” or “new moon” in Islam known as “Hilal” just like what God said in Q.S. Al Baqarah 189 which means: “They ask thee (O Muhammad), of new moon. Say: “They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. …”. So, on the lunar year calendar the point is the cycles of the month sets by to analyze the new moon or “Hilal” by mankind at their own place (according to the “mathla’”) which is we can say with another word, for the place which can’t see the “Hilal” can’t get into the new month yet, but must make estimation just like al-hadist from Bukhari-Muslim which mean: “Do fasting after you see the Hilal and Eid because you see the Hilal. If the sky covered by cloud, do estimation”. The interpretation of “covered by cloud” is if at that place we can’t see the Hilal because of cloud or with the early estimation predicted impossible to see the Hilal. While “do estimation” (“faqduruu lahu”) means completing the last month into 30 days or make astronomical calculation, these are the order and choices from the prophet. Beside that, inside Q.S. Yunus 5, Allah said which mean: “… and measured for moon stages, that ye might know the number of the years, and the reckoning (time) …”. This is strengthening to sets the new month by moon stages measured or “manzilah-manzilah” which not same for every places on earth, and also sometimes make differences between one place with another places to sets up the new month in Hijri calendar.
- The conclusion is some location or places for sure was get into new month if from that location we can see the “Hilal” (still above the sun before sunset or just after sunset), and the location in the back which can’t see the Hilal, impossible to impose / to putting the new month system into effect following the location in front of its, but must waiting until that location seeing the Hilal came on that location for the next day (where as for the next day the Hilal was greater its wasn’t a problem because for that exact location / certain location definitely can’t see the Hilal on yesterday / invisible). This lunar date line sets up by “manzilah-manzilah” which seen from location when the moon and the sun goes down together, and this lunar date line wasn’t lay down / deployment north-south or east-west but tilt / not straight and curving following the sight toward moon’s position and moving / shifting every month.
- So, lets us (especially Moslems) to remain calm about the differences setting the new month on Hijri calendar positively and objectively. Don’t push another to accept our own way to do Syawwal together or blaming whose have other thoughts. I hope this article useful and we can keep our faith pure. Amiens.
Tag: A.D., Allah, America, Asia, Baqarah, Bering, Bukhari, calculation, calendar, close, crescent, curve, date, day, earth, east, Eid, England, estimation, faith, faqduruu, fasting, Greenwich, Hadist, Hijri, Hilal, Islam, khilafiyah, line, longitude, lunar, manzilah, mathla’, month, moon, Muhammad, Muslim, night, north, objective, period, positive, qamariyah, Ramadan, religious, result, revolve, rotate, shifting, solar, south, straight, sun, syamsiyah, Syawwal, tilt, tradition, west, year, Yunus
