Suggested Global Lunar Calendar
(If Ulamaa' want to consider)
|
- Astronomical calculations can be used to determine the beginning of the lunar months
with the consideration of the sightability of the crescent anywhere on the globe.
- To determine a Global Lunar Calendar, a conventional point of reference must be used.
The International Date Line (IDL) is the best place to be used as a reference point.
- The lunar Lunar month begins at sunset of the day when the conjunction occurs before
0:00 midnight at IDL (which is 12:00 Noon GMT). If the conjunction occurs after 0:00 at
IDL, then the month begins at sunset of the next day.
Brief Explanation:
A. Discussion of a number of
research papers led to the conclusion that the use of
calculation both in negation as well as affirmation of
the beginning of the new Lunar months has a firm
basis in the Qur'an and Sunnah as well as in the opinion
of some classical and contemporary jurists.
B. The new moon (i.e. time of
conjunction) is when the Moon passes between the Earth
and the Sun closest to the Sun-Earth line. This time of
conjunction is precisely predictable by astronomical calculation.
C. The conjunction before 0:00 at IDL (i.e. 12:00 Noon
GMT) would give enough time to the new moon to be visible (weather permitting)
somewhere on the globe on that day.
|
|
|
|
| Global Lunar Calendar |
|
No complicated
calculations are needed for this calendar. Any person
with common sense math can make it. Only the time and
date of new moon birth is
Needed, which can easily be obtained from Almanacs, Newspapers, or Internet.
|
|
|
| Why
12:00 GMT |
|
Primary reason is that when
it is 12:00 noon GMT, it is 0:00 at International
Dateline (IDL) [180:00 Longitude]. So, when sunset time
comes at IDL around 6:00 to 6:30 pm, it will be 18 plus
hours after conjunction, and the moon is considered
sightable at the IDL or before, when its age has become
more than 18 hours.
Secondary reason is that when it is 12:00 noon GMT, it
is 0:00 at IDL. If the conjunction has occurred before
that time, then the month can begin at the IDL when it
is 0:00 at IDL, meaning a new day has started. This
condition will not be true if we choose any other reference line or reference time.
Also, the sightability consideration would be affected if any other time is chosen.
| | | |