Istanbul: Muslim scholars from around the world have gathered to debate at the Hijri Calendar Union Congress in Istanbul if a unified and mutual Islamic calendar is possible. The congress, started on Saturday May 28 will end on Monday May 30.
Muslim countries have been using different Hijri calendars for years that lead to confusion with varying religious holidays and different dates every year for key religious events such as Hajj, a once in a year event in which millions of Muslims gather for a pilgrimage.
The Hijri Calendar Congress, organized by Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs, the European Council for Fatwa and Research, Boğaziçi University's Kandilli Observatory and the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP), wants to solve this problem, Daily Sabah reported.
The opening speech of the congress was made by Mehmet Görmez, head of Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs. Görmez expressed his hope for mutual dates on religious festivals and celebrations throughout the world.
He said that the convention aims to mark the end of a 3-year-long collaborative work.
The report said that during the Congress, a single Hijri calendar project and a double calendar project will be presented to scholars, astronomers and decision makers from around 50 countries.
Islamic Hijri Calendar is based on Lunar System. New month, according to this system, begins if new moon i.e. crescent is sighted on 29th of the ongoing month. If not, the next day is considered as 30th day and new month begins after that.
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