Seeing the Crescent of Ramadan and How Its Sighting Is Established
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 256 )
Q: 1 - How is the sighting of the Ramadan crescent carried out in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , with an explanation of the method by which the sighting is conducted, the announcement that follows from it, and the authority that makes that announcement? 2 - Is the radio considered one of the legitimate means upon which fasting is based on the announcement of the confirmed sighting, and are the conditions that must be present in a witness of proof fulfilled in the broadcaster
of the sighting so that fasting can be based on his report of it? 3 - Are the telephone and telegrams considered legitimate media upon which reliance is placed in this matter, despite the fact that the person speaking or sending the telegram is not known?
A: Given the importance of knowing the first day of the month of Sha'ban for the blessed month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Justice issues a circular to the courts every year in the month of Rajab, instructing judges to urge people to carefully search for the sighting of the Sha'ban crescent. In the latter part of Sha'ban, the Supreme Judicial Body of the Ministry of Justice convenes to review the testimonies of the sighting of the Sha'ban crescent submitted by the judges. After studying these, the Judicial Body issues a decision regarding what has been established according to the Shari'ah concerning the first day of Sha'ban. Based on this, the night on which the search for the Ramadan crescent is conducted is determined from the days of the week, which is the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban. The judges are then circularized accordingly. On the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban, the judges are on standby to receive any witness who comes to them with a testimony of the sighting of the Ramadan crescent. After verifying his testimony, confirming his integrity, and questioning him about his testimony—how he saw the crescent, in what place he saw it, how much time elapsed between it and the sun, and
other questions intended to verify the validity of the possibility of its sighting—the judge then telegraphs the testimony of the sighting to the Ministry of Justice. On that same night, the Judicial Body is in session at the Ministry of Justice headquarters to review any reports that may come from the judges. When the Body confirms the entry of the month, it issues a decision establishing the entry of the blessed month of Ramadan. After this decision is approved by the High Authority, it is circularized to the judges and communicated to the citizens via radio, press, and television. It is sufficient for the establishment of the sighting of the Ramadan crescent that a just Muslim testifies to its entry, as narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1979 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Daraqutni . As for the news of the radio or telegrams regarding the confirmation of the crescent's entry or exit, given that they are attributed to the state and no one would dare to fabricate such news or alter it with a significant addition or omission, especially since it has been the custom of those responsible for them since their use as a media tool to exercise complete accuracy in transmission, there appears to be no obstacle preventing the acceptance
of their news, even if the person in charge of the transmission is not known in a way that warrants certification. As for the telephone, it requires further investigation and confirmation regarding the identity of the person transmitting the news, and his status in terms of integrity and carefulness in transmitting news; because the telephone is not in the same position as the radio or wireless, as its use is general. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: 1 - How is the sighting of the Ramadan crescent carried out in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , with an explanation of the method by which the sighting is conducted, the announcement that follows from it, and the authority that makes that announcement? 2 - Is the radio considered one of the legitimate means upon which fasting is based on the announcement of the confirmed sighting, and are the conditions that must be present in a witness of proof fulfilled in the broadcaster
of the sighting so that fasting can be based on his report of it? 3 - Are the telephone and telegrams considered legitimate media upon which reliance is placed in this matter, despite the fact that the person speaking or sending the telegram is not known?
A: Given the importance of knowing the first day of the month of Sha'ban for the blessed month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Justice issues a circular to the courts every year in the month of Rajab, instructing judges to urge people to carefully search for the sighting of the Sha'ban crescent. In the latter part of Sha'ban, the Supreme Judicial Body of the Ministry of Justice convenes to review the testimonies of the sighting of the Sha'ban crescent submitted by the judges. After studying these, the Judicial Body issues a decision regarding what has been established according to the Shari'ah concerning the first day of Sha'ban. Based on this, the night on which the search for the Ramadan crescent is conducted is determined from the days of the week, which is the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban. The judges are then circularized accordingly. On the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban, the judges are on standby to receive any witness who comes to them with a testimony of the sighting of the Ramadan crescent. After verifying his testimony, confirming his integrity, and questioning him about his testimony—how he saw the crescent, in what place he saw it, how much time elapsed between it and the sun, and
other questions intended to verify the validity of the possibility of its sighting—the judge then telegraphs the testimony of the sighting to the Ministry of Justice. On that same night, the Judicial Body is in session at the Ministry of Justice headquarters to review any reports that may come from the judges. When the Body confirms the entry of the month, it issues a decision establishing the entry of the blessed month of Ramadan. After this decision is approved by the High Authority, it is circularized to the judges and communicated to the citizens via radio, press, and television. It is sufficient for the establishment of the sighting of the Ramadan crescent that a just Muslim testifies to its entry, as narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
the people tried to see the new moon and he informed God’s messenger that he had seen it, so he fasted and commanded the people to observe the fast
تراءى الناس الهلال فأخبرت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أني رأيته فصام وأمر الناس بصيامهof their news, even if the person in charge of the transmission is not known in a way that warrants certification. As for the telephone, it requires further investigation and confirmation regarding the identity of the person transmitting the news, and his status in terms of integrity and carefulness in transmitting news; because the telephone is not in the same position as the radio or wireless, as its use is general. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.