[ml/nj]

There will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadon, there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of the month of Ramadon

Don't we always hear about what great scientists these guys were?

Maybe this is a bad translation? Otherwise it demonstrates astronomical ignorance. Ramadon begins with the sighting of the "new moon." (I assume that seeing the moon via eclipse doesn't count, but it't not an issue here.) Two weeks later, in the middle of the month, the full moon occurs which is the only time an eclipse of the moon can occur. Then just before the next "new moon" can be sighted at the astronomical new moon will occur and it is only at this time that the sun can be eclipsed.

So, since there can never be either a solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadon or a lunar eclipse at the end, we don't have to worry about any of this stuff.

ML/NJ

[Sabertooth]

So, since there can never be either a solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadon or a lunar eclipse at the end, we don't have to worry about any of this stu

Your orbital dynamics are correct. I've seen different spins on this, though...

The specifications for the dating of the eclipses in the Sunni hadith however are erroneous, as the timing during the month of Ramadan that the Sunni version states is a physical impossibility. First of all the moon could not be told to be eclipsed on the first night, since it is virtually invisible then anyway. Even if it did eclipse then, this would be a fruitless sign since it is nearly invisible at that time anyway. An eclipse at that time of the month would be totally invisible. No human eye would be able to see this sign of the darkened moon of the first night, and yet it is given as the primary sign of the advent of the return of our Imam al-Mahdi (atfs).

These two phenomena of the lunar and solar eclipses will take place in a much different order. As the Sunni hadith says it, with the solar eclipse occurring in mid-month, this would require the moon to suddenly double its speed of movement after the onset of the month! To believe not only that the moon would suddenly double its speed after the onset of the month is unreasonable enough in itself. However, coupled with the fact that a lunar eclipse on the first night of Ramadan would be physically impossible to see, we must conclude that the Sunni version of this Hadith is unreasonable and the portion of it referring to the dates in the month of the eclipse must be rejected as plainly unscientific and unreasonable. Imam `Ali Riza (as) tells us that we must understand Islam through reason:
Ayat'ul-Mahdi: Questions and Answers
About the Double Eclipse of Ramadan 2003