A meeting for a united Eid
Administrator on October 16th, 2006
On Wednesday, 11th October 2006, Leeds Makkah Masjid had the honour of hosting a meeting to discuss how the month of Ramadan and both Eids can be celebrated on a single day in Leeds .
The attendees
The meeting was attended by the delegates from 12 different Leeds masajid (mosques) and centres, consisting of Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi and Arab communities. The delegates included the Imams and the committee members of those masajid. The meeting was also attended by the general public who were enthusiastic to be part of a meeting which could formulate an agreeable formula for the Ramadan and Eid issues. Altogether, this historic meeting was attended by over 200 attendees. Muslim councillors from the Leeds City Council, including Councillor Javaid Akhtar, Councillor Kabeer Hussain Councillor Mohammed Rafique and the Lord Mayor of Leeds (2006-2007), Councillor Mohammed Iqbal were also present.
The mosques that participated in this meeting included:
Leeds Makkah Masjid – Leeds 6
Markazi Jamia Masjid Bilal – Leeds 8
Abu Huraira Masjid – Leeds 11
Ghousia Masjid – Leeds 12
Jamia Batool – Leeds 8
Leeds Islamic Centre – Leeds 7
Leeds Grand Mosque – Leeds 2
Al-Hasan Centre and Masjid Quba – Leeds 7
Iqra Centre – Leeds 17
Shah Jalal Masjid – Leeds 8
Umar Masjid – Leeds 11
Al-Amin Masjid – Leeds 11
The meeting was aired live on radio Islam FM (87.7 FM). Islam FM radio has been setup to broadcast Islamic programmes in Leeds during the month of Ramadan. Islam FM had played a big part is organising and inviting all the Leeds masajid to this meeting.
The meeting started around 10pm, after the taraweeh prayer at Leeds Makkah Mosque.
The meeting was chaired by Qari Asim Sahib of Leeds Makkah Masjid and Hafiz Zumurd Sahib acted as a stage secretary.
Agreeing…
The imam of Leeds Islamic Centre, Hafiz Riyad Sahib, initiated the meeting by informing the participants that historically Leeds Islamic Centre had been following Saudi Arabia for starting and ending the month of Ramadan. However, now they were willing to change their stance. Hafiz Riyad said that they were willing to accept Shahadah (witnessing) that the crescent moon had been sighted in Morocco as an indication of starting and ending the month of Ramadan. Morocco had been chosen as it is the nearest Muslim country to the UK. Morocco was also chosen as it begins the Islamic months by witnessing the crescent moon (unlike Saudi Arabia).
Afterwards, the imam of Markazi Jamia Masjid Bilal, Sayyid Shuaib Shah Sahib, spoke. He maintained that since Morocco started the Islamic month by witnessing the crescent moon, Bilal mosque could follow Morocco in this regard.. Similarly, Hafiz Asim (Leeds Makkah Masjid), Mawlana Dilshad Sahib (Jamia Batool), Mawlana Abul-Hasan Faisal Sahib (Shah Jalal Masjid), Hafiz Hasan Sahib (Al-Hasan Centre) and Qari Javaid Sahib (Iqra Centre) all agreed to this formula. They were all willing to follow Morocco to start and end the month of Ramadan.
In the meeting, there was a feeling of joy and happiness that all the parties agreed to a very reasonable solution in such a short span of time, for starting and ending the month of Ramadan.
Leeds Makkah Masjid, Al-Hasan Centre and Iqra Centre are also of the opinion that the help of astronomical data should be utilised in determining the Islamic months. Therefore Hafiz Asim did raise this question that as a safety measure, astronomical data should also be consulted. He said that he fully supports this formula to follow Morocco. However, he would like to know the reason behind some mosques aginst consulting scientific data for the beginning and ending of the Islamic months. This request was strongly opposed by Leeds Islamic Centre and Shah Jalal Mosque; they maintained that no observatory reports must be utilised for this matter. As a sign of unity, Leeds Makkah Masjid, Al-Hasan Centre and Iqra Centre backed down on their requests to include the consultation of the astronomical data as the part of the new formula.
Disagreeing…
The final part of the meeting was the determination of the next Eid al-Fitr (in October 2006).
This is where all went wrong.
Ninty per cent of the delegates said that the new formulated formula (to follow Morocco) should be used to determine Eid al-Fitr. After all, this was the reason for holding this meeting. But Leeds Islamic Centre and Shah Jalal Masjid did a u-turn and said that the new formula should not be followed for this Eid, but for the next Eid.
Everyone was in total dismay and shocked to hear this suggestion. Before and throughout the meeting everyone had been thinking that they were agreeing to a formula that could be applied to the following Eid and celebrate the Eid on a single day in Leeds. Not for a single moment they realised that Leeds Islamic Centre would refuse to follow their own suggested formula for determining the Eid.
Leeds Islamic Centre said that they had started this Ramadan with Saudi Arabia and would finish with them as well. To this proposal, others said that if this was the case, meetings with other masajid for having a united Eid should have started after the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Leeds Islamic Centre also said that if they follow the new formula, it could mean that they would have to keep 31 fasts during this Ramadan. Other masajid said that they should not think they will keep 31 fasts. They should trust the new formula, and therefore, if the crescent moon for the month of Shawal is sighted in Morocco on 22nd October, this would mean Leeds Islamic Centre would still keep 30 fast. However, if the Shawwal crescent moon is not sighted in Morocco on 22nd October, Muslims should fast on 23rd October. This would make 31 total fasting days for Leeds Islamic Centre. However, in this case, the fast on 23rd October will be regarded as the obligatory fast and their original fast on the 23rd September would become a nafl fast (Leeds Islamic Centre started the month of Ramadan on 23rd September, following Saudi Arabia).
This was a reasonable, logical and the correct path to take after all the parties had agreed to follow a particular formula. However, Leeds Islamic Centre was, yet again, determined to follow Saudi Arabia; and to dismiss its own newly suggested formula of following Morocco for determining the beginning of the Islamic months.
All the delegates at the meeting, and the audience of the Islam FM were in total shock to hear that Leeds Islamic Centre would not do Eid with the rest of the Leeds Muslim community in Leeds. Everyone at the meeting tried to persuade Leeds Islamic Centre to celebrate Eid with the rest of the Leeds Muslim community. They also could not understand why Leeds Islamic Centre was pulling out from this united front at the last minute.
After lengthy discussions and persuasions, Leeds Islamic Centre still did not agree to hold a united Eid ul-Fitr.
The end…
The meeting ended around 2am. What started with great enthusiasm and joy ended with even greater disappointment. It was extremely sad to witness Leeds Islamic Centre, who had initially called for a united Eid, did not join the rest of the masajid for the united Eid. It was felt that a golden opportunity to grasp unity for the Muslims of Leeds was thrown away.
It was decided that another meeting after the month of Ramadan will be convened to agree on a united Eid ul-Adha. Let us pray to Allah Almighty that next time we are successful in achieving a united Eid. It is the right time that we put aside political and personal agendas in order to unify Muslims, and also realise the fallacy of following Saudi Arabia, which does not use moonsighting to determine its months but rather observatory reports of the birth of the new moon rather than visibility, as required by Shariah.
October 17th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
asalam-u-alaykum,
After reading this report i am very saddened that the imams of leeds could not accomplish there goal. After hearing the disscusion between hafiz asim, moulana dilshad and Sayyid Shuaib Shah Sahib on ramadan radio i was fully aware that there would be an agreement between the other imams and eid will be celebrated together, but as all the imams got together, it made it very difficult.
I have alot of faith in hafiz asim and believe that if another meeting goes ahead he should stand forward and correct the imams that are wrong, and inshallah if not this eid but next eid all the muslims in leeds should celebrate together.
jazakallah khair
October 18th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahe wa barakatuhu..its a shame we cudnt agree…but i fully support Maulana Riyaz of Islamic center!
inshallah next year we can maybe agree
wasalam
October 18th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
asalam-alaykum,
In Islam we all should stick together as brothers an sisters, mosque fighting aint the best of example!! Kafirs are fighting us muslims, how come we aint doin nothing about that..eg..the arab countries, no-one is helping them muslims that are geting murederd…but all us muslims that can help, are doin is fightin our own people!!!!!!!!which is really upsetting!
what happned to the muslim ummah.:(
It would be realy helpful to all the other muslims aswel if you stuck together. Its a shame ur putting all the blame on islamic center thats not very islamic is it!!
jazakallah khair
October 18th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
asalam alaykum- i just think the leeds muslims need to unite and not put blame on other Mosques because the kuffars love watching us divide!
I also have faith in hafiz riaz…May Allah guide us all onto the straight path AMEEN!
October 18th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
salam, This is the sign of qiyamat brothers fighting brothers mosques fighting mosques shias VS sunnis, why divide?!? when really we all together need to fight the biggest enemy of all, SHAITAN! All i say is follow the Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) he was the 1 who was taught by Allah directly, he is the 1 true example for us to follow TAKBIR! ALLAH HU AKBAR!
salamz brotherz n sisterz…
October 19th, 2006 at 11:45 am
Salaam Aliakum
Its very easy to put the blame on someone…. How on earth can you ask someone to fast for 31 days??? I have never heard someone fasting for 31 days….. Why cant the other brothers who starting fasting on Sunday to fast for 29 days and then we can have a united EID.
WAKE UP & STOP CRITICISING
May Allah Guide us on the true Islam.
October 19th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
What a hypocritical statement by you when you all observatory lots were propagating observatory; heard live on radio Islam; if you really wanted unity then you could have agreed on 29/30 fasts to celebrate Eid.
Instead you strongly insisted that Leeds Islamic Centre to fast 31 days that had destroyed unity there and then. Leeds Islamic Centre sacrificed their Eid which could happen after their 29 fasts to their 30 fasts. You couldn’t sacrifice to celebrate Eid after your 29 fasts how do you expect unity?
Everybody heard live on radio Islam the chief of hypocrites propagating observatory when he for twenty years been organising Esha salah Jama’t when Esha time had never started. May Allah guide us to the straight path and unity on basis of the Quran and Sunnah.
October 20th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Salam,
It is pleasing to see all the different representatives from the different Mosques in Leeds sitting down to have a much- needed discussion. This is the first step to sorting out the ‘moon fighting’ issues. Let pray that other towns/cities can do the same where it is needed.
I still think that it will be rather difficult to sort this issue out completely as those Mosques that receive funding from Saudi will have no choice but to follow Saudi.
Again, if these Mosques were to stop following Saudi then the funding would also come to a stop, as was pointed out in one of the other threads.
It’s funny that when money is involved even the most puritan of Muslims seem to go soft in following the Shariah.
May Allah help us. Ameen.
Wasalam.
October 20th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Also, last year we were told by the Saudi followers in our town that for this year we would form a committee to decide when to declare eid/ramadan. As you can guess, this year nothing materialised as we were told that the declaring of ramadan was a no discussion area….
October 20th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
I think the above meeting would have been very beneficial if it had been held after Ramadan. Ramadan was started on different days and therefore Eid will be on different days and you can not expect a Mosque to do Eid on a day different to their expected Eid day as this will mean that the number of fast they will keep will not tally.
It was unwise to expect that some of the Mosques change their stance in the middle of Ramadan.
I think the agreeing of all the people present to follow a consistent, correct and united method to declare Eid/Ramadan for all Mosques in Leeds is the most beneficial thing that has come out of this meeting and now this must be built upon when the next meeting is held after Ramadan.
InshaAllah, things will sort themselves out now that people are willing to talk and agree on a united method and as long as people are sincere.
October 20th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Brother Abdullah, you should be careful before slandering other people, especially Ulema. The simple fact is that the current method adopted by Islamic Centre (i.e. blindly following Saudi) is completely incorrect as they do not sight the moon. In fact, their own scientists have admitted that they started ramadan incorrectly.
It is a shame that a minority of mosques in Leeds are stubbornly refusing to unite – however, let us pray that unity can be achieved next time, insha Allah.
October 20th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Brother Mohammad facts are bitter and they hurt when you are not aware of them. Facts speak themselves for chief of hypocrites who for twenty years been organising Esha salah Jama’t when Esha time had never started. You need to research whether it has happened or not.
Brother Mohammad why don’t you make duplicate sample of Kaaba in UK; So that you can perform Haj in UK instead of traveling all the way to Saudi Arabia.
October 22nd, 2006 at 1:54 am
I find it strange that some of you are advocating that most of the Mosques in Leeds should agree to keeping 29 fasts “in the name of unity”. The issue is whether or not the 23rd of October falls within Ramadan or Shaban. It is not up to individuals to decide this but the Ulema to make a decision in terms of whether or not they will follow Sharia or Saudi. (It really is that simple)
If the 23rd of October does fall within Ramadan then those that started fasting on 23rd September are deemed to have started with a Nafli fast, It does mean that they have kept 31 compulsory fasts as some seem to be interpreting this.
October 23rd, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Brothers & Sisters stop bickering against one another and wake up! You cannot follow the Saudis blindly which unfortunately some Mosques are doing, in this case it is the representatives from the Leeds Islamic Centre and Shah Jalal Masjid that have acted in a pathetic manner.
You cannot attend a meeting of this nature and do what they have done? In Islam one can keep 31 fasts but one these fasts will become Nifl, as clearly should have been the case regarding Muslims from the Leeds Islamic Centre and Shah Jalal Masjid.
In future simply boycott the Mosques that do this and you will unity.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Asalamualaikum wahrehmatullahi wahbarakatuhu
With all due respect akhi, how is boycotting a masjid, “unity”…
To me, it’s simply brother against brother fighting…each too proud to back down…not realising that the one who backs down is the greater one amongst them. Boycotting a masjid, for no islamically valid reason is to promote enmity amongst muslims.
Personally I agree with the earlier posters, the rest of masjids should have kept 29, not expected the others to keep 31. Who ever heard of a islamic month of 31 days??? It’s not always majority that are correct….as the Prophet (SAW) said, closer to the end of time, a true believer will be harder to find, there may only be one within a city….so how do the majority of people always know or seem to know they are correct???? We’re all dellusioned into thinking what we believe is superior to another…and we forget the the true superiority, and rights belong to Allah swt alone…are we really mindful of our death and final destination if we spend so much time arguing over such issues?
Anyway, that aside…the easiest way to avoid disagreement in future inshaAllah is to hold the meeting in advance of Ramadhan next year, and start and end in unity.
May Allah swt guide us all and keep our hearts and actions free of enmity.
AMEEN!
January 4th, 2007 at 10:58 am
asalam-u-alaykum, It is really a sad news that the meeting ended with disappoinment…my prayers for having a good meeting in the future ..Insha Allah! and by the way , according to me….I don’t think that it is so easy to follow Saudi Arabia, which does not use moonsighting to determine its months…let us hope for the best … Don Lapre Lenny webmaster@don-lapre-news.com http://www.don-lapre-news.com
October 14th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
asalam-u-alaykum, like other brothers i am shocked and dissapointed that the meeting could not agree a single date for EID. Surely using Morocco to sight the moon is a true testament of following the historical path of EID. Science is just a tool to trigger debate, nature is what we should follow. By disagreeing the elders are sending a childish message to the young muslims of this country. I would propose each mosque send say 3 young representatives between the ages of 10 and 16,; you may be surprised to get an agreement amonst them. It must be remembered that the opposite of wisdom is stupidity.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Nice site, thanks for information!
November 28th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
sallams brothers n sistas. i am 16 years old and want to say that inshalla leeds mosques will cum 2 an agreement and i say that why dont we just do Eid once wid morroco and 1 with saudi arabia
People are crazy to say that islamic centre shud perform 31 fasts.
i think we should do the way i said . alhamdullila i say that when i am older i will make sure all mosques do it together Inshallah
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:05 am
IB9PFR hi! nice site!