The problem in this country is that a lot of uneducated muslims choose to make an issue out of a non-issue. They align themselves with personalities and Saudi authorities and condemn people who don’t agree. This year I read a sms that made fun of the people in Batley because they chose not to go by Saudi. Its very petty and makes a mockery of the month they spent fasting, curbing their anger and suppressing their nafs.

If everybody understood the basic Shariah principle of sighting the moon and carried this out diligently, just the same way everybody does Wudhu before performing Salah there wouldn’t be a problem.

Its unfortunate that most Muslims are so ignorant of basic astronomy. I have been an astronomer for over 18 years, and I chose not to wade into this argument. Because the last time I did, the “Saudi brigade” went around slandering the people who do look for the moon.

This type of name-calling and insults prove only one thing - that they do not have a basis in Shariah for getting moon news from Saudi. Deoband, Korangi and Jamiyah Rasheediyah are unanimous that Saudi news sightings cannot be relied upon, yet the people who insist on Saudi, still call themselves Deobandis.

Eid mubarak! TaqabalAllahu minna wa minkum. Kullu ‘aam wa antum bi khayr…

http://daralhadith.blogspot.com/2008/09/moonsighting-conspiracy.html

Surely, this is the way forward?”

Though judging by the following article such dialogue is not likely to be received well amongst the top authorities there. After all, here the Grand Mufti accuses us of having “weak faith” for doubting their sighting:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=113244&d=23&m=8&y=2008

I celebrated on Tuesday, but I tend to go with my family anyway. I have neighbours where half the household held Eid yesterday, and half were still fasting! I think at least the family should be united, never mind the entire community!

I think whatever action is taken should be less about get our own opinions heard, and more about doing whatever is best for the entire community. Meaning, we keep smiles on our faces, and don’t start pointing fingers of blame, and making unsavoury accusations of ‘meddling’. I don’t see the benefit, because my own perception from talks and articles is that community cohesion is actually more important than the actual method chosen to determine Eid.

Community cohesion doesn’t mean we have to celebrate Eid on the same day - though it would be rather nice if we did - but rather, respect for differences, as you said, and a pursuit for harmony rather than ‘unity’ (what’s the point of being united, if we’re all sour underneath it all?).

Eid disunity is merely a symptom of a much greater disease. No, not wahabi-influence (or whomever the bogeyman is these days); rather, a community whose members refuse to trust one another, even for the sake of Allah!

May we be cured of this sickness, Ameen.

And Allah knows best.

In my view I would say rather than embassies we should make concentrated efforts with our local mosques. Because at the day of Akhira Allah (swt) will ask us whether we followed the Sunnah properly rather than Makkah. Though the position of authirity Saudi has is acknowledged never the less.

The issue becomes further problematic when one is in a small city like hull where everyone is celebrating eid on the same day and that too following the Saudi calendar.

May Allah make it possible to celebrate Eid more coherently next year. Ameen.

Thank you for your post.

Jawad

http://daralhadith.blogspot.com/2008/09/moonsighting-conspiracy.html

Surely, this is the way forward?