Resolving the moon sighting controversy

Almost every year two happy occasions in the Islamic calendar are observed on different days in this country, thanks to the insistence of Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, THE imam of Peshawar's historic Qasim Ali Khan Mosque, and Ruet-e-Hilal committee head mufti Muneeb-ur- Rehman to see the Ramadan and Eid moon with the naked eye. After his appointment last year as the Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary tried to introduce the scientific method for forecasting the appearance of the moon, launching Pakistan's first-ever moon sighting website and an application called Ruet for real-time data sharing. Yet the government unwilling to take on the religious establishment, followed the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Creditably for him, the minister has not given up his efforts for change. As he rightly put it: "Eid and other religious festivals should be a reason for joy and happiness, not divisions". A couple of weeks ago he alongside a moderate religious scholar, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, extended an invitation to ulema for an interactive briefing on scientific approach to sighting of the moon. The problem however is not lack of understanding or appreciation of science. In fact the ulema use telescope, a scientific invention, as well as eye glasses to spot the new moon. If these inventions are kosher then also acceptable should be scientific knowledge which has enabled the man to predict the movement of various celestial bodies with precision, and land on the moon. In fact, as the minister pointed out, several Islamic countries, including Turkey and Malaysia, rely on science to determine the appearance of the moon and declare the start of Ramadan and Eidul Fitre. The UAE is also moving in the same direction, he said, whilst Saudi Arabia has been using modern technology for announcing religious holidays.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) could have helped resolve this controversy in an amicable manner. So far it has preferred to stay out of it. Fawad Chaudhry has urged the CII as well as the Ministry of Religious Affairs and ulema of all schools of thought to settle the issue of religious celebratory days on different dates. Unfortunately, however, his effort is unlikely to bring about the desired result because of the involvement of vested interests in the existing arrangement. It is about time the federal cabinet mustered courage and followed its Science and Technology Ministry's finding to announce the upcoming fasting month will start on April 25. Mufti Popalzai may refuse to conform, but having information well in advance rather than waiting till late in the evening to know if to keep fast early next morning or prepare to celebrate Eid would allow majority of the population to celebrate these auspicious occasions in a proper fashion.