A Lesson from the Farewell Pilgrimage

The lunar month is based on the sighting of the moon, which is why it sometimes has 29 days and sometimes 30 days. The Prophet explained this simply by showing his fingers three times, representing ten days each, indicating a total of 30 days. Then, he showed his fingers again, folding his thumb the third time, indicating ten days for the first two and nine for the third, representing a total of 29 days. This does not mean that the lunar month is a religious month and that all matters should be calculated based on the lunar calendar. This principle applies specifically to acts of worship, meaning that the dates of worship will be based on the lunar calendar to make it easy for everyone to follow. When Prophet Ibrahim established the system of Hajj, he based it on the lunar calendar for this very reason. However, the Quraysh of Makkah, who were the custodians of the Ka’bah, later sought to align the timing of Hajj with the solar calendar to serve their commercial interests, ensuring that the pilgrimage would always occur in the same season. To achieve this, they adopted the practice of intercalation (known as Kabisa) from other nations and applied it to the Hajj. The solar year consists of 365 days, while the lunar year consists of 354 days, resulting in a difference of 11 days. Over eight years, this difference accumulates to approximately three months. The Arabs would adjust the lunar months by adding extra days to align with the solar months. This practice caused the lunar months to shift,