Religion

Religion

Discrepancy occurs between Caucasian Muslims Board and Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory over beginning of Ramadan month

04 July 2013 10:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Konul Kamilgizi, Mubariz Aslanov – APA. “The first day of a new month is the day on which the astronomical New Moon is calculated to occur. New moon will occur on July 8, 2013, 12:16 am. According to astronomical calculations, the first day of Ramadan month falls on July 9,” Deputy director of the Shamakhi-based Tusi Astrophysical Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Khidir Mikayilov told APA.

He said that if the weather is cloudless, everyone can see the new moon on July 10: “New moon occurs when Moon, and Sun lie in a straight line. We do not declare the beginning of the month of Ramadan. We declare that new moon starts a day after new moon occurs. Who wants to follow the astronomical calendar, can act accordingly this calculation. Which century are we living in? There are astronomical equipments that exactly determine new moon.”

Mikayilov noted that Turkey also starts the month of Ramadan on July 9. Issuing a fatwa in connection with the beginning of Ramadan month is the right of the Caucasian Muslim Board. According to their fatwa the first day of Ramadan month falls on July 10.

The Caucasian Muslims Board (CMB) has made public Ramadan month calendar for 2013. 1434 – the first day of Ramadan month falls on July 10 on Hijri calendar. According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, Ramadan - Eid-al-Fitr holiday will be marked on August 8 – 9.

Head of Fatwa department of the CMB Haji Miraziz Seyidzadeh refused the report of the Observatory in the phone talk with APA. He said that it is not the business of Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory: “They even do not know what it means to fast. When has Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory started dealing with religious affairs? Our calculations run contrary to each other. Our sources are religious sources.

Fatwa has been issued that the first day of Ramadan month falls on July 10, that’s all. We are people of shariat, calendar and calculations are completely different things!”