Picture courtesy of Saaleha
The days of Hajj are almost upon us, and since the moon wasn’t sighted in South Africa this past Saturday, it means that Dhul Hijjah officially started here on Monday. This contrasts with Makkah, where the month started a day earlier – on Sunday.
Every other month of the year, this difference isn’t much of a big deal (although for some, it matters in Ramadaan). However, for this time of year, it means that the South African Eid-ul-Adha will not be synced with Makkah’s Eid-ul-Adha.
Growing up in Durban, I don’t really remember there being much fuss over this. But here in Cape Town, it’s been a contentious issue for quite a while, apparently. When the local date doesn’t match Makkah’s date, we have some Muslims who celebrate with Makkah, while others celebrate a day later.
There seem to be sound arguments for both opinions, yet the tragedy in all of this is that it still divides the community. In what should be a time of unity and great blessings – given the significance of the Hajj underway in these days – there’s argument and division over which opinion is right.
For all the years I’ve lived in Cape Town, none of this really affected me. I just put it down to difference of opinion, and carried on – celebrating Eid on whatever day it was officially announced by the local authority (MJC).
Confusion
However, this time around, it’s a little more concerning. The day of wuqoof – when the hujjaaj stand on Arafah – is one of the greatest days of the year (if not the greatest). And for those not on Hajj, it’s a highly recommended sunnah to fast that day (with the reward being the fast wiping out the sins of the previous year and the year to come).
This year, wuqoof is on Monday 14th October, insha-Allah. Thus, if you want to fast on the day of wuqoof, Monday is the day. Yet the announcement from the MJC is “Those wishing to fast on the day of Arafat, fasting takes place on the 9th of Thil Hijja, according to our local calendar, coinciding with the 15th of October.”
Following that logic, those wanting to fast on the day of Arafah will actually not be fasting on the day of Arafah! (Since the 15th of October is already Eid in Makkah.)
But as I see it, those who want to fast on the actual day of Arafah should do it when the hujjaaj are actually on Arafah – i.e. Monday 14th October.
What then, of the day of Eid?
If you fast on Monday, then Eid should be the next day – Tuesday.
So you’d be in that group which takes Eid with Makkah.
But I’ve also heard very sound advice that in cases of such disputes, the correct thing to do is to follow the consensus of the ulama / authorities of your country – i.e. take your Eid with the majority – the of the community.
And that makes sense not only on a societal level, but also lower down, on a family level. You can’t really choose to have Eid on your own – the day before – while your family is taking it with the community the next day. So, even if you disagree, for the purposes of social harmony, it’s better to stick with the majority.
Thus we have a situation of fasting on the day of Arafah, having a ‘normal’ day after that, and then having Eid the next day.
Some may call that inconsistent – saying that you either go with Makkah completely or go with your local ulama completely.
But really, when you face a situation like this, there’s no way to reconcile the 2 positions. It’s a compromise that has to be made in order to preserve both personal belief and social harmony.
Or do you see things differently? What’s your view on the 2 Eids issue? Does it happen in your community, and if so, how do you handle the issue of fasting the day of Arafah when your local calendar doesn’t match Makkah?
Update from 2018:
After the issue arose again in 2018, several ulama from various quarters have clarified the matter. Below, find the text from Zaytuna Institute’s Imam Zaid Shakir:
“Contrary to popular belief, there in no legal connection between the standing at Arafat and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha was legislated, along with Eid al-Fitr, during the second year after the Hijra. On the other hand, Hajj was legislated the ninth year after the Hijra. This means that for seven years Eid al-Adha was performed while there was no Hajj, hence, no standing at Arafat! The standing at Arafat cannot therefore be the legal cause for the timing of Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha is the tenth of Dhu’l Hijjah, based on however the date is reckoned and there is no obligation for Muslims to follow the Saudi government on the questionable timing governing the beginning of Dhu’l Hijjah and hence the Day of Arafat. If one were to be extremely dogmatic in “following the Hajjis” there would be no Eid al-Adha because the Hajjis do not celebrate Eid.
Whenever you may choose to celebrate your Eid may it be a blessed affair.”
In our case this year (2018), Wuqoof on Arafah occurred on Monday in Makkah, however, following local moon sighting, our local 9th of Dhul Hijjah fell on Tuesday. So we connected with those on Arafah on the Monday, but still fasted on the Tuesday.
Makkah’s Eid was on the Tuesday, while ours was on the Wednesday.
In any case, the bottom line in all of this is to be respectful of others’ views – regardless of which opinion you follow. Hajj demonstrated the incredible unity of so diverse and widespread an ummah. It’s completely against the spirit of such unity to be disrespectful to others who follow different views.
So, take what you think is right – but don’t look down on, or criticise, those who see it differently.
slip-sliding away..... 