MOONSIGHTING GEOPOLITICS is a a
geopolitical reading of the issue of the visibility of the new moon by Associate Professor Shafick Osman, PhD in Geopolitics (Paris-Sorbonne University), and Research Associate at the Florida International University (Miami, USA).
The appearance of the crescent moon is a very important element in the
Hegira calendar, as it determines the beginning of each Islamic month
and, consequently, the start of Ramadan, the date of the Hajj and, more
particularly, the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. But the methods
used to sight the new moon are diverse, and although correct in terms of
Islamic jurisprudence, they are a source of division, controversy, and
animosity even within the heterogeneous Muslim communities from East to
West. And the year 2020 (1441 AH) saw part of Canada celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr before Saudi Arabia for the very first time, based on
approved visibility in Mauritania! And in the Indian Ocean, the
autonomous island of Rodrigues celebrated one day after Port Louis, the
capital of Mauritius. This raises the question of Rodrigues'
'islamicity’ autonomy, which some people do not look favourably upon.
Welcome to the geopolitics of moonighting!
The article has been published in Vol.
1, No.1 of the Ottawa Journal of International and Public Affairs (OJIPA)
in July 2023. It may be purchased here.
