MUSLIM & CHRISTIAN CALENDARS

A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Akhtar Amratsari

Man must have realized the importance of time as soon as he took up his social obligations. Imagine the bells ringing out early in the morning from the Sun-god's temple and the people flocking towards it, their hearts overflowing with feelings of thanks-giving and a desire to make obeisance. The "Hourly Tables", which are still in use, had already been compiled. Temples were erected for the Sun and the Moon and the five known planets. The worshippers followed the "Hourly Tables" and visited various temples at different hours to perform the rites under the guidance of the priest.

The priests attached to a particular planet naturally kept a very sharp eye on its movements. It marked the beginning in the earnest of the science of Astronomy. As the secret of a people's survival lies in their political saga — city and economic well-being which are the attributes of Sun and Moon respectively, special attention was paid to them and they were regarded as the creators of time. Events of nation-al importance, like the coronation of a king, the holding of some important festival, the celebration to mark the victory over a rival nation or tribe or catastrophic visitations like earthquakes or floods — all these happenings assumed special significance in national life and became focal points for the introduction of various calendars and chronologies.

The oldest book on Astronomy which exists is probably the "Surya Siddhanta." According to it the Maha Yuga consists of 43,20,000 years containing 1,57,79,17,828 days. As the days are clearly related to the Sun, the speed at which

43 20 000 x 360

the Sun rotates daily comes to 1,57,79 17,828 = 0-59-8.16955652015. Now‑a-days the science of Astronomy is at its zenith and according to the latest calculations the speed of the Sun's daily rotation is 0-59-8.33045964. As you see the figures given above differ and the obvious conclusion would be that the duration of the year must also vary. For what is a year but a word coined to denote the time the Sun takes to complete a full revolution in the sky. The duration of the solar year as given in some of the authentic books, is as follows:

Solar year according to Surya Siddhanta = 365.258724 days.

Solar year accordingto Makrand Sarni = 365.2587566 days.

Solar year according to Indian Calendarists = 365.2584375 days.

Zodiacal solar year according to modern findings = 365.25875 days.

Seasonal solar year according to modern findings = 365.242193402 days.

The results obtained by Bhaskar Acharya, Arya Bhat, Varahamihira and Brahm Gupta are slightly at variance from that arrived at by Surya Siddhanta. We have left them out in order to avoid going into unnecessary details.

Zodiacal Solar Year

The path along which we see the Sun moving every day is known as the solar trajectory. A circle consists of 360 degrees. The zodiac being a circle also contains 360 degrees. Astrologers have further divided the circle into twelve equal parts, technically known as the signs. Each part extends to 30 degrees. The stars located in each of the signs have been joined together with imaginary lines to produce equally imaginary resemblances. Some of the signs therefore, resemble beasts, others create the illusion of human figures, hence their names. The zodiac consists of the following signs.

1. Aries 2. Taurus 3. Gemini 4. Cancer

5. Leo. 6. Virgo. 7. Libra. 8. Scorpio.

9. Sagittarius 10. Capricorn. 11. Aquarius. 12. Pisces.

If we stand at a fixed spot and keep an eye on the Sun we discover that everyday the Sun moves forward through the zodiac by a degree. We therefore, say that the Sun takes twenty four hours to negotiate a degree. Zodiacal solar year begins exactly when the Sun enters the sign of Aries. After passing through the twelve signs the Sun comes back to the sign of Aries. With the completion of the cycle, the zodiacal year comes to an end and the new year begins.

Seasonal Solar Year

We now know empirically that every year the day and night are of equal length on March 21 and September 22. After March 21, the Sun begins to creep northward from the equator. It continues to do so till June 22 & 23 which happen to be mid-summer and the longest days of the year in the northern hemisphere and mid-winter and the shortest days of the year in the southern hemisphere. After June 22 & 23, the Sun starts moving back to the equator and there is another equinox on September 22. Following this the Sun moves south of the equator with the result that the climatic changes take place in the northern hemisphere and the days grow shorter the nights longer. On the other hand the days grow longer and the nights shorter in the southern hemisphere. The period of this seasonal rotation is technically known as the seasonal solar year. According to latest findings, its duration is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.5099328 seconds.

Two Types of Years

The years are either real or unreal.

The real years are those which are calculated from the time the Sun enters any of the twelve signs of the zodiac or from the appearance of the new moon. All other years are regarded as unreal. The fact that their duration is dependent on the movement of the Sun or the Moon is of no consequence. Samvat Bikrami, Samvat Saka Shalbaheen and the Hebrew and Hijri years are examples of real years. The list of unreal years includes Nebuchadnezzarian, Alexanderian, Roman, Greek, Noshirwani, Yazdjerdi, Maghi, Bangla and the Christian years. There are no unreal years in the calendars dependent on the lunar cycle. It should, however, be noted that there are some year of composite characters i.e., comprising both lunar and solar aspects. In these years each month's length is determined by the Moon's synodical progress. But after a few years intercalary days are added to make the calendar conform to the real solar year. Bikrami Chandra Mas and Hindi 1-ash are examples of such composite years. All solar years, real or unreal, consist of the time the Sun takes to complete a zodiacal revolution. I he best example of the seasonal solar year is the Christian year. It has now assumed the status or a yarastick against which all other years are measured or corrected. The difference between the zodiacal solar year and the seasonal solar year is as follows:

days-hrs-m.-sec.

Zodiacal solar years' duration = 365-6-12-36

Seasonal solar years' duration = 365-5-48-45.51

Difference = 0-0-23-50.49

The Hijri Era

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) after migrating from Mecca arrived at a place called Qaba in Medina. He reached Qaba on Monday, 8th Rabi-ul-Awal of the first Hijri Year. Seventeen years after the Hijrat, during the rule of Hazrat Umare-Farooq, the Muslims felt that they needed a calendar of their own. They decided that it would be more appropriate to begin their calendar, not from 8th Rabi-ul-Awal, but from 1st Muharram of the Medinite Lunar year which had fallen 67 days earlier. Therefore the Hijri era began from 1st Muharram, 1 after Hijrat. There is disagreement among the mathematicians as to which day of the Christian Calendar corresponds with 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. Some of them say that it corresponds wi; 15^th July, 622 A.D. Most however believe that Friday, 16 July, 622 A.D. is correct. Jetha Bhai in his book "Centruy Calendar" mentions that 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. corresponds with Thursday, 16 July, 622 A.D. The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Wustenfeld and G.S.P. Freeman also give it as Friday, 16 July, 622 A.D., according to the Julian Calendar. (In this connection see "Taqveem-e-Hijri va Isvee" and the Muslim and Christian Calendar.) According to my finding also the date, Friday, 16th July, 622 A.D. of the Julian Calendar is correct.

Several types of Hijri Calendars are found in the world. A brief notice of these would not be devoid of interest.

1. The Hijri Calendar with Arabic months and year.

2. The Hijri Calendar with Persian months and year. It is known as Irani Khiraji. It is also used in Afghanistan where it is known as the Hijri Solar Calendar. Months are still called after the zodiac signs. In the not too distant past the months were named after the zodiac signs in Iran also, but now the Iranis generally use ancient Iranian nomenclature.

3. The Hijri Calendar with Egyptian months and year (Coptic Khiraji).

4. The Hijri Calendar with Syrian months and Greek year (Turkey). In this connection see "Beest Maqala" by Taqi Zada.

5. In this article we are concerned only with the Lunar Hijri Calendar (with Arabic months and year). As the other Hijri calendars are not in vogue here they have not been discussed.

The Hid Laiendar is the best example of the Lunar year. The Moon is a satellite of the earth. It revolves round the earth unceasingly. As the earth itself revolves round the Sun, the Moon circles round the, Sun also, albeit in an indirect manner. The savants believe that the duration of the Lunar year is as open to-dispute as that of the Solar year. According to them the Lunar year's duration comes to 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes and 16.9702848 seconds. According to modern astronomical calculations the lunar year is 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes and 34 seconds long. The Hebrew and the Hilali Calendars were also dependent on the movement of the Moon. Put after the event of Hijra the Hilali Calnedar was converted into the Hijri Calendar, exactly as the Julian Calendar was renamed the Christian Calendar.

Each thirty years span of the Lunar calendar consists of 10631 days. Out of these thirty years, nineteen have 354 days and the remaining eleven 355 days. The years which contain 355 days are known as leap years. Here is the sequence in which they occur.

Leap years: 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 18, 19, 24, 26 and 29.

The calculations are made in this way:

Total number of days of a lunar year = 354.367060185

Thirty years (x) = 30

Total number of days in thirty years = 10,631.01180555

Total number of days of nineteen years = (19x354) = 6,726

Total number of days of eleven leap years = (11 x354) = 3,905

Total number of days in thirty years = 10,631

The fraction of .01180555 which is left out brings about after every 84.7059222145 revolutions a difference of one day.

To calculate the leap year a uniform method is followed throughout the Islamic world, with the exception of Egypt. The editors of "Encyclopedia Britannica^" have also adopted the Pakistani method, i.e. in the year which is to be reckoned a leap year, the month of Dhil Hijj is supposed to consist of thirty days and not of twenty nine. The method of distinguishing a leap year from an ordinary year is as follows. The required Hijri year is divided by thirty. The quotient is ignored and the remainder is taken into account. If the remainder is one of the eleven figures mentioned earlier the year shall be deemed a leap year, if not, it will be regarded as an ordinary one.

The lunar year is shorter from the solar year by about ten days and twenty one hours. Therefore by the time 32 solar years have gone by 33 lunar years are not only completed but exceed them by a few days. In other words:

Total days of 33 lunar years: 11694.1129861

Total days of 32 solar years: 11687.7501888

Margin of difference: 6.3627973

Therefore while converting seasonal solar years into-lunar Hijri years, it should be assumed that 32 solar years equal 33 lunar years.

The modern Hijri Calendar is prepared according to the principle of annual average. From Muharram onwards the successive months are reckoned as consisting of 30 or 29 days respectively. Whenever the Hijri year is to be converted into a leap year the days of Dhil Hijj are increased from 29 to 30 so as to make up a tally of 355 days.

There were a number of historians and astronomers who were conscious of the importance of comparative calendars. That's why they listed comparative dates of various calendars in their works. In this connection the names of Yaqubi, Masudi, Umar Khayyam, AI Beruni and Abul M^'ashar Belkhi are particularly noteworthy.

Now-a-days should the need arise to convert a Hijri date into a Christian one or it is required to find the day on which a particular Hijri date fell, you can't come across a single authentic method. If by chance you were obliged to find out the Christian day and date of a Hijri dater you will be in a fix. There will be no alternative but to set out in search of a diary, calendar or almanac of the required year.

In works written after 14^th October, 1752 A. D. the Gregorian or the new style calendar is used. But prior to that the date in our ancient literature,, history and biographical collections are given either in Hijri or according to the Julian or the old style calendar.

Therefore up until 14^th October, 1752 A.D. we will use the Julian Calendar and after that stick to the Gregorian Calendar. The readers will not be unaware of the fact that when Pope Gregory XIII proposed a calendar reform in 1582 A.D. all the European countries, except England and Russia, accepted it. The reform came into effect on 15^th October, 1582 A.D. by skipping nine days from the current calendar. As England and Russia were outside the sphere of influence of the Vatican they chose to ignore the papal directive. However Russia accepted the changeover after the revolution. The British Parliament approved of the skipping of ten days on Wednesday, the 3^rd September, 1752 A.D. So 4^th September, 1752 A.D. was converted into 14th September, 1752 A.D. and the new calendar was enforced through-out the British Empire. The people held protest meetings and rallies, demanding that the ten days of their lives deducted by the British Government should be restored forthwith. As in those times India was under the British rule the reform of the existing calendar took place here also in 1752 A.D. Most mathematicians push the

calendar forward by ten days as a corrective measure but in the_, comparative calendar of Hijri and Christian eras, compiled by Abun Nasr Muhamad Khalidi (published by Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, third edition) it is stated on page 59 that in order to correct the tables eleven days attar 2^nd September, 1752 A.D. have not been counted.

So far as the determination of comparative dates is concerned some people suggest that one should use the 19 year long Metonic cycle. But the editors of "En-cyclopedia Britannica" claim that we can get reliable dates quite easily by using the thirty year lunar span. The method is to split up the Hijri years from 1 A.H. into slabs of thirty years. Then find out which Hijri year in the last slab corresponds to the year you require and on which date of the Christian era it began. Add forty days to the date you have arrived at. The Hijri year would have begun on the date so obtained. _,For further confirmation we are advised to use Woolwich's decimal fraction method.

Woolwich's decimal fraction method is as follows. First multiply the required Hijri year by .970224. Then add 621.5774 t) it and find out the Christian year corresponding to the Hijri era. Finally multiply the decimal fraction by 365 to find out the date and day of the Christian era. Here is an example.

Find out the Christian equivalent of 1st Muharram, 1194. After Hijrat by Woolwich's method.

1194 x .970224 = 1158.447456

1158,447456 + 621.5774 = 1780.024856

We now know that 1st Muharram fell on some day of 1780 A.D. Now multi-ply the decimal fraction by 365, the fixed days of the Christian year to find out the date. 365 x .024856 = 9.07244.

This enables us to know that the new moon appeared in the evening of 9th January. 1st Muharram, 1194 A.H. therefore fell on 10th January, 1780 A.D. Ac-cording to Wustenfeld 1st Muharram fell on 8th January.

The method defined above does not make sense to me for following reasons:

1. Mathematically speaking the difference between thirty lunar years and twenty nine solar years comes to roughly less than 39 days, but we are being advised to make use of a factor of forty days. For further clarification see the following equation:

Total days of 30 lunar years = 10631.0118055

Total days of 29 solar years = 10592.9881969

Difference in days = 38.0236086

2. To find out the comparative year and month of the required date is in itself a big headache. The problem is confounded by the fact that one has to find out first what the Christian date was 30 Hijri years before the date required, so that by adding forty days to it one can arrive at a solution and fix the probable Christian equivalent of the required Hijri date. After that we are invited to test the probable Christian date so obtained by Woolwich's method. If both methods provide the same date that's fine but in case of discrepancy the date disclosed by Woolwich's method is to be regarded as authentic. But the point is that if Woolwich's method can come up with a correct answer why shouldn't we make use of it in the first place. Why all this regmarole!

3. The Christian comparative table established by Woolwich's decimal fraction method follows the Gregorian calendar. The funny thing is that the obtained Christian date is as often wrong as it is right. One of the basic short-comings of Woolwich's method is that he equates 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. with 20th July, 622 A.D. according to Gregorian calendar.

For example we wish to find out the Christian date for the beginning of 200 A.H. Here is the relevant calculation 200 x .970224 + 621.5774 = 815.6222. It' means that 200 A.H.'s new year's day fell in 815 A.D. To obtain the Christian date multiply .622 with 365. It comes to 277.103. According to Christian Calendar it should be 15th August. But as the figure of 277 is followed by a fraction, 1st Muharram, 200 A.H. should fall on 16th August. However, according to Wustenfeld 1st Muharram, 200 A.H. equals 11th August, 815 A.D., that is 11th August actor-ding to the Julian Calendar and 13th August according to the Gregorian Calendar. But Woolwich's method gives the answer as 16^th August 815 A.D. which is absolutely incorrect.

As I have already mentioned Woolwich's method is based on the existing annual lunar and solar revolutions as calculated by modern science. For instance, in order to convert Hijri or lunar years into Christian years the following equation is used:

Annual period of lunar revolution

Annual period of seasonal solar revolution 354.367060185

j i.e. = .97022487156

365.242193402

4. , Woolwich's decimal fraction method converts Hijri dates into the Gregorian Calendar only, although up till 1166 A.H., the dates mentioned in all Islamic writings conform only to the Julian Calendar.

Keeping in view all these facts it would be no exaggeration to say that so far no method of arranging a Hijri Calendar has been evolved which can serve the purpose of establishing a comparative calendar as well as enabling us to find the exact day by direct reference to the Hijri Calendar. In my opinion this shortcoming can be remedied if we pursue the following two courses of action.

In the first place a comparative calendar should be compiled which will show from 1 A.D. to, let us say 2500 A.D. the monthly correspondences of the following calendars:-54

Iqbal Review

1. Christian.

2. Alexandrian.

3. Turkish.

4. Vikrami.

5. Saka Shalbaheen including the existing Indian Calendar.

6. Coptic.

7. Nousherwani.

8. Yazdjerdi.

9. Hijri with Arabic months.

I did some preliminary work on the project but soon realised that it wasn't the sort of job which can be completed all by oneself. Naturally I postponed the compilation of this gigantic calendar to some other time.

I have done some work on compiling a comparative Hijri-Christian Calendar. I set abou^t the task in summer, 1964. foiled for fourteen years and now in November, 1978 I am able to offer it, thanks be to Allah, for general perusal. I earnestly hope that after going through my article the readers will be able to convert Hijri months and years into Christian months and years very easily.

"Encyclopedia, Britannica" advocates the division of Hijri years into cycles of thirty years but I think that nearly accurate results can be obtained much more easily by making use of a sixty seven year cycle.

Total days of Sixty seven lunar years

according to modern science: = 23742.5930323

Total days of Sixty five solar years

according to modern science: = 23740.7425711

Difference in days: = 1.8504612

Now that we know the relevant difference, we can, by adding it at the beginning of each year, compile the successive sixty seven year cycles. Here is how it can be done.

1st Muharram, Friday, 1 A.H. 622-7-16

+ 67 year cycle's difference. 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram, 68 A.H. 687-7-17.8504612

+ 67 year cycle's difference 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram, 135 A.H. 752-7-19.7009224

+ 67 year cycle's difference - 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram, 202 A.H. 817-7-21.5513836

+ 67 year cycle's difference 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram, 269 A.H. 882-7-23.4018448

+ 67 year cycle's difference. 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram, 336 A.H. 947-7-25.2523060

4 67 year cycle's difference. 65-00-1.8504612

1st Muharram 403 A.H. 1012-7-27.1027672

As you can judge for yourself the calculations are extremely simple. You only have to add or subtract a couple of days or so to determine which day of the week it will be. No difficulty is involved. But there is another problem facing us here. If it is so very easy to find out a date by using the sixty seven year cycle why has 1st Muharram, 403 A.H. shifted forward by as many as four days? As one can easily find out by checking the Hijri-cum-Christian Calendar compiled by Abun Nasr Muhammad Khalidi (published by Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu, third edition) that 1st Muharram, 403 A.H. corresponds with 23rd Jul^.₎, and not 27th July, 1012 A.D. The objection is well taken. The reason for the discrepancy is that the necessary adjustments were not carried out. It is extremely difficult to ascertain the correct date without first making the required adjustments. In my opinion it the lunar years were divided into three phases and the matters specified below kept in mind it would be possible to overcome the difficulty.

1. Pre Hijri Period.

2. Hijri era from 1 A.H. to 1165 A.H.

3. Hijri era from 1116 A.H. to the year required.

Pre Hijri Era

a. Take the lunar and solar period as Established by the current findings and convert them into decimal fractions.

b. Convert 16th July 622 A.D. into decimal freaction.

c. Multiply the required Hijri year by decim… fraction obtained under a. Then subtract the figure so obtained from the decimal fraction resulting from the conversion in b. This will enable you to find the Christian year corresponding to the lunar year with the exact date in decimal fractions.

d. Minus the Christian year from the total arrived in c and multiply the decimal fraction by the length of the solar year. The result of the multiplication will provide you with the Christian Calendar's day. Here is a practical example.

a. Lunar year = 354.367060185

.97022487156 Solar year = 365.242193404

b. 16th July, 622 A.D. 16th July is the 197th day of the calendar.

197

Therefore = 0.53936813314 + 622
365.242193402

622.53936813314

c. Suppose we have to find out the Christian date corresponding to 1st Muharram, 320 B.H.

The Hilali or B.H. year which is required: 320 97022487156 320 (x)

310.471958899 (—) 622.539368133

(—) 312.067409234

It means that 320 B.H. corresponds to 312 A.D. to get the Christian date multiply the decimal fraction .067409234 by ³65.242193402

.067409234

365.242193402

24.6206964817

This shows that 24 days of 312 A.D. had already gone by the time the new moon heralding the 1st Muharrarn, 320 B.H. appeared. Therefore the 1st Muharram occurred on the 25th day. In the Christian calendar it comes to 25 January. So we know that 25th January 312 A.D. corresponds with 1st Muharram, 320 B.H.

Let us now solve a few problems.

It is said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was born on Monday, 9th Rabi-ul-Awal, 53 B.H. Find out the corresponding Christian date.

.97022487156

53 (x)

51.4219181926 (—) 622.5393681331

571.117449941

It means that 1st Muharram, 53 B. H. corresponded with the date .117449941 of 571 A.D. To find out the Christian date make use of the following decimal fraction.

.117449941
365.242193402 (x)

42.8976740657

The 42nd day of the ordinary Christian year falls on 11th February. According to the calculation the new moon of Muharram, 53 B.H. was observed on 11th February. Therefore 1st Muharram occurred on 12th February (see Table A).

1st Muhrram, 53 B.H. = 12th February, 571 A.D.

1st Saffar, 53 B.H. = 13th March, 571 A.D.

1st Rabi-ul-Awal, 53 B.H. = 12th April, 571 A.D.

9th Rabi-ul-Awal, 53 B.H. = 20th April, 571 A.D.

Those who wish to follow the Gregorian Calendar should add two days to the Julian Calendar and they will have their record right. 20 + 2 = 22nd April, 571 A.D.

It was Monday on 9th Rabi-ul-Awal, 53 B.H. Later on I will put down a method of finding out the day directly from the lunar years. It is a completely separate issue whether the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was born on 9th or 12th Rabi-ul-Awal, 53 B.H.

2. It is said that Hazrat Ali was born on 13th Rajab, 24th B.H. Find out
the corresponding Christian month and date.

.97022487156

24 (x)

23.2853969174 (—) 622.5393681331

599.253971216

It means that 1st Muharram 599 B.H. corresponded with the date .253971216 of 599 A.D. To find out the Christian date make use of the usual decimal fraction.

.253971216

365.242193402

92.7610039928 = 93

According to Table A it is 3rd April. It means that 1st Muharram, 24 B.H. corresponds with 3rd April, 599 A.D.

Total number of days from 1st Muharram = 190 days (according to

to 13th Rajab Table "B").

3rd April, 599 A.D. corresponds with = 93 days.

1st Muharram, 24 B.H. (Table "A"). —

283 days

As the 1st Muharram has been counted (—) 1 day

twice, deduct one day 13 Rajab, 24 B.H.

corresponds to 9th October, 599 A.D. 282 days.

Hijri Era from 1 A.H. to 1165 A. H.

In order to establish a comparative calendar from 1st Muharram 1 A.H. to

165 A.H. (inclusive) multiply the Hijri year required by .97020237734 and add 1st Muharram, 1 B.H. to get the correct answer (1st Muharram, 1 B.H. = 621.569165-756). Example No. 1. When did 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. begin. Find out the corresponding Christian year and month.

.97020237734

I (x)

.97020237734

(+) 621.569165756 622.539368133

Here we leave 622 out of the calculation and multiply the decimal fraction.

.539368133 365.242193402 (x)

196.999999948 = 197 =

16th July, 622 A.D. (Table "A").

Example No. 2. Hazrat Imam Husain's martyrdom took place at Karbala on 10th Muharram, 61 A.H. Find out the corresponding year and month etc.

.97020237734

61 (x )., -''

59.1823450177 +) 621.569165756

680.7515107737 leave out 680

365.242193402 and multiply

the rest with 274.483443095

680 A.D. was a leap year. 1st Muharram, 61 A.H. therefore fell on 1st October, 680 A.D. Hence 10th Muharram, 61 A.H. corresponds with 10th October, 680 A.D.

Hijri Era from 1166 A.H. Onwards

Use the following method. Deduct 1165 from the Hijra year required. Multi-ply the result by .97022382687 and then add 1751.8874179. The sum will contain the Christian year and the date which will be in decimal fraction. Multiply the decimal fraction by 365.242193402 to find the day.

Example. Find the corresponding Christian year and month for 1st Muharram, 1500 A.H.

1500—1165 = 335

.97022382687

335 (x)

325.024982001

1751.88574179

2076.910723791 2076 A.D. Established. .910723791

365.242193402 332.63754642

It means that the moon of Muharram, 1500 A.H. will become visible after 332 days of the Christian year had gone by and the first of Muharram will occur on the 333rd day. As 2076 A.D. would be a leap year the correct answer should be 28th November, 2076 A.D.

However, please keep the following facts in mind.

1. In spite of exercising the utmost caution the Christian date cannot al-ways be established with total accuracy. It could be plus or minus by a day. No cause for alarm.

2. I have solved all these problems with the help of an electronic calculator (Casio 121-MR) which gives decimal fraction upto 12 digits. Readers who don't own a calculator can manage with fractions of 6 digits only.

3. The duration of the solar year had been fixed at 365.242193402. In all my examples, while converting the decimal fractions I have multiplied them with the complete figure, down to the last digit. If you don't wish to use these very large figures while multiplying use only 365.2422 or 365. You will still be able to obtain a very close approximation.

4. If the first digit of the decimal fraction is a zero consider the rest of the fraction as inconsequential.

5. For people who want to avoid long and tedious multiplications I have compiled six tables i.e. K, L, M, N, P & Q. Each table is accompanied by one or two worked out solutions.

6. Up till now I used, when necessary, the comparative Hijri-Christian Calendar published by Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu, Karachi.

How to Find out the Day from the Hijri Year

Long before I ever thought of writing this article the idea crossed my mind several times as to why we have not been successful in formulating a methodology of the Hijri Calendar. After all the duration of the lunar year is, like that of the solar year, fully determined. I attempted time and again to sort out the problem but could make no headway. Whenever I wanted to take up the subject my mind was weighed down by the feeling that I was on the track of something impossible. I realized that no one has been able so far to come up with a definitive formula. Indeed if the whole thing was within the realm of possibility, savants in the past would have hit upon a solution hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago. If the problem were a bit too complex for them why can't modern computers suggest a solution. Some-times I reassured myself by saying that only fourteen hundred years of the Hijri era have lapsed so far. On the other hand the Hebrew Calendar is already more than 5700 years old. If Muslim scholars failed to find a solution what made the Jews fight shy of the issue. In short, I used to become discouraged as soon as I thought of the problem.

Meanwhile one of my acquaintances presented me with a circle accompanied by two tables. Enlarging on its background he said: "Once upon a time some people belonging to the uplands of Amil came and met the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him.). They said that in their country the new moon could be seen only on the second or third night and they were never able to begin the month of fasting on time. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) told them that as the visibility of the moon was uncertain they should make use of calculation to determine the correct date. However the visitors said that they didn't know how to calculate. After questioning them for a while the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) told the highlanders to go and see Hazrat Ali. Hazrat Ali also questioned them closely and devised a method for the visitors. The circle is based on the very method. Its greatest advantage is that it is exceedingly easy to work with." He ended his recital on a hyperbolic note, saying "Now all your problems are ended. With the help of the circle and the tables which accompany it you can find out the first day of every Hijri year, past or future."

Here is the circle and the two tables.

How to use it: the procedure is somewhat like this. Suppose you wish to find out the first day of a month of a Hijri year. first divide the year by eight. Start counting the remainder within the circle letter by letter. The sum would naturally come to an end at one of the letters. Take the letter's numerical value as given in the circle. Now add to it the numerical value of the required month as given in the table of months. Look up the sum in the table of days. The day against which the sum is listed will be the first day of the month you are looking for. Let us say that we wish to find out the day on which 1st Muharram, 617 A.H. fell.

That is 617 = 8 = 77 being the quotient, only one is left. So we take from the letters in the circle the first one. Its numerical value is one. In the table of months

the letter assigned to Muharram Ls "Za" with a numerical value of seven. Seven plus one is eight. We look eight in the table of days. Sunday is listed against eight. There-fore 1st Muharram, 617 A.H. was a Sunday. The Hijri year in this test- case was picked by me. The gentleman who had made the circle available to me had not given any practical demonstrations.

As I settled down to work on the circle I found that it was next to impossible to arrive at a correct answer with its help I was astonished to learn that the circle said that 1st Muharram 1 A.H. was a Sunday whereas in fact the date corresponds with Friday, 16^th July, 632 A.D. I had a close look at the table of months and realized that it was an arrangement in which months of 29 and 30 days appeared alternately. How the intercalary days of the eight years had been dealt with in the circle was a mystery and when I considered that the intercalary days belonging to other years would also he missing I gave up the hope of ever getting a correct answer out of it. There is no room in the circle for making necessary annual adjustments either.

The month of fasting was probably made obligatory in 619-20 A.D. and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) graced Medina with his presence until 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. It was during this period that the highlanders of Mount Amil must have presented themselves before him and left Medina after learning the method of using the circle. It was therefore incumbent upon the circle that it should provide

correct data for the months of the year involved. But it turned out to be a wild goose chase. -In fact I was so distrubed that my mind balked at the idea that the circle had been formulated by Hazrat Ali. The more I looked at it the more I came to the conclusion that the circle had either been drawn up by the Greeks or belonged to a much later period and attributed to Hazrat Ali. As the Hilali era had not been taken into account by its compiler he was obviously not a Greek. It was al-most certainly drawn up at a later age. According to the circle the first days of the eight years occur in the following order:

Persisting in my research I came to the conclusion that the circle was designed in 601 A.H. because prior to that the new year days don't occur in the order given above and even when they do the numerical values of the letters in the table of months do not support them.

The circle gives correct answers for the period extending from 601 A.H to 615 A.H. It shall again function properly for the short period 1441 A.H. to 1455 A.H. It is my unmistakable belief that Hazrat Ali would never have said something which had no substance to it, while this circle is riddled with errors from end to end. Let us now try to solve a few problems with it.

In the eight letters listed within the circle the numerical value of the first letter "alif" is one. The numerical value of Muharram in the table of months is seven. One plus seven is eight. Therefore 1 Muharram 1 A.H. turns out to be a Sunday. Actually it was a Friday. It is possible that someone objecting to this clear case of inaccuracy may try to sow confusion by referring to the Julian and Gregorian calendars. However, the readers must be well aware that the problems raised by these old and new style calendars are connected with the Christian era and have no-thing to do with the Hijri Calendar. In the first place, no such amendments were ever made in the Hijri Calendar. Secondly, no one ever undertook to examine the ramifications of the issue. Let us thank Western mathematicians who took the trouble of compiling the Christian and Hijri Calendars and simplified matters for us, otherwise the work of our distinguished experts of Jafar, which transforms the Friday of 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. into a Sunday would have led us completely astray.

The third letter in the circle is "Deem" with a numerical value of three. Ac-cording to the table of months Ramazan is represented by the letter "ha" with a numerical value of five. So 3+5⁼8. And eight is Sunday according to the table of days. If 1st Ramazan is Sunday, 15th Ramazan will also be a Sunday. The correct answer is Friday.

Example 3: Hazrat Imam Hussain was born on 3^rd Shaban, 4 A.H. Establish the day?

The fourth letter in the circle is ".Za" with a numerical value of seven. Shaban is represented by the letter "Dal" with a numerical value of four. So 7+4⁼11. The

table of days shows that the first day of Shaban was a Wednesday. 3 Shaban there-fore was a Friday. The answer is incorrect again. 1st Shaban was a Monday and 3rd Shaban a Wednesday.

Example 4: It is said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), passed away on 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. Find the day with the help of the circle?

Divide 11 by 8. The remainder is 3. The third letter in the circle is "Jeem" with a numerical value of 3. Rabi-ul-Awwal is also represented by "Jeem" with a similar numerical value. So 3+3⁼6. Six is Friday according to the table of days. If the first day of Rabi-ul-Awwal was a Friday, its twelfth day should be a Tuesday.

As you can see for yourself the circle fails to give the correct days of the dates of 11 A.H. It is mostly unlikely that the circle and the two tables were formulated by Hazrat Ali. Even if you can occasionally find the right day with its help, that is no proof of its accuracy. However the circle can be amended and made to function accurately should the need arise.

Being a thinker of independent nature I wanted to discover a method which would render all use of tables completely redundant but it seemed that I was merely groping in the dark. One night as I pursued my studies I felt the need of looking up the rate of precession of the Equinoxes as determined by Bhaskar Acharya. In this connection I had to leaf through several books and I came across the words "Besselian Fictitious year". The phrase was not new for me. I had noticed it time and again in the past. However, as I read it an idea flashed through my mind. The problem of establishing the correspondence of days and dates with the help of the real lunar calendar, now in vogue, was, in fact, insoluble. Had it been soluable it would have been solved long ago. I think it was not an idea but an inspiration.

I immediately launched several imaginary satellites in quick succession and set them to revolve in different orbits. The satellite nearest to the earth had an annual rotation period of 351 days and the one above the real moon had one of 356 days. As I worked upwards through the satellites my calculations showed that the further away the satellite the more encouraging were the results. Finally the satellite below the moon but nearest to it began to give correct answers. I dubbed the imaginary satellite "the artificial moon of Mr. Akhtar" and the year it created "the artificial lunar year of Mr. Akhtar." The duration of its annual rotation comes to 354 days, 8 hours and 48 minutes. If we divide 354 by 7, that is by the number of days in a week, we are left with a remainder of 4 days, 8 hours and 48 minutes per annum. Conversion of the above into decimal fraction would give us 4.36666666666. A difference of 131 days will occur after every thirty years. Divide 131 by 7. The quotient will be 18 and the remainder 5. It means that a difference of 5 days will occur after every thirty years. In order to find the new year's day add five days after every thirty years if the date belongs to the future and deduct five days after every thirty years if you are dealing with the past. For example 1st Muharram, 1 A.H. began on Friday. After thirty years that is in 31 A.H. the new year's day will occur five days ahead of Friday which is Wednesday. Similarly the new year's day of 61 A.H. will fall on Monday and so on. I have compiled a table (see Table "C") on the basis of the annual difference of 4.36666666666. This table will Inshallah, enable you to determine the days of average lunar years from 1 A.H. to 9000 A.H. It would give comparatively better results than other average tables. Other calendars may assign Monday to some lunar date which in all likelihood it would be a Wednesday or a Thursday. But with the help of my table you will invariably get Monday for an answer or the resulting difference would not be of more than a day at the most. Please keep in mind the following points while using the table.

1. In addition to the fixed number of days assigned to a single Hijri year or to tens or hundreds or thousands of Hijri years, take also the numbers belonging to the past months as listed in Table "C". Add both these up. Also add the date of which the day is required. Divide the complete sum of days so obtained by 7, as the week consists of 7 days. Look up the remainder in Table "F" (The circle dealing with the post Hijri era. The day listed next to the figure you obtain will be correct one.

2. If a figure of 50 or over turns up in the decimal fraction, add one day to the number of the days of the week already obtained in order to reach a proper conclusion. If the decimal fraction is .85 or above the answer will be definite. Should the decimal fraction be below .50, the answer will extend over two days.

3. Through this method the problem of intercalary days would be solved automatically. You won't have to make extensive calculations to resolve it.

4. For pre-Hijra years use 4.4607601 instead of 4.3666666 while multiplying. Repeat the process given above and find the day by referring to the circle dealing with the pre-Hijra era.

5. All the tables drawn up to find the Hijri months and days are compiled not according to the principle of average month but by assigning 30 and

30 days and Safar 29. All this in spite of the fact that the average lunar month consists of 29.5305555555 days.

6. The Hijri Calendar has nothing whatever to do with the reform of the Christian Calendar carried out by Pope Gregory. However, if you are compiling a comparative Calendar of-Hijri and Christian eras don't ever lose sight of the Pope's fiat.

7. People who think that Western scholars alone are authentic and wish to derive their results according to the Calendars devised by Wustenfeld or Freeman should bear the following in mind while doing their calculations.

After totaling up the annual number of days of the required Hijri year divide the sum of days by 7. With the help of the remainder find the day by referring to the relevant circle. If the decimal fraction comes to .89 or more, add another day. Decimal fraction below .89 should be treated as cancelled. The days so obtained will be that of 1st Muharram of the required Hijri year.

8. As months of 30 and 29 days occur alternately in the average calendar. Count two for every 30 days and one for every 29.

9. By adding the extra days of the lunar year you obtain 1st Muharram of the required year. Therefore take only one digit for Muharram instead of two.

It is said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away on Monday, 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. Confirm or deny it.

By dividing 21 by 7 we get three complete weeks. Not a single day is left over. Looking up in table "F" we find that Monday is assigned to zero. So the day was a Monday. As the fraction is almost non-existent it has been omitted altogether. Since the common Muslims also celebrate on the same day Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, we

The seven days make up a week, leaving behind zero. In Table "F" zero stands for Monday. Therefore 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. was a Monday.

		The Day which
		has been estab‑
No.	Event	lished	Lunar Date
1.	The beginning of Hijri era.	Friday	1 Muharram, 1. A.H.
2.	Nouroz.	Tuesday	22 Ziquad, 3 A.H.
3.	Nourouz.	Wednesday	3 Dhil Hajj, 4 A.H.
4.	Nourouz.	Sunday	17 Muharram, 9 A.H.
5.	Holy Prophet's (peace be	Monday	12 Rabi'-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H.
	upon him) demise.
6.	Hazrat Abu Bakr's demise.	Tuesday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13 A.H.
7.	Nourouz..	Friday	29 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21 A.H.
8.	Martyrdom of Hazrat 'U mar.	Sunday	1 Muharram, 24 A.H.
9.	Martyrdom of Hazrat 'Usman.	Monday	12 Dhil Hajj, 35 A.H.
10.	Nourouz.	Wednesday	28 Dhil Hajj, 40 A.H.
11.	Martyrdom of Imam Hasan	Thursday	28 Safar, 50 A.H.
12,	Martyrdom of Imam Hussain	Thursday/Friday 10 Muharram, 61 A.H.
13.	Death of Caliph Hadi.	Saturday	16 Rabi'-ul-Awwal, 170 A.H.
14.	Death of Caliph Mamun.	Thursday	15 Rajab, 218 A.H.
15.	Christians Capture Bait-ul‑	Friday	22 Sha'ban, 492 A.H.
	Maqdas.
16.	Muslim recapture Bait-ul‑	Friday	25 Rajab, 582 A.H.
	Magdas.
17.	Fall of Granada (Andalus).	Tuesday	1 Rabi'-ul-Awwal, 897 A.H.
18.	Death of Khawaja Muhammad	Saturday	25 Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 1012
	Baqi Billah.		A.H.
19.	Death of Emperor Akbar.	Monday	17 Jamadi-us-Sani, 1014
			A.H.
20.	Death of Hazrat Mujaddid	Tuesday	28 Safar, 1034 A.H.
	Alf Thani.
21.	Death of Pir Mehr Ali Shah	Tuesday	29 Safar, 1356 A.H.
	of Golarah Sharif.

Up until Juma-tul-Wida two calendars were being used in Mecca. One was known as the Hilali Calendar and the other, which had been designed to cover business deals and trade activities, was called Nasai. The historians, while dating events they mention, don't specify which calendar they have been following. However, dates belonging to the Hilali Calendar can be checked in this way. Here are a few examples.

Example No 1. In the afternoon of Sunday, 22nd March, 285 A.D.; Sam-vat Saka 208, Samvat Vikrami 343 and Samvat Kaljug 3387 were about to begin. Incidentally on the very day, at the time of the Maghrib prayer, new moon of Jamadiul-Awwal, 348 Before Hijra appeared. Please confirm that it was actually a Monday on 1st Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 348 B.H.

Example No 2. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was born on 9th Rabi-ul-Awwal, 53 B.H. What day was it?

Let us now give a couple of examples of answers received by using the methods of Western Scholars.

Example No 1. Imam Hussain's martyrdom occurred on 10th Muharram, 61 A.H. Find the day?

As the decimal fraction is smaller that .89 it will be omitted. We consult Table "F" and find that 7 stands for Monday. Therefore 1st Muharram, 61 A.H. was a Monday. Calculating onwards we establish that 10th Muharram was a Wednesday.

As the decimal fraction is larger than .89 an extra day will be counted. Eleven days are already there. So the total becomes 12 days. Divide it by 7. We are left with 5. In the relevant table five stands for Saturday. Therefore, 1st Muharram 1500 A.H. will be a Saturday.

Common	Leap	Day of	Common	Leap	Day of
Year	Year	the Year	Year	Year	the Year
1	1	1	1	1	32
2	2	2	2	2	33
3	3	3	3	3	34
4	4	4	4	4	35
5	5	5	5	5	36
6	6	6	6	6	37
7	7	7	7	7	38
8	8	8	8	8	39
9	9	9	9	9	40
10	10	10	10	10	41
11	11	11	11	11	42
12	12	12	12	12	43
13	13	13	13	13	44
14	14	14	14	14	45
15	15	15	15	15	46
16	16	16	16	16	47
17	17	17	17	17	48
18	18	18	18	18	49
19	19	19	19	19	50
20	20	20	20	20	51
21	21	21	21	21	52
22	22	22	22	22	53
23	23	23	23	23	54
24	24	24	24	24	55
25	25	25	25	25	56
26	26	26	26	26	57
27	27	27	27	27	58
28	28	28	28	28	59
29	29	29		29	60
30	30	30
31	31	31

Common	Leap	Day of	Common	Leap	Day of
Year	Year	the Year	Year	Year	the Year
1		121	1		152
2	1	122	2	1	153
3	2	123	3	2	154
4	3	124	4	3	155
5	4	125	5	4	156
6	5	126		5	157
7	6	127	7	6	158
8	7	128	8	7	159
9	8	T29	9	8	160
10		130	10	9	161
11	10	131	11	10	162
12	11	132	12	11	163
13	12	133	13	12	164
14.	13	134	14	13	165
15	14	135	15	14	166
16	15	136	16	15	167
17	16	137	17	16	168
18	17	138	18	17	169
19	18	139	19	18	170
20	19	140	20	19	171
21	20	141	21	20	172
22	21	142	22	21	173
23	22	143	23	22	174
24	23	144	24	23	175
25	24	145	25	24	176
26	25	146	26	25	177
27	26	147	27	26	178
28	27	148	28	27	179
29	28	149	29	28	180
30	29	150	30	29	181
31	30	151		30	182
	31	152

Common	Leap	Day of	Common	Leap	Day of
Year	Year	the Year	Year	Year	the Year
1		182	1		213
2	1	183	2	1	214
3	2	184	3	2	215
4	3	185	4	3	216
5	4	186	5	4	217
	5	187	6	5	218
7	6	188	7	6	219
8	7	189	8	7	220
9	8	190	9	8	221
10	9	191	10	9	222
11	10	192	11	10	223
12	11	193	12	11	224
13	12	194	13	12	225
14	13	195	14	13	226
15	14	196	15	14	227
16	15	197	16	15	228
17	16	198	17	16	229
18	17	199	18	17	230
19	18	200	19	18	231
20	19	201	20	19	232
21	20	202	21	20	233
22	21	203	22	21	234
23	22	204	23	22	235
24	23	205	24	23	236
25	24	206	25	24	237
26	25	207	26	25	238
27	26	208	27	26	239
28	27	209	28	27	240
29	28	210	29	28	241
30	29	211	30	29	242
31	30	212	31	30	243
	31	213		31	244

1		244	1		274
2	1	245	2	1	275
3	2	246	3	2	276
4	3	247	4	3	277
5	4	248	5	4	278
6	5	249	6^,	5	279
7	6	250	7	6	280
8	7	251	8	7	281
9	8	252	9	8	282
10	9	253	10	9	283
11	10	254	11	10	284
12	11	255	12	11	285
13	12	256	13	12	286
14	13	257	14	13	287
15	14	258	15	14	288
16	15	259	16	15	289
17	16	260	17	16	290
18	17	261	18	17	291
19	18	262	19	18	292
20	19	263	20	19	293
21	20	264	21	20	294
22	21	265	22	21	295
23	22	266	23	22	296
24	23	267	24	23	297
25	24	268	25	24	298
26	25	269	26	25	299
27	26	270	27	26	300
28	27	271	28	27	301
29	28	272	29	28	302
30	29	273	30	29	303
—	30	274	31	30	304
				31	305

6. Shab-e-Miraj: [Ascent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be 1.183 upon him) into Heaven]:

CIRCLE INDICATING THE DAY OF COMMENCEMENT OF
HIJRI MONTHS AND YEARS
(@ 4.366666666666 days per year)

CIRCLE INDICATING THE DAY OF COMMENCEMENT OF
PRE-HIJRI MONTHS AND YEARS
(@ 4.4607601 days^,per year)

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1	2	3		4	5	6
7		8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15		16	17
18	19		20	21	22	23
	24	25	26	27		28
29	30	31		32	33	34
35		36	37	38	39
40	41	42	43		44	45
46	47		48	49	50	51
	52	53	54	55		56
57	58	59		60	61	62
63		64	65	66	67
68	69	70	71		72	73
74	75		76	77	78	79
	80	81	82	83		84
85	86	87		88	89	90
91		92	93	94	95
96	97	98	99

CONVERSION TABLES
TO CONVERT HILALI OR HIJRI YEARS INTO CHRISTIAN YEARS
OR VICE VERSA

4. At-Tanbih al Ashraf by Abul Hasan Ali bin Husain Masudi, translated by Abul Qasim Payinda, Tehran, 1349 A.H.

5. Taqveem-e Hijri va lsvi, compiled by Abun Nasr Muhammed Khalidi, Karachi, 1974, third edition.

6. Azkar-e Abrar, a translation of "Gulzar-e Abrar" by Muhammad Nou Shattari Mandvi, translation by Fazl-e Ahmad Jeoory, Lahore, 1395 A.H., new edition.

8. Tajalliyat-e Imam Rabbani, by Muhammad Abdul Hakim Khan Akhtar Mujaddadi Muzhari, Maktaba-e Nabviya, Lahore, 1978.

9. Taqveem-u/ Alam by Khawaja Muhammad Abul Hasan Mohy-uddin, Matba-e Yusufi, Lucknow.

There is no doubt that the first verse of the Quran revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.S.) was

"The imperative Iqra may be rendered as "read" or "recite". The former rendering is to my mind, by far preferable in this context inasmuch as the concept of "reciting" implies no more than the oral delivery . . . . with or without understanding — of something already laid down in writing or committed to memory, whereas reading primarily signifies a conscious taking-in, with or without an audible utterance but with a view to understanding them, of words or ideas received from an outside source: in this case the message of the Quran."¹

Whether it be "read" or "recited", one thing is obvious that the Message was being conveyed in words. Telepathically also things can be conveyed, messages can be imparted but without words no message can take a form similarly it cannot be understood without words uttered or unuttered. There can be no thought without words. Then how could only the meaning be inspired in respect of the book which had to offer clear guidance to mankind till eternity with injunctions, prohibitions and commands meant to be made home to them.

Ash'arites ( o7L"I ) held in this regard. For him the words of the Quran.were also eternal and above any shadow of doubt. They being words of Allah could not entertain any change, doubt or falsehood. He says:

This is what God Almighty Himself proclaims about the Quran, in the words of the Qu ran:

"Behold! it is We Ourselves Who have bestowed from on high, step by step, this reminder (i.e. Quran) and behold! it is We Who shall truly guard it (from all corruption)."

"No falsehood can ever attain to it openly and neither in a stealthy manner, it is bestowed from on high by One Who is truly wise, ever to be praised."

Thus Quran is the only revealed book which remained free from all sorts of changes and alterations. Nothing was added to it nor was anything deleted from its text, since the moment it was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.S.). From the very first verse to the last, it retains its form, every word as it was. Nobody could dare tamper with the Quran openly nor could one corrupt its words surreptitiously it order to confuse its meanings.

Iqbal in the verses quoted above has laid down his belief in and appreciatior of the Quran. It was his firm faith that the Quran being the last revealed book had to be guarded against all corruptions. It was his ardent conviction that as the Qurar was the everlasting wisdom for the guidance of man till eternity hence its every word was a living word. No word could become obsolete because it neither contained any doubtful word in its original text nor could it ever afterwards enter tarn an iota of questionable expression.

There have been theologians as well as philosophers who addressed the question whether it were the meanings only which were revealed to the Prophel (peace be upon him) or the words also came from God. In other words we may say that the question baffled some critics, logicians and analysts because according to them the purpose, the object, and meanings were inspired but the words were from the Prophet (peace be upon him). As far as Iqbal's stance is concerned, he unquestioningly believed that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet (peace be upor him) in the very words it contained. Not the sense only, the vocabulary also was Divine. In this regard Faqir Sayyed Waheed-ud-Din relates:

"Once Iqbal was in jolly mood of talking. I availed of the opportunity and put him a question as to how he composed verses. He answered that I had started an interesting discussion but asked me to listen to an anecdote first. He narrated that the Annual Meeting of the Forman Christian College was being held. Dr. Lucas, the then Principal of the college, invited him also. Tea was served at the end of the meeting. Dr. Lucas approached him and asked him not to go away after tea because he wanted to discuss with him something very important. When the tea was over Dr. Lucas came to him and took him to a corner and stated that he wanted to know whether it was only the sense and meanings of the Quran that were revealed to his (Iqbal's) Prophet (peace be upon him) which he translated in his own language or the words of the Quran also were revealed to him. In brief, was the Quran revealed to his (Iqbal's) Prophet (peace be upon him) in words or in "meanings". Iqbal's answer was that words of the Quran were also revealed. And according to him the verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Arabic language. On hearing the this unexpected reply Dr. Lucas was taken aback and remarked amazedly 'I wonder how a man of your wisdom can believe without any reason that the words of the Quran were also revealed'. Iqbal's explanation was that when he composed a verse it was revealed to him as a whole. Then how could it be possible-that the last of Prophets who was sent' for the guidance of the worlds, the Quran should not have been revealed as a whole, meanings and words. In Iqbal's view there was nothing extra-ordinary about that. Thus, Iqbal stated that he silenced Dr. Lucas on the strength of that argument."⁵

It was quite obvious that Iqbal when composed verses it was not thought without words that came to his mind. No thought can ever be visualized without words, especially when the thought is to be conveyed to somebody else. It was the Angel who was the medium of the revelation. As though God put the message into the Angel's mind without words, who in turn conveyed it to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) without words, a Message aiming at transforming the whole lot of humanity from every walk of life, individually and collectively. Not only that but to prepare them for the Day of Judgement and for life after death. Either one should believe in the revelation or one should reject it as a whole.

Prof. F. K. Hitti endorses Iqbal's view and supports his faith in respect of this aspect of the Quran:

^"Bible, as is evident from the very word is a 'library' written in different languages, places and times. Its writing extends over eight hundred years. But the Quran was revealed to a person within a few years and almost at a place. The Bible was inspired, the Quran was dictated. You can quote the Quran by saying 'God said'. But Bible has undergone editorial and amendment changes but not so the Quran."'

"Now behold this (divine book) has indeed been bestowed from on high by the Sustainer of all worlds, trustworthy divine inspiration has alighted with it from high upon your heart (0, Muhammad) so that you may be among those who warn and preach, in clear Arabic language."

benediction. This is why Iqbal says addressing Niazud-Din Ahmad Khan: "One should read Quran more and more so that the heart may find a relation with Muhammad (peace be upon him). To get at this relation the knowledge of its meanings is not necessary. To read the Quran with a sincere heart is sufficient."⁸

An anecdote related by Professor Rashid Ahmad Siddiqui throws ample light on Iqbal's belief in the blessings of the words of Quran. In an article the Professor

"Iqbal intensely loved Sir Ross Masood and vice versa. Lady Ross Masood too had great respect for Iqbal and looked after his health. Lady Masood was pregnant. Iqbal got appointed a Qari who, with a sweet voice recited the Quran to the Lady every day early in the morning for half an hour. Iqbal believed that during pregnancy, it was highly beneficial to the child if the mother listened to the Quran being recited melodiously."⁹

Since the Quran contains words of God hence wnen a person reads it he in fact, establishes contact with God. Quran serves as a medium between God and man. Abu-Saeed al-Khudri has reported a saying of the Holy Prophet:

Iqbal's belief in the Gracefulness of the Revelation as a whole leads him to the conclusion that the words of the Quran themselves are a Light, a Benediction and a Blessing. Does not the Quran itself declare about its status, for example:

"And We reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy for believers." (3)

"O, mankind, now a proof from your Lord has come unto you, and We have sent unto you a clear Light." (4)

"And this a blessed Book which We have revealed. So follow it and ward off evil, that you may find mercy." (5)

It means that it is not only the meanings of the Quran which are a Light, a Healing and a Blessing which purify and enlighten human hearts and souls and lead human beings to the righteous path but its words also disseminate their heavenly influence over and above their contents. Even a baby in the womb of the mother could benefit from the words of the Quran. This is how Iqbal looked at the Quran.

In the "Armughan-e-Hijaz", while addressing the "Daughters of the Ummah", Allama Iqbal spotlighted this fact with reference to 'Umar's acceptance of Islam. History stands witness as to how 'U mar had left his home and made for the abode of the Prophet (S.A.S.) with a determination to put an end to his life. But on his way to the Prophet he was told that his own sister had embraced Islam, the religion preached by Muhammad (S.A.S.). In order to sweep before his own door first he returned towards his sister to take her to task. At his sister's dwelling the words of the Quran which were being recited by the sister fell on his ears. The words moved him ('Umar), who till that moment was an arch enemy of the Prophet (S.A.S.) went straight to him and declared with all earnest and in it :^state of submission that he had come for the sake of embracing Islam. Says Iqbal:

There transpired a complete change in 'Umar's destiny. And he had heard only the words of the Quran. As is obvious he till then did not know the meanings of what the Quran contained and what the principles of Islam were. It was 'Umar who had intended to kill the Prophet (S.A.S.). And it was the same 'Umar who became one of his best companions who was nominated Caliph by Hazrat Abu Bakr-e-Siddique to succeed him, who was the first to assume the title of the "Commander of the Faithful", and who set the brightest examples in the art of governing, administering justice and evolving practical shape of collective fraternity and social equality unsurpassed in human history.

As to the luminosity of the words of the Quran, Khawaja Nizam-ud-Din of Delhi once related how a God-fearing man and gnostic Hassan Afghan, although absolutely unlettered could distinguish the words of the Quran from other writings. People would come to him and show him some piece of writing Arabic and Persian, and ask him as to where was the Quran in those lines. Hassan always put his finger correctly on the Quranic verse or verses. Whenever asked how could he so correctly distinguish the Quran from other text although he had not read the Quran, his reply always was that the words of the Quran were luminous whereas the others were not. This shows that even an illiterate person can avail of the Blessings of the Quran according to the degree of his inner purity. A saintly person was asked whether one could benefit from reading the Quran without knowing its meanings. The answer was that a medicine works even if the patient might not be knowing the ingredients of the medicine. The Quran is much more than a medicine prepared by human hands.

We should not refute such facts in a hurry. On the contrary, we should accept that God has stored in man subtle delicacies and endowed him with infinite possibilities. So far we have not been able to comprehend the scope of our sense-perception, the turn of the inner sensations will come a bit later. Come it must.