DETERMING THE BEGINNING OF THE HIJRIYYAH MONTH USING RADIO TELESCOPE IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE (Fiqh)

Abstract

The determination of the beginning of the Hijri month has become a significant issue in the Islamic calendar, affecting the observance of crucial religious practices such as Ramadan fasting and the Hajj pilgrimage. In recent years, technological advancements have introduced new methods, including the use of radio telescopes, to observe the moon's cycles and related astronomical phenomena. However, the use of radio telescopes for determining the start of the Hijri month has raised questions regarding its legitimacy from a fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) perspective. This research aims to investigate whether the use of radio telescopes can be recognized as a valid tool for establishing the beginning of the Hijri month based on the principles of fiqh. An interdisciplinary approach is employed, combining the knowledge of Islamic astronomy (ilmu falak) and fiqh to analyze the potential of this technology as a means to achieve religious objectives. The research findings indicate that the use of radio telescopes can provide accurate and objective astronomical data for monitoring the moon's position, irrespective of weather conditions that may affect visual observations. In the context of fiqh, the using of radio telescopes for determining the beginning of the Hijriyyah month cannot be considered as an optional wasīlah with the potential for wadh'i legal rulings. This is because the operational techniques of radio telescopes involve the reflection of radio waves, which differs from the primary role of conventional telescopes as visual aids for observing the crescent moon to make it more distinct. When using a radio telescope, the moon consistently appears as a full disk, in contrast to visual observations that might reveal the crescent moon in a thin or crescent phase. Nevertheless, radio telescopes still hold the potential as supportive tools for verifying the results of hisab (mathematical calculations).