What is the ruling on the difference in moon sightings between countries, whether in fasting or breaking the fast?
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The questioner : He asks: What is the ruling on the difference in sighting the moon of Ramadan or the moon of Shawwal between Muslim countries? And how should a Muslim act if there is a difference that may reach two days, either more or less? For example, if someone started fasting in a country that was two days later, and then at the end of the month he traveled to another country that was ahead in fasting, so their festival would be earlier, what should this traveler do? And what is the ruling if the difference is also in the sighting of the moon of Dhu al-Hijjah? How should the ruling and practice be regarding the Day of 'Arafah, the day before it, and the day after it?
The Shaykh : Scholars have differed on this issue. Some hold that Muslims should be unified under a single sighting, meaning that if the moon is confirmed in any part of the Muslim lands, its ruling applies to all lands of Islam, east and west. So if it is seen, for example, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is obligatory for all Muslims in all parts of the world to act on that sighting, whether for fasting or breaking the fast.
And some scholars hold that the ruling differs according to the region, meaning according to the states. So if it is confirmed in a place within one state, even if its territories are far apart, it is obligatory to act on it in all of that state or that country.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the other countries, some hold that what is considered in this is the moonrise points. So if the moonrise points differ, agreement in the ruling is not required. But if the moonrise points agree, agreement in the ruling is required. So if it is seen in a certain country and other countries agree with it in the moonrise point, they are required to fast. But if they differ from it, they are not required to. This is the stronger position in terms of evidence and in terms of the underlying cause.
As for the evidence, Allah the Exalted says:[Al-Baqarah 2:185] meaning that whoever did not witness it is not required to fast.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1080g The implication of this conditional statement is that if we do not see it, we are not required to fast or break the fast.
And the meaning and analogy require it. Just as we differ in daily abstention and breaking the fast, so it must be that there is a difference in monthly abstention and breaking the fast. In the day, the sun sets for the people of the east before it sets for the people of the west, and yet the people of the east break their fast while the people of the west are still fasting. Likewise, the people of the east abstain before the people of the west, so the people of the east have abstained for the dawn of their location, while the people of the west are eating and drinking because the dawn has not yet appeared for them. If this difference is established by consensus in daily abstention and breaking the fast, then its like is certainly the monthly breaking of the fast and abstention, for there is no difference.
But with that, we say that if a man is in a place, he follows that place. If the authorities order fasting, let him fast. If they order breaking the fast, let him break the fast. So if he arrives in a country that was ahead in the moon sighting, meaning he came from a country where they had fasted two days before the country he arrived in, he remains until the people of the country he arrived in break their fast. And if the situation is the reverse, that he came from a country that was behind in fasting to a country that was ahead, he breaks his fast with the people of this country and makes up the remaining days of the month. For it is not befitting for a person to oppose the congregation, but rather to agree with them. And if something remains for him, he performs it, like prayer, for example, where he catches up with the imam during the prayer, so he prays with him what he catches up with and makes up what he missed.
The conclusion is that this is the ruling of this issue: scholars have differed on it, but in any case, if you are in a country, fast with them and break the fast with them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the sighting of the moon of Dhu al-Hijjah, what is considered without doubt is the country where the rites are performed. So if the moon is confirmed there, it is acted upon, and the other countries are not considered. This is because Hajj is specific to a certain place that is not exceeded. So whenever the sighting of Dhu al-Hijjah is confirmed in that place and what is attributed to it, the ruling is established, even if the other regions differ from it. Yes.
The Shaykh : Scholars have differed on this issue. Some hold that Muslims should be unified under a single sighting, meaning that if the moon is confirmed in any part of the Muslim lands, its ruling applies to all lands of Islam, east and west. So if it is seen, for example, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is obligatory for all Muslims in all parts of the world to act on that sighting, whether for fasting or breaking the fast.
And some scholars hold that the ruling differs according to the region, meaning according to the states. So if it is confirmed in a place within one state, even if its territories are far apart, it is obligatory to act on it in all of that state or that country.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the other countries, some hold that what is considered in this is the moonrise points. So if the moonrise points differ, agreement in the ruling is not required. But if the moonrise points agree, agreement in the ruling is required. So if it is seen in a certain country and other countries agree with it in the moonrise point, they are required to fast. But if they differ from it, they are not required to. This is the stronger position in terms of evidence and in terms of the underlying cause.
As for the evidence, Allah the Exalted says:
So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it
فمن شهد منكم الشهر فليصمهThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When you see the new moon, observe fast, and when you see it (again) then break it
إذا رأيتموه فصوموا، وإذا رأيتموه فأفطرواAnd the meaning and analogy require it. Just as we differ in daily abstention and breaking the fast, so it must be that there is a difference in monthly abstention and breaking the fast. In the day, the sun sets for the people of the east before it sets for the people of the west, and yet the people of the east break their fast while the people of the west are still fasting. Likewise, the people of the east abstain before the people of the west, so the people of the east have abstained for the dawn of their location, while the people of the west are eating and drinking because the dawn has not yet appeared for them. If this difference is established by consensus in daily abstention and breaking the fast, then its like is certainly the monthly breaking of the fast and abstention, for there is no difference.
But with that, we say that if a man is in a place, he follows that place. If the authorities order fasting, let him fast. If they order breaking the fast, let him break the fast. So if he arrives in a country that was ahead in the moon sighting, meaning he came from a country where they had fasted two days before the country he arrived in, he remains until the people of the country he arrived in break their fast. And if the situation is the reverse, that he came from a country that was behind in fasting to a country that was ahead, he breaks his fast with the people of this country and makes up the remaining days of the month. For it is not befitting for a person to oppose the congregation, but rather to agree with them. And if something remains for him, he performs it, like prayer, for example, where he catches up with the imam during the prayer, so he prays with him what he catches up with and makes up what he missed.
The conclusion is that this is the ruling of this issue: scholars have differed on it, but in any case, if you are in a country, fast with them and break the fast with them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the sighting of the moon of Dhu al-Hijjah, what is considered without doubt is the country where the rites are performed. So if the moon is confirmed there, it is acted upon, and the other countries are not considered. This is because Hajj is specific to a certain place that is not exceeded. So whenever the sighting of Dhu al-Hijjah is confirmed in that place and what is attributed to it, the ruling is established, even if the other regions differ from it. Yes.