Question
Here in USA the people who belong to Middle Eastern countries are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha according to the Hajj date because their argument is that “Eid-ul-Adha is always on the day-after-Hajj in Makkah“. And since 9th of Zul-Hijja in Makkah is 15th of March therefore Eid-ul-Adha should be celebrated on 16th of March everywhere in the world. I would like to know if they are right in their argument. OR this concept only applies to people living in Saudi Arabia. And rest of the world should perform moon sighting in order to decide for celebrating Eid-ul-Adha in their countries.
I hope I have made the point. In case if not please do let me know. I will come back to you again.
Thank you so much.
Wassalam.
Answer
Whether Eid Al-Adha should be celebrated according to the dates in Saudi Arabia or according to the local dates is a matter of Ijtehaad. One may hold either of the two opinions.
However, as a tradition, Muslim countries have been celebrating Eid according to their local dates. This was probably initiated due to the simple reason of the lack of modern day communication networks during the old days. Far off places had no means of finding out about the moon sightings in a particular area of the world (Saudi Arabia) and thus, had no option but to follow their own moon sightings.
Keeping this tradition of the Muslim countries in perspective, I would suggest that the tradition not be altered, unless a clear directive of the Qur’an or the Sunnah prohibits it. The reason for such adherence to the tradition is that every time a deviation is made from a tradition – even if it is for a good cause – it results in the further break-up of the Ummah. A new ‘sect’ is formed, for a matter, which does not have much significance in Islam.
Thus, even though I would myself like to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, according to the moon sightings in Saudi Arabia – as this particular Eid is a part of Hajj, which obviously is area-specific – yet I would not recommend following a new ijtehaad in this matter and thereby create a new sect for a trivial matter.
15th March 2000