Criteria :: 09.2005
FOLLOWING IS THE CRITERIA
APPROVED BY THE HILAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DECISION ON BEGINNING OF ISLAMIC MONTHS
1. The moon sighting area (Matla) is
defined as that of all of USA and Canada. Any reported sighting of the Hilal
from within the “Matla” defined above shall be acceptable when it does not
contradict available astronomical data agreed upon by the majority Muslim
astronomers Br. Khalid Shaukat, Br. Muhibullah Durrani, Br. Omar Afzal, Br. Imad
Aldin and Br. Mohummed Hafeez, who are well known in the Muslim Community as
expert astronomers. This data will decide the possibility of moon sighting at
the place and time of the reported sighting. However, in the case of differences
between the astronomers' opinions, or on the basis of overwhelming physical
evidence, the committee shall decide to accept the sighting by a unanimous
approval of members.
2. If the ISNA Fiqh Committee, ICNA or
any other Islamic organization has accepted the sighting of Hilal after
directly talking to the witness, the Hilal Committee of Chicago shall consider
it acceptable, provided the reported sighting satisfies criteria No.1 above and
the Chairperson of the Chicago Hilal Committee has talked directly to the
Chairperson of the ISNA Fiqh Council, President of ICNA or the president of any
other recognized organization to obtain the details of the moon sighting.
3. The Hilal committee in New York,
Toronto, Detroit shall appoint contact persons, Houston and other cities as
deemed desirable. These persons would be requested to make the arrangements for
the moon sightings in their areas and inform the outcome to the Hilal Committee
for the testimony from the witness(es).
4. Members of the Hilal Committee must
be present at M.C.C. or any other place of the meeting decided by the
Chairperson of the Hilal committee or Chairperson of the Central Eid Committee
on the 29th of Shaban, Ramadan and Zulqada and must be available
on the phone on the day before these dates.
5. The Hilal committee shall decide
about the moon sighting within one hour period after the sunset on the west
coast.
Signed By:
| Maulana
Abdullah Saleem |
Mufti Gulam Samdani |
| Br. Elkhair
Elkhair |
Maulana Mohammed Ilyas
Qasmi |
| Br. Fisal
Hammouda |
Maulana Abdul Fattah |
| Mufti
Nawal-ur-Rahman |
Maulana Aziz Ahmed |
