One Ru'ya for One Earth: Unifying Islamic Holidays
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The article discusses the recurring issue of differing dates for Islamic holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, within the Muslim community.
- It highlights the confusion and division caused by these discrepancies, particularly when compared to Saudi Arabia's calendar.
- The author references a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad, suggesting that the day of fasting and the day of Eid should be unified globally, interpreting this as a miracle proving the Quran's divine origin.
The author expresses concern over the persistent problem of differing dates for Islamic holidays, a recurring issue that divides the Muslim community each year. This year, the discrepancy was noted around the start of Muharram and the observance of Ashura, leading to confusion about when to fast.
The article points out the irony of Muslims sharing the same Qibla, Al-Quran, and Prophet, yet often disagreeing on the start of religious months. This leads to debates and a split in observance, particularly around Ramadan, Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha. The author feels this issue has been present for 1400 years.
Referencing a hadith from Prophet Muhammad, the author suggests that the day of fasting and the day of Eid should be unified for all Muslims worldwide. The hadith states, "The day of fasting is the day you fast, the day of breaking the fast is the day you break the fast, and the day of sacrifice is the day you sacrifice." The author interprets this as a prophecy that Islam would spread globally, and that a unified date for these observances would eventually be necessary.
This interpretation is presented as a miracle, proving the divine origin of the Quran, which was once dismissed by non-believers as mere human words. The author believes the Prophet's words, spoken by an unlettered man 1400 years ago, have come true, serving as a testament to the Quran's miraculous nature.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.