Eid Ul Fitr Announcement Thread

[Magoo]

A thread to post news of the announcement of eid ul fitr in your respective localities

as soon as anybody has news from saudi can they post it here please

[Taalib-'Ilm]

as-Salam 'Alaykum.

My mother told me that in Iqra' they said 'Id al-Fitr is tomorrow.

So 'Id Mubarak. Taqabbal Allah Minna Wa Minkum Salih al-A'mal, Wa Kullu 'Amin Wa Antum Bi Khayr =)

[Niqaabis]

wa 'alaikum as salaam

my cousin in dubai said the moon was sighted in saudi and afganistan

so eid mubarak everyone

[Taalib-'Ilm]

Sorry, I misunderstood. It was al-Jazeera who gave the news from Saudi

[Aspire4Jannah]

asSalaamualikum:

Sis niqaabis are you sure moon was sighted? Everyone else I know is saying it hasnt been confirmed yet. Anyone else living in Saudi or Afghanistan to confirm? I guess we have to wait a few more mins...

[Noorah]

its eid in saudi tomorrow, the moon has been sighted

[Noorah]

Official Decision and Announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia...

Just a short time ago, Fatwa-Online was informed of the official decision and announcement of the High Judiciary Council (HJC) of Saudi Arabia that since the moon of Shawwaal was sighted this evening, here in Saudi Arabia, we shall be completing twenty nine(29) days of Ramadhaan (1429 A.H.), in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

((Fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you, then complete thirty days of Sha'baan. And break your fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you then fast thirty days)), [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].

Subsequently, we shall be celebrating 'Eed al-Fitr on Tuesday 30 September 2008, inshaa.-Allaah.

[Magoo]

Official Decision and Announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia...

Just a short time ago, Fatwa-Online was informed of the official decision and announcement of the High Judiciary Council (HJC) of Saudi Arabia that since the moon of Shawwaal was sighted this evening, here in Saudi Arabia, we shall be completing twenty nine(29) days of Ramadhaan (1429 A.H.), in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

((Fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you, then complete thirty days of Sha'baan. And break your fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you then fast thirty days)), [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].

Subsequently, we shall be celebrating 'Eed al-Fitr on Tuesday 30 September 2008, inshaa.-Allaah.

jazakallahukhayrun

eid mubarak!!!!

[waziri]

Eid mubarak.


I was hoping this year everyone would do it on the same day but it seems the barelvis decided last week that they would do eid on wednesday.

[Abu Ubaydah]

Eid Mabrook to everyone.

Taqabbal Allah Minna Wa Minkum

Please do not forget to remember those that are less fortunate than ourselves and our brothers and sisters in prision.

Barak Allahu Feekum

[Noorah]

Eid mubarak.


I was hoping this year everyone would do it on the same day but it seems the barelvis decided last week that they would do eid on wednesday.

yes many people have been saying from last week that Eid is on Wednesday beause it is scientifically impossible to see the moon on Tuesday and Saudi is faking it if they say its on Tuesday

[Adem Al-Albani]

yes many people have been saying from last week that Eid is on Wednesday beause it is scientifically impossible to see the moon on Tuesday and Saudi is faking it if they say its on Tuesday

Actually, the Yahood do their holiday, Rash ashana, based on the moon sighting, and they too are celebrating it tomorrow.

[mkeastone]

Alhamdulillah... Eid is here...Alhamdulillah

[Aspire4Jannah]

yes many people have been saying from last week that Eid is on Wednesday beause it is scientifically impossible to see the moon on Tuesday and Saudi is faking it if they say its on Tuesday

EID MUBARAK! TaqabAllaahu Minni wa Minkum, Aameen!

Has Saudi ever faked it before? We would need daleel to prove this. Also, another sister had stated how it was not only sighted in Sauid but also Afghanistan. So since two countries have sighted it, it is inshaAllaah Eid tomorrow, thereby making it the night of Eid tonight...wa Lillahil Hamd.

[Abu Hafsa]

Im gonna do eid on wednesday with rest of the family.

Dont know if ill be able to wake up for eid salat though, too early.

[Aspire4Jannah]

Abu Hafsa which country are you in? Youre supposed to do Eid based upon Moon Sighting not only on the day when your fam does it.

[Yasir]

Abu Hafsa which country are you in? Youre supposed to do Eid based upon Moon Sighting not only on the day when your fam does it.

Moon sighting where though? Local, national, international? There are several scholarly opinions on the whole issue, and many of them have a basis in the fiqh so he can't be discouraged from celebrating 'Eid with his family.

[Magoo]

Moon sighting where though? Local, national, international? There are several scholarly opinions on the whole issue, and many of them have a basis in the fiqh so he can't be discouraged from celebrating 'Eid with his family.

i would agree wholeheartedly with the above, do not let a fiqhi issue become the cause of sedition between you and your family

[waziri]

Moon sighting where though? Local, national, international? There are several scholarly opinions on the whole issue, and many of them have a basis in the fiqh .


I understand this but I cant understand how someone could have announced last week that eid will be on wednesday.

[Yasir]

I understand this but I cant understand how someone could have announced last week that eid will be on wednesday.

I expect it is because they have agreed on a formula for determining the Islamic calendar and are uniting upon that. Others have simply agreed on following the Saudi announcement.

[isha-h]

Eid Mubarak !!!!!!!!!!!

The Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques of London has agreed that Eid ul-Fitr, will be on Tuesday 30 09 2008. Eid prayers at the East London Mosque will be held at 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM and 11.00 AM.

[waziri]

I expect it is because they have agreed on a formula for determining the Islamic calendar and are uniting upon that.


Yes and that formula is find out when the "Wahabis" are doing it and then announce a different day.


Anyway Akhtar di ombarak sha here is a nasheed for you

http://www.khyber.org/n/ndarwesh2/mashoomjarha.wma

[Noorah]

EID MUBARAK! TaqabAllaahu Minni wa Minkum, Aameen!

Has Saudi ever faked it before? We would need daleel to prove this. Also, another sister had stated how it was not only sighted in Sauid but also Afghanistan. So since two countries have sighted it, it is inshaAllaah Eid tomorrow, thereby making it the night of Eid tonight...wa Lillahil Hamd.

I personally dont believe they have faked it, this is what people who disagree with Saudi have argued though..and their proof like i said is based on the scientific impossibility of sighting the moon, which i dont take as proof

[asharee_salafi]

Eid Mubarak everyone.

Please do make du'a for me on Eid that I can overcome obstables. Enjoy your Eid.

[Abdullah Abbas]

Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday 30th September 2008

Official Decision and Announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia...

Just a short time ago, Fatwa-Online was informed of the official decision and announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia that since the moon of Shawwaal was sighted this evening, here in Saudi Arabia, we shall be completing twenty nine (29) days of Ramadhaan (1429 A.H.), in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):

((Fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you, then complete thirty days of Sha'baan. And break your fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you then fast thirty days)), [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].

Subsequently, we shall be celebrating 'Eed al-Fitr on Tuesday 30th September 2008, inshaa.-Allaah.


http://www.fatwa-online.com/news/0080929.htm

[MuhamedAbdullah]

Will this be the case throughout the world or will it be different in some countries? As this is my first Ramadan I am unsure about this and would be greatful if anyone could help.

[waziri]

This is the official eid mubarak thread so lets not start a whole load of threads on the same subject.


EID MUBARAK EVERYONE

[Abu Dajana]

Will this be the case throughout the world or will it be different in some countries? As this is my first Ramadan I am unsure about this and would be greatful if anyone could help.

The countries who started ramadan a day later will obviously have eid on another day.

[nomad]

Eid mubarak, turkey's eid is tomorrow, and we have known that since they printed the calender, because it is no secret here, they follow the calender, not sightings! Sometimes they agree with the rest of the world and sometimes not, but alhamdulilah, all the community starts and stops together. Eid is eid, everyone prays together, although this year we are not sure where to pray as all the large historic mosques are under reconstruction.

[MuhamedAbdullah]

The countries who started ramadan a day later will obviously have eid on another day.

Well this is day 29 for me today as we started here in Ireland on September 1st, so I take it then it is Eid here tomorrow.

[Abu Zubair al afghani]

http://i37.tinypic.com/rmmnf8.png

[hitman003]

May Allah accpects your fasts and your good and lead u to the final resting Jannah.

Eid Mubrak to all the muslims on the forums and your famliy i wish u all a happy Eid

Please pray for the Ummah and me aswell Jazkallah Khair :D

[Abul Hasan]

Is it a valid fiqhi opinion to follow local moon sightings? I haven't heard of the moon being sighted in Australia, so I'm doing it on Wednesday. Which one is the stronger opinion: international or local sighting?

[Nu7]

Eid Mubaarak to everyone..

[Magoo]

ive merged all the threads into one

[Turaabie]

* 'Eed Mubarak *
Taqab-Allahu Minni wa Minkum

[pakhtoon]

Why is it EVERY year we have to fast ONLY 29? For ages now it's always been 29 days of Ramadhan. Now I'm in no way defending the deviant Brelwi's who seem to think pakistan/india is the centre of Islam but im somewhat dissapointed that this is a recurring theme.

I also have to make impromptu arrangements at work and have cancelled an expenses paid trip thinking that eid would be on the 1st ocotober.

Seriously, it is begining to somewhat grate me.

[Adem Al-Albani]

yo yo yoyoyoyoy


Eid Mubarak Son

Post up dem eid nasheeds, wanna blast em from the car in the morning.

[Abuz Zubair]

Eid Mubarak to you all. TaqabAllahu Minna wa Minkum

['Abd al-Kareem]

Ameen.

TaqabbalAllahu minna wa minkum

[عُبَيْدُ رَبِّهِ]

It indeed is 'Id so 'Idan mubarakan to all of you! :) :eek: :)

[jzcasejz]

Eid mubarak!

[Abu Ubaydah]

Abuz Zubair are you going to visit us for EID insha Allah?

['Abd al-Kareem]

LOL I thought you said IED, had to re-read it.

[Abuz Zubair]

Abuz Zubair are you going to visit us for EID insha Allah?
Hopefully, next Eid, InshaaAllah

[hshad]

Eid Mubarak...taqabbalAllahu minna wa minkum

[Adem Al-Albani]

Abuz Zubair gotta visit us for one Eid inshaaAllah. lol

[Abu Abdur-Rahman]

taqaballAllahu mina wa minkum. eid mubarak..... :( anyone else missing ramadhan already?

[Abu_Salamah]

:( anyone else missing ramadhan already?

Yeah I am still.

Eid Mubarak - Leave a comment on the blog

http://izzatulillah.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/eid-mubarak/

[Abu Shu'aib]

http://shots.ikbis.com/image/75720/big_screen/eid_mubarak.jpg

[Nooristan]

Well this is day 29 for me today as we started here in Ireland on September 1st, so I take it then it is Eid here tomorrow.

eid mubarik to all the Muslims here and back home,inshAllah will be over soon to see the boys in Dublin,Taqabbal Allah Minna Wa Minkum..........

[solja-Al-Abbass]

Asalamalykum,
eid mubarak
This eid moon sighting thing is really becomming annoying. As saudi has declared it i was meant to make eid 2mrw but because of family unity and 99% are doing it on wednesday i have abliged to make it then. I would like to know one thing though. i have heard saudi do not really look at the moon sighting and just base it on calculations. Also heard the moon should be sighted in several countries on tuesday. check out this website http://moonsighting.com/1429shw.html

[Ibn Muhammad]

'Eid Mubaarak to everyone, those doing it on Tuesday and those doing it on Wednesday.

Judging from the statement from the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia, I think its pretty clear that they sighted the moon and not based their decision upon any calculative methods. Rather the author of moonsighting.com is using calculative measures to assert that the trustworthy Muslim who has seen the moon has made a false judgement.

[Abul Hasan]

Why don't people in the UK look for the moon themselves rather than looking at what Saudi is doing? That's what we in Australia (generally) do, so most of Australia has Eid on Wednesday.

[Rakan]

عيدكم مبارك
تقبل الله منا ومنكم صالح الأعمال
وكل عام وأنتم بخير

[waziri]

Why don't people in the UK look for the moon themselves rather than looking at what Saudi is doing? That's what we in Australia (generally) do, so most of Australia has Eid on Wednesday.

Chance would be a fine thing, there is usually a thick blanket of cloud looming over the uk most days.


Im sure in sunny OZ the skies are clear and the moon visible.

[Umm Ahmed]

As salaamu'alaykum wurahmatulaah wabarakatu

Eid Mubarak to you and all your families , May Allaah accept all our deeds and efforts during the month of Ramadan

http://i34.tinypic.com/xlcsb9.jpg

[Yasir]

Whether you’re celebrating ‘Eed today or tomorrow, ‘Eed Mubarak to you all and your families. Wishing you a wonderful day with your family and friends.

May Allah accept from us our efforts in the blessed month, and grant us steadfastness for the rest of the year.

تقبل الله منا ومنكم الصيام والقيام وصالح الأعمال
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5787/eidmubarakyw2.png

[Nas]

Eed Mubarak to all the brothers and sisters on this forum, whether you did it today, doing it tomorrow or on Saturday in Pakistan! ;)

[Abu Shu'aib]

Nas - when are/did Cheadle Mosque going to/do it?

[Noorah]

Asalamalykum,
eid mubarak
This eid moon sighting thing is really becomming annoying. As saudi has declared it i was meant to make eid 2mrw but because of family unity and 99% are doing it on wednesday i have abliged to make it then. I would like to know one thing though. i have heard saudi do not really look at the moon sighting and just base it on calculations. Also heard the moon should be sighted in several countries on tuesday. check out this website http://moonsighting.com/1429shw.html
That is a lie, they infact reject calculations....

MAKKAH: The Saudi Council of Senior Scholars has rejected the demand that the beginning and end of lunar months should be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations.

“Shariah does not accept astronomical calculations based on mathematical computing as the basis for the beginning and ending of Ramadan,” said Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the council.

“If anyone doubts our moon-sighting, fasting and feasting, it betrays his weak faith and defective perception,” the grand mufti, who is head of the Administration of Research in Religious Sciences and Fatwa said. He cited a Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which says, “You start fasting when you see (the moon) and stop it when you sight (the next moon) and when it is hidden by clouds, complete (30 days of) fasting.”

The grand mufti added that it is obligatory on the Muslims to start fasting when any Muslim known for his honesty and healthy eyesight claims to have sighted the new moon. This is the practice in the Kingdom, he said, dismissing suggestion that Muslims may depend on astronomical calculations to begin fasting in Ramadan and celebrate Eid.

http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=113244&d=23&m=8&y=2008

[Nas]

We did it today (Tuesday 29th September).

We have a complete policy document that the Masjid uses that was written by Ustadh AE.

Also, Makki Masjid and Didsbury Masjid in Manchester did it today as well alhamdulillah, as well as Sh Abdullah Juday's Masjid in Leeds.

[Umm Ahmed]

The moon was sighted in UAE on monday at magrib, and the moon last night is just what it looks like on the second of every month.

[Umm Ahmed]

Farewell, Dear Ramadhan
Poem by Sheikh Yusuf Estes

"Ramadhan has finished and now Eid is here,
It won't come back for another year.
We'll miss the taraweeh and days of fast,
Our friend Ramadhan is now a memory past.

The rewards were many and the blessings great,
Friends and relations came early and late,
We shared together in food and drink,
We're sad it's over and it makes us think;

Now that the devil is unchained to run free,
what should we do to combat his evil spree?
He wants us to return to the ways of old,
by lying, cheating and false stories told.

He keeps whispering his evil ideas in our ear,
But there's something we can do, if Allah we fear,
By fasting six days in Shawwal, it's clear,
It's as though you fasted the ENTIRE YEAR."
-- Sheik Yusuf
May Allah accept your deeds for another year"
(Ameen.)

[seeker_of_knowledge]

Eid Mubarak.. Eid in Bangalore, India is on Thursday(tomorrow)..

[Abu Shu'aib]

We did it today (Tuesday 29th September).

We have a complete policy document that the Masjid uses that was written by Ustadh AE.

Also, Makki Masjid and Didsbury Masjid in Manchester did it today as well alhamdulillah, as well as Sh Abdullah Juday's Masjid in Leeds.

salaam 'Alaykum...I was asking because I remember reading on AE blog they used to go to sight the moon. And since it was cloudy on Monday night I thought you might do it on Wednesday....anyway thanks bro...and any chance of sharing the policy?

[Aspire4Jannah]

Eid Mubarak.. Eid in Bangalore, India is on Thursday(tomorrow)..

SubHanAllaah! The irony I find is that at one point India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were ONE country so the moon sighting for them was ONE moon and now that they are three different countries, the moon sighting for them is diff! Pakistan is doing Eid on WEDNESDAY October 1st, whilst Bangladesh and India are doing it on October 2nd, Thursday. In Islaam there aren't supposed to be any boundaries to begin with. So I clearly don't understand how this is all reconciled. This is why I just go opinion that states moon sighted anywhere in world, its Eid next day.

[Magoo]

SubHanAllaah! The irony I find is that at one point India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were ONE country so the moon sighting for them was ONE moon and now that they are three different countries, the moon sighting for them is diff! Pakistan is doing Eid on WEDNESDAY October 1st, whilst Bangladesh and India are doing it on October 2nd, Thursday. In Islaam there aren't supposed to be any boundaries to begin with. So I clearly don't understand how this is all reconciled. This is why I just go opinion that states moon sighted anywhere in world, its Eid next day.

parts of pakistan did it yesterday aswell, three eids in one country, three different moon sightings, all supposedly new moon sightings..... yeah right

[Aspire4Jannah]

parts of pakistan did it yesterday aswell, three eids in one country, three different moon sightings, all supposedly new moon sightings..... yeah right

My point exactly...

[Yasir]

SubHanAllaah! The irony I find is that at one point India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were ONE country so the moon sighting for them was ONE moon and now that they are three different countries, the moon sighting for them is diff! Pakistan is doing Eid on WEDNESDAY October 1st, whilst Bangladesh and India are doing it on October 2nd, Thursday. In Islaam there aren't supposed to be any boundaries to begin with. So I clearly don't understand how this is all reconciled. This is why I just go opinion that states moon sighted anywhere in world, its Eid next day.

Northern Nigeria did ‘Eed on Monday based upon an apparent sighting of the hilaal. Did you celebrate ‘Eed then?

One opinion cannot be imposed upon everyone whilst there are other valid opinions. We can however work to agree on following a similar method for determining the Islamic calendar in a locality/region. Simply from the hadeeth of Kurayb radhiAllahu ‘anhu we learn that even at the time of the first generation there were differences in determining the dates of the Islamic calendar in different regions.

The moon was sighted in UAE on monday at magrib, and the moon last night is just what it looks like on the second of every month.The fact that you get to see the moon for most of the month must be great, masha’Allah! It’s often too cloudy here.

[Aspire4Jannah]

The sighting in North Nigeria was not confirmed. There were confusions going on on whether or not the moon was seen in Nigeria. We were waiting to hear if it was something confirmed or not. No news of confirmation was given therefore we went with Tuesday once saudi declared moon was sighted. If I had heard that the moon was for sure sighted in North Nigeria from a reliable source, then I would have done Eid on Monday.

[juwairiyah]

bismillahir rahmanir raheem

assalamu'alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

Whatever opinion u hold allahualam but eid and ramadhan are done with the ppl.One cannot separate oneself.....celebrate eid when ur place celebrates.Everything is in jam'a
Allah is the source of strength and ilm

Should he follow the local people with regard to starting and ending the fast?
The sighting of the moon in my country was delayed by two days, and there is a group of people who follow the general sighting and fast with Saudi and other neighbouring lands. I started to follow this group this year and I fasted one day before my country. Do I have to make up the fast, knowing that the sighting here was proved after that? Should I break the fast with my country or when the moon is sighted anywhere?.


Praise be to Allaah.

In the answer to question no. 12660 we stated that if the Muslim is in a Muslim country that relies on sighting of the moon to mark the beginning and end of the month, then he must follow that country, and it is not permissible for him to differ from it in starting and ending the fast.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The fast is the day when you fast, breaking the fast is the day when you break the fast, and sacrifice is the day when you offer the sacrifice.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (2324) and al-Tirmidhi (697); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

The imams differed with regard to the question of whether, if the moon is sighted in one place, all the Muslims are obliged to fast, or are only the nearby countries obliged to fast and not the distant countries, or are those whose sighting coincides with that sighting obliged to fast, and not those whose sighting did not coincide with it? There are several opinions.

The Muslim should follow the scholars of his own country in whichever of these views they believe to be more correct, based on the evidence that they have available, and he should not start or end the fast on his own.

We have quoted the statement of the Council of Senior Scholars on this issue in the answer to question no. 50487, in which they said:

… the members of the Council of Senior Scholars think that matters should be left as they are and that this subject should not be stirred up. Each Islamic state should have the right to choose whichever opinion it wishes, based on the suggestions of its own scholars, because each view has its evidence and proofs.

Please read this statement in full, because it is important.

Based on this, you should follow your country which relies on the sighting of the moon to establish the beginning and end of the month and the beginning and end of the fast. If you do that, you will have done well and you are not required to make up the fast.

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

[juwairiyah]

Why are the Muslims not united in their fasting?
Why are the Muslims not united in their fasting even though there is only one new moon for Ramadaan? In the past there was the excuse of there being no media or means of communication.


Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

The most likely reason for the differences in the start of the fast from one country to another is the difference in sighting the new moon. Such differences are well known and it makes sense that there are such differences.

Based on this, it is not possible to expect all the Muslims to start fasting at the same time, because this would mean that some of them were starting to fast before the new moon had been sighted and even before it had appeared.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about those who call for the ummah to be united in fasting and for the moon sighting to be based on its sighting in Makkah. He said:

This is impossible from an astronomical point of view, because the sighting of the new moon, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said, differs, according to the scientists who are well-versed in this field. Because it differs, then each country should have its own ruling, according to the reports and according to science.

The evidence from reports is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month”

[al-Baqarah 2:185]

If it so happens that people in a remote region of the world do not see the new moon whereas the people of Makkah do see it, then how can the words of this verse apply to those who have not seen the new moon? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it.” (Agreed upon). So if the people of Makkah, for example, see it, then how can we expect the people of Pakistan and countries further east to start fasting, when we know that that the new moon has not yet appeared in their region, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) connected the start of fasting to the sighting of the moon?

The scientific evidence is the correct analogy which we cannot contradict. We know that dawn appears in eastern regions of the earth before it appears in western regions, so if dawn has appeared in eastern regions, do we have to stop eating even though it is still night where we are? The answer is no. If the sun has set in eastern regions but it is still day where we are, is it permissible for us to break our fast? The answer is no. And the new moon is exactly like the sun, except that the timing of the new moon is monthly and the timing of the sun is daily. The One Who said (interpretation of the meaning):

“and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall”

[al-Baqarah 2:187] is also the One Who said (interpretation of the meaning):

“So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month”

[al-Baqarah 2:185]

So the evidence of both the texts and science indicates that we should establish a separate ruling for each place when it comes to starting and ending the fast, and this should be connected to the physical sign which Allaah has described in His Book and which His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) established in his Sunnah, namely the sighting of the moon and the sighting of the sun or dawn.

End quote from Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam, p. 451.

And he said, explaining this analogy and supporting the argument of those who say that there should be different moon sightings:

They say that the monthly timings should be like the daily sightings. Just as different countries vary in the start and end of the fast each day, so too they must differ in the start and end of the month-long fast. The difference in daily timings is well known according to Muslim consensus; those who are in the east start fasting before those who are in the west, and they also break the fast first.

If we accept the differences in sighting with regard to daily timings, then we should also accept it with regard to the month.

No one can say that the verse “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall” and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “When the night has come from here and the day has departed from here and the sun has set, then the faster may break his fast” are general in meaning and apply to all the Muslims in every region.

The same applies to the verse “So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month” and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “When you see it fast and when you see it stop fasting.”

As you see, this opinion is very strong, and the analogy is sound, the analogy between the monthly timing and the daily timing.

End quote from Fataawa Ramadaan, compiled by Ashraf ‘Abd al-Maqsood, p. 104

The Council of Senior Scholars issued an important statement on this topic, the text of which is as follows:

Firstly: The difference in moon sighting is something which is well known, and there is no difference among the scholars concerning this. Rather the difference of scholarly opinion has to do with whether the difference in moon sighting matters or not.

Secondly: The issue of whether the difference in moon sighting matters or not is a theoretical matter in which there is room for ijtihaad. Even people of great knowledge and piety differed concerning this matter. This is a type of difference which is acceptable, where the one who makes ijtihaad and gets it right will have two rewards, one for his ijtihaad and the other for getting it right, and the one who gets it wrong will be rewarded for his ijtihaad.

The scholars differed concerning this matter and there are two points of view. One is that the difference in moon sighting matters and the other is that it does not matter. Each group quotes evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and sometimes they quote the same text, such as when they both quote the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“They ask you (O Muhammad) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage”

[al-Baqarah 2:189]

and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it.”

That is because of different understandings of the texts, and different ways in which each group derives evidence from them.

Based on the considerations that the Council has seen and examined, and based on the fact that the difference of opinion on this matter does not have any effect that may lead to undesirable consequences, since this religion appeared fourteen centuries ago and we do not know of any period during which the ummah was united in moon sighting, the members of the Council of Senior Scholars think that matters should be left as they are and that this subject should not be stirred up. Each Islamic state should have the right to choose whichever opinion it wishes, based on the suggestions of its own scholars, because each view has its evidence and proofs.

Thirdly: The Council has studied the issue of proving the new moon by means of calculation, and what has been narrated in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and they have studied the comments of the scholars on this matter. They have decided unanimously that astronomical calculations carry no weight in determining the new moon with regard to Islamic matters, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not fast until you see it, and do not stop fasting until you see it.” And because of other evidence to that effect.

End quote, from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/102.


Islam Q&A

[Umm Ahmed]

The fact that you get to see the moon for most of the month must be great, masha’Allah! It’s often too cloudy here.

Yes that is a blessing throughout most of the year , but I miss the stormy skies of home too.

[Nas]

salaam 'Alaykum...I was asking because I remember reading on AE blog they used to go to sight the moon. And since it was cloudy on Monday night I thought you might do it on Wednesday....anyway thanks bro...and any chance of sharing the policy?

Walaikumsalam

The policy is an official CMA document so I can't but we know that basically we attempt a local sighting to revive the Sunnah of hilal-spotting but we follow the opinion of ittihad al-matali so if there is a confirmed sighting somewhere as authenticated by that area's authorities, then we'll follow it.

So if it's cloudy here as it was Monday night, then we carry on fasting to complete 30. But if we get news of a sighting as we did, then we break the fast and thus CMA decided to do the same wallahu a'lam.

[Abu Ikrimah]

i would agree wholeheartedly with the above, do not let a fiqhi issue become the cause of sedition between you and your family

Well, if the scholars, du'aat and tullaab are fighting like cat and dog over this, what should we mere mortals do?