Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-08-15

Fraudulent pamphlets and posters purporting to be from “UUCSA”  apologizing for the sighting of the moon and stating that Eidul Fitr was celebrated on the wrong day have been placed in Masaajid across Gauteng.

The poster informs musallees that the moon for Eidul Fitr signalling the end of the blessed month of Ramdaan was not sighted and that Qadah (to cover up) the missed fast must be kept.

The Jamiatul Ulama of South Africa nor UUCSA or any of its members have taken out such a poster and have urged those responsible for the masaajid to immediately remove them from the masaajid notice boards.

Secretary General of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa Moulana Ebrahim Bham told Radio Islam, that he has been inundated with many queries related to the poster and pamphlets.

“We would like to reassure the Muslim public that the sighting of the moon which was on the 30th night of Ramadaan was authentic. It went through a stringent process in which shahaadat (testimony) was taken,”

Moulana Bham said there was many places where the moon was sighted

“The United Ulama Council of South Africa which consists of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa in Johannesburg, Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal, the Muslim Judicial Council, Sunni Ulama Council, Sunni Jumiatul Ulama, Council of Ulama Eastern Cape and the Eastern Cape Islamic Congress all agreed with the process and the decision which was a unanimous decision,” added Moulana Bham.

Moulana Bham said he was greatly disturbed that although South Africa has been able to achieve unity on the moon sighting, there were elements within the country that have ulterior motives.

“They would like to see fitnah (mischief), they would like to see turmoil and they would like to see confusion. Unfortunately that’s the situation we have to deal with,” he said.

“Therefore on behalf of the United Ulama Council of South Africa, we would like to take this opportunity to reassure the Muslim community and public that the decision that was taken on that day was the correct decision”

“… and there is no doubt whatsoever anyone trying to cast aspersions and doubt on that sighting unfortunately we have to say seems to like the idea of fitnah (mischief) in the Muslim community.”

(Twitter: @Faizie143)