Shahr/month in the light of the quran
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As far as moon-worship goes, Muslims no more worship the moon than Westerners worship the sun. Muslims happen to follow a lunar calendar, which comes into religious use for certain things such as timing of ramadan, hajj. That's all.
Well they do worship the sun, but they just don?t know it.
God has not decreed a lunar calendar.Peace,
The so-called muslims have a problem with the word NOTHING in whatever language they are speaking. Associate/join/compare nothing with God, no holy months, no holy places, not the moon or the sunrise or any other physical manifestations of this world. He has not prescribed any symbolic rituals. When God enjoins a thing for mankind, it is for our benefit and when we do this thing, we serve FOR Him and He tells us why and the reason will be clear for those who use their sense. What does God tell us we do as a service for mankind or ourselves when we ?fast? during a (predetermined) holy month? What does God tell us we do as a service when we make a ritualistic pilgrimage (predetermined time & place)? When there is a challenge we can calculate using the moon, sun, stars and big a frigging telescope, from that time which are the forbidden months which He has decreed are 4 of 12. Decreeing 12 leaves no room for misunderstandings, that?s easy if you use your sense. They are not predetermined. It would be funny if it wasn?t so sad, watching the idolaters wait for the muslims while they argue among themselves about who saw the new moon to know if the forbidden months are over to fight. Maybe they will use the time to figure out how to send them to the moon. Will you not think?
A ?fast? of expiation serves a purpose when you allow yourself to admit that it?s not piety. Do not clothe the truth with falsehood. Do not be like those who called themselves ?Guided/Jews? but were not satisfied with clear, simple and easy instructions.
Deen al Islam is not a religion. If you can use that word, you haven?t gotten the picture.
God is the guide. Mz can?t guide, I can?t guide and neither can all the Arabic lessons on earth. Allow yourself to be guided by God through His forces, not by Arabic grammar or a dictionary or history or big egos. Use your sense that He gave you. Snap out of it!
BTW I am never embarrassed by being wrong. Who among us is always right besides those who think they know it ALL.
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Peace be upon you,
Woaw! Did a fight break out in here? Take it outside gentlemen!
Lets get back to a peaceful debate.
Marie, that was a pretty good argument (post before last).
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Salam brother Shuaib, all,
SCIENTIFIC
Up to this point, we both assumed a linear progression and the discussion was whether or not we could pick up a 7% difference in the full moon or 85% symmetry (50% on one side and 43% on the other side).
However, if you examine br David's link, not just the pretty pictures but the data of PERCENTAGE illumination, you will find that the day before and after full illumination there is at most a 3% different (94 % symmetry) and very often only a 1% difference (99% symmetry). Surely you don't claim that you can tell if something is 99% versus 100% symmetric?
I wanted to wait until I test the ability to discern if the moon is full or not before I reply. Last night (the 26th), the moon was visible despite some scattered clouds. By looking carefully at the moon for a couple of minutes, I was able to make out that it was not perfectly symmetric and hence not a full moon. I am hoping that others here tried the same experiment.
Unlike the full-moon this time of the year, the full moon of scorching heat/"ramadhan" occurs right after the summer solstice when the sun is at its highest point and the days are longest.
Now a very interesting point that brother Kyle (idolfree1) brought out is that the full moon that occurs close to the summer solstice is special because it follows the lowest path across the sky of all of the year's full moons. Hence, it is DIRECTLY in the line of sight of the observer and can be easily seen without even having to look up. Interestingly, for some reason the human brain perceives that such moon is larger than regular moons. Brother Shuaib might respond by saying that this is a coincidence but I don't think that this is a coincidence and I think that there is a message there.
Well I didn't refer to the Quran though did i? The discussion was whether or not the hilaal began the month.
If I wanted to know when any month begins, I can look at a calendar and I don't need to discuss anything here. Hence, this discussion is not about months or any calendar. It is about the timing for the abstension according to the GREAT READING/QURAN.
Now, as I said and as you agreed to, it does not specifically say in the lexicographal entry on shahr, that shahr refers to full moon. You do claim that the nuances suggest full moon.
However, in the SAME lexicon, if you check under the heading of hilaal, you find that the Arabs themselves felt that the HILAAL denotes the beginning of the shahr, and that was the purpose of my reference. That is why the hilaal is called the hilaal. It's linguistic evidence of what the month begins with.
It is not about how certain people "felt". It is about the consistent and coherent facts. Do the Lexicons claim to contain no contradictions?
As I said before, one must verify things many different ways. You seem to want a ready made answer. Think of putting a puzzle together. ALL the pieces have to fit. The most important piece that validates all the other pieces is the great reading. Verse 2185 talks about WITNESSING "al-shahr" NOT "al-hilal". So we use the following
- The great reading.
- Our own life experience (For example, seeing the full moon even on cloudy nights but hardly ever seeing the new moon even in ideal viewing conditions).
- The creator's design of the heavens and the earth that made the full moon of scorching heat much easier to see than any other full moon.
- Physical archeological evidence.
- Lastly, linguistic evidence from dictionaries where etymology and context are taken into account.
The best interpretation has the great reading as the criterion and reconciles all of the above accordingly.
BUT, as you underline and now I understand what you meant to imply, taareekh is the common word for history BUT very uncommonly (according to the lexicons) the word used is tAWreekh, with waw instead of hamza.. from this obviously you can also get the word warrakha instead of arrakha.
The lexicons claim that this is a peculiarity in the language that arises from a small minority changing the hamza for a waw when it comes to those particular words.
For you to pretend that it's a common sense conclusion and that this means warkh simply refers to month and is totally interchangeable to arkh is a gross oversimplification at best and misleading at worst. I did not comprehend that THIS is what you were trying to use to justify your meanings, and frankly it is a great stretch to claim that this implies warkh is used in Arabic to denote month. The meaning of warkh is clearly completely different and tawreekh is mentioned as a peculiarity of the language.
This is not about what is common or uncommon. If it is used even ONCE then it is a possible meaning. The inscription in the Southern Arabic dialect leaves no doubt that "warkh" at the time of the prophet meant "month" for Southern Arabs. The etymology from the dictionary confirms the inscription because according to dictionaries the meaning of "warkh" has to do with specifying a date. How do we specify dates? By using calendars that are composed of MONTHS. Again, please keep in mind that we are trying to put a puzzle together that has been affected by 1400 years of distortion. The answer will not be easy and it will not be presented to you on a silver platter by a dictionary. You have to look at ALL the evidence together intelligently and then make a conclusion.
Well, in my grammar book nahwa-al-wafi it describes this noon so apparently it's already established, but obviously in opposite usage compared to OSA.
Arabic grammar was first established by a Persian named Sibawah in the 9th century, long after OSA faded.
Rahman doesn't mean almighty, and merciful/compassionate meanings are completely unwarranted if you look at the lexicons, and as far as i can tell was taken from christians.
What do you think Rahman means if not Almighty and based on what?
Ok well finally, I do have ask if you take shahr to strictly mean full moon, then do you take 2185 to mean to only fast on the night of the full moon? Obviously you must intend by full-moon the month indicated by the moon.
At this stage, I take "shahr" to mean full-moon cycle.
The only way I am aware of that Allah has indicated months or amount of time shorter than a year is by shahr (warkh is not in the Quran in any form). Whether it was ramadan/fasting, the sacred months not to fight, or 936 where Allah explains there are 12 shahr in one year, and even 3412 where to translate shahr strictly as full-moon would lead to an absurd meaning (it's stride was a full-moon).
The God NEVER indicates months in the great reading. He uses natural cosmic phenonmena to serve as time markers so that people know the timing of the abstinance and the restricted full-moon cycles regardless of what man-made calendars anybody uses
Anyway, I don't mean to try your patience by this reply and I do respect your beliefs/thoughts. Hopefully we will be on the same side of the fence more often on other topics.
We are all on the same side of the fence when we are all serving the Truth.
Peace and all best wishes,
Ayman.
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Peace sister Marie,
If we believe that the month of ramadhan is one of the four restricted month, then the verse 2189 is clear, the new moons are a timing mechanism for the people and not full moon.
The new moons are timing mechanisms and so is the stop watch. Do we determine when "ramadan"/scorching heat starts based on a stop watch?
Clearly not.
Here the occurences of the word alqamara/the moon 677, 96, 754, 124, 132, 1433, 1612, 2133, 2218, 2961, 3129, 3513, 3639.
In all those verses, "qamar" simply means moon. A moon/"qamar" could appear as either full moon/"shahr" or new moon/"hilal" or anything in between.
Allah often speaks about the sun and the moon at the same time. I think the word 'alqamar' represents the full moon which appears in stages until it returns to being like an old curved sheath/date-stalk;it is a logical evolution
- Full moon----> 2)manazil (stages)----> 3)crescent like an old curved sheath.
- And the moon We have measured it to appear in stages, until it returns to being like an old curved sheath.
So if there is a partial or full solar eclipse, does the sun cease to exist?
In fact, if you read 3639 carefully in the translation that you quoted, you will see that it refers to none other than the moon/"al-qamar". Hence, it is "al-qamar" that appears in stages (i.e. not as a full moon). This completely demolishes the argument that "alqamar" is ONLY the full-moon. If you read further in 3639, you will see that it is none other than the moon/"alqamar" that looks like an "old curved sheath". Hence, even as an "old curved sheath", it is still "alqamar"/the moon and it refers back to "alqamar". The grammar of the Arabic original of 3639 makes this fact even clearer so please read it patiently.
I hope that this helps in clarifying any confusion.
Peace and all best wishes,
Ayman
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salam brother ayman,
well it's good that you're back cuz it was starting to get a little crazy. anyway, i agree with a lot of what you say and i think it's going to be hard to necessarily come to a consensus on the issue. you've got some valid points and are simply going with what makes the most sense to you. i guess the only comments i can make are whatever i think might be constructive.
SCIENTIFIC
Well that was good that you did an experiment to try out your theories. But there may be a slight bias in that you perhaps already knew when the full moon was going to be on the basis of calculations? But even if you didn't, like I was mentioning before.. for 3 days the moon will appear full to the human eye either 99% full or 100% full. There's no way to tell the difference, REGARDLESS of the time of year, even when the moon is lower in the sky and slightly magnified in appearance.
LINGUISTIC
Hilaal
As far as the definition of hilaal, I appreciate your point that lexicons are not without doubt and you have to corroborate any evidence with the Quran. But even in the end if you reject it because it is unQuranic, you have to conclude that according to the lexicons the Arab world considered hilaal to be the beginning of the lunar month and not the full moon. In your zeal to prove your point, you should not brush these facts under the rug or try to explain them away. If your point is truly clear and valid, then it will be proven true despite this fact.
Warkh
Well you overstated again a little bit. I agree that the inscription certainly gives us the idea that there was an alternate system of months and the word for month was warkh in that area. But again, in the lexicons it was not the word warkh but tawreekh/warrakha (technically one word) that was ever used. So this word warkh for month was not widely used (not even acknowledged in the lexicons). The only word that comes up again and again in fusha Arabic for month throughout all sources, is shahr.
But I agree, puzzle-piecing is an important process. You can't always just get the puzzle solved for you.
Arabic grammar was first established by a Persian named Sibawah in the 9th century, long after OSA faded.
Yes I was told that fact numerous times by my Arabic prof whenever I ate subway in front of him. But actually I meant to just say that in standard nahw, it is already stated that the archaic tanween was a noon with sukoon.
RAHMAN DEFINITION
As far as Rahman, I can provide more detail with evidence in the future (I still have to respond in a new topic on the Quran issue!), but in a nutshell, rahman and raheem are both derived from the word rahm mother's womb. And basically, to make a long story short, rahman is the attribute of Allah that denotes his perfect nourishment of us in every aspect (like a mother's womb), rahman would refer to times of gradual successive need and raheem in times of emergent drastic needs. You might even consider the analogy to gradual and emergent evolution. Sometimes evolution occurs step by step, like the beak growing longer to accomodate a particular need of a bird to feed deeper and deeper into the ground... and sometimes sudden and emergent, the ability to see, hear, overcome disaster etc.
Almighty just doesn't do the term rahman justice, especially since the root has to do with nourishment not power.
At this stage, I take "shahr" to mean full-moon cycle.
Well, at this stage I take "shahr" to mean hilaal-moon cycle D Not a whole lot of difference, just 1/2 month phase shift. But bro if you take it to mean the cycle, then the moon cycle (hilaal or full) is a fancy word for LUNAR MONTH. Isn't that what we were differing on before, but now we come to the same conclusion? Shahr is lunar month?
The God NEVER indicates months in the great reading.
You might have misunderstood what I meant to say. Take for example
2234 If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do.
This is a waiting period that is determined in terms of lunar months and solar days. Maybe our terminology is different here, but these basic "cosmic phenomenon" are exactly the measures that we use to measure time and waiting periods... whether we call it a month or a lunar cycle or a day or a solar cycle, a year or an earth cycle.
Anyway, the other problem I see about keeping ramadan in a hot month and not keeping it a calendrical month is who determines which is the "hot month." On what basis? Sometimes July is hotter than August, sometimes vice versa. If would differ greatly in different parts of the world. Wouldn't it be utter chaos?
wassalam
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The moon cycle is of particular interest to the us navy.
http//aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases.html
Although Full Moon occurs each month at a specific date and time, the Moon's disk may appear to be full for several nights in a row if it is clear. This is because the percentage of the Moon's disk that appears illuminated changes very slowly around the time of Full Moon (also around New Moon, but the Moon is not visible at all then). The Moon may appear 100% illuminated only on the night closest to the time of exact Full Moon, but on the night before and night after will appear 97-99% illuminated; most people would not notice the difference. Even two days from Full Moon the Moon's disk is 93-97% illuminated
An article about the islamic calander
http//aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/islamic.html
Peace.
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Salam Brother Ayman,
Peace sister Marie,
If we believe that the month of ramadhan is one of the four restricted month, then the verse 2189 is clear, the new moons are a timing mechanism for the people and not full moon.
The new moons are timing mechanisms and so is the stop watch. Do we determine when "ramadan"/scorching heat starts based on a stop watch?
Clearly not.
I respect your view but I consider the new moon as the begining of the cycle and it seems logical for me.
Here the occurences of the word alqamara/the moon 677, 96, 754, 124, 132, 1433, 1612, 2133, 2218, 2961, 3129, 3513, 3639.
In all those verses, "qamar" simply means moon. A moon/"qamar" could appear as either full moon/"shahr" or new moon/"hilal" or anything in between.
Ok, this is why I consider that these two following verses are connected
- Initiator of morning and Maker of the night to reside in; and the sun and the moon for counting. Such is the measure of the Noble, the Knowledgeable.
2189 brings an additional information to 696, Allah specifies at which phase of the moon is a timing mechanism for the people and for the
- They ask you regarding the new moons/alahillat, Say ?They are a timing mechanism for the people and for the alhajj.? And piety is not that you would enter a home from its back, but piety is whomever is righteous and come to the homes from their main doors. And be aware of God that you may succeed.
Allah often speaks about the sun and the moon at the same time. I think the word 'alqamar' represents the full moon which appears in stages until it returns to being like an old curved sheath/date-stalk;it is a logical evolution
- Full moon----> 2)manazil (stages)----> 3)crescent like an old curved sheath.
- And the moon We have measured it to appear in stages, until it returns to being like an old curved sheath.
So if there is a partial or full solar eclipse, does the sun cease to exist?
In fact, if you read 3639 carefully in the translation that you quoted, you will see that it refers to none other than the moon/"al-qamar". Hence, it is "al-qamar" that appears in stages (i.e. not as a full moon). This completely demolishes the argument that "alqamar" is ONLY the full-moon. If you read further in 3639, you will see that it is none other than the moon/"alqamar" that looks like an "old curved sheath". Hence, even as an "old curved sheath", it is still "alqamar"/the moon and it refers back to "alqamar". The grammar of the Arabic original of 3639 makes this fact even clearer so please read it patiently.
I think you don't get what I mean because we read 3639 differently. Your sentence is not complete when you said Hence, it is "al-qamar" that appears in stages; we read the moon appears in stages until it returns to being like an old curved sheath.
In other words, the moon through its stages become a crescent like an old curved sheath.Before becoming a crescent , the moon is at 100% of its size. The moon/full moon and its phases are two distinct things and in the same time closely linked.
The moon/full moon is at 100 percent of its size----> then 80 % (phase1) ---->40% (phase 2) --------> until 5% which correponds to the size of a crescent (phase3)...etc.
qamar and hilal are not interchangeable.
Hilal (new moon) comes after the phase described at the end of the verse 3639; an old curved sheath.
full moon(alqamar)--------->an old curved sheath.----->new moon (hilal)----------fullmoon------->an old curved sheath.----->new moon...etc
Allah knows best
Peace
Marie -
Peace be upon you Ayman, Shuiab and all,
Ayman, good respose, it cleared up some of the doubts I had.
Shuiab said
Anyway, the other problem I see about keeping ramadan in a hot month and not keeping it a calendrical month is who determines which is the "hot month." On what basis? Sometimes July is hotter than August, sometimes vice versa. If would differ greatly in different parts of the world. Wouldn't it be utter chaos?Regarding differing in different parts of the world, so does the "salaat" times, but this does not cause utter chaos, everyone is confortable with "thier dawn" wherever they are.
Regarding the "Hot moon cycle", I do not think it is so much related to how we feel the heat, but more regarding the position of the earth with the sun and the star Sirius, which is the brightest star in the sky and is called "the scorcher". Here is a caption from an article about Sirius;
"This star according to Dogon mythology is composed of sagala, a form of metal unknown on earth (the root of Sagala meaning both "Strong" and "Heat"). "
http//www.chennaionline.com/science/dogstar.asp
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Salam sister Marie, all,
Ok, this is why I consider that these two following verses are connected
- Initiator of morning and Maker of the night to reside in; and the sun and the moon for counting. Such is the measure of the Noble, the Knowledgeable.
2189 brings an additional information to 696, Allah specifies at which phase of the moon is a timing mechanism for the people and for the
- They ask you regarding the new moons/alahillat, Say ?They are a timing mechanism for the people and for the alhajj.? And piety is not that you would enter a home from its back, but piety is whomever is righteous and come to the homes from their main doors. And be aware of God that you may succeed.
696 talks about "alqamar" being for counting. Since you claim the "qamar" means full moon, you are inadvertently refuting your OWN argument that "hilal"/new-moon is used for counting the months.
As for 2189, please read 7142 where Moussa is described as achieving/completing the "myqat". Hence, similar to 7142, "mawaqit" in 2189 is talking about the timing for completion of "7ajj" NOT the beginning of "7ajj". Note the relationship between the 10 extra nights in 7142 and the 10 days of "7ajj" in 2196. The fact is that 10 days is how long it takes for the full-moon to reach the crescent stage. Hence, the "ahila"/crescents provide timing for the completion of the "7ajj".
I think you don't get what I mean because we read 3639 differently. Your sentence is not complete when you said Hence, it is "al-qamar" that appears in stages; we read the moon appears in stages until it returns to being like an old curved sheath.
In other words, the moon through its stages become a crescent like an old curved sheath."Hilal" is also a "qamar" but it is a special case of "qamar". Or do you think that when The God says in 2133 that the "qamar" is floating in an orbit, He only means the "full-moon" and NOT the crescent!
Before becoming a crescent , the moon is at 100% of its size. The moon/full moon and its phases are two distinct things and in the same time closely linked.
The moon/full moon is at 100 percent of its size----> then 80 % (phase1) ---->40% (phase 2) --------> until 5% which correponds to the size of a crescent (phase3)...etc.
qamar and hilal are not interchangeable.
Sister, your logic is fallacious because it is like saying that when in Paris you are not in France. The crescent is like Paris and "alqamar"/the moon is like France. The crescent is a stage of the "alqamar" like Paris is a city in France.
I hope that this clarifies any remaining confusion.
Salam and all best wishes,
Ayman.
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Peace brother Kyle,
Regarding the "Hot moon cycle", I do not think it is so much related to how we feel the heat, but more regarding the position of the earth with the sun and the star Sirius, which is the brightest star in the sky and is called "the scorcher".
At this stage, I think that the etymology of the word "ramadhan" suggests that it is the time when the sun is at its highest point of the year (scorching/smallest shadow) and the days are longest and this happens on the summer solstice. Hence, the first full-moon after the summer solstice would be the full-moon of "ramadhan". There are other signs that talk about the relationship between the sun and the shadow as one of "guide". As for the "scorcher/bright/penetrating", it could describe many things other than Sirius.
Peace and all best wishes,
Ayman
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Salam brother Ayman, all,
696 talks about "alqamar" being for counting. Since you claim the "qamar" means full moon, you are inadvertently refuting your OWN argument that "hilal"/new-moon is used for counting the months.
I'm not sure if you get it. "alqamar" is for counting but at which phase? the response is in 2189 the new moon is a timing mechanism for the four restricted month. The month of ramadhan is a restcited month, consequently the new moon is a timing mechanism for the month of ramadhan.
Allah said that the new moons are a timing mechanism for the people and for Alhajj.? For Alhajj comes after for the people.
I deduce that the people use the new moons as a timing mechanism whatever the month; The count of the months with God is twelve months in God?s record the day He created the heavens and the Earth; four of them are restricted. (936)
The moon (alqamar) has several phases, the god deosn't let us to guess at which phase of the moon, these months started and ended (alshhurum maAAlumat/appointed months) (2197).
As for 2189, please read 7142 where Moussa is described as achieving/completing the "myqat". Hence, similar to 7142, "mawaqit" in 2189 is talking about the timing for completion of "7ajj" NOT the beginning of "7ajj".
I disagree because"mawaqit" doesn't imply only the end of an appointed time, notice that the god uses the verb "amma/he completes" before "meeqatu rabbihi/the appointed time of his Lord". This appointed time has a beginning and an end.
Another example, the same word is used in 4103
the salat for the believers is a book at the times appointed. These times are explained in the light of the reading; the begenning and the end for the salat at dawn and the salat at dusk.Brother, there is no problem if we diverge about our understanding.
Let us take time of reflexion before continuing this debate.
Peace
Marie
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Peace Ayman and Idolfree,
Prove that the change is not drastic for the southern hemisphere, then you have a point. One cannot equate salaat times with that because a fundamental change is the hot season in the northern hemisphere corresponds to winter from where I am i.e. the southern tropics. I am not buying your arguments for the time being.
Regards
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Peace be upon you Ayman,
At this stage, I think that the etymology of the word "ramadhan" suggests that it is the time when the sun is at its highest point of the year (scorching/smallest shadow) and the days are longest and this happens on the summer solstice. Hence, the first full-moon after the summer solstice would be the full-moon of "ramadhan". There are other signs that talk about the relationship between the sun and the shadow as one of "guide". As for the "scorcher/bright/penetrating", it could describe many things other than Sirius.
Yes, I agree that it is summer solstice, I only mention sirius because I was under the assumption that Sirius comes just before the summer solstice.
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Peace be upon you Mozmahe,
Prove that the change is not drastic for the southern hemisphere, then you have a point. One cannot equate salaat times with that because a fundamental change is the hot season in the northern hemisphere corresponds to winter from where I am i.e. the southern tropics. I am not buying your arguments for the time being.
Please elaborate on the drastic change, I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying that it is not so because it is not hot everywhere at the same time? I am not following, please clarify so I can try to answer.
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salams,
i think we're getting carried away here with the meaning of ramadan. the meaning of the word indicates severe heat, and here we are talking about solstices and sirius.
You would think that if such were the case, there would be some other detail in the Quran. Some mention of the sun or something other than the word ramadan that from every source I have seen, was the name of a calendrical month BEFORE Islam.
SPLITTING THE UMMAH
As far as the solstice goes... why on earth would the Muslim unified ummah be split up in such a way? With half fasting one part of the year, the other half fasting the other part of the year (as the solstice is different in the different hemispheres). Not only that, but god forbid you end up at the equator cuz then you're screwed.LEXICONS?
Now if you look at the lexicons where you found the meaning severe heat... you'll also find that ramadan was the name of a month even BEFORE Islam. And in fact there was another older name for that month, but all the months were renamed at one point... It was named ramadan because in those days the month occurred when there was severe heat. This is evident in some other names of the month, such as rabee' awwal and thaani (spring).So as far as the case for the "summer solstice" goes, it is definitely not clear cut and definitely not the ONLY way to interpret the verses. And since it would entail splitting the ummah into 2 for fasting, I say it's also unfavorable.
SUMMER SOLSTICE=SCORCHING HEAT?
Not only that, but ramadan's root is severe heat, but who says severe heat MUST mean the summer solstice? Is there evidence that the Arabs followed the summer solstice? And as far as the connection between summer solstice and heat"For those of us living in latitudes north of 45 degrees, it is natural to consider the Summer Solstice as the start of summer weather as well because the three warmest months of the year are usually June, July and August. The lag in air temperature behind the solar intensity peak is due to the use of much of the Spring solar energy to melt snow and ice, heat land surfaces and warm waters from their winter chill. In continental areas such as the Canadian Prairie Provinces and American Plains States, annual temperature cycle peaks from late July to early August, whereas in the Pacific Northwest, the warmest stretch of days annually occurs from late August to early September. That extra month is required to heat the cold Pacific waters offshore."
Why longest days aren't the hottest days
Each year on June 20 or 21, the sun reaches its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere sky ? the summer solstice. Days around the time of the summer solstice are the year's longest. Even with the year's longest days, however, the hottest weather arrives about a month later for most places. The graphic here uses Chicago as an example of how the hottest weather lags the longest days of the year. This happens because even as the days grow shorter, the amount of solar heat arriving at the ground is greater than the amount of heat leaving the earth. The days continue growing hotter as heat accumulates. Weather begins cooling when the balance shifts to more heat leaving than arriving. Temperature figures here are 30-year averages."
http//www.usatoday.com/weather/walm2.htm
wassalam
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Peace,
What I am implying is very simple. Assumptions Ramadhan was the month in which the reading was revealed and Jibril brings those revelations and Jibril is an unseen being. Let us take this simple scenario During the times of the messenger, it is Ramadhan and he is receiving the revelation and for some reason he was able to go to the southern hemisphere the next day, Are you implying then that he should wait a few months to receive the revelations again. Or Jibril can only accede to the northern hemisphere at certain times and not the other. This will also mean that the night of "destiny" is not fixed.
Regards
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Peace be upon you all,
I am not sure what the issue is regarding timing. Please consider again that everyone in the world establishes thier "salaat" at dawn. The Entire world does not have dawn at the same time, so why is there a problem with abstaining being a different time?
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salam br idolfree,
salat is not at the same EXACT time because obviously that would be very inconvenient for some people to wake up 3 times during their sleep to pray and then go the whole day without praying. Obviously DAILY schedules cannot coincide precisely...
but even despite this... an amazing fact is that the aathaan goes around the world. Ever thought about that? When it is time for salat and athaan is given in one location, earth continues to rotate, each zone calls its athaan until it goes around the world. I think that's amazing. A unified Muslim ummah with an athaan that can be heard around the world like a domino effect. Same goes for breaking fast (iftaar). The iftaar that goes around the world! )
Compare that to the bizarre notion of everyone above the equator fast one part of the year, everyone below fast another part. That IS splitting the ummah CLEARLY in half. That is an unacceptable policy. AND, in my opinion, it has little or no support from the Quran either.
wassalam
