Today, the media and people are again debating on the decision of an ‘unofficial’ committee that decided today that they have seen the moon in Peshawar and adjoining areas and will be celebrating Eid on Sunday. This apparent controversial decision has been a trademark of the people from the northwest province who seem to have the supernatural abilities to see the moon when nobody in the whole subcontinent can see it.

Being a man of science, I strongly believe that the mathematical models predict the moon sighting in a pretty accurate manners. Now the rightists would argue that the relegion says that you can celebrate eid (or Ramadan or whatever) after you see the moon and receive sufficient authentic evidences from people of repute that they have seen it too. I am in no position to contradict this rule, but the rightists must also know that the Qur’an also says that the moon and sun are moving in their predefined orbits and will continue to do so till the end of times. If we take the statement as the starting point that we have sufficient historic data to create mathematical models that can predict the moon’s state for the future. We also have software to prove the same.

So, as an argument against the pathans’ supernatural abilities to see the future, I present the moon chart for Saturday and Sunday that pretty much explains the areas where moon can be sighted. (courtesy: www.moonsighting.com)

As you can see, Pakistan is nowhere near the the zone where you can see the moon with naked eye or using reasonable optical aid. Only a very small portion of Arab states, and southeast Asia are in a position to celebrate Eid on the Sunday.

However, the situation will improve drastically on Sunday as shown below:

Majority of the world will be able to see the moon using naked eye as its age at that day will be significant enough.

Now the question is, what causes these pathans to see the moon when nobody else sees it (and considering the fact that they happen to live in a terrain where view is obstructed by mountains).

The answer can be obtained by careful examination of a pathan brain (if they have one – I doubt it).
Also, the moon sighting can also be attributed to the hallucinations that is experienced after consumption of crack cocaine and marijuana by these lucky folks who happen to harvest these drugs in their backyard. (C’mon guys gimme some of this dope, i need to see what the future holds for me)

So, jokes apart. Whether by dope or by pure miracle, the pathans have managed to see and prove the moon and will be celebrating the Eid on Sunday while the rest of the country will follow the day after. I congratulate you on your massive victory (though I am envious of your supernatural abilities). May you have a joyous and peaceful Eid in the Northwest.

F*ck man, I can’t believe this shit!