The Moon’s Look

 

Friday (27/05/2016) starting from 11.00 to 12.30 local time, University of Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) with its Islamic Study Development Board (LPSI) regularly holds proselytizing on woman study every two months.

LPSI UAD in cooperation with Central Board of ‘Aisyiyah and Muhammadiyah holds the event and in the last session it was attended by 40 students and lecturers organized in ‘Aisyiyah.

Speaking at the event was Dr. Maesaroh, M.A., an astronomer, who is also a member of Central Board of Muhammadiyah Chiefs, Council of Tarjih, Cadre Dissemination Section.

The form discussed about hisab the calculation of the moon’s appearance or the beginning of Ramadhan, the calculation of qiblah direction, the calculation of prayers’ time, the calculation of solar as well as lunar eclipses, which is a part of astronomy. Hisab is also a method to determine certain times, which Muhammadiyah often employs.

In determining certain times there is something necessary to consider i.e. the appearance of mood since Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. The method to determine the beginning of Islamic month is the appearance of the moon or wujudul hilal.

There are three principle ways to determine the beginning of month: firstly ijma’ or the conjugation of the moon and the sun certainly before sunset, secondly sunset after moonset, and thirdly sunset followed by moonset. (AKN)