The Light of Truth — Page 496
496 THE LIGHT OF TRUTH-PART TWO When we consider the basis of the solar and lunar eclipses with the support of this principle, we find that this prophecy is firmly proven and as lustrous as hidden pearls. Therefore, every riwāyah [account] that we have deemed to neither agree with [this principle] nor conform to it-but rather, we find it to be like an uncontrollable camel or like frightened beasts taking flight-we turn away from it the way a right- eous person turns away from mischief. So accept these subtle points and like the righteous, repent of that which has passed. As for your statement that the hadith refers to a lunar eclipse on the first night [of Ramadan], this is pure ignorance and foolishness and I cry over your ineptitude and over this wretchedness. O poor person! Consult the book named Lisān al-Arab, the like of which has never been written according to the literary class, which states: الهلالُ : غَرَة القَمَرِ حِين يُهِلَّ النَّاس في غَرّة الشهر، وقيل : يسمى هلالًا لليلتين من الشهر ثُمَّ لا يسمى بِهِ إِلَى أَن يَعُود في الشهر الثاني، وقيل: يسمّى بِهِ ثَلاث ليال ثُمّ يسمّى قَمَرًا، وقيل : يسمّاه حَتّى يحجر ، وقيل : يسمّى هِلَالًا إلى أن يبهر ضوءه سواد الليل، وهذا لا يكون إلا في الليلة السابعة. قال أبو إسحاق : والذي عندي وما عليه الأكثر أن يسمَّى هِلَالًا إِبْنَ ليلتين فإنه في الثالثة يتبين ضوءه. [The crescent (al-hilāl): the beginning of the moon (al-qamar) which people seek at the start of the month. It is also said: the first two nights of the month are called hilāl, then it is no longer called hilal until it (the crescent) returns the following month. It is also said: the moon is called hilāl for the first three nights, then it is called qamar. It also said: it is called hilāl till it begins filling out. It is also said: it is called hilāl until its light overtakes the darkness of the night and this does not happen until the seventh night. Abū Isḥāq states: That [position] which I hold, as does the majority, is that the moon is called hilāl the first two nights because by the third night its light becomes clear. ] So look, O ye who possess sight, if you are of the seekers.