The end of Ramadan has been called! The Moon Sighting Committee of Saudi Arabia spotted that critical sliver of silver yon high this evening; the crescent of the new moon which signals the first day of the Shawwal month. Shawwal is the tenth month on the Lunar Islamic calendar and begins on Sunday August 19th 2012, its first day being Eid al-Fitr. No more fasting for us here living in the bosom of Islam…
Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE: f/9; 1/320sec; ISO-100
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Shawwal migrates throughout the seasons.
Zayed Grand Mosque Domes, Abu Dhabi, UAE: f/10; 1/400sec; ISO-100
This year 2012 equates to Islamic year 1433. Allow me to explain why…
The first year was the Islamic year beginning in 622 CE during which the emigration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia (known as the Hijra) occurred. Each numbered year is designated either H for Hijra or AH for the Latin anno Hegirae (“in the year of the Hijra”). The Muslim calendar is therefore named the Hijri calendar.
The current Islamic year is 1433 AH. In the Gregorian calender 1433 AH runs from the evening of 26 November 2011 (evening) to the evening of 14 November 2012.
Zayed Grand Mosque Courtyard, Abu Dhabi, UAE: f/10; 1/400sec; ISO-100
So with the Moon Sighting Committee’s pronouncements, we bid farewell the holy month of Ramadan for another year, and welcome the traditions of Shawwal. Now the Ramadan fasts are universally understood. However did you know that there are also six days of fasting during Shawwal? And that together with the Ramadan fasts, are equivalent to fasting perpetually?
The reason is that a good deed in Islam is rewarded ten times, hence fasting 30 days in Ramadan with 6 days in Shawwal is equivalent to fasting the whole year in terms of reward.
The Prophet Muhammad said: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six fasts of Shawwal. It would be as if he fasted perpetually.
Zayed Grand Mosque Minaret, Abu Dhabi, UAE: f/10; 1/400sec; ISO-100
As for me, there will be no such fasting, and consequently no rewards bestowed upon my head, but blessings nevertheless happening all about. Good friends, strong family ties, enough bounty stocked in our pantry, and proper use of all my limbs.
Life in this Hijri year of 1433 is great, in fact. Ramadan Kareem to you all!
