THE GOVERNOR OF Makkah delivered a speech and said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a pledge from us that we should perform the rites of Hajj after sighting the moon. If we do not sight it and two reliable persons bear witness, we should perform the rites of hajj on the basis of their witness.’ (Abu Dawud)
From this we can understand that the start of Dhul Hijjah is based on sighting of the moon of the people of Makkah. However if they do not see it, they take the sighting of two other witnesses from anywhere else if they have sighted the moon.
So what are the possibilities?
Makkah sees it. Everyone takes that sighting as the start of Dhul Hijjah and Arafah and Eid accordingly.
Makkah doesn’t see it. But others see it anywhere across the world. Makkah accepts that sighting and the dates are set accordingly.
No one sights the moon. So 30 days is completed for Dhul Qadah and the rites of Hajj are set accordingly.
So where does the problem arise?
The reality of nationalism unfortunately means that Saudi won’t accept the sighting of Muslims elsewhere in the world. Similarly Muslims in other countries won’t accept the sighting of the people of Makkah. So we end up with people starting Dhul Hijjah on different days, taking Arafah and Eid on different days.
The Hajj is perhaps one othe greatest signs of our unity. Anyone who has been to Hajj will attest to that. People from across the world, different colurs, different languanges and customs yet all united by a single purpose of seeking Allah’s pleasure through the Hajj.
Yet nationalism puts a barrier to that unity. We know the reward of those who perform the Hajj. But Allah is most Generous with His reward and those who cannot go are not left out. There are many good actions that we can perform. We can fast on the day of Arafah through which Allah forgives the sins of the year before and the year to come, if He wills. But to fast that day is also a sign of solidarity with our ummah who are standing on the plain on Arafah- a single ummah engaged in the worship of their Lord on a single day.
In the past we find different scholars, including the companion Ibn Abbas (ra), would assemble in the masajid in solidarity with their pilgrim brothers and sisters on the Day of Arafah. Qadi Ibn Al-Arabi explains: ‘People of different areas are followers to the pilgrims in this issue” (Al-Arabi, Ahkamul Quran, Vol. 1, P. 143)
Of course the hujjaj in Saudi have no alternative but to stick to the Saudi dates out of practicality.
We keep seeing how the disease of nationalism causes such problems and as we enter these most sacred of days we need to be striving, amongst all the other good deeds, for true Muslim political unity.
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟
‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.’ (ale-Imran 103)
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