MOONSIGHTING GEOPOLITICS

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MOONSIGHTING GEOPOLITICS by Shafick Osman, Doctorate in Geopolitics (Paris-Sorbonne) and Research Associate, Florida International University (Miami).

The appearance of the crescent moon is a very important element in the Hegira calendar, as it determines the beginning of each Islamic month and, consequently, the start of Ramadan, the date of the Hajj and, more particularly, the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. But the methods used to sight the new moon are diverse, and although correct in terms of Islamic jurisprudence, they are a source of division, controversy, and animosity even within the heterogeneous Muslim communities from East to West. And the year 2020 (1441 AH) saw part of Canada celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr before Saudi Arabia for the very first time, based on approved visibility in Mauritania! And in the Indian Ocean, the autonomous island of Rodrigues celebrated one day after Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. This raises the question of Rodrigues' 'islamicity’ autonomy, which some people do not look favourably upon. Welcome to the geopolitics of moonighting!