(Baqra) Eid ka Chand

Baqra Eid 2012 Moon From Our Rooftop

Yesterday, when I was coming out of the mosque after Maghrib prayers I inevitably noticed the newborn crescent of Zil-Hajj. Subhanallah!

It was a welcome sight as observing a newborn moon is not only difficult but important also. (Why so? Please see below)

Good Luck

Luckily the sky was clear enough that even a person with eyesight like mine could see it without seeking someone’s help!

It was a good luck for the whole nation also as the self-assuming clerics at Masjid Qasim Khan at Peshawar could not see the Halal a day earlier! So unlike the ‘small’ Eid a couple of months back when we celebrated on three different dates, there will be – most probably – one ‘big’ Eid all across the country!

However, SaudiArabia announced that they will celebrate the 3 days festival of sacrifice from Friday, a day earlier, as they had already completed 30 days of Ze-Qaad. Accordingly, this year Hajj will be performed on Thursday, October 25^th.

Suspense

Overhere, especially around work places, people are worried about Eid holidays, i.e. which days government would announce officially off. It is tricky because Eid is now falling on Saturday and Sunday, which are already off-days at most places, so people are now expecting something generous from the ‘awami’ government! A friend suggests “Who knows the govt. is quite liberal in giving holidays and may also announce Monday (alongwith Friday) off.”

Around neighborhoods, people – and especially youngsters – are mostly discussing where to buy the sacrificial animal, and at what price?

The Basics

On top of all this festivity, let’s not forget the rationale behind it; sacrifice, good deeds, and helping those who are in need. I found the following link very appealing in this regard and would also like to share it with ones who might be looking for solace:

Virtues of the First 10 Days of “Dhul-Hijja”

Why Moon Sighting is Difficult and Important?

It is Difficult in the sense that the newborn moon is usually razor thin, unlike the moon yesterday, and needs sharp eyes to locate. It appears for very short duration and that too around sunset. So if the environment is hazy or there clouds, sighting becomes more difficult.

And important in the sense that the start of a lunar month is usually subject to moon sighting which cannot be predicted in advance accurately as there are almost always a chance that the new moon appears a day earlier, i.e. after completing only 29 days of the previous month; as it appeared here yesterday.

It becomes more important for Muslims because their festivals – Ramzan, Eid, Baqra Eid, Ashura – are linked to the lunar calendar and their exact dates are always a surprise, at times till the eleventh hour! This phenomenon adds an element of suspense, diversity, and sometimes controversies also!

Resource

On the internet, I found a useful resource on moon sighting; however, I am not sure of its authenticity:

http://moonsighting.com/1433zhj.html

And yes, a warm Eid Mubarak to all in advance.