Verified historical facts show that the People of the book, the Jews and Christians were also commanded by Allah to fast in faith in the ninth lunar month, the month of Ramadan. Haarith al-Ashariyy reports (in a very lengthy narration that the Prophet (Salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Allaah commanded Yahya the son of Zakariyyah with five things that he should observe and command Bani Israil to do. So he gathered them in the Baytul-Maqadas and when they filled the masjid, he said:Allah has commanded me to do five things and has also commanded you to do them, “ The first is that you .should worship alone and not associate patners with Him. And He commanded you to perform salaah. He also commanded you to fast. The similitude of the one who fasts is like a man who has a container of musk in a ligature, each of them giving a smell of musk. He also commanded you to do sadaqah and that you should engage in lots of dhikr... (Ahmad)
Thus, the People of the book were also commanded to fast and the month of Ramadan is known to them. These are even reports in the sources of Islam which show that the leaflet of Prophet Ibrahim, the Tawraat of Musa and the Injeel of ‘Isa, were all revealed in the month of Ramadan. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).
Imam at-Tabari mentioned in his tafseer that:
“Fasting was prescribed for Ramadan that they should abstain from food, drink and conjugal relations after they woke up in the morning. This usually fell in the periods of heat or cold. So they found it difficult, met and changed their fasting period in between the two seasons and said: We shall add twenty more days of fasting to expiate for the change and their fasting became fifty.”
Here, you find that the people of the Book were uncomfortable with Allah’s dictates and the teachings of their Messengers, thus, they changed the period of fasting and other festivals. As a result of this willful disobedience, Allah says of the jews:
“So, because of their breach of their convenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They changed the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them except a few of them….”(Q5[Maidah]:12)
As for the Christians, Allah says:
“And from those who call themselves Christians, we took their convenants but they have abandoned a good part of the message that was sent to them. So, We planted amongst them enimity and hatred till the day of resurrection .." (Q5[Maidah]: 14)
Thus, that the Jews became hardhearted against the guidance of Allaah and deceitful; and that the Christians have strong enimity against one another are consequences of their actions, breaking covenants with Allaah by changing the messages and removing from them against what their messengers brought.
Moon Sighting
The commencement of the month of fasting, Ramadan, like other months was also determined amongst the people of the book by moon sighting. Based on the information from the earlist evidences before the Hillel II(356 CE) codification of the Hebrew calendar, monthly calendrical units of time were lunar. The months will only commence when the new moon was sighted and the sanhendrin proclaimed the commencement on the basis of testimony of witnesses. It was also mentioned that the months were of course made up of either 29 days when the moon was sighted or otherwise counted as 30 days. Days were reckoned from sunset to sunset and all religious celebrations and festivals were based on this practice of moon sighting.
Today
Year in year out, we hear the usual concerns and debates regarding the determination of the beginning and end of Ramadan. We find people propagating various opinions in this regard some of which are influenced by attitudes and policies towards certain region(s) or tribe(s). One common opinion places reliance on astronomical computations; while another opinion is where a numbers of 'scholars' would sit weeks before Ramadan to fix the commencement and the end of the month. The above narrations concerning the People of the Book make either opinions or suggestions unacceptable. They are in direct conflict with the instructions of Allaah and His Messenger.
Unify Your Hearts
The Prophet never told us to resort to astronomical computations or fixing by scholars. Rather, Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) reported that the prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The month consist of 29 days but do not break your fast until you sight it. If the weather is cloudy calculate it 30 days.” (Abu Dawud)
Thus, concerning the commencement of ast and the breaking of fast, we must rely on sighting either directly or on the witness of those who sighted it. A large number of the companions of the Prophet said:
“If two just muslims testify (that they saw it), then fast of break your fast.” (Ahmad)
Allah says:
”Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s reminder (this Qur’an) and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fasiquun” (Q57[Hadid]:16)
It has to be emphasized that unifying Muslims and bringing their world together is one of our main concerns, it is a heavy responsibility that no Muslim should neglect. However, true unity cannot be achieved in any other way than what conforms with the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah and the guidance of the righteous Salaf (Pious Predecessors). Any other claim to unity is unrealistic and short-lived. May Allah enable us to follow the Sunnah in all beliefs and deeds.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited