Islamic scholars plan meet to avoid confusion

8220;With so many sects and different leaders among the community, there is lack of a consensus. That is why we want them to come together and find a solution to prevent any such repetition,8221; said the Imam.

By the time Eid was announced yesterday, it was latenight as it took several hours before the message of the witnesses who sight the moon at Nooh in Haryana could reach the Imam.

According to the Imam, the Shariyat does not permit the use of scientific technology and the witnesses are the only source to be relied upon. 8220;If weather is clear then around 70-odd people will have to confirm but in case of bad weather there has to be a minimum of eight.8221;

Abdul Wahab Khilji, vice-president of All-India Milli Council, holds politics responsible for the confusion: 8220;Religious heads want to show how important they are and they deliberately add to the confusion for scoring a point or two.8221;

General-secretary Manzoor Alam, on the other hand, says it is not unnatural to observe Eid on different dates, given the plurality of the community. Wadood Sajit, Editor of Viewstimes, blames it on the lack of one Islamic calendar.

Prof Nazaf Haider of JNU says the only solution is to follow a scientific method. 8220;In modern times, approximation has given way to precision and Islamic leaders have followed it elsewhere. Now, it is time we did the same.8221;