Several people have approached us for clarification of the ‘confusion’ surrounding the sighting of the hilaal in Groblershoop.
One brother stated in his e-mail:
“Please resolve the confusion regarding the moon for the month of Zul Hijjah. I have learnt that the Jamiatul Ulama Northern Cape, acting on a sighting in Groblershoop has declared that Eid will be on Friday 31st July, 2020. Ulama elsewhere have rejected this and allege that the moon was not sighted anywhere in South Africa. Much confusion has been created. Please clarify.”
ANSWER
Ask those who have created the confusion to clear it up for you. We have not created any confusion. Those who have a sinister agenda have churned up the ‘confusion’ which has no relationship with us.
The moon was sighted by us in Groblershoop. Is it a sin to inform our seniors that we had sighted the moon? On which principle or tenet of the Shariah is it sinful to report to anyone a hilaal sighting which we had personally sighted? When we have absolute certainty – 100% certainty that we did see the hilaal for the Month of Zul Hijjah, then what principle or command of the Shariah prevents us from declaring this fact?
It will be salubrious for you and all others of similar shallow understanding to know that our only concern in the matter of the hilaal of Zul Hijjah was:
- We saw the hilaal.
- We informed our seniors, the Mujlisul Ulama of S.A. of this fact.
Besides these two acts, there is no third factor which we had propagated.
We in Groblershoop had seen the moon. Therefore, if the whole world tells usthat we did not see the moon and that Eid will not be on Friday 31st July, we shall say: “Go, fly a kite!” For us it will be Eid. It is haraam for us in Groblershoop not to have Eid of Friday 31st July when we are 100% certain of our sighting.
The Jamm Ghafeer on which others are harping has no relevance for us in Groblershoop. In our small town there are only 8 local Muslims. The handful of foreigners in our opinion are like non-Muslims. This is not the occasion to elaborate on their evil and shenanigans. They hardly come for even Jumuah Salaat, leave alone the daily Salaat. Thus, we do not consider them part of the tiny Muslim community of our town.
To emphasize: We committed no sin by sighting the moon, and we committed no sin reporting to the Mujlisul Ulama of our confirmed sighting. Beyond this, we have no involvement. The declaration that Eid will be on 31st July, Friday, was not made by us. It was the decision and declaration of the Mujlisul Ulama, and the controversy was initiated by those whom neither the Mujlisul Ulama nor ourselves believe to be Muslims. Therefore, if you desire clarification of the imagined confusion, then refer to the Mujlisul Ulama, not to us. We did not make the announcement.
Should you sight the moon and mention it to your father, brother or to whomever you are affiliated, will you regard yourself to have committed a major sin? Just as you believe that you have the right to mention to your father and others your sighting, so too, do we possess that right. But understand that we did not make the announcement for the general Muslim community of the country, so get your facts in order and refer your query elsewhere, that is, to the Mujlisul Ulama.