I Can’t See It
Every month for the last 20 years I have gone out to look for the new crescent moon. Sometimes I see it and other times I don’t for one reason or another. It has become a family tradition and my kids love to go out to look for the moon as much as I do. Hopefully they will continue on with this monthly tradition after I am long gone and that they will will pass it down to their kids.
This evening we went out to sight the new moon for the Islamic month of Sha’baan. It is the 8th month in the Islamic year and it is a crucial moon to see as it helps mark the beginning of Ramadan, the 9th month and the month of fasting. I saw it first among my family this evening as the kids were playing around. When I called out ‘There it is!’ of course they all ran to me and started probing me so they could see it. One after another, like dominoes, the lovely sound of “Ahhh, I see it I see it!” All but one. My youngest daughter, only 4 years old, and so determined to see the moon cries out – “I can’t See it!” “Where is it?!” After about 2o minutes of pointing to it, and helping her find landmarks where she could cast off into the sky to see it, we still were no better off.
I told her to relax, it will get brighter and you will see it. As we sat there, she suddenly asked, “what’s that black thing up there?” She had noticed a jet liner coming into the Bay Area to probably land at the San Francisco International airport. It was flying directly at the moon. I told her to, “keep watching the plane, and it will fly right next to the moon and when I tell you, look real hard.” Suddenly I say – “Now!” “I see it, I see it!” she yells out in glee.
It is the strangest thing, seeing the new moon. It brings great joy to my heart, and to everyone who has ever come out with me and saw it. One moment you are looking at blank sky and then the next, there it is, as plain as day itself. Its as if it suddenly comes into existence from nowhere, its born into the world – somehow almost miraculously.
Next month, for the month of Ramadan, we are expecting the moon to be seen on the evening of August 11th. Go out an experience a miracle. Your heart will thank you for it.
Peace.
Rosemary on 13 Jul 2010 at 7:16 am #
What a wonderful way to start off my day! Just a happenstance that I opened your passage about the new moon.. That’s a much better way to mark the beginning of a new month, I thank you.
I think you would also appreciate Tom Spencer’s Soul of the Garden for some wonderful thoughts and photos.
Youssef Ismail on 13 Jul 2010 at 8:51 am #
Thanks Rosemary. I will look into that book. Sounds interesting.
Abdel Karim on 13 Jul 2010 at 12:34 pm #
I can understand the importance of this issue, and a lot of times the weather make it impossible, i have tried to see a first day waxing crescent since the last month of Ramadan, and i was able to see it only one time, the past month of Rajab, and i have a little envy of you, because you have a lot of beatiful shots, very good weather in the sunny California. Many times i have to wait to the second day, a few months i have to wait three or more days, i think that in my city there’s no more than 50 to 75 days by year without clouds and haze in these critical zone of the sky. Akhi, i have readed your article about the obligation of sighting the Hilal, but i dont know where is the proof to say that it’s fard kifayah or else, if it’s possible please write the book and author where you found these proofs, barak Allahu fik.