Night of doubt 2024: date and explanations of Muslim tradition

“Night of Doubt 2024: date and explanations of Muslim tradition”

When is the "night of doubt" this year? The Great Mosque of Paris has set the date, Ramadan is coming soon.

The Night of Doubt must bring together Muslim federations and the Grand Mosque of Paris on Sunday March 10, 2024. Objective: to confirm the start date of Ramadan, which must begin either Monday March 11 or Tuesday March 12.

The Grand Mosque of Paris donated meet the Muslims &agrav; 18 hours for its verdict: observation of the sky will confirm or not the presence of the crescent moon, a sign of the beginning of the month ramadan.

Concretely, the Night of Doubt aims to verify, in addition to astronomical calculations, what time is the entry into a new lunar month. This therefore applies to the start of Ramadan as well as the end of the month "béni".

During Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam, believers are invited to worship. abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and having sexual relations from dawn until sunset. Muslims are also invited to attend. pay an alms of seven euros per person for the poor, the "zakât el-Fitr".

The Night of Doubt organized at the Great Mosque of Paris, is on the 29th day of the current lunar month in the Hijri calendar, and makes it possible to determine the beginning and end of one month. The events that are the Night of Doubt at the beginning and the Night of Doubt at the end of Ramadan for believers of # 39;Islam are generally retransmitted via the official website of the Grande Mosquée de Paris. 

The tradition of the Night of Doubt refers to the "hadith", an oral statement by the Prophet in which he notes  : "Fast only when you see the lunar crescent and break the fast when you see it too”. In the Muslim calendar, the "night of doubt" marks the end of a lunar month, and the beginning of the following lunar month. It therefore plays a role in life. both in the officialization of the start date of Ramadan fasting, but also in the confirmation of the end date of this "holy month”.

This night has deep spiritual importance for practicing Muslims, because it basically marks the beginning of this blessed month. Its name derives from the fact that ;#39;it determines the official start of Ramadan, the month of fasting and devotion for Muslims around the world. This night is so named because it is the time when religious authorities observe the moon to determine whether the lunar crescent, symbol of the start of Ramadan, is visible.

According to Islamic tradition, the Muslim calendar is lunar, based on on the phases of the moon. Therefore, the sighting of the new moon is crucial in marking the start of every Islamic month, including Ramadan. The Night of Doubt is therefore dedicated to this observation, where ù religious scholars scan the sky the search for the thin crescent moon which will signal the beginning of the holy month.

The ritual of observing the Moon

The practice of observing the moon during the Night of Doubt has been rooted in Islamic tradition since the earliest times of Islam. Religious scholars and relevant authorities gather at mosques and community centers to monitor the sky after sunset. They scan the horizon the search for the thin lunar crescent, the appearance of which will determine the official start of Ramadan.

If the crescent moon is seen, it means that Ramadan will begin the next day, and Muslims will begin their month of fasting and prayer. In the event thatù the moon is not visible due to weather conditions or other factors, the Night of Doubt lasts until the following evening, and Ramadan will begin the following day.

The Night of Doubt has considerable spiritual and community importance for Muslims. For believers, it embodies the beginning of a sacred month. of devotion, reflection and purification of the soul. For many believers, it is a time of anticipation and preparation to begin fasting and dedicate themselves to life. a more intense religious practice.

The Night of Doubt also strengthens community bonds, as Muslims gather in mosques and Islamic centers to participate in religious activities. observing the moon together. This is an opportunity for the community to participate. to gather, pray together and strengthen their spiritual connection while waiting for Ramadan.