Muslim First wrote:Never mind Imam Jafar, this one claims Imam Ali invented it
Brother Muslim First Saheb,
Considering Ali's legendary knowledge, it is not completely unbelievable that he might have thought of a fixed calendar. However, there is no historical evidence so far for that.
What appears to be 'historically' clear is that both Muhammad and Ali started Ramadan after personally observing the 'new' moon. Those who followed them fell in line with them. Just like today, not everyone actually observed the moon themselves, They followed the observation by these authorities.
You need to ask yourself two questions. Are you following the Prophet if you do not personally observe the moon to start your month? Which authority did Prophet follow other than Allah?
If you follow Prophet then you must follow Allah, that is the Quran. Does not Allah say that the orbits of the sun and moon are fixed? If they are fixed, how do you account for year to year variation by fallible humans to start their Ramadan fast and in the number of fasts?
Bohras believe that they are following the Prophet and the 'rightful' Imams that succeeded him in starting their months and, they believe, that that is in accordance with the Quran.
anajmi,
Can you please identify the precise pages of the Poonawala rendition of Daaimul Islam where it commands Muslims to begin the month following the moon sighting? I will comment later on that.
I have no documentary evidence that Imam Jafar as-Sadiq fixed the calendar. However, I have heard that claim many times from knowledgeable Bohras. I have been skeptical about this claim mainly because Twelvers do not follow this calendar. However, they may have kicked out the fixed calendar out of spite against the Fatimids who revived it in Egypt.
Strangely, even Aga Khanis do not appear to follow the Misri calendar.
What is important for Bohras is that they follow their Imam. It is clear that the Fatimids did utilize the fixed calendar. On the other hand non-Bohras seem not to pay attention to 2:184 and have a fixed number of fasts every year. I have explained that Ramadan will, only occasionally, have less than 30 complete solar days. So, fixing it at 30 is more reasonable than at 29. However, that appears not to be your main issue which is about physically seeing the new moon and which, I maintain ,you almost never can see.
I am currently 90% certain that Bohras have it right.