The Islamic Calendar according to Muslims in the UK 1

THE INSTITUTE FOR THE REVIVAL OFTRADITIONAL ISLAMIC SCIENCES"( To Jordan/ Al-Yadodeh/ M.Kh./ Al-Sook/ Mr. Hayel Mamdooh Abu-Zeid, datedJanuary 21, 1998/Ramadan 23, 1418H.We wish to thank you for sending us your greetings of Ramadan, and for remindingus of the date of the New Moon of Shawwal for the year 1418 H. We would like toremind you that determining the first day of the Islamic month is like determiningthe prayer times, and the aim of His Almighty from these times is to inform us notto take it as worship. It is adopted in Umm-ul-Qura Calendar that if the Moon's ageat Sunset is 12 hours or more after the New Moon then the previous day is the firstday of the Islamic month, since the Islamic day starts at sunset, and the night isbefore the daylight, as well as the time of fasting is in the civil daylight. May Allahaccept your worship. May Allah bless this Ramadan. Thanking you for your goodcooperation.From: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/ Al-Riyadh/ The Higher Religious Council "Majlis al-Ifta' al-A'ala"/ Mohammad Bin Ehmead.)"Mr. Hayel of JAS received other letters also, about the same subject, which wereclearer than this telegram. The following example may make their system clearer: Iffor example 29th Dec is 29 Sha'bān, and the New Moon Phase occurs after sunset inRiyad, say at 11 pm on 29th Dec., then the next day (30th Dec.) at the sunset (forexample at 5 pm) the Moon's age will be 18 hours which is more than 12 hours, sothat day (30th Dec.) is the first day of Ramadan, even though the New Moon was noteven born at the Sunset on 29 Sha'ban (29th Dec.), and generally in such cases theMoon will set before sunset. Below is a copy of the telegram.4 | W W W . I R T I S . O R G . U K