The Irony in using science to sight the moon

Dr. Omar Javaid

It is ironic that in an attempt to unite the nation on the date of Eid Celebration, Mr. Fawad Chaudhry only succeeded in dividing it even further. His insistence on the use of scientific method to determine the date of an event of a pure religious nature only doubles the ironicity of the matter.

Why Muslims Celeberate Eid, or fast during Ramazan, or pray fives a day? To answer this question we will obviously ask some religious authority or scripture. If this is correct, then who would answer the question about how and when to fast, offer prayers or celebrate Eid, or if observational, technological, statistical, or any other technological or scientific method for answering the above questions? Again the answer is perhaps the same.

On the other hand, if I am a scientist why would I want to interfere about the particulars of an activity which can only be sanctified by one's belief in a particularly religious authority or scripture? I, as a scientist, if I have to, would rather begin by questioning the very legitimacy of such an activity or event. I would ask, why fast, pray or celebrate Eid in the first place? And if I DO NOT get a "scientific" answer to this question, the question of how or when would eventually become redundant for me.

Let’s put this straight, the rationale of religious activities or events is not grounded in science, its rather based on religious scriptures, traditions, authorities. Same would go for cultural activities or events. Should we use some scientific method to determine the length or timing of a mehandi or mayon event which some people celebrate in subcontinent? May be we can, but who will decide that? Will it be some external scientific body (or ministry) or the very people practicing a particular cultural, or perhaps the state if it want to limit the extent of a cultural activity due to certain socioeconomic consequences?

Lets also make it clear, science in itself cannot tells us what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, where science can be use and cannot be used. Historically, its social, economic or political dogmas which tell science where to set its next foot (see Sapiens or Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari). These dogmas may very well be grounded in some religion. So if science is summoned to answer a particular question, it may, if it isn't then it won’t. This is also because scientific pursuit typically require funding, which in modern society comes either from the market or the state, which eventually determine how, where, when and why scientific research is to be used.

Coming back to religious activities or events, the use of scientific method is also dependent on the verdict of religious authorities or sources which sanctify the activity or an event of religious fervor in the first place. If they deem fit, then be it, or if they don't it should be okay as well. It is more of a challenge of reaching a consensus on a particular issue; and the religious authorities, except one particular cleric in a province, are perhaps on the same page already. So if anyone unconcerned intends to influence the matter, Mr Fawad Chaudary in this case, then he must meet the religious authorities first to build rapport, gain their confidence, understand their position, and then propose any alternative if deem necessary. Making a proposal with respect and dignity to the concerned authorities is all what he can do after all, as to decide the sanctity of the matter is out of the scope of science in the first place.

If the goal is to celebrate Eid on a single day in the name of national unity, then the only barrier in the way is perhaps Molana Popalzai, who tends to disagree with the verdict of the Ruat-e-hilal committee, perhaps due to some sectarian disagreement (total guess). If that is the root cause, then it clearly fall under the domain of interior ministry, who may try to resolve the issue by building consensus among all stakeholders. To do so, the concerned will have to relay again not on some scientific method, rather on the art of diplomacy. The point again, is not to undermine the use of scientific method, rather to use it wisely when and where required.