The scholars' disagreement on whether to consider the difference in moonrise locations or not
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Fatwa number ( 7882 )
Q: We are Muslims in France and we are in confusion regarding the persistent disagreement among Arab countries concerning the announcement of the month of Ramadan. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of Ramadan on Thursday, while Kuwait announced it on Friday. Thus, for Saudi Arabia , the month of Sha'ban was 29 days, and for Kuwait , it was 30 days. The scientific and astronomical calculation, which was studied in Paris , determined that the crescent moon was born on Wednesday at 7:49 PM, corresponding to May 30, 1984. We request that you clarify to us what the basis was
on which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relied in announcing the arrival of the month of Ramadan on Thursday, corresponding to May 31, 1984? Furthermore, we request that you explain to us the noble verse:[Al-Baqarah 2:185] We rely on Allah, and then on you, to provide us with your clarifications at the earliest possible time. May Allah reward you with good.
A1: First: The disagreement among scholars regarding whether to consider the difference in the rising of the crescent moons or not is an old disagreement among the jurists. Second: The sighting of the Ramadan crescent in the year 1404 AH was not established by the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except on the night of Thursday, so they issued an order to complete Sha'ban as thirty days, acting in accordance with the authentic hadiths on this matter, and announced that the start of fasting for Ramadan this year was on Thursday. Then they searched for the sighting of the Shawwal crescent in 1404 AH, and its sighting was established with them on the night of Friday, so they announced that Eid al-Fitr in 1404 AH was on Friday. Thus, their fast was twenty-eight days. The lunar month is not twenty-eight days; it is sometimes twenty-nine and sometimes thirty, as established in the authentic hadiths. It became clear from this that the error was in delaying the start of the Ramadan fast, so they announced this and ordered making up one day
for the day they broke their fast at the beginning of the month, to clear their conscience and establish the truth. From this, it is clear that the authorities in Saudi Arabia acted in accordance with the ruling of the Shari'ah from beginning to end. Third: The interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:185] Allah the Exalted has issued a binding command for every resident who is healthy to fast the month of Ramadan. As for one who is ill with an illness that makes fasting difficult or harmful to him, or one who is traveling, let him break his fast and fast other days equal to the number of days he missed, as a make-up for them; this is a facilitation from Allah for His servants and a mercy for them. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We are Muslims in France and we are in confusion regarding the persistent disagreement among Arab countries concerning the announcement of the month of Ramadan. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of Ramadan on Thursday, while Kuwait announced it on Friday. Thus, for Saudi Arabia , the month of Sha'ban was 29 days, and for Kuwait , it was 30 days. The scientific and astronomical calculation, which was studied in Paris , determined that the crescent moon was born on Wednesday at 7:49 PM, corresponding to May 30, 1984. We request that you clarify to us what the basis was
on which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relied in announcing the arrival of the month of Ramadan on Thursday, corresponding to May 31, 1984? Furthermore, we request that you explain to us the noble verse:
So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُA1: First: The disagreement among scholars regarding whether to consider the difference in the rising of the crescent moons or not is an old disagreement among the jurists. Second: The sighting of the Ramadan crescent in the year 1404 AH was not established by the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except on the night of Thursday, so they issued an order to complete Sha'ban as thirty days, acting in accordance with the authentic hadiths on this matter, and announced that the start of fasting for Ramadan this year was on Thursday. Then they searched for the sighting of the Shawwal crescent in 1404 AH, and its sighting was established with them on the night of Friday, so they announced that Eid al-Fitr in 1404 AH was on Friday. Thus, their fast was twenty-eight days. The lunar month is not twenty-eight days; it is sometimes twenty-nine and sometimes thirty, as established in the authentic hadiths. It became clear from this that the error was in delaying the start of the Ramadan fast, so they announced this and ordered making up one day
for the day they broke their fast at the beginning of the month, to clear their conscience and establish the truth. From this, it is clear that the authorities in Saudi Arabia acted in accordance with the ruling of the Shari'ah from beginning to end. Third: The interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.