CALENDARS AND TIME

Written by Layth (e-mail: laytth@hotmail.com)

What we take for granted in our daily lives is the structure of calendars and the system of time that
people in one particular place or another follow.

For Europe and the US, it is the Gregorian solar calendar of 365 days (366 days in a leap year) with
January 1st being the first day of the year. For the Middle East there is the Hijri lunar calendar made of
354 days where Muhram 1st is the first day of the year. For the Jewish faith, the calendar is a luni-solar
one where the beginning of the calendar is around October. For the Chinese it is luni-solar, for the Indians
it is solar, etc.

As you can see above, there is a mish-mash of systems being followed, each having its own criteria and
each having its own start date and details...

Is the year solar or lunar?

The first question that needs to be asked when constructing any calendar is whether to use a solar year of
365 days (representing the length of time it takes the Earth to rotate completely around the sun), or,
whether to use a lunar year by simply counting 12 months (354 days), or, whether to use a mixture of
both solar and lunar at the same time.

"And We made the night and the day as two signs, so We erased the sign of night and We made the sign
of day to see-in, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the
years and the count. And everything We have detailed completely." (17:12)

"He is the One who made the sun to emit light, and the moon to reflect it, and He measured its phases;
that you may know the number of the years and the count. God has not created this except for truth. He
details the revelations for a people who know. (10:5)

According to the above verses, the main theme that is used to measure the year is the alternation of the
day and night (which is caused by the movement of the sun), while the secondary theme are the phases
of the moon, thus making the calendar that is described in God's Scripture as being 'luni-solar' in nature.

Year = 365 days rounded (365.24 days - one full rotation of the earth around the sun)

Month

With regards to the definition of a 'month', it is a unit of measure that is contained within a year (already
established as 365 days). According to the Scripture, there are 12 of these units 'months' that are counted
within the system of the year:

"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. This is the correct system; so do not wrong yourselves in them;
and fight those who set up partners collectively as they fight you collectively. And know that God is with
the righteous." (9:36)

Therefore, and in the simplest terms, the average length of each month is 365 ÷ 12 = 30.4 days (30 days
rounded).

This figure of 30 days brings us back to the moon whereby we are told that, in addition to the sun, the
moon is also related to the count of the years.

"He is the One who made the sun to emit light, and the moon to reflect it, and He measured its phases;
that you may know the number of the years and the count. God has not created this except for truth. He
details the revelations for a people who know. (10:5)
The average length of the cycle of the moon is 29.53 days (30 days rounded), which is in-line with the
measure of the 'month' as given in the Scripture.

Month = 30 days rounded (29.53 days - one full lunar cycle)

When does the month begin?

Due to the unique phases that accompany the cycle of the moon (dark moon, to crescent, to full moon, to
crescent, to dark moon) we need to examine the Scripture to determine which of these phases is used to
mark the beginning of any given month.

"They ask you regarding the crescent moons, Say: "They are a timing mechanism for the people as well
as for the Pilgrimage." 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."
(2:189)

We know that the subject of the months was already known by the people (as evidenced by the Scripture
speaking of it being revealed in the `month of Ramadhan`), therefore, the above verse discounts the
crescent moons as being the beginning of the month due to the fact that the prophet was being `asked`
about what the crescent moons signify (the questions people asked and were recorded in the Scripture
were all ones where the people were unsure/unclear: what about the soul? What about sex during
menstruation? What about the hour? etc.).

We are now left with two options for the beginning of the month: dark moon or full moon.

"And the moon We have measured it to appear in stages, until it returns to being like an old curved
sheath." (36:39)

The `old curved sheath` of a palm tree is the section of branch that dies and then hangs down in a curved
shape on either side of the tree.
The only time we can see this phenomena with the moon is during a `full moon` when the darkness of
the night sky makes a curved shape on the left and on the right (like an old curved sheath which has died
and changed its color from the original tree).
Therefore, the months begins with the full moon.

When does the year begin?

The current dates used in modern calendars to mark the first day of the year (such as January 1 in the
Gregorian calendar or Muharam 1 in the Arabic calendar) are arbitrary dates that have been selected
based on specific historic events (the death of Jesus in the Gregorian, and the Hijra of the Prophet in the
Arabic).

Scientifically speaking, the solar year has 4 clear markers that are caused by the tilt of the Earth and its
position vis-à-vis the sun which recur each year around the same time:

1. Spring Equinox (when the length of the day and night are exactly equal)
2. Fall Equinox (when the length of the day and night are exactly equal)
3. Summer Solstice (when the length of the day is greatest).
4. Winter Solstice (when the length of the night is greatest).
These markers are quite reliable in the sense that both animal and plant species react to these changes by
adapting their behavior accordingly. Please note that we are looking to the seasons in relation to the
northern hemisphere since the Scripture was revealed in the area of the Middle East, which lies in the
northern hemisphere.

The most logical application of a luni-solar calendar is to decide which of these 'fixed' dates is to be the
marker and then begin counting the first full moon that occurs on or after this date as day-1, month-1.

Looking to the Scripture for guidance, we find that there is a seasonal reference made with the name
'month of Ramadhan' (ramadha = time of scorching heat).

"A month of Ramadhan, in which the Quran was sent down as a guide and clarification of the guidance
and the criterion. Whoever from you is witness to that month, then let him fast in it. And whoever is ill or
traveling, then the same number from different days. God wants to bring you ease and not to bring you
hardship; and so that you may complete the count, and glorify God for what He Has guided you, that you
may be thankful. " (2:185)

On a solar calendar, which would be a hot/scorching period in the northern hemisphere?

The obvious answer is: the first full moon/month that is one or after the summer solstice (the summer
solstice is on or around June 21 on the Gregorian calendar).

Although this piece of information has given us a clear marker, it has not completely satisfied the question
of when the year begins and where the pilgrimage as well as the four restricted months are located.

The four restricted months

The Scripture informs us that during the solar year there are four months are 'restricted' (the Arabic word
used is 'hurum').

"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. This is the correct system; so do not wrong yourselves in them;
and fight those who set up partners collectively as they fight you collectively. And know that God is with
the righteous." (9:36)

Further investigation shows us that these four months have a 'restriction' from God's that outlaws hunting
of any wild game (with the exception of any catch from the sea):
"O you who believe, honour your contracts. Made lawful for you are all the animals of the livestock, except
that which is being recited to you, and what you are not allowed to hunt of the game while you are under
restriction. God decrees as He pleases." (5:1)

"Lawful for you is the catch of the sea, to eat it as enjoyment for you and for those who travel; and
forbidden for you is the catch of the land as long as you are under restriction; and be aware of God to
whom you will be gathered." (5:96)

Pilgrimage and the four restricted months

"This is a revocation from God and His messenger to those with whom you have made a treaty from
among those who have set up partners. Therefore, roam the land for four months and know that you will
not escape God, and that God will humiliate the rejecters. And a declaration from God and His messenger
to the people, on this, the peak day of the Pilgrimage: "That God and His messenger are innocent from all
those who set up partners." If you repent, then it is better for you, and if you turn away, then know that
you will not escape God. And give news to those who have rejected of a painful retribution. Except for
those with whom you had a treaty from among those who have set up partners if they did not reduce
anything from it nor did they plan to attack you; you shall continue the treaty with them until its expiry.
God loves the righteous. So when the restricted months have passed, then you may kill those who have
set up partners wherever you find them, and take them, and surround them, and stand against them at
every point. If they repent, and honour the oath of allegiance, and contribute towards betterment, then
you shall leave them alone. God is Forgiving, Merciful." (9:1-5)

The above verses highlight a number of valuable gems of information that clarify the issue of the
pilgrimage and the four restricted months as follows:

1. We are first told that the four restricted months are in effect and that those who set-up partners have
this time period as an 'amnesty'.

2. We are then told that the prophet has made a declaration during the peak day of the pilgrimage that
God and His messenger are innocent from those who set-up partners.

3. We are then reminded once again that when the four restricted months have passed, that the amnesty
is over.

The clear meaning that comes out from this sequence is that the pilgrimage begins with the beginning of
the four restricted months (remember that the count of any month begins with the full moon as per 36:39
and that these months are sequential in nature.

With regards to the length of the pilgrimage, this can be ascertained as being the period from the full
moon of the first restricted month and lasts until the sighting of the crescent 10-days later (people may
shorten to two or extended beyond the ten if needed). Therefore, the 'peak day' of the pilgrimage in which
the prophet repeated the declaration against those who have set-up partners would have been the tenth
(and final) day of the pilgrimage.

"And remember God during a few number of days. Whoever hurries to two days, there is no sin upon him;
and whoever delays, there is no sin upon him if he is being righteous. And be aware of God, and know
that it is to Him that you will be gathered." (2:203)

"And complete the Pilgrimage and the visit for God. But, if you are prevented, then make what is
affordable of donation, and do not shave your heads until the donation reaches its destination; but
whoever of you is ill or has an affliction to his head, then he may redeem by fasting or giving a charity or
a sacrifice. But if you are able, then whoever continues the visit until the Pilgrimage, then he shall provide
what is affordable of donation; but for he who cannot find anything, then he must fast for three days
during the Pilgrimage and seven when he returns; this will make a complete ten; this is for those whose
family is not present at the Restricted Temple. And be aware of God, and know that God is severe in
retribution." (2:196)

"They ask you regarding the crescent moons, Say: "They are a timing mechanism for the people as well
as for the Pilgrimage." 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."
(2:189)

For more details on the pilgrimage please refer to the following article.

Reverse engineering the new year

Now we have established a seasonal 'marker' (Ramadhan), and we have also established that the
pilgrimage begins the four sequential restricted months, it is time to revisit chapter 9 to place these two
elements together and see when the year actually begins.

"Those who have remained behind are content with their position behind God's messenger, and they
disliked to strive with their wealth and lives in the cause of God; and they Say: "Do not march out in the
heat." Say: "The fire of Hell is far hotter," if they could only understand." (9:81)

Chapter 9 in the Scripture began with the amnesty given during the four restricted months to those who
have set-up partners and had broken their treaties. 9:5 told us that these people who did not repent at
the end of the four months would be fought. 9:81 tells us that those who went out to fight with the
prophet were being told by those who remained behind that they should stay and not go fight now as it
was 'very hot' for marching out.

Therefore, the obvious conclusion that can be drawn is that the four restricted months precede the month
of Ramadhan (which has already been identified as the first lunar full moon that occurs on or after the
summer solstice).

Pilgrimage/Restricted 1 ---> Restricted 2 ---> Restricted 3 ---> Restricted 4 ---> Ramadhan

This would make the pilgrimage occur during the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (on or
around March 20, when the day and night are exactly equal), and thus sets the start of the calendar as
being month 1.

How many pilgrimages per year?

One issue that causes some misdirection in the study of the pilgrimage is a reference in the Scripture
using the plural 'months' for the pilgrimage:

"The Pilgrimage is towards the months which have been appointed. So whosoever decides to perform the
Pilgrimage therein, then there shall be no sexual approach, nor vileness, nor baseless argument in the
Pilgrimage. And any good that you do, God is aware of it; and bring provisions for yourselves, though the
best provision is righteousness; and be aware of Me O people of understanding." (2:197)

This misunderstanding of having more than one pilgrimage per year is resolved by looking at the story
where Moses, after leaving Egypt the first time, makes a pact to remain in Median for a period of 8 or 10
pilgrimages (the choice is left to Moses).

"He said: 'I wish you to marry one of my two daughters, on condition that you work for me through eight
pilgrimage periods; if you complete them to ten, it will be voluntary on your part. I do not wish to make
this matter too difficult for you. You will find me, God willing, of the righteous.'" (28:27)
To make the case that there are four pilgrimages (one pilgrimage in each restricted month) means that
Moses agreed to remain in Median for a period of at least 2 years (8 pilgrimages) or around 2.5 years (10
pilgrimages) as a maximum.

Alternatively (and ignoring the fact that the months mention in 2:197 are plural and not dual), if we took
the case that there are at least two pilgrimages per year (based on the pilgrimages conversation with
Moses increasing by a multiple of two – i.e. from 8 to 10), then the maximum number we could reach is
from this pact between Moses and his future father-in-law is 5 years

The Arabic used to indicate a dual number of two years is 'sanataan'.

The Arabic used to indicate a number from 3-9 years is 'bitha sineen' (see 30:4 & 12:42)

However, when we further follow the story of Moses, we find that the Arabic used to describe how long he
stayed in Median with the word 'sineen' which indicates that Moses remained in Median for at least 10
years, fulfilling the longer part of the bargain:

"That your sister should follow, and Say: "Shall I guide you to a person who will nurse him" Thus We
returned you to your mother, so that she may be pleased and not be sad. And you killed a person, but We
saved you from harm and We tested you greatly. So it was that you stayed with the people of Median for
many years, then you came here by fate O Moses." (20:40)

Based on all the above, it becomes clear that the number of pilgrimages per year is only one and that the
reference in 2:197 is not to the pilgrimage being plural but rather to the four restricted months towards
which the pilgrimage begins.

The Fasting of 10 days in ramadhan

"O you who believe, fasting has been decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, perhaps you
may be righteous. A few number of days (ayaam madoodat); however, if an of you is ill or traveling,
then the same number from different days; and as for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may
redeem by feeding the needy. And whoever does good voluntarily, then it is better for him. And if you fast
it is better for you if you knew." (2:183-184)

The period which we are to fast has been defined by the word 'madoodat/few'. This word typically
indicates a number from 3-10 as the term 'madoodat' is used for numbers which can be simply counted
even by the fingers of the hand (this same word can be seen in 2:203 to indicate a period of at least 3
days).

The question of which number from 3-10 is required for the fast (since, by definition, any number from
this range is correctly defined as 'madood') is answered by 2:185 in which God say's "so that you may
complete the count". The complete count for our number system is a 10-based system (see 2:196). i.e.
we when we reach 10, we start the count again with 11, 12, 13, etc.. (this is different from an 8 based
system which has been used in the past or even a 7 base system).

"It has been made lawful for you during the night of fasting to approach your women sexually. They are a
garment for you and you are a garment for them. God knows that you used to betray your souls so He
Has accepted your repentance, and forgiven you; now you may approach them and seek what God Has
written for you. And you may eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of
dawn; then you shall complete the fast until night; and do not approach them while you are devoted in
the temples. These are God's boundaries, so do not transgress them. It is thus that God makes His
revelations clear to the people that they may be righteous." (2:187)

According to the above verse, the fast is to occur from just before dawn and lasts till the night.

The 13th month?

Having a luni-solar year is extremely accurate when it comes to aligning the year with the seasons,
planning for crops and harvests, and in knowing the natural cycle of wildlife. However, one issue that
needs to be addressed is the '13th month' which occurs in some solar years.
Due to the length of a lunar month being on average 29.54 days, this means that it is possible to have a
13th full moon appear within the 365 day year.

The problem is not in having this extra month appear (which is a natural phenomena of the length of the
moon's cycle within the length of the solar year), but in how the extra month is dealt with.

"Know that the use of the additional month causes an increase in rejection, for it is used by those who
have rejected that they may misguide with it by making it lawful one year and forbidding it one year, so
as to circumvent the count that God has made restricted; thus they make lawful what God made
forbidden! Their evil works have been adorned for them, and God does not guide the rejecting people."
(9:37)

The Scripture tells us that previous generations had manipulated the 13th month by counting it in some
years and completely ignoring it in others, thereby circumventing the correct start of the restricted
months in-order to make the hunting of wildlife lawful in the period that God has decreed was 'forbidden'.

To address this issue, the Scripture decreed the simplest answer, which is to simply ignore the 13th
month that occurs within a solar year and thus keeping with the instruction that only 12 months are to be
maintained within the solar year:

"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. This is the correct system; so do not wrong yourselves in them;
and fight those who set up partners collectively as they fight you collectively. And know that God is with
the righteous." (9:36)

Therefore, any new full moon beyond 12 new full moons that appears within a solar year (i.e. from spring
equinox to spring equinox) will be ignored in the year count and treated as 'month zero'.

Conclusion

God's calendar is one that exists in nature and which utilizes the entities of sun, moon and star to make a
perfect timing mechanism that is in-line with nature and in-harmony with our movements through the
universe.

Below is a summary of what has been explained above:

1. The year according to the Scripture is Luni-Solar (17:12, 10:5).

2. The months begin with the full moon (2:189, 36:39).
3. The solar year has 4 markers that can be measured (2 solstices, 2 equinoxes).
4. Ramadhan is the month of scorching heat, thus the fast begins with the first full moon after the
summer solstice (2:185).
5. The period of fasting is 10 days (2:183-184).
6. The 4 restricted months precede the month of Ramadhan and would begin with the first full
moon after the spring equinox.
7. The 4 restricted months (1-4) are 'restricted' from hunting any game, while domestic animals
and the catch of the sea are lawful (see 5:1 & 5:96).
8. The pilgrimage is held once a year, which would begin at the new full moon of the first restricted
month (i.e. in or around March 20) and would end with the crescent moon that occurs exactly 10
days later.
9. After a count of 12 lunar months, if a 13th full moon appears before the spring equinox, then
such a month is to be ignored and counted as 'month zero'. This average occurrence of this
extra month is 7 times every 19 solar years.