Khaberni - The Jordanian General Iftaa' Department depends on a methodology that balances between the visual sighting of the crescent (the Shari'ah authenticity) and astronomical calculations (scientific accuracy) for establishing Ramadan and the rest of the Hijri months.
The department’s spokesperson, Dr. Ahmed Al-Harasis, explained that definitive astronomical calculation is used as a "denial" standard in cases where sighting is impossible, while direct sighting through the "Crescent Committee" remains the Shari'ah basis, ensuring the accuracy of worship according to the Prophetic Sunnah and scientific data.
He indicated that the department reconciles the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, "Fast upon sighting it (the crescent) and break the fast upon sighting it," and the "universal laws" referred to in the Holy Quran in His verse: (The sun and the moon are by precise calculation), and accordingly, the month is not confirmed by calculation alone, but is negated by it if the impossibility of sighting is certain, ensuring the protection of worship from "assumed sighting" that could conflict with definitive scientific facts.
He noted that accepting the testimony of a just witness is subject to strict Shari'ah and astronomical conditions, the most important being the integrity of the senses, meaning that the witness must have proper vision, be sane, outwardly good, in addition to technical knowledge, i.e., being aware of the place, time, and condition of the crescent at the time of its sighting, and that their testimony does not conflict with definitive astronomical calculations.
He emphasized that the department rejects any testimony that contradicts scientific reality, such as cases where the crescent sets before the sun or before the occurrence of "conjunction" (birth), affirming that we do not follow any country that announces the sighting if astronomers unanimously agree on its impossibility, adhering to precise scientific standards.
Al-Harasis pointed out that since the responsibility for determining the lunar months, including the crescents of Ramadan and Shawwal, has been entrusted to the General Iftaa' Department, it has followed a policy of involving people of knowledge and experience in this matter, where a special committee chaired by the General Mufti of the Kingdom has been formed by a decision from the Prime Ministry, named the "Crescent Committee," whose task is to determine the beginnings of the lunar months, consisting of various competencies and experts in this field.
He continued that this committee includes a number of university professors, a representative from the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, a representative from the department of the Chief Islamic Judge, a representative from the Royal Geographic Center, a representative from the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, the Jordanian Astronomical Society, and the Meteorological Department, where they present the astronomical data and conditions for sighting the crescent to the Fatwa Council and the Research and Studies Centre, which in turn consists of the Kingdom’s leading scholars, to make the final decision on determining the entrance of the crescent of the month.
The committee examines the astronomical conditions and guides the observers in the astronomical observatories throughout the Kingdom to the precise coordinates of the crescent, then submits these data to the Fatwa Council and Research and Studies for the final decision.
Al-Harasis stated that the criteria for confirming the entrance of the lunar month are summarized in four main points: the birth of the crescent (conjunction), the setting of the crescent after the sunset on the twenty-ninth day, the availability of sighting conditions (moon's age, duration of stay, elongation, crescent's width, elevation degree, illumination percentage, angular separation), and the actual confirmation of the sighting, whether by naked eye or using telescopes and modern technologies.
He affirmed that this approach ensures the General Iftaa' Department maintains the integrity of worship and connects it with the modern scientific system, achieving its slogan of combining "authenticity and modernity".
On his part, the president of the Jordanian Astronomical Society and a member of the Crescent Committee, Dr. Ammar Al-Sakaji, mentioned that the astronomical data for the month of Ramadan for the year 1447 Hijri indicate the impossibility of sighting the crescent on Tuesday, February 17th, currently in Jordan, as all the astronomical data fall below the standard values for sighting, such as the moon's stay time which is only three minutes, and the elongation, its age, elevation, thickness, and being below the Danjon limit, making Wednesday, February 18th, the completer of the month of Sha'ban, as all the astronomical standards confirm that sighting is not possible or is impossible with the naked eye or using telescopes or astronomical imaging in the Arab region.
He stated, "The astronomical calculations related to the conditions for sighting the crescent of Ramadan 1447 indicate that Wednesday, February 18th, will likely be the completer of Sha'ban, making Thursday, February 19th, the beginning of the holy month in Jordan and most Arab and Islamic countries, due to the impossibility of sighting the crescent on Tuesday due to its astronomical conditions that make the moon submerged in the glow of the sun after sunset".
He confirmed that all international standards (Yallop, South African Observatory, Ouda, and others) confirmed the impossibility of seeing after the sunset on Tuesday, even using telescopes and astronomical imaging technology.
He also mentioned that that day will witness an annular/partial solar eclipse (not visible in Jordan), which is a definitive proof of "conjunction", where it is considered a visible conjunction, and evidence of the impossibility of sighting the crescent at the time of the eclipse or several hours thereafter.
Furthermore, researcher in astronomical heritage Ibrahim Khader Al-Dajah added that the numbers today settle the matter, but he recalled how Ramadan was traditionally welcomed in Jordan and the Levant, where "authenticity" was the theme.
He explained that this was embodied in the popular sighting, when people would climb hills and rooftops on the twenty-ninth day of Sha'ban, relying entirely on the naked eye, without modern astronomical tools.
He pointed out that the news of the day marking the start of fasting was relayed from the witness to the Shari'ah judge or the village elder, then announced through "the crier" in the markets or by firing "cannons" that shook the foundations of cities, signaling celebration.
He stressed that no discussion of Ramadan is complete without recalling the social customs that have remained unchanged despite advances in monitoring methods, as Jordanian tables continue to honor traditional beverages such as tamarind, licorice, and qamar al-din, while the list of sweets includes "qatayef", which remain the mainstay of Ramadan evenings with family gatherings, whether filled with nuts or cream.
