Why controversy on Eid celebration isn't about to end

"We need to focus on prayers for peace in our country considering that there is conflict in the neighbouring in Sudan. We should pray for unity among Muslims and all Kenyans," said Khitamy, who will attend the Eid prayers today. Islamic scholars yesterday said the anomaly were due to differences in reading of the Quran and opinions.

Sheikh Rishad Ramadhan and Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome said like the common law, Islamic Shariah allows for divergent interpretations and that this should not be interpreted to mean rifts among Muslims. "Do not fast until you see it (the moon) and do not breakfast until you see it (the moon), and if you could not see it, continue for thirty days," said Ramadhan, an alumnus of Madina University. He said there are proponents of the international moon as well as the local moonsighting crowd who have been interpreting the ayat (sign) for sighting the moon from different yet similar perspectives.

"The procedure for procuring the moon is standard and remains unchanged," said the Sheikh, who noted that all the excitement begins with searching the heavens for the moon on the 29th of Ramadhan. According to him, all Muslims agree that the moon is sought after on the 29th and if not sighted anywhere, the fasting period will complete on the 30th day of the month.

"This exercise should involve all Muslims," said Sheikh Ramadhan, adding that whoever is blessed with the privilege of sighting the crescent should communicate with his local Kadhi immediately. "The Kadhi then verifies the claim by taking witness account and administering oaths after establishing that a claimant is a person of good moral standing," he explained.

The Kadhi coordinates the report with the Chief Kadhi who announces it to the nation at large, said Sheikh Ramadhan who, however, admitted that things have changed with the entry of technology. "It would be foolhardy at this time and age to ignore technology which guides us on where the visibility of the crescent is likely to be," said Sheikh Ramadhan.

He said with advanced technology, Muslims can now accurately pinpoint exactly when the crescent will appear, and for how long and even get other finer details like its exact coordinates. In the past, the council of most erudite Islamic scholars from around the world has said in their fatwa (decree) that the difference in moon sighting is something that is well known. The council said there was no difference among the scholars concerning this, rather the difference in scholarly opinion has to do with whether the difference in moon sighting matters or not.

Or a religion that has existed for the last fourteen centuries, there is no known time, besides the period during Prophet Mohammed's lifetime that the umma (worshipers) were unanimous on moonsighting. Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome said the beginning and end of the Month of Ramadhan should not cleave Muslim unity asunder as is the case often.

He, however, does not advocate the matter to be the purview of the office of Chief Kadhi. The office of the Chief Kadhi is strictly a judicial office established by the Constitution.

"Differences on matters that are considered as "Furuu"(Subsidiary) or those based on "Ijtihaad" (striving to reach the truth) should not cause disunity in the Ummah," said Sheikh Lethome. He proposes that Muslims should first aim at always uniting the Ummah by ensuring that those in authority widely consult.