The Majlis Archive

Islamic Occasions and Moonsighting The Majlis Vol 22 No 11, p.4

In Gambia there was considerable confusion this Eidul Adha.

Question

In Gambia there was considerable confusion this Eidul Adha. Generally, the people of Gambia follow the Shariah. Ramadhaan and Eid are planned according to physical moon-sighting. However, the government of our country had proclaimed that anyone celebrating Eid on Sunday would be arrested. It was made compulsory to follow Saudi Arabia where Eid was on Saturday. Please offer us guidance. What should we do in this type of scenario where we are convinced that the day is not Eid, yet we are compelled by the government to submit to the decision of the Saudis? We follow the Maaliki Math-hab. Please answer in the light of the Maaliki Math-hab.

Answer

Saudi moon-announcements are unreliable. They do not follow the Shariah in this sphere. Eid was on Sunday, not Saturday. However, for fear of arrest, it is permissible to join the mock 'eid salaat' ordered by the bootlicking government to be performed on Saturday.

For those who sincerely believe that the government's announcement is correct, the obligations of Eid Salaat and Qur'baani will be validly discharged.

In the circumstances confronting you, people should perform their Eid Salaat individually, and do their Qur'baani after the Eid Salaat. Since in this case there is no Imaam, the Qur'baani will be valid after the individual has performed his Eid Salaat. It will be just as valid as in a scenario where the Imaam does not make Qur'baani. In this case, the people should make Qur'baani. According to the Maaliki Math-hab, the validity of Qur'baani depends on the Imaam who leads the Eid Salaat making his Qur'baani first. But, if the Imaam refrains from making Qur'baani, then the people should not abandon the obligation. They should execute the obligation of Qur'baani.

In the peculiar, haraam circumstances created by the haraam bootlicking government of Gambia, the condition of the Qur'baani being tied to the Imaam may be dispensed with since the people who reject the proclamation of the bootlickers will performs their Eid Salaat individually and silently in their homes on the day when it is genuinely Eid.

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The Majlis Vol 22 No 11
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Appears under MOCK 'EID' IN GAMBIA -- WHAT SHOULD MAALIKIS DO? (approximate).

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