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Ramadhan Statement

A statement from Allama Shahid Raza on the decision to start Ramadhan on Tuesday 2nd September.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Asalaam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Please accept my heartfelt greetings of the coming of Ramadhan. May Allah bless you all with enormous physical and spiritual wellbeing during this blessed month, and grant us all the strength and ability to respect and observe this holy month, with the best of iman and good deeds.

I am issuing this statement in response to concerns that have been raised about the decision to begin the month on 2nd September.

1) According to the reports from Observatories the sighting of the new moon was not possible throughout the UK on the night of 31st August. However, these reports strongly indicated that there was a good chance of a sighting in Southern African countries and also in areas of Morocco.  Accordingly after Asr prayer in Leicester I began my sincere efforts with the help of local Ulema and Imams to contact our Ulema in Durban, Pretoria, Cape Town, Malawi, Tanzania and Morocco. These efforts were made solely with the intention of avoiding conflict with other Mosques in Leicester and other cities in the UK. However, despite all possible efforts we did not receive the news of a positive sighting from Morocco, and learned at approximately 10pm that Ramadhan would begin in Morocco from Tuesday 2nd September. However, our Ulema in South Africa were still investigating any possible sightings. As it was late into the evening, we in Leicester after further consultation, decided to wait until 11pm. However, at around 10.55pm we still had not received news of a decision from South Africa. We then made the announcement. Certainly this delay in our announcement was not deliberate and we are sorry for any inconveniences caused.

2) We did not contact any Middle-Eastern countries because according to Observatory reports the sighting of the moon was not possible in this region. Furthermore, it was 30th Shabaan in this part of the world (due to the incorrect and early beginning of Shabaan in these countries) and as a result, the sighting of the moon was not needed for them to declare the beginning of Ramadhan on Monday 1st September.

3) Our Ulema in other cities may have started Ramadhan on Monday and they should be contacted for any further queries on why they did so. I do not wish to comment on their behalf, but I would like to make clear, we at all times made efforts to make a unanimous decision.

4) According to my understanding one of our Mosques in Bolton changed their decision after learning that the news of a sighting of the new moon from Malawi was not correct and reliable. There may be other similar cases also.

5) I am unable to give exact figures regarding the number of Sunni Mosques starting Ramadhan on Monday or Tuesday. However, I can confirm that all Sunni Mosques in Leicester have unanimously started Ramadhan on Tuesday 2nd September 2008.

6) Regarding the apparent sighting of the new moon in Waterval, South Africa, we never received this specific piece of information at any time between 6.30pm until 10.55pm. This is why this report was not considered and further investigated. Also our Sunni Ulema in Pretoria near Johannesburg did not convey this report to us.

It is unfortunate that differences continue to shroud what should be a fantastic moment for Muslims. However, I ask all of you to trust in our decision. We at all times make all possible efforts to make correct informed decisions according to Shariah, with the best niyah.

Mohammad Shahid Raza (Head Imam Leicester Central Mosque)
2nd September 2008/ 1st Ramadhan 1429