Raid Qusti, Arab News

RIYADH, 1 October 2005 — Sheikh Abdul Muhsen Al-Obaikan, adviser at the Ministry of Justice, a member of the Shoura Council and a well-known religious scholar, has questioned the method being used by the Kingdom’s Supreme Judiciary Council to determine the sighting of the Ramadan crescent by using the naked eye.

Every year, towards the start of Ramadan, some Muslim communities are plunged into confusion and disarray over the issue of determination of the start of the blessed month. In some cases, this may further lead to argument and division within the community. In view of this unfortunate state of affairs, it is useful for us to acquaint ourselves with the authentic Islamic verdicts about crescent-sighting and related issues, and this article shall, Allah willing, summarize these, in order that we may thereby discard unworthy opinions which have no sound basis, and in order that we might tolerate legitimate scholarly differences of opinion.

- Calculations for Sha'ban 1426 AH Waxing Crescent (New, Evening).
- Crescent Visibility on: Saturday  03/09/2005 CE
- Calculations are Done at User Time at:  19:00 LT
- Calculations are Geocentric.
- USA (HI) Honolulu, Long: -157:56:00.0, Lat: 21:19:00.0, Ele:0.0, Zone:-10.00
- Summer time is: Off
- Height above mean sea-level affects rise and set events.
- Refraction Settings: Temperature: 10 °C   Pressure: 1010 mb
- Delta T: 64.81 Second(s)

by Keith L. Moore, PhD., F.I.A.C.

The Department of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Canada

Statements referring to human reproduction and development are scattered throughout the Quran. It is only recently that the scientific meanings of some of these verses have been appreciated fully. The long delay in interpreting these correctly resulted mainly from inaccurate translations and commentaries and from a lack of awareness of scientific knowledge.

"Professing to be wise, they became fools . . .. "

"LET ME EXPLAIN THE problem science has with God."

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Muslim, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."