Laylatul Qadr Aamal Update

Salaamun Alaykum,

May Allah bless you and your families

As you are aware, our Islamic Centers in California recently announced that this years month of Ramadan was ascertained to have two different start dates based on the moon sighting. Many questions and concerns have arisen including:

• This is the first time many of us are experiencing this phenomenon, and a new experience especially in homes that may have followers of two different Marjas. How do we make sense of what has occurred?

• The month of Ramadan is the month of unity and togetherness. Why are the marji not united in their legal opinions on this issue? After all, is the Islamic leadership here to divide or unite?

While acknowledging and appreciating the questions, emotions, good intentions, curiosity, and concern especially toward unity and having a cohesive and prosperous month of Ramadan, we would like to bring some points to your attention so all of us can be on the same page:

1. As believers, during the era of the ghaybah (occultation of the Imam (a)) our directive is to follow the marja that we have concluded to be the most learned.

2. It is completely natural for experts in a field to have legal opinions that differ from one another. Even during the times of the Imams, their elite students would at times not have access to them and would differ on an Islamic ruling despite their utmost sincere attempt to arrive at the correct ruling. The Imams accepted these differences. We believe each qualified mujtahid has the right to independently derive the rulings with the utmost caution and precision to their ability.

3. The responsibility of non-mujtahids is to follow the fatwa of their marja. We will be asked about whether we fulfilled this responsibility in the hereafter. The reward is not only a worldly reward such that we should only look at the worldly benefits of an action. Our great scholars teach us that difference in moon sighting actually offers a great opportunity to worship and gain more in this noble month of Ramadan.

Furthermore in the time of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a) we have questions from great companions such as Aba Basir mentioning that there were two different start dates based on the moon sighting in the month of Ramadan. When he asked what to do for the nights of Qadr, the Imam responded by saying observe all possible nights of Qadr or as much as you can.

For practicality purposes, the Centers programs will follow the calendar which marks the first of the month on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024.

When will Laylatul Qadr be commemorated? For the sake of practicality, the all-night commemorations and aml will take place as per the calendar (March 29 / March 31 / April 2). In addition, there will be special aml held on March 28 / March 30 / April 1 to maximize the spiritual benefit on all of these sacred nights. Let us remember that our beloved Prophet (s) would dedicate all of the last 10 nights of Ramadan towards worship, and traditionally the believers have had a similar practice.

Many are wondering, will there be one Eid or multiple Eids? The answer is that the hilal (new crescent) of Shawwal will not be visible on Monday, April 8th. It will be highly visible across the country on Tuesday, April 9th, meaning that there will be one common day for Eidul Fir on Wednesday, April 10th.

I pray for Allah (swt) to give us strength and tawfiq to optimize these upcoming nights. Please forgive one another and keep each in your duas, especially the mazlumin of Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and all those oppressed. We pray for Allah to hasten the reappearance of our Imam (aj) so true peace and justice can prevail.

Jazakllah Khayr,

Abidi