About The Book
Prior to the advent of electricity, every night held the possibility of a celestial light show. People in even the environments were exposed to the awe and majesty of the heavens, which clearly “proclaim the glory of God.” The contemplation of the celestial orbs and their movements provided early man with the most direct connection to his Lord. In the story of Abraham, it is his observance of heavenly phenomena that leads him to his certainty of God’s unity and transcendence. Since the time of the Seljuq Turks, the crescent moon has been a sign of Islam.
For Muslims in North America, there has been much confusion regarding when Ramadan begins, when to fast, and when to break the fast. Hamza Yusuf provides clarity through this detailed and scholarly work that decisively makes the case for sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye, as has been the Islamic tradition for 1400 years. This is essential reading for anyone seeking guidance on this and sacred matter.
About The Author
Hamza Yusuf (born 1960) is an American Muslim scholar and is of Zaytuna College. He is a proponent of classical learning in Islam and has promoted Islamic sciences and classical teaching methodologies throughout the world.
He is an advisor to the Centre for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.He also serves as a member of the board of advisors of George Russell's One Nation, a national philanthropic initiative that promotes pluralism and inclusion in America. In addition, he serves as vice-president for the Global Centre for Guidance and Renewal, which was founded and is currently presided over by Abdallah bin Bayyah.
He is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding. The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom reported that "Hamza Yusuf is arguably the most influential Islamic scholar. "Similarly, The New Yorker magazine reported that Yusuf is "perhaps the most influential Islamic scholar in the Western world".
