The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassanat, stated that the Fatwa Department follows a clear methodology in determining the beginnings of lunar months, combining religious texts with astronomical scientific data. He affirmed that the decision to confirm the crescent in Jordan is purely a religious ruling and is not subject to any other considerations.
اضافة اعلان
During his patronage on Thursday of a symposium organized by the Royal Jordanian Geographic Center titled “The Crescent of Ramadan: Between Sharia and Astronomy”, he called for unifying scientific and religious efforts across the Islamic world to reduce differences and strengthen Muslim unity in worship.
He explained that the start of each lunar month is announced after a careful study of the crescent’s birth, its visibility duration, and the possibility of sighting. He outlined the Fatwa Department’s criteria for crescent verification: the crescent must have been born before sunset on the 29th day of the current month, set after sunset, and meet astronomical conditions regarding duration above the horizon, altitude, elongation, and brightness. The crescent sighting must be confirmed either visually with the naked eye or using modern methods in Jordan or in a country sharing part of the night.
Dr. Al-Hassanat emphasized that Jordan adheres to its announced criteria. The Fatwa, Research, and Islamic Studies Council, composed of 11 senior scholars, holds the final decision after reviewing reports from subcommittees and astronomical observations and calculations.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Director General of the Royal Jordanian Geographic Center, Brigadier Engineer Muammar Kamel Haddadin, Dr. Ammar Al-Sakaji highlighted the center’s commitment to continue observing the Ramadan crescent using specialized staff and advanced equipment, in coordination with the Fatwa Department and relevant authorities, ensuring the accuracy of the religious decision and community confidence.
The symposium, organized in cooperation with the Jordanian Astronomical Society, the Meteorological Department, and the Institute of Space and Astronomy, reflects the center’s scientific and national role in crescent observation, leveraging its precise scientific and astronomical capabilities to support religious decisions and foster integration between religious authorities and scientific institutions in Jordan.
Participants discussed the Sharia rulings for Ramadan, astronomical observation data, and the role of meteorology and astrophotography in providing reliable scientific information for crescent verification.
— (Petra)
