Century-Old Memories: Grandmother Sharifah's Tradition of Observing the Ramadan Crescent with the Naked Eye from Maysan's Peaks
In the mountain villages of Maysan Province, east of the city of Mecca, time seems to move more slowly. Wind blows through gaps between great boulders, and the evening sky stretches wide and unobstructed. It was here, decades ago, that the beginning of Ramadan was not announced through official broadcasts or mobile phone notifications, but through the gaze of eyes fixed upon the western horizon with fervent hope.
For the elderly in this region affiliated with the Thaqif Centre, memories of the crescent moon are not merely stories of the past. They are fragments of life that hold collective joy, cooperation, and deeply rooted spirituality.
Sharifah binti Atiyah Al-Thaqafi, nearly a century old, still clearly remembers the nights when the start of Ramadan was determined more than nine decades ago. From her home in the village of Lykah, perched among rocky mountain formations, she speaks softly of a time when the naked eye was the sole "official instrument" for confirming the arrival of the holy month.
As the sun set, the village men and their children would walk to the highest points — including the peak of the Shahdan Mountains — to search for the thin arc of the crescent moon in the twilight sky. Meanwhile, the women remained at home. They waited in a silence laden with prayer, whilst preparing dishes for the first iftar and sahur, as though Ramadan's arrival was already certain.
When the crescent was finally sighted, the news was not delivered by loudspeaker or television broadcast. Bonfires were lit on mountain peaks. Takbir was called out loudly, echoing from one hill to another. Congratulations and poetic verses were recited, carrying joyful tidings to neighbouring villages. In the light of the fires and the echo of voices, the entire community seemed to become one.
This tradition was not merely a ritual of sky observation. It was a social event that strengthened bonds of kinship. The announcement of the crescent marked the beginning of a series of Ramadan nights filled with family gatherings, communal sahur meals, and warm togetherness amid the mountain air.
Today, times have changed. Madis Al-Thaqafi, spokesperson for the Majardah Thaqif Astronomical Observatory, explained that crescent moon observation methods have undergone significant transformation. From relying solely on direct visual observation, the practice now employs astronomical telescopes, digital imaging, and specialised computational applications to enhance accuracy and scientific tracking of crescent moon formation.
For the elderly in this region affiliated with the Thaqif Centre, memories of the crescent moon are not merely stories of the past. They are fragments of life that hold collective joy, cooperation, and deeply rooted spirituality.
Sharifah binti Atiyah Al-Thaqafi, nearly a century old, still clearly remembers the nights when the start of Ramadan was determined more than nine decades ago. From her home in the village of Lykah, perched among rocky mountain formations, she speaks softly of a time when the naked eye was the sole "official instrument" for confirming the arrival of the holy month.
As the sun set, the village men and their children would walk to the highest points — including the peak of the Shahdan Mountains — to search for the thin arc of the crescent moon in the twilight sky. Meanwhile, the women remained at home. They waited in a silence laden with prayer, whilst preparing dishes for the first iftar and sahur, as though Ramadan's arrival was already certain.
When the crescent was finally sighted, the news was not delivered by loudspeaker or television broadcast. Bonfires were lit on mountain peaks. Takbir was called out loudly, echoing from one hill to another. Congratulations and poetic verses were recited, carrying joyful tidings to neighbouring villages. In the light of the fires and the echo of voices, the entire community seemed to become one.
This tradition was not merely a ritual of sky observation. It was a social event that strengthened bonds of kinship. The announcement of the crescent marked the beginning of a series of Ramadan nights filled with family gatherings, communal sahur meals, and warm togetherness amid the mountain air.
Today, times have changed. Madis Al-Thaqafi, spokesperson for the Majardah Thaqif Astronomical Observatory, explained that crescent moon observation methods have undergone significant transformation. From relying solely on direct visual observation, the practice now employs astronomical telescopes, digital imaging, and specialised computational applications to enhance accuracy and scientific tracking of crescent moon formation.