Acting on the Confirmation of the Sighting
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Fatwa No. ( 10849 )
Q: (We are writing this letter from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ), which is a region located in the Bay of Bengal , two thousand kilometers from the city of Calcutta . The city of Calcutta is the closest city in the large country of India to this group of islands,
and we inform you that the Hanafi brothers begin their fasting and rely on the sighting of the crescent in Calcutta , even though the difference in the rising and setting of the moon between our islands and the city of Calcutta is fifteen minutes. As for the Shafi'i brothers, they begin their fasting and rely on the sighting of the crescent in any island of this group of islands only. Each of them has their known evidence. Therefore, we ask your Eminence to inform us of the answer so that hearts may be at rest and souls may be reassured. May Allah bless you and guide you to serve Islam and the Muslims.
A: Act on the confirmation of the sighting, whether it is in Calcutta or in your islands; due to the generality of the hadiths reported in this matter. Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1081b And in the Sahih of Muslim from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2118Sahih (Darussalam) . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: (We are writing this letter from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ), which is a region located in the Bay of Bengal , two thousand kilometers from the city of Calcutta . The city of Calcutta is the closest city in the large country of India to this group of islands,
and we inform you that the Hanafi brothers begin their fasting and rely on the sighting of the crescent in Calcutta , even though the difference in the rising and setting of the moon between our islands and the city of Calcutta is fifteen minutes. As for the Shafi'i brothers, they begin their fasting and rely on the sighting of the crescent in any island of this group of islands only. Each of them has their known evidence. Therefore, we ask your Eminence to inform us of the answer so that hearts may be at rest and souls may be reassured. May Allah bless you and guide you to serve Islam and the Muslims.
A: Act on the confirmation of the sighting, whether it is in Calcutta or in your islands; due to the generality of the hadiths reported in this matter. Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته فإن غمّي عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثينFast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is obscured from you (too cloudy), then count it as thirty (days).
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له ثلاثين
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.