Linguistic Meanings Deny Need for Physical Moonsighting

In the Arabic language, the term "Al-Hilal" carries various meanings that extend beyond its customary association with the new Moon's first appearance in the early days of a month. These linguistic meanings, rooted in etymology, are not exclusively tied to the physical sighting of the Moon's crescent. Instead, they encompass concepts such as "announcement," "raising the voice," or "the initial part" of something.

Muhammad bin Ya'qub al-Fayrozabadi, a renowned philologist, informs us that in Arabic, the term "hilal" is used to refer to a male snake, a spearhead, a small quantity of water, a feeble camel, dust, a handsome young man, paved stones, or even the first raindrops. Moreover, "Al-hilal" denotes the white spotlight of the new Moon that people observe at the beginning of a new month. Various traditions exist regarding when the new Moon is referred to as "hilal," such as for the first two or three nights or even until it reaches a quarter Moon stage. Additionally, the Moon of the last two nights (26th and 27th) of the month is also called "al-hilal."

The root of the word "hilal" is derived from the Arabic term "hallala," which Ibn Manzur, an authoritative source on the Arabic lexicon, explains as related to the act of pouring rain. In this context, "hilal" signifies the initial burst or gush of rain, or what is received from it. It can also represent the noisy sound of raindrops. The root verb "halla" denotes raising one's voice or making noise, and it is used to describe various situations, such as loud talk, a baby's cries, or a pilgrim's chanting during the Hajj. All of these instances are described using the same root verb "halla," signifying the act of raising the voice.

While the act of sighting the new Moon and human involvement in its observation are not denied as aspects of the term "al-hilal," they are considered secondary meanings that gained popularity due to the pre-modern Arabs' reliance on physically seeing the new Moon to determine the start and end of lunar months. The original meanings of "announcement," "expressing joy," and "raising the voice" are at the core of why "hilal" was named as such. People relied on the physical sighting of the new Moon because it provided the most certainty, given the absence of accurate methods in pre-modern times.

In conclusion, the term "Al-Hilal" in the Arabic language has its origins in concepts like "raising the voice," "announcing something publicly," and "expressing joy." While it is associated with the physical sighting of the new Moon, this connection became popular due to the practical necessity of confirming the start and end of lunar months. The original linguistic meanings emphasize the act of making announcements and raising voices to inform others about the beginning of a new month, with the act of seeing the new Moon being a secondary, metaphorical aspect.