The Wifaq ul Ulama see it as a responsibility that we guide our fellow Muslim Brothers on the right and correct path and we endeavour that ALL of us perform our ‘ibaadaat’ on the correct dates.
Guiding the Ummah on the correct path is an ‘Allah given responsibility’ to all Muslims especially the Ulama as mentioned in the Holy Qur’aan:
"The believers, men and women, are awliyyaa' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another: they enjoin good and forbid evil". [at-Taubah (9) : 67]
It is also a characteristic of this Ummah and a precondition for its virtue and success:
"You are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind; you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah". [al-A'raf (7) : 157]
In the Hadith it states: "Whoever sees a wrong [being practised] must change it with his hand.. If he cannot do so, then with his tongue. If he [still] cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest form of faith." Bukhari and Muslim
Negligence in this field will result in serious consequences:
Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wassalam has said:
"There are no people in whose midst acts of disobedience are habitual, and who can change these habits but not change them, except that Allah visits them with a sweeping punishment." Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Ibn Majah
The day of Aashura according to actual sighting is on the 6th of December 2011. And those who want to fast and benefit from the immense rewards promised in the Ahadith should fast on the 5th and the 6th 0f December or the 6th and the 7th of December.
Those who have declared the 5th of December as the day of Aashura in the UK have done so following the ‘Ummul Qura Calendar’ which is based on CALCULATION NOT ON ACTUAL SIGHTING. TO OBSERVE AASHURA BASED ON A CALCULATED CALENDAR WOULD BE WRONG. By observing Aashura on the 5th of December one would be depriving one’s self of the benefits attached to this great day.
It is common knowledge that the Riyadh authorities do not announce Muharram based on actual sighting of the hilal. They only announce the sighting claim dates of Ramadhan, Shawwal and Dhul Hijjah - no others!
Those groups who claim that the Hilal of Muharram WAS sighted on Friday the 25th of November MUST provide proof by releasing official Hilal committee testimonies. Unfortunately to date such official documents have NEVER been released. Why? Simply they just do not exist!
As some of these groups or individuals are claiming that they have the connection with the Saudi Supreme Court, the public must demand to see these documents as it is our Ibaadaat that are being spoiled by announcing dates based on a CALCULATED CALENDAR (Ummul Qura); whilst claiming to the innocent public that they are announcing according to sighting. This farce MUST end.
Following the Qur’aanic verse “and Remind as reminding definitely benefits the Believers” we call upon the Muslims to heed this advice and observe Aashura on the correct day and date.