Muslims worldwide are about to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. As in previous years, Muslims differ as to when the new moon is sighted and by whom — crucial factors that determine the beginning of the fasting month. Each Muslim country now has its own means for sighting the moon. Thus there are a number of variations regarding Ramadan timings.
Here in the Kingdom we insist on beginning the fast only when the new moon has been sighted with the naked eye. Other countries use observatories to determine the start of the month; others begin their fast if a neighboring country announces the new moon has been sighted, and still others will not allow their people to begin fasting, even if the new moon has been sighted, until the head of state confirms the news and an official announcement is made.
This is how pathetic the state of Islam is these days. I wish the Makkah-based Islamic Fiqh Academy would take the initiative and do something to unite all Muslims on this matter. Unfortunately, this body, like many others, is too weak to bring Muslims together.
Over the past few days, I have received messages and calls from friends and colleagues congratulating me on Ramadan. They all expressed similar sentiments regarding the beginning of Ramadan and lamenting the general condition of Muslims. The matter is not confined to Muslim countries celebrating religious events at different times or their failure to have a unified calendar. As one friend pointed out, our religious occasions have lost must of their traditional force and meaning. People extend felicitations and greetings as a duty rather than from warm and sincere feelings. We start by congratulating our superiors and others whom we think have some influence. The driver and the maid living in our house will be the last to hear a kind word from us on Ramadan or Eid.
We extend greetings to those who have done us a favor and others who have some control over us. “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Happy Eid” are two expressions we routinely exchange without stopping to reflect on their meaning and value. It is like trying to establish our presence by signing the attendance book, knowing someone there will be watching to see who turned up and who didn’t. Let us pray to Almighty God for the return of the true spirit of our religious occasions.
