Historiography of the Thought of Imkan al-Ru’yat by Sayid Utsman bin Yahya

Abstract

This paper aims to reveal Sayid Utsman's arguments that Imkan al-ru’yat (the possibility of sighting the new moon) is at an altitude of 7 degrees. The study seeks to analyze Sayid Utsman's thoughts on Imkan al-ru’yat from a historiographical perspective. This includes exploring the intellectual genealogy of Sayid Utsman's astronomical thought, understanding his perspective on Imkan al-ru’yat, and examining the criteria for Imkan al-ru’yat during his era. The research relies on qualitative data collected through documentation methods to gain an in-depth understanding of Sayid Utsman bin Yahya's thoughts on Imkan al-ru’yat. It is found that, according to Sayid Utsman, Imkan al-ru’yat is at an altitude of 7 degrees under certain conditions, and sometimes even reaches 8 degrees. Sayid Utsman's thoughts on Imkan al-ru’yat are a result of his studies with his grandfather, Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Ahmad al-Misry. In establishing the 7-degree criterion, Sayid Utsman cites the opinions of Imam Ibn Qadhi and Imam Ibn Hajar. It should also be noted that the Imkan al-ru’yat criteria during Sayid Utsman's era and for a century afterwards were considered to be at an altitude of 7 degrees.