Sayed Ahmed AlQazwini - Ramadan 2016 Night 29 (English)

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Ahlul Bayt Center of Toledo
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[0:00][Applause] [Music] Alhamdulillah.

[0:23]Respected brothers and sisters, One of the most important topics concerning Islamic

[0:34]law is the topic of the Islamic lunar month and when the

[0:41]Islamic lunar month begins because you see this has a great effect

[0:45]on our timed worships.

[0:49]For example, Ramadan.

[0:49]We fast in Ramadan.

[0:51]We stop fasting in Shawat.

[0:55]So we have to know when the lunar month of Ramadan begins

[0:57]for us to know when we stop we start fasting and we

[1:04]have to know when the month of Shaw begins so that we

[1:07]stop fasting.

[1:07]Likewise, if we want to perform a correct Hajj, we have to

[1:12]know when begins because we have to go to on the 9th

[1:15]of So, our fasting, our Hajj, it it's all dependent on the

[1:22]determining the the lunar month in the Islamic calendar.

[1:25]And you find there is lots of controversy always surrounding this topic.

[1:31]There's lots of confusion, misunderstanding and there's lots of criticism that's always

[1:37]being directed towards Islam in general or in specific the scholars.

[1:41]Many people will tell you our scholars are so backwards that in

[1:44]this day and age of technology and science all the advances in

[1:51]science.

[1:51]Our scholars are still using an old archaic methods to determine the

[1:55]new month.

[1:56]They have to wait until the moon is cited.

[1:57]They need witnesses to see it.

[2:00]when now you can use science to predict all of that.

[2:02]And you find people especially make this claim when the Eid comes.

[2:08]Every community I go they two days before the Eid you find

[2:15]people they begin to criticize the our so backwards our scholars are

[2:18]this they can't agree on something as simple as the Eid.

[2:23]So they have the idea that the Eid is a very simple

[2:27]task to determine and there's lots of confusion and people become they

[2:33]get impatient after fasting 28 29 days they get so impatient that

[2:37]they begin to accuse the scholars and that's why tonight I want

[2:40]to look over this topic and I want to examine it through

[2:44]three steps in order for us to understand how the Islamic lunar

[2:47]calendar works.

[2:49]Number one, when does the Islamic lunar month technically begin?

[2:53]Number two, can we use science to predict the new month?

[2:58]And number three, why do the scholars disagree on the day of

[3:01]Eid?

[3:02]And what are the solutions to this disagreement?

[3:04]So, we begin with the first point.

[3:07]When does the Islamic lunar month technically begin?

[3:11]You see, in some non-Islamic lunar calendars, the new month begins with

[3:17]the new moon.

[3:20]Whenever the new moon happens, whenever the new moon is born, this

[3:23]is when the new lunar month begins.

[3:24]And just to quickly explain what the new moon is, as we

[3:27]know, the moon orbits around the earth every month.

[3:32]And the farther away it goes from the direction of the sun,

[3:37]the more complete we see it until it turns into a full

[3:39]moon.

[3:40]And then the closer it goes towards the direction of the sun,

[3:42]the smaller we see it as a crescent until we no longer

[3:47]able to see it.

[3:50]So the the moon when it goes closer and closer towards the

[3:53]direction of the sun, it reaches a stage in which it is

[3:55]perfectly between earth and the sun, a perfect line.

[3:59]The astronomers call this point the conjunction.

[4:02]The earth, the moon, and then right behind the moon is the

[4:08]sun.

[4:06]There are one perfect line.

[4:10]When this happens, the new moon is born.

[4:12]Now, at this point, when the moon is exactly between the earth

[4:16]and the sun, you're not able to see the moon.

[4:20]It is impossible to see the moon.

[4:22]Why?

[4:23]Because there's no light for you to see it.

[4:25]The moon has no lights of it.

[4:26]No light of its own.

[4:26]It uses the light what of the sun.

[4:28]The sun is behind it.

[4:30]So, all the light is being reflected back towards the sun.

[4:33]There is no light being reflected towards us in the earth.

[4:38]So even if you have the strongest telescope, you're not able to

[4:42]see anything because there's no light.

[4:45]It's dark.

[4:43]This is the new moon.

[4:47]Now in some non-Islamic lunar calendars, when this happens, the conjunction when

[4:51]the earth, the sun, and the moon are in one line, this

[4:53]is when the new lunar month begins.

[4:55]This is in non-Islamic lunar calendars.

[4:58]Now in Islam, the new moon does not signalize the new month.

[5:04]The new moon does not mean anything.

[5:06]Even if you are able to predict predict the new moon that

[5:08]does not mean the new month began.

[5:09]When does the new month begin?

[5:13]The new month begins a few hours after that.

[5:14]Now after the moon is perfectly between the earth and the sun,

[5:20]it starts to drift away once again.

[5:20]Once it starts to drift away, the first second that the light

[5:27]of the moon reaches earth, this is when the new moon begins.

[5:30]When the new moon is visible for us people on the earth,

[5:36]this is when the new month begins.

[5:37]And this requires I'll speak about this in a few minutes at

[5:40]least 10 or 20 hours after the new moon before the moon

[5:45]is what is visible for us on earth.

[5:48]Now you may ask why what's the proof?

[5:51]Why can't we consider the new moon as being the beginning of

[5:56]the new month?

[5:56]Why is it the visibility of the moon?

[5:58]Why not the new moon itself?

[6:01]The they mention many proofs.

[6:03]I'll just mention two simple quick proofs.

[6:05]Number one, they refer to a verse in the holy Quran.

[6:07]Allah subhana wa ta says in the holy Quran they ask you

[6:15]about the moon, the crescent.

[6:16]What's the point of the moon?

[6:17]Can we benefit from the moon?

[6:22]Tell them Allah.

[6:24]Tell them that the moon is a sign of fixed periods or

[6:28]in other words the moon serves as a calendar for you.

[6:33]You can tell what day out of the month it is just

[6:35]by looking at the moon.

[6:37]Now what does Allah subhana t mean by this?

[6:40]First we have to understand the an the answer to a question

[6:46]that's always asked.

[6:46]Some people they ask why did Islam base its calendar on the

[6:53]moon?

[6:51]Why not on the sun?

[6:54]The solar calendar is much more accurate.

[6:56]It doesn't change like the one we use from January all the

[6:58]way to December.

[7:00]It's based on the sun.

[7:00]It's a solar calendar.

[7:03]So why didn't Islam base its calendar on the sun?

[7:07]It's much more predictable.

[7:08]It's much more accurate.

[7:08]You can plan 10 years ahead.

[7:10]July 4th, you want to travel, you know, July 4th is not

[7:14]going to change.

[7:14]Christmas, you want to try, it's not going to change.

[7:16]But what but the but the lunar calendar keeps changing.

[7:20]It's either 29 days, 30 days.

[7:21]We don't know what day Eid is.

[7:23]It's either Monday or Tuesday.

[7:23]We can't plan ahead.

[7:26]We can't book our tickets because we don't know.

[7:27]So, it's always what?

[7:29]It's always changing.

[7:29]So, what wouldn't it be better if Islam based its calendar on

[7:36]the sun?

[7:35]Because the solar calendar existed since the time of the Greeks.

[7:39]It's not something new.

[7:43]So, when Allah's time, he could have Islam could have based its

[7:46]calendar on the sun.

[7:48]It was available.

[7:47]science has reached that stage where they they had the solar calendar

[7:51]even back in then.

[7:55]So why why the lunar calendar?

[7:56]The they state that from this verse it appears that Allah subhana

[8:00]wa ta'ala based the Islamic calendar on the on the moon lunar

[8:04]instead of the solar for this reason because the lunar calendar is

[8:10]accessible to everyone.

[8:11]Even if you're a nomad illiterate living in the desert you can

[8:15]tell what day out of the month it is so easily.

[8:18]How?

[8:18]Just go and look at the moon.

[8:20]Based on the size of the moon, you can tell what day

[8:23]it is.

[8:24]If it's a full moon, it's in it's what?

[8:26]It's the middle of the month.

[8:27]If it's a half moon, it's toward 2022 or 10.

[8:30]If you don't see the moon, then you know it's towards the

[8:35]end of the month or the beginning of the next month.

[8:36]So, based on the size of the moon, you can tell what

[8:40]day out of the month it is.

[8:41]It's accessible to everyone.

[8:41]You don't need an astronomer to tell you what day out of

[8:45]the month it is.

[8:44]and the Arabs, they they could all determine what day out of

[8:49]the month it is just by looking at the moon.

[8:51]But the solar calendar, it's not accessible to everyone.

[8:53]Can you tell me right now what day out of July it

[8:57]is without looking at your iPhones and planners?

[9:00]No.

[9:01]You had no clue.

[9:01]Only an astronomer is able to what?

[9:03]To calculate what day in July it is.

[9:05]He has to look at the sun, the angle of the sun,

[9:08]the season, make some calculations and then he could tell you what

[9:11]day it is.

[9:12]Or else an average person it's not easy to calculate what day

[9:15]out of the solar calendar it is.

[9:18]But the lunar calendar it's so easy.

[9:19]Just look for the moon and that's it.

[9:21]Just based on the size you can tell what day it is.

[9:23]So because Allah wanted an easy system that's accessible to everyone.

[9:28]He based his calendar on the moon not the sun.

[9:30]Now when we take this analogy we come to the beginning of

[9:39]the moon.

[9:36]Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala he says Allah says that the moon is

[9:47]a calendar for everyone.

[9:48]Everyone can tell what day out of the month it is.

[9:51]You don't have to be an astronomer.

[9:53]Now if Allah would have came and said that the new month

[9:55]begins with the new moon, who can tell the new moon?

[9:59]Can you can anyone here tell me without going back to astronomers

[10:02]when the new moon will be born?

[10:03]No one.

[10:04]You would have to be an astronomer.

[10:06]You'd have to make precise calculations to know when the new moon

[10:09]is born.

[10:11]Correct?

[10:12]So once again, we'd need astronomers.

[10:13]The reason why Allah he chose the lunar calendar rather than the

[10:18]solar even though the solar calendar is more accurate is because he

[10:22]wants it to be accessible to everyone easy.

[10:25]If once again he would have came and said then the new

[10:27]moon the new month begins with the new moon.

[10:29]Once again we'd have to go back to the astronomer.

[10:32]So he's defeating the purpose of choosing the lunar month to begin

[10:34]with.

[10:35]you should have just chose the solar month.

[10:37]So Allah chose the lunar month because it's easy.

[10:38]Since he chose the lunar month because it's easy.

[10:42]The new month has to begin with something easy that everyone can

[10:46]tell.

[10:47]The new moon is only what is only for the astronomers.

[10:52]The Quran says everyone can tell when the when the new month

[10:55]begins.

[10:55]The new moon can only be told by whom?

[10:58]By the astronomers.

[11:00]So that's why the they say the new month can only begin

[11:02]by a phenomenon that everyone can tell and that's none other than

[11:06]the visibility of the moon.

[11:07]Whenever you see the crescent this is the new month.

[11:11]The new moon by itself is not enough because this is for

[11:16]the astronomers.

[11:15]Allah says for everyone it has to be an easy sign.

[11:19]So even if I know when the new moon is the new

[11:23]month has not be.

[11:22]We have to wait a few hours until the new moon is

[11:26]able to be seen.

[11:26]It's visible for us people on this earth.

[11:29]So this is number one.

[11:32]This verse in the Quran they use to prove that the new

[11:35]moon does not do anything.

[11:36]Number two, the second proof that they used to show that the

[11:41]new month begins with the visibility of the moon, not the new

[11:44]moon itself being born is the hadith of there are tens of

[11:50]hadiths that the companions of the imams, they used to come and

[11:53]ask the imam, what do we do?

[11:55]Is tomorrow Ramadan or is tomorrow the end of Shaan?

[11:57]And likewise they come in the end of Ramadan.

[12:01]Is tomorrow the last day of Ramadan or is it Eid?

[12:05]We don't know.

[12:05]The imams would always give the same answer.

[12:07]What would they say?

[12:09]Two words.

[12:11]If you see the moon then you start you start fasting Ramadan.

[12:18]If you see the moon then you stop fasting.

[12:21]You consider E.

[12:20]If you did not see the moon then you cannot consider tomorrow

[12:24]as Eid you cannot consider tomorrow as the beginning of Ramadan and

[12:28]that's why the they say even towards the end of Shaan if

[12:30]you did not see the moon of Ramadan you cannot start fasting

[12:36]with the intention of Ramadan your fasting will be unaccepted you have

[12:39]to fast with the intention of you have to fast with the

[12:42]intention of but if I intend on fasting Ramadan while the moon

[12:49]was not spotted then I cannot in fast with the intention of

[12:53]Ramadan.

[12:54]So the imams would always give this answer.

[12:58]They would say you have to see the moon.

[13:02]It has to be visible.

[13:02]Now does that mean that someone has to actually go and see

[13:09]it?

[13:05]No.

[13:06]The say what the imams mean by is that the moon has

[13:15]to be visible.

[13:14]So if someone wants to see it, it's visible.

[13:19]If it's not visible by the eye then or by the telescope

[13:24]based on the differences in opinion in theat's views then you cannot

[13:29]consider tomorrow as Eid.

[13:28]So for example if I know 100% the moon is visible the

[13:34]crescent is visible but there's a cloud in front of it.

[13:35]It's a cloudy day.

[13:37]So should I say tomorrow is not eight because I didn't see

[13:39]the moon.

[13:41]Tomorrow is still eight because the moon is visible.

[13:43]So what the imam means is the moon has to reach a

[13:45]stage in which if someone was to see it on a cl

[13:49]on a clear day it would be visible.

[13:50]If the moon has reached that stage then tomorrow is aid then

[13:56]the new month has begun.

[13:56]Now if there's clouds or certain there's a storm you did not

[13:59]see it that does not mean tomorrow is not eight.

[14:01]That does not mean the new month did not begin.

[14:04]Now here you may come and you may object to this argument.

[14:09]You may say, "Wait a minute.

[14:11]The only reason why the im said because back then 1400 years

[14:18]ago, the only way for people to know the new moon is

[14:20]born is to see it.

[14:23]If you don't see it, how would you know it's born?" So,

[14:25]because science was not advanced, because they could not predict the new

[14:28]moon, the only way to know the new moon was to see

[14:31]it.

[14:31]Now, we don't need to see it.

[14:33]We don't need to wait until we see it.

[14:35]Science can tell us it's already born.

[14:37]So why can't we rely on science and telling this new moon?

[14:42]Say no.

[14:43]This is not a valid argument.

[14:45]Why?

[14:46]Because don't think that astronomy is is something new.

[14:48]Astronomy existed since the time of the Greeks.

[14:52]The Greeks could predict the new moon.

[14:54]Just read about it.

[14:54]So 1400 years ago, astronomers could predict the new moon.

[14:58]The only thing that happened now with all the advancement in science,

[15:02]they became a little more precise.

[15:03]So, 1400 years ago, astronomers could predict the new moon, but they

[15:08]would be 3 4 minutes off.

[15:11]Now, they could tell you to the second when the new moon

[15:13]will be born.

[15:14]But at the end of the day, 1400 years ago, even the

[15:16]new moon, the imams had a way to tell the new moon.

[15:20]So, the imams could have told their companions, go and ask the

[15:22]astronomers, when the new moon is born, when whatever they tell you,

[15:27]then follow them, couldn't they?

[15:27]But they didn't.

[15:28]They said, you have to see it.

[15:33]Meaning it has to be visible.

[15:33]Just the the new the new moon being born is not enough.

[15:38]The new moon has to what?

[15:39]The new moon has to reach that stage in which it is

[15:45]visible to us people on this earth.

[15:46]So now that we understand that the new month in Islam begins

[15:50]with the visibility of the moon, not the new moon.

[15:54]We go to the second question.

[15:55]Can we use science to predict the new moon or not?

[15:59]Now here I think the answer is clear already because the question

[16:03]will be what do you want to use in science?

[16:06]There's one of two possibilities.

[16:08]You either want to use science to predict the new moon or

[16:14]you want to use science to predict the visibility of the moon.

[16:17]You choose one of two.

[16:18]If you say I want to ch I want to use science

[16:22]to predict the new moon then the answer is already clear.

[16:25]Science is 100% accurate in predicting the new moon.

[16:29]But the new moon does me no good.

[16:30]The new moon means nothing.

[16:32]Even if comes and tells me the new moon is born, so

[16:35]what?

[16:35]That does not mean the new month began.

[16:37]Because we said what?

[16:37]The new moon does not begin the new month.

[16:39]The new month begins with the visibility of the moon.

[16:44]And that requires a few hours after that.

[16:46]The new moon begins with the visibility of the moon.

[16:47]So you can't use science to predict the new moon because the

[16:53]new moon doesn't uh benefit you in any way.

[16:54]So then you'll say that let's choose option B.

[16:58]Then we'll use science to predict the visibility of the moon.

[17:03]Yes.

[17:01]Now this is a good this is the good criteria.

[17:04]The criteria for the new month is the visibility of the moon.

[17:09]So why can't we use science to predict the visibility of the

[17:11]moon?

[17:12]Do you know what the problem is?

[17:13]Science itself is not 100% accurate in predicting the visibility of the

[17:18]moon.

[17:19]And we can only accept science if it's accurate 100%.

[17:24]If science itself is not accurate, we can't accept it.

[17:26]With the new moon, it's accurate, but we the new moon does

[17:29]me no good.

[17:29]There's no benefit in the new moon.

[17:31]Pred visibility of the moon is good, but science is not accurate.

[17:37]And I spoke to at least three astronomers about predicting the visibility

[17:40]of the moon.

[17:41]They themselves told me when we say the moon will be spotted

[17:45]in your area by the naked eye, we're making a guess.

[17:47]We're making an assumption, a calculation.

[17:50]We could be wrong.

[17:54]60% right, 70% right, 80.

[17:56]There's always what 20 30 40% chance we could be wrong.

[17:58]And that's why you see many times that the moon sighting websites

[18:02]and the scientists they say the moon will be spotted in your

[18:06]area.

[18:07]It's clear.

[18:09]Tens of people go nobody sees it.

[18:11]So they themselves admit that we are not advanced that much in

[18:15]order for us to what to say 100% that the moon will

[18:20]be visible in your area.

[18:21]Now sometimes yes sometimes it's very clear they will tell you in

[18:24]your area 95% it'll be shown it'll be seen but sometimes they

[18:31]will tell you it's not clear 50% chance 40% chance how can

[18:33]I rely on 40% chance we can only rely on science if

[18:38]it gives us certainty so that's the problem with predicting relying on

[18:43]science to predict the moon science itself has not reached that stage

[18:46]in which is it is 100% accurate it.

[18:52]And that's why you see my dear brothers and sisters, the astronomers,

[18:58]especially the Muslim astronomers I've seen, they say there are at least

[19:02]four things, four criterias that must happen before the moon is visible

[19:06]for the naked eye.

[19:09]They say the the number one is the age of the moon.

[19:10]When the new moon is born, you can't see the moon.

[19:15]You have to wait at least 20 hours.

[19:16]If the moon is less than 20 hours old, you cannot see

[19:21]it with the naked eye.

[19:22]That's number one.

[19:25]Number two.

[19:24]Number two is the elongation of the moon.

[19:26]Elongation means how far away it's from the sun, east or west.

[19:32]How much has it drifted away?

[19:33]It has to be at least 10° away from the sun.

[19:37]If it's 30 30 hours old, but it's five degrees, you know,

[19:41]away from the sun, you won't be able to see it because

[19:44]the sun, the light of the sun will prevent you from seeing

[19:45]the moon.

[19:46]So, it has to be at least 10 degrees away.

[19:49]If it's less, you won't be able to see it.

[19:53]Number three, the elevation, the altitude of the moon.

[19:54]It has to be at least 8 degrees above the horizon.

[19:57]If it's less, you won't be able to see it.

[20:01]Even if it's 30, 35 hours old, if it's too low, you

[20:04]won't be able to see it.

[20:05]And number four, the lagging time.

[20:07]Lagging time means the time between moon sunset and moonset.

[20:12]It has to be at least 40 minutes.

[20:14]If it's less than 40 minutes, you won't see it.

[20:14]So only if all these criterias are met only then you could

[20:20]see the moon with your eyes.

[20:22]Now the problem is the astronomers themselves they differ in these four

[20:27]criterias.

[20:28]One astronomer will say at least 20 hours another will say 25

[20:31]another will say 19.

[20:33]The elongation some will say 10 some will say eight some will

[20:36]say 12.

[20:37]So the lagging time some will say 35 minutes some 40.

[20:40]So when the astronomers themselves have disagreed so much on the criteras

[20:44]of predicting the moon, how can we rely on them?

[20:47]They themselves have differed so much.

[20:50]So when some scholars have reservations, when they don't want to rely

[20:55]on the predictions of the new moon, it's not because they're backwards.

[21:01]It's not because they don't accept science.

[21:06]This is this is you know trying to blame the for some

[21:08]of the problems that we have when they have no no fault.

[21:12]It's not because they don't rely on science.

[21:15]It's because science itself has so much dis disagreements between the scientists

[21:18]themselves on what criteras you need to predict the moon.

[21:22]So that's why they themselves are not always accurate.

[21:25]But however the do state this and sistani does mention this.

[21:32]He says if there is a certain scientist or a certain website

[21:35]of moon sighting in which you on a personal level in which

[21:39]you per personally believe in it always gives you certainty on a

[21:45]personal level then you can rely on it that's okay let's say

[21:48]moonsighting.com over the past years I have noticed personally that it's always

[21:52]accurate for example if I have noticed that it's always accurate then

[21:56]I can rely on moonsighting.com but however I cannot not impose moonsighting.com

[22:01]on others.

[22:03]I can't come and tell you why isn't tomorrowsighting.com brother moonsoonsighting.com is

[22:09]what it's a scientist that's his view you want to accept his

[22:12]view you can accept his view but you can't impose it on

[22:16]other people me maybe I'm not convinced of moonsighting.com you're convinced so

[22:18]it's a personal issue that's why you see some people they bring

[22:23]you the paper from a website they tell you oh why don't

[22:25]accept this brother this is just a guess this is a calculation

[22:29]you want to accept it you can accept it if you believe

[22:31]this person's accurate but You can't impose and for force other people

[22:34]to follow it because this is not 100%.

[22:36]This is a guess.

[22:39]If you think it's a correct guess, this is your opinion.

[22:42]You can't impose it on other people.

[22:45]And that's why some years the they do rely on some websites

[22:48]because they personally think this website, this scientist is correct, is always

[22:52]correct or most of the times is correct and they have certainty.

[22:54]So if you have certainty from a website or scientist, you can

[22:59]rely on them.

[22:58]But we cannot impose it on other people because it's a personal

[23:02]thing.

[23:03]I think Crest is better than Colgate.

[23:04]Can I come and force you to buy Crest?

[23:06]No, it's a personal issue.

[23:07]You think Colgate is better?

[23:08]The same thing.

[23:09]I think moonsighting.com is accurate.

[23:10]Tell us this is my personal opinion.

[23:14]I can't come and impose it on other people.

[23:18]Now, after understanding the second answer to the second question, can we

[23:21]use science or not?

[23:21]We saw the problem with science.

[23:22]We go to the third.

[23:25]We go to the third question.

[23:30]Why do the disagree?

[23:30]You see unfortunately some of us we always like to make things

[23:34]so simple to us the determination of the Eid we think it's

[23:41]so easy and that's why we attack the scholars we say something

[23:44]as simple as the Eid the cannot decide and you know agree

[23:50]they have to disagree brother who told you deciding the Eid is

[23:52]easy did you go and read the hadith did you read the

[23:56]Quran did you look at the the the you know the academic

[23:59]discussions between the and why they differ.

[24:02]Sometimes before we know anything, we make judgments.

[24:07]We're so ignorant, but we make judgments.

[24:10]Who told you it's a simple process?

[24:12]Brothers and sisters, the process of determining the Eid is one of

[24:16]the most difficult processes.

[24:16]It's not easy.

[24:18]It's because we're so ignorant.

[24:20]We think it's so easy.

[24:21]Why?

[24:22]You see sometimes the differ because their understanding of the hadith and

[24:27]the Quran differs.

[24:29]It's an academic dispute.

[24:30]It's not personal.

[24:30]Some they think that when the disagree they have a personal problem.

[24:36]If for example of say X he says tomorrow's Eid.

[24:38]Why doesn't Y accept that tomorrow's Eid?

[24:41]They think it's a personal problem because Y doesn't accept X.

[24:46]No because S Y's views are different than SE X.

[24:51]Let me give you an example.

[24:51]Let's say one says tomorrow's Eid because this the moon was spotted

[24:56]in Brazil.

[24:57]The other says, "Okay, I accept the moon is is is spotted

[24:59]in Brazil." But Brazil does me no good because according to my

[25:02]understanding of Islam, the moon has to be spotted in your area.

[25:07]So let 50 million people see the moon in Brazil.

[25:08]So what?

[25:10]So this is an academic difference.

[25:12]They they differ because their understanding of how the new moon begins

[25:17]the new month begins is different.

[25:22]One says if it's spotted in your area then you can consider

[25:24]tomorrow.

[25:25]If it's spotted in another country that's no good.

[25:26]Others they say no anywhere in the world it's spotted and you

[25:32]share a portion of the night with then that's okay.

[25:34]Then to you can consider Eid.

[25:37]So if I for example I'm a sistani and I believe that

[25:41]if the moon was cited in Brazil tomorrow is not how can

[25:47]I say tomorrow's but you follow says no if it was cited

[25:52]in Brazil then it's it's enough for you there's no way to

[25:54]unite these two people because the difference is academic it's not because

[25:59]they don't accept each other says tomorrow is not even if the

[26:03]entire country of Brazil sees it says no I believe according to

[26:05]the hadith that tomorrow is because Brazil is enough for you.

[26:10]So we have to always what make sure that we understand why

[26:12]the scholars are disagreeing because their understanding of how the new month

[26:16]begins is different.

[26:19]Another country suffices to one another country does not suffice to another.

[26:23]There's no way they could what they can reconcile.

[26:26]What there's no you know way they can unite.

[26:27]That's one thing.

[26:30]Another thing is you find that sometimes they disagree is because You

[26:36]know when the hadith of the im said you can only start

[26:42]fasting, stop fasting if you saw the moon.

[26:45]What did the im mean by saw the moon?

[26:47]Some they say that it has to be seen by the naked

[26:48]eye.

[26:49]Telescope is not enough.

[26:52]Other say telescope.

[26:51]So if you accept telescope of course you could see the moon

[26:56]much earlier than if you wanted to see it with the naked

[26:58]eye.

[26:59]Likewise once again there's no way to reconcile.

[27:01]So if you come and tell say the sistani that tonight we

[27:03]could see the moon with a telescope.

[27:04]says so what telescope does me no good we have to see

[27:08]it by the naked eye so there's no way that we can

[27:08]reconcile but you go to another like say he used to believe

[27:13]that if you see it with the telescope that's enough this is

[27:15]not because he doesn't accept the science or anything it's because the

[27:18]hadith says means by the naked eye telescope does me no good

[27:24]the the moon has to reach a stage in which it's at

[27:25]least 20 25 hours old if you see it with the telescope

[27:29]you could see as early as 10 hours this does not mean

[27:33]the new month be so there's no way to reconcile between the

[27:36]different views.

[27:37]So we shouldn't simple everything you know see everything as being so

[27:41]simple and these they have personal vendetta they have personal problems that's

[27:45]why they don't agree no because their views are different then of

[27:50]course the Eid will be different and finally what's the solution fine

[27:55]the have the right to each one has his own understanding each

[28:02]one is going to have a different day of Eid but in

[28:04]one community we have people following different malaj What's the solution for

[28:12]having one?

[28:11]Sometimes we have two Eids.

[28:15]I remember one year we had three Eids.

[28:18]Uh Friday, Saturday, Sunday, some Friday, some excuse me, some Saturday and

[28:24]some Monday.

[28:23]So, how can we resolve this problem?

[28:26]Some people see this as a huge problem having more than one.

[28:29]Now, first of all, my dear brothers and sisters, it's not a

[28:32]problem to begin with.

[28:34]So, what?

[28:33]Let's have two eight.

[28:36]Let's have three eight.

[28:36]Let's have five.

[28:37]So what what's what's the big deal?

[28:39]Is it the end of the world if we have two?

[28:42]Is it the end of the world that we have three?

[28:42]Look at what's happening in other countries.

[28:44]My dear brothers and sisters, people are getting slaughtered every day.

[28:48]Look at what happened in Baghdad two nights ago.

[28:50]215 people.

[28:51]I read the news right now.

[28:54]The death toll climbed to 215 people died in a few seconds.

[28:57]People are afraid to go shopping in Iraq.

[29:00]People are afraid to go to the masjid.

[29:01]And we sit here and complain why there's two Eids.

[29:05]We have no real problems.

[29:08]So what?

[29:08]Because we have no real problems, we sit and we make problems

[29:12]out of nothing.

[29:13]We create problems.

[29:13]Let there be five E.

[29:14]Alhamdulillah.

[29:15]At least there's safety.

[29:16]At least, alhamdulillah, I sleep every night with a full stomach.

[29:21]At least I don't go hungry.

[29:23]There's children in in in Iraq and in Afghanistan and other countries

[29:26]that sleep while they're hungry.

[29:28]They have no food.

[29:30]And I have to make so much chaos.

[29:32]Every year there's chaos about the Eid.

[29:34]Why is there two Eids?

[29:34]Why can't So what?

[29:36]Let there be three Eids.

[29:37]Is it the end of the world?

[29:38]Life is a test.

[29:40]Have some patience.

[29:40]Immedi is not here.

[29:43]What can we do?

[29:42]What's your solution?

[29:45]You tell us what's the solution.

[29:46]Mahi, if he was here, we'd all follow him.

[29:49]There would be 18.

[29:49]Immedi is not here.

[29:52]We have more than one.

[29:52]What can we do?

[29:55]We kill the other.

[29:55]We make it a dictatorship.

[29:59]Just one.

[30:00]We have the the door of is open.

[30:02]Whoever goes to the house of studies becomes a mush can be

[30:04]a merger.

[30:05]He can give his view based on the Quran and the so

[30:09]we can't force the to agree.

[30:10]They can't.

[30:11]If a sist believes tomorrow is Eid, how can he give fatwa?

[30:14]If he believes tomorrow is not, how can he give fatwa tomorrow's

[30:16]eid?

[30:17]You want Allah to take him to the fires of hell just

[30:20]so you eat one day sooner.

[30:23]If he believes tomorrow is not eight, he truly believes.

[30:26]How can he say tomorrow's eight?

[30:27]It is haram to eat if tomorrow is not.

[30:30]How can he say tomorrow is Eid?

[30:31]Allah will hold him responsible.

[30:32]And if the believes tomorrow is Eid, how can he say tomorrow

[30:36]is not?

[30:37]Each has to follow what he thinks is right.

[30:39]And that's why I always say my dear brothers and sisters, unity

[30:45]by itself is not a goal.

[30:46]Unity by itself is worthless.

[30:48]Unity is only valuable if it's with h.

[30:54]unity and h or else if I just want to unite and

[30:55]compromise the h let's all become Christians let's unite with Christians wouldn't

[31:00]life be easier yes or no with all the Islamophobia in the

[31:04]US wouldn't life be easier if we just all go and become

[31:06]Christians let's unite with Christians if unity is all you care about

[31:12]let's go become a Christian go become an atheist unity is only

[31:15]valuable if it's with the h with the truth I I do

[31:20]not compromise the truth just to be united If I believe my

[31:24]is the most knowledgeable and my says the day after tomorrow is

[31:28]so what let us be disunited for the for the sake of

[31:33]there's no other option the other option is to compromise your principles

[31:36]is to compromise what you believe is to be the truth so

[31:40]we shouldn't make a big deal out of it my dear brothers

[31:42]and sisters unity is good if it was with the h but

[31:48]if it means I compromise the h then you let unity go

[31:51]Imam I mentioned this many times im Ali he says he says

[31:57]because I always want to follow the I'm always alone I'm always

[32:01]by myself and everyone else is somewhere else because everyone else want

[32:06]to chase after their desires im Ali is always after the h

[32:08]people don't want the h people want unity fine go be united

[32:13]on the bul what's the point let's all become sunnis then let's

[32:16]just unite with let's all all of a sudden just become sunnis

[32:19]let's become Christians No, that's not how that's not how how things

[32:23]work.

[32:24]Unity is only valuable if it's with the if it means that

[32:30]I compromise the it has absolutely no value.

[32:34]And that's why the hadith of Sai wasallam he tells he tells

[32:45]him he says if you see the whole world going one way

[32:50]just by himself going another way leave the world go after unity

[32:54]by itself tell me which verse in the Quran tells us that

[32:59]unity is the most important thing even if it's at the No,

[33:02]Allah always condemns the majority.

[33:08]Most people, they're always doing wrong.

[33:12]So unity, if it was possible, that's great.

[33:16]We love unity.

[33:18]But sometimes it's not possible.

[33:19]So we compromise our beliefs, we compromise our principles just for the

[33:23]sake of unity.

[33:23]This is wrong, my dear brothers and sisters.

[33:25]We have to be patient a little.

[33:26]This is a test.

[33:28]considered a test of Allah subhana wa tala that in the of

[33:30]the of the im the im is the occultation the shia are

[33:34]going to disagree what can we do we don't have one leader

[33:36]that unites us there's going to be different leaders when there's different

[33:39]leaders each leader has his own view just like different doctors have

[33:43]different views different have different views so this is perfectly normal we

[33:49]shouldn't you know take it out of proportion and make a big

[33:51]deal out of two or three and finally if if this is

[33:56]a very big deal for Then the have mentioned and you all

[33:58]know this that the solution if you want to all come one

[34:03]day and have the Eid those individuals that have the later Eid

[34:06]like let's say this year Wednesday they can travel today traveled at

[34:12]least uh 15 kilometers or 15 miles outside the city limits break

[34:17]your fastal nothing wrong with that absolutely not no sin you come

[34:24]back you're not fasting come pray salat nothing wrong with have breakfast

[34:28]and enjoy that day and then after Ramadan make up one day.

[34:34]If you really want to have just one day of celebration then

[34:36]those that have the later Eid they can travel or if you

[34:39]don't want to you don't have to just come Wednesday we have

[34:42]two you can come twice so look at it in the you

[34:45]know in a good way instead of one day of celebration now

[34:47]we have two days of celebration now of course now the your

[34:52]your Eid will be the Eid that your tells you but still

[34:57]you could still travel and come and that's why you know and

[34:59]I mentioned this a few nights ago and I always mention this

[35:03]I had never in my life witnessed the individuals that have the

[35:07]first Eid, I never see them coming again the next day.

[35:10]Meaning, it's always the ones that have the later Eid coming earlier.

[35:16]The ones that have the earlier Eid, they will not tell you,

[35:19]you know what, today is Eid, we'll just have a quiet celebration

[35:21]in our house and then tomorrow the second Eid, we'll go and

[35:26]do it with everyone else.

[35:27]No, it's all about what?

[35:28]It's all about breaking my fast earlier.

[35:30]It's all about earlier.

[35:31]It's not about having unity in Eid.

[35:35]Most people, it's about having the earlier Eid.

[35:36]That's why those people that have the first Eid never complain.

[35:40]You never hear them speaking about unity because who cares about unity?

[35:44]As long as I can eat tomorrow to hell with unity.

[35:48]It's always the poor guys.

[35:49]Oh, they have to wait.

[35:49]They have to fast one more day.

[35:50]Why isn't there unity?

[35:53]They use unity as an excuse for their desires.

[35:56]It's all about 29 days we fast.

[35:59]We ruin everything in one night.

[36:00]No tawa.

[36:02]What's the point?

[36:01]You fast at 29 days.

[36:03]So you be patient.

[36:03]Correct.

[36:04]Why do we fast for 29 days?

[36:05]To have tawa, fear of Allah to be patient and then all

[36:09]of a sudden night of Eid, we lose all that patience.

[36:10]Sometimes in some communities I see fights, fights, physical fights over the

[36:14]Eid.

[36:15]This guy follows this guy another they start fighting just because of

[36:20]one day just fast one more day.

[36:22]What's what's the big deal?

[36:22]And you don't want to fast.

[36:24]It's the end of the world for you.

[36:25]Go travel.

[36:26]But don't make a big fuss out of it and commotion and

[36:30]start attacking the because Allah will hold you responsible on the day

[36:34]of judgment for what I have done.

[36:35]Some people it's because of their ignorance.

[36:37]Other it's because of their desires.

[36:39]So we have to make sure that our goal is to please

[36:43]Allah not to to you know please my naps and my desires.

[36:47]So this is the solution.

[36:49]Travel.

[36:49]If you don't want to fast tomorrow, travel and make it up

[36:53]later and come and have one to eat.

[36:55]But however, and I always mention this, my dear brothers and sisters,

[36:59]this is never a solution to change your because you want to

[37:04]have one day earlier.

[37:05]This is not a solution.

[37:09]Some people they change their because his saying the is the day

[37:14]after tomorrow.

[37:15]I change my to the says is tomorrow.

[37:18]This is wrong.

[37:17]I'm playing games with Allah.

[37:19]Do you choose your because he's easier or because he's faster?

[37:24]And that's not the criteria.

[37:25]You choose the one that's the most knowledgeable, not the one that's

[37:29]easier.

[37:30]So changing my is not an option.

[37:33]If you truly believe your is the most knowledgeable, who cares when

[37:38]is you follow him?

[37:38]Even if it's the day after tomorrow, changing my Eid just because

[37:42]I want to have tomorrow.

[37:44]This is playing game.

[37:43]So we have to make sure that we don't do that.

[37:47]My dear brothers and sisters, I ask Allah subhana wa ta'ala to

[37:49]bless us all to accept our in this blessed month of Ramadan.

[37:55]I ask Allah subhana t to give us the patience that we

[37:58]can endure the remaining minutes or the remaining day of Ramadan.

[38:03]I ask him to accept our and I would like to congratulate

[38:05]everyone that has the Eid tomorrow for this uh day of celebration

[38:10]and whoever has the Eid the day after tomorrow I would like

[38:15]to also congratulate them on this beautiful day of uh Eid I

[38:20]ask Allah subhana t to bless you all.

[38:28][Music]

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