French Muslims Turn To Science For Ramadan Start

[HuffingtonPost]

PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) - France's Muslim leaders have agreed  to end almost 1,400 years of Islamic tradition and use modern  astronomy to determine the start of the holy month of Ramadan  and other Islamic holidays.                

The French Muslim Council (CFCM) voted on Thursday to start  using astronomical calculations to set the date rather than  relying on the naked eye to sight the new crescent moon.                

Ramadan traditionally begins the morning after the sighting,  which has in the past been delayed by a day or even two by  weather.                

Council President Mohammad Moussaoui said the old method  played havoc with French Muslims' schedules for work, school and  festivities. France's five million Muslims are the largest  Islamic minority in Europe.                

"Now all this will be simplified," he said, and promptly   announced the Ramadan fast would begin on July 9 this year.                

Turkey began using scientific calculations to set the start  of Ramadan decades ago. Muslims in Germany, who are mostly of  Turkish origin, and those in Bosnia also use this method.                

Muslim minorities elsewhere in Europe often start Ramadan  according to its beginning in their countries of origin, or in  Saudi Arabia. That can lead to different ethnic groups starting  it on different days, even in the same country.                

"This is historic. Now all Muslims in France can start  Ramadan on the same day," said Lyon Muslim leader Azzedine Gaci.                

Muslim scientists have been arguing for using astronomy to  determine Islamic dates for years, especially now that  globalised communications make it increasingly awkward for  different countries to start Ramadan on different days.                

Complicating the calculations, the Islamic lunar calendar is  10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar developed in  Europe, so the dates for Ramadan fall a week and a half earlier  as each year in the western calendar passes.                

Moussaoui said French Muslims were not planning to ask for  their holidays to be included in the national calendar.                

"It would be more important for us that they are taken into  consideration, that's all," he said.     (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

Via: HuffingtonPost