Shaykh Ahmad Shakir and the Adoption of a Scientifically-Based Lunar Calendar

Islamic Law and Society, Vol. 5, No. 1. (1998), pp. 57-89

34 Pages Posted: 3 Aug 2012

See all articles by Ebrahim Moosa

Ebrahim Moosa

Duke University - Department of Religion

Date Written: February 1, 1998

Abstract

The computation of the Muslim lunar calendar has been a subject of controversy for centuries. In the twentieth century, the debate surfaced again in different parts of the Muslim world. In Egypt, the distinguished jurist Ahmad Shakir added his voice to the debate by writing a short treatise or riscila in which he argued that a calendar based on crescent sighting should be abandoned in favour of one based on scientific and astronomical computation. After providing some background information on Shakir and the lunar debate in Egypt and elsewhere in the Muslim world, I present an annotated translation of Shakir's treatise.

Keywords: lunar calendar, Islamic law, Ahmad Shakir

Suggested Citation

Moosa, Ebrahim, Shaykh Ahmad Shakir and the Adoption of a Scientifically-Based Lunar Calendar (February 1, 1998). Islamic Law and Society, Vol. 5, No. 1. (1998), pp. 57-89, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2122574

Ebrahim Moosa (Contact Author)

Duke University - Department of Religion ( email )

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United States
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9196603530 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://religiondepartment.duke.edu/people?Gurl=%2Faas%2FReligion&Uil=moosa&subpage=profile

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