A Critical and Comparative Study of the Views of Muslim Jurists and Astronomers on the Issue of Lunar Discrepancy in the Contemporary Era

Abstract

In our country, the sighting of the crescent for the beginning of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr often leads to unusual disagreement and social division. In such an atmosphere of confusion, certain narrow-minded groups become active in pursuing their vested interests. Owing to a lack of religious awareness and a spirit of mutual understanding, these groups tend to treat the issue as a matter of personal or collective ego rather than scholarly deliberation.

The present study seeks to identify the fundamental causes of this problem to propose an appropriate and practical solution that is fully compatible with Islamic teachings as well as contemporary scientific and intellectual developments. To this end, the article presents a comparative analysis of the views of Muslim jurists and those of astronomical experts and attempts to offer a viable solution in light of the prevailing circumstances.