Dubai - The all new calendar is being developed in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs And Endowments and departments concerned across the country.
Published: Tue 19 Apr 2016, 8:39 PM
Last updated: Mon 23 May 2016, 4:16 PM
A more accurate and consistent prayer timing calendar being prepared by a specialised Shariah committee will be adopted by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai.
Dr Omar Al Khatib, executive director for Islamic affairs sector with the department, said the new scheme being developed by competent experts, astronomers and scholars will specify prayer timings for the next 15 years.
"The new calendar will put an end to inaccurate prayer timing calendars, particularly those gifted by individuals and private companies during the holy month of Ramadan as part of promotional campaigns."
The all new calendar is being developed in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs And Endowments and departments concerned across the country, he added.
"The highly credible calendar in use was also developed by another Sharia committee 15 years ago, and the new one being prepared will see some changes in its format."
Only few changes will be introduced to the current calendar, he pointed out. "But, these are critical, and will help end all inaccurate prayer timings, mainly in the holy month of Ramadan."
Elaborating, Dr Khatib said the committee is to include experts in astronomy and calendar setting. "The committee has been working on the new calendar for 1.5 years so far to unify prayer timings all over the country."
The committee is giving special attention to the timings of the Fajr 'Dawn' and Maghrib 'Evening' prayers to be more accurate, he underlined.
Precise calculations
"The prayer timing setting is being calculated at various regions in the country over one full week or seven straight days every three months based on deep and precise calculations." Dr Khatib said the five daily prayer timings are calculated as per the 'horizon degree' which ranges from '16-19' degrees.
"The UAE, Gulf states, and all Islamic countries base their calculations on degree No '18' that starts from the exact dawn time to the time of the red afterglow and Isha 'late evening' prayer."
However, there is still a maximum five-minute difference in prayer timing from one region to another, he said. "This is basically due to a margin of error in calculations which is acceptable in astronomy calculations.
Dr Khatib said that the Islamic affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai has printed and distributed 120,000 copies of its well-designed wall and book-shaped calendars this year so far. "These are compared to only 1,000 copies printed in 1992."
"There is a growing and pressing demand on the department calendar due to its accuracy, and availability in Arabic and English that meet the needs of the public," he said.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
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