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LAHA Imam, DHIKRULLAH SULAIMON Counsels
Every year, as Muslims across the world await the announcement of Ramadan, a familiar debate resurfaces — moon sighting or astronomical calculation? While the discussion often sparks strong opinions, Imam Dhikrullah Sulaimon of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Muslim Community believes the issue should strengthen unity, not fracture it.
In an insightful conversation with City People Reporter, JAMIU ABUBAKAR, the scholar explains why differences in moon sighting should never divide the Ummah. He also talked about how Muslims can make their Ramadan truly rewarding.
Imam Dhikrullah Sulaimon is one of the Imams of the Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community. He holds a degree in Islamic Studies Education from the University of Lagos and a second degree in Islamic Studies (Arts) from the University of Ibadan.
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Finance at the University of Lagos, he also serves professionally as a Senior Administrative and HR Officer at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Known for his emphasis on unity, sound scholarship and practical spirituality, he speaks on one of the most sensitive issues in the Muslim calendar. Below are excerpts:
There are always controversies around moon sighting for Ramadan. What should Muslims understand about this issue?
Okay, this is a very sensitive and beautiful question. You know, we used to have a crisis about the sighting of the moon. Not a crisis like that, but differences of opinion Okay, but these differences should not disunite us.
It should rather unite us better. You know, the Prophet told us that fast when you sight the moon. And if you cannot sight the moon, you count the month of Sha’ban up to 30, and you start your Ramadan.
This is the injunction of the Prophet. But the Prophet is never against science. The Prophet is never against astronomy, using calculation to detect the time the moon will be birth and the time the moon will be sighted and all. It is not against him. We use it for our salah.
For salah to Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha. We predict the timing based on the weather. We calculate it using technology.
So if the same is applied for the sighting of the moon, I don’t think it is out of place. So if some scholars are saying that based on the astronomical calculation, this is the day the moon will be birth and all. This is the day we should start our fast.
It is not wrong Islamically. Okay? But what we should do is to prioritise the sunnah. The sunnah, the most explicit sunnah.
You know, astronomical calculation is also part of the sunnah. But the sunnah has grades and levels. So the level of the sunnah on the sighting of the moon is higher compared to astronomical calculations.
So that’s why scholars give preference to the sighting of the moon. If we now see a scholar that, you know, uses astronomical calculation, we shouldn’t condemn him. We shouldn’t.
We have no reason to condemn such a scholar. Just follow your own, you know, understanding that the moon is of higher priority based on the sunnah of the prophet, which is what I prefer as well. Let us allow the sultan to declare when the moon is sighted.
He’s our leader. But if any other person is calculating based on astronomical calculations, I do not condemn them. I do not fight them. I do not attack them. Because we are all Muslims. And we are all one Muslim ummah.
What is your advice to Muslims on how to achieve a rewarding Ramadan?
Yes, to have a rewarding Ramadan, please relate more with the Qur’an. We are missing a lot about the Qur’an, you know.
We have a lot of challenges in life. It’s because we are not relating well with the Qur’an. The Qur’an has solved all of our problems.
We need to relate well with the Qur’an. One aspect of studying it, understanding it, the Qur’an says, that don’t you reflect over the Qur’an, or do you have disease in your soul? Whatever challenges you are having, try to reflect over the meanings of the Qur’an. Read Tafsir, so that you can understand the exegesis.
It talks about everything. Your marriage, divorce, marmalade, transactions, contract. The Qur’an addresses everything.
Everything. So let us build on our relationship with the Qur’an, because the Qur’an was revealed this month. Apart from that, let us try to do a lot of tilawah.
One of the cheapest and easiest way to earn reward in Ramadan is tilawah. In a normal month or a normal day, when you recite a letter, you get 10 rewards. But when you recite a letter in Ramadan, you get a manifold reward.
The Qur’an says the reward for the fasting Muslim is a reward that is beyond calculation. So when you recite Qur’an in Ramadan, your reward is beyond calculation. So try to recite as much as you can, as much as you can, relate well with the Qur’an.
You can also give charity. When you give charity, you get big reward. You know, feed the fasting Muslim.
You know, attend tafseer sessions, lecture sessions, amongst all. These are my advice. And finally, is that the night of majesty.
Try not to miss it. Seek it. Seek it and get it.
It is very important. Try not to miss the night of majesty. It is a night of decree.
A night that destiny can change. Nothing cannot be changed on the night of majesty. No prayer cannot be accepted on the night of majesty.
The angels will descend on the night of majesty. Jibril will come down on the night of majesty. Allah will come down on the night of majesty to see us and listen to us.
He’ll come to the first heaven. What do we want? He says, You know, they will pray for us on the night of majesty. So seek it and get it.
Don’t sleep away your time while people are seeking the night of majesty. Thank you so much.
