Ramadan: A new American Islamic tradition takes root By Mike Ghouse

Ramadan: A new American Islamic tradition takes root

By Mike Ghouse

Al-Jazeerah, October 25, 2006

The American Islamic tradition has taken roots and the American Muslim community is as excited about it as it is divided. There is joy and commitment to nourish this new American Islamic tradition, and sorrow and determination to keep the age old tradition.

The foremost reform that has taken roots is a predetermined date for the beginning of the month of Ramadan, as well as the proposed date to celebrate the festival at the end of the holy month.

As with most religious traditions, the religious festivals are determined by the Lunar Calendar. The entire Islamic system is based on sighting of the moon. The Calendar has 12 Lunar months, and each month is either 29 or 30 days, it averages to 29 and a half days/month for a total of 354 days in a typical lunar calendar.

Four out of the 12 new moons are critical to the Muslim community. The first one is sighting the moon for the commencement of the 9th month of Ramadhan where Muslims fast from moon to moon, the second sighting falls at the end of 29th or 30th day, which concludes fasting segueing into celebration of the Eid (Festival). The third one determines the beginning of the 12th Month, Dhul-Hijja, leading to the decision of the day of Hajj being 10th day of the month. Hajj is a world wide congregation of nearly 2.5 Million Muslims praying together in one single place, Mecca, a tradition begun by Abraham. The last one is sighting of moon for commemorating Muharram, the first month of lunar calendar, and solemnly observing the 10th day, as a critical day in the Muslim History.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) suggested that upon witnessing the first moon of Ramadhan, begin the fasting and end it upon seeing the next moon to celebrate. Reward yourselves for your will power, forgive each other and celebrate.

The Islamic world has witnessed controversy for a long time as to what constitutes witnessing the moon. The debate has always been those who see the essence of the words of the Prophet, and those who give full value to the literal words.

Traditionally, sighting of the moon was understood to mean:

1) That one has to physically see the moon

2) that it will be acceptable, at least if some one else has seen it. Over the years these two have gone liberal and rigid, due to weather conditions some stick to the words that if Moon wasn't seen, Ramadhan won't begin until the month before (Sha'aban) is completed to 30 days, and to some, if some one has seen the moon somewhere else on the planet, it is fine with them.

Here comes calculating the Moon birth, such as in Egypt (in 359 AH/969 AD)* or by NASA now. The Islamic Society of North America, the largest representative organization of Muslim organizations in America, after consulting with several experts has opined to follow the NASA calculation. Thus the beginning of Ramadhan was pre-determined to commence on September 23rd and the Festival "Eid" was determined to be on Monday, the 23rd of October. There was a great dissent on the subject, however it turned out that the moon was sighted as predicted. Now, there are several who disagree with the decision to celebrate the Eid on 23rd, their point is, how can you decide without witnessing the moon?

The American Muslims have been exceptionally accommodating to this new idea, and are indeed making a genuine effort to respect each group’s decision to celebrate the festival on 23rd , 24th or even 25th. The most beautiful part of this development is that no one is calling the other’s decision as thoughtless. In fact many of them are praying “ Let not arrogance creep into us that one interpretation is better than the other”. A sense of pluralism has taken ground.

However, the spirit of Celebrating Ramadhan across the World on a single day is immeasurable. A pre-determined day helps secure a day off from work for many people, a day off from school for our kids and also secure (rent) the place of worship for large gatherings. Insha Allah, it may take a few more generations for all of us to be on the same page. Let it happen with free will.

The Year 2006 heralds the era of reform. Apart from deciding on the Eid Day other positive reformist developments in the Islamic World must be noted, it is a major reform

1) Election of Ms. Ingrid Mattson as the first woman president of Islamic Society of North America, one of the largest Islamic Organizations in the United States. Although four Muslim women were elected as heads of Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh and Indonesia in the last decade, history has not given that aspect a prominent place and instead gripes about Muslim women being suppressed are highlighted. Right here at home In the USA, Muslim women have headed many National Professional and civic organizations.

2) American Muslims have led the Islamic World in reform. Now for the first time in history of Islam, a pre-determined date for the celebrations of Ramadhan is tested and has passed by a majority of the American Muslims, God willing the second part of the equation will pass with equal enthusiasm on 22nd of the month.

3) While re-affirming faith in God and divinity in the word of God, the Qur'an, Muslims understand with clarity that hitherto, many of the "translations" of Qur'an were un-just to the word of God, creator of all beings. One of the most critical and important misunderstandings of Qur'an has emanated from the translations of Qur'an itself. Much of the misunderstanding comes from the Al-Hilali translation. The chance that you possess this book is 2 to 1, as it is distributed freely. The movement is gaining momentum to remove the Hilali translations from the market.

For the first time in history, Muslims have recognized this incursion by self-interest group. They are enlightened and delighted to see the 14 translations of the Qur’an are available to them now, as they can see the wrong translation from the right, an opportunity Muslims never had before.

May this festival be a happy occasion whether we celebrate on 23rd , 24th or 25th. May this Ramadhan be meaningful to us and infuse the sense of caring for the world and work for peace, prosperity and security of the humankind.

Eid Mubarak, May Allah bless us all. Amen.

Mike Ghouse can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com

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* ISNA's bid to introduce universal Islamic calendar fails By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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