iWitness

On Sunday August 31st 2008, I went to my local masjid (CIC-Anselm Lavigne) for Maghrib prayer (sunset). I went a bit early since I wanted to see the crescent. I was moving to different spots outside the masjid to catch a glimpse, and finally I was able to see... It was a thin shiny object on the western horizon, not too high, but enough to be seen over some far away trees. It should easily be seen around Montreal as the sky exceptionally clear without a speck of cloud in any direction. Or so I thought...

As I was doing the du'aa of seeing the new moon, some people came to the masjid. I tried to show it to them but by that time the moon disappeared. So is the life of a new moon.

By the time I finished the Maghrib prayer, it was known to brother M. Khan and other people that I saw the moon. They confirmed with me, and I told them exactly what happened. The moon was so clear that I did not have any doubt over it and was able to be a witness. There was another man in the masjid who saw the moon too: including him, we were the only two in the masjid. Br. Khan called Sheikh ElManyawi and told him about it. Ramadan had officially begun for me and our masjid, MCM (Muslim Council of Montreal) took our witness and announce the beginning to Ramadan.

Things became more interesting when I got a call from br. Khan around midnight after I was back from Tarawih prayers. He told me that no one else reported seeing the moon throughout Montreal. He told me that there were some rumours that I backed down from the witness (!!) Don't know how people come up with such things.

Later on a friend asked me if I 'was the one who saw the moon'? He was not present in the masjid, but still the news had spread like wildfire. He told me that people in Toronto were also told about my witness... There were speculating and perhaps waiting for some other witnesses from Toronto itself.

When I talked to br. Khan, he told me that I was the only one, besides that one man, who saw the moon in the whole city of Montreal and my witness was the one the city started the Ramadan this year!

Alhamdolillah... for He gave me this honour. I wish everyone in Montreal have a great Ramadan and I hope that I get a share of everyone's good deeds during this month, inshaAllah. :)

Ramadan Mubarak!