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| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Saudi Senior Scholars Scoff Science |
| 2008-08-23 |
| MAKKAH: The Saudi Council of Senior Scholars has rejected the demand that the beginning and end of lunar months should be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations. "Shariah does not accept astronomical calculations based on mathematical computing as the basis for the beginning and ending of Ramadan," said Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the council. "If anyone doubts our moon-sighting, fasting and feasting, it betrays his weak faith and defective perception," the grand mufti, who is head of the Administration of Research in Religious Sciences and Fatwa said. He cited a Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which says, "You start fasting when you see (the moon) and stop it when you sight (the next moon) and when it is hidden by clouds, complete (30 days of) fasting." The grand mufti added that it is obligatory on the Muslims to start fasting when any Muslim known for his honesty and healthy eyesight claims to have sighted the new moon. This is the practice in the Kingdom, he said, dismissing suggestion that Muslims may depend on astronomical calculations to begin fasting in Ramadan and celebrate Eid. It is the Supreme Judicial Council that announces the sighting of the new moon to mark the beginning of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar), Shaaban (the month preceding Ramadan), Ramadan, and the three months following it, Al-Madinah newspaper reported. The senior scholars' council concluded a series of discussions on the issue and came to the conclusion on Tuesday that sighting of the moon should be the basis of a month's beginning though three of its members supported the idea of depending on astronomical calculations. Meanwhile, Saudi astronomer Jabar Al-Doussary said religious scholars and astronomers should settle their dispute on the moon-sighting issue. "Nothing but the astronomical calculations confirm the sighting of the moon in a convincing manner. The calculations are made not for a day or a month but for thousands of years. Even the viewing through observatories is based on such calculations," the astronomer said. Khaled Al-Zuaq, member of the Arab Federation of Space Sciences and Astronomy stressed the need for a meeting of astronomers and religious scholars to bring an end to the row over moon-sighting and avoid errors. "The present method of confirming moon-sighting has created confusion that can be removed easily by adopting scientific methods," he said. A 15-member panel from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain had decided two years ago to launch an Islamic satellite, which would be used for sighting moon. |
| Posted by:Classer |
| #7 somebody needs to show them a full moon in broad daylight. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-08-23 19:06 |
| #6 Sounds like the Saudi astrologers are only about 400 years behind. Making progress. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-08-23 17:19 |
| #5 I'm a guessing it a stationary parking orbit directly over Israel. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-08-23 13:10 |
| #4 A 15-member panel from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain had decided two years ago to launch an Islamic satellite, which would be used for sighting moon. What, pray tell, would be the orbit of this satellite? |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-08-23 13:06 |
| #3 It was trying to learn more of God and his design for the world that led the Christians to create the modern world. It is precisely by this kind of dogmatic reasoning that the the Arabs have remained in the dark ages. I should not be surprised if in two generations the Sauds primary mode of transportation is camels again. And rationalizing why the Koran says they should be happy about it. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-08-23 13:03 |
| #2 I often hear scholars say how the Quran is characterized by a unique phenomenon never found in any human authored book. Every element of the Quran is mathematically composed.. Yet the Senior Scholars say Mohammed is more knowledgeable than mathamatical computing. Don't their heads just explode sometimes? |
| Posted by: Classer 2008-08-23 12:40 |
| #1 So, on one hand, we have a bunch of mullahs with low blood sugar on a cloudy day vs NASA which makes three cushion bank shots off the planets to send probes into deep space. A popcorn-worthy contest, indeed. Still I give 'em credit for even having this discussion - one that the West went thru with Galileo and the Inquisition about four centuries ago. Lucky for us, Science won, praise God. Enjoy your Sharia, losers. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2008-08-23 12:21 |