The Division of Muslims Due to the Sighting of the Moon
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Fatwa No. ( 1657 )
Q1: We are Muslim students in the United States and Canada , and at the beginning of every month of Ramadan we face a problem that causes Muslims to divide into three groups: 1 - A group that fasts based on the sighting of the moon in the town where they reside. 2 - A group that fasts in accordance with the start of fasting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . 3 - A group that fasts upon receiving news from the Muslim Students Union in America and Canada , which searches for the moon in multiple locations in America , and as soon as it is sighted in one of the countries, it broadcasts the sighting to the various centers, so that all Muslims in America fast on the same day despite the vast distances between the different cities. Which of these parties is more deserving of being followed, and fasting based on its sighting and news? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you.
A1: The Council of the Senior Scholars of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has previously examined this issue and issued a decision, the substance of which is as follows: First: The difference in the moon’s rising points (matla') is a matter known by necessity
both perceptually and rationally, and no scholar has differed on this; rather, the difference among Muslim scholars lies in whether to consider the difference in rising points or not. Second: The issue of considering the difference in rising points or not is a theoretical matter in which there is room for ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), and disagreement is a reality among those who have expertise in knowledge and religion. It is a permissible disagreement (khilaf) in which the correct one is rewarded with two rewards: the reward for ijtihad and the reward for being correct, and the one who errs is rewarded with the reward for ijtihad. The scholars have differed on this issue into two positions: some held that the difference in rising points should be considered, while others held that it should not be considered. Each group cited evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and perhaps both groups cited the same text, such as their shared use of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:189] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1081b the hadith. This is due to the difference in understanding the text and each group following a different path in deriving evidence from it. Given the considerations the Committee has seen and assessed, and given that the disagreement on this issue does not have consequences whose outcomes are feared, it has been fourteen centuries since the emergence of this religion, and we do not know of a period in which the Muslim community was unified on a single sighting. Therefore, the members of the Council of Senior
Scholars see that the matter should remain as it has been, and that this topic should not be stirred up, and that each Islamic state should have the right to choose, through its scholars, one of the two opinions mentioned in the issue, as each has its evidence and foundations. Third: The Council of the Committee examined the issue of establishing the moon by calculation and the evidence regarding it in the Book and the Sunnah, and reviewed the statements of the scholars on this, and they decided unanimously: not to consider astronomical calculations in establishing the moon in legal matters, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1081b the hadith. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan an-Nasa'i 2122Sahih (Darussalam) the hadith, and other evidence to that effect. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' holds that the Muslim Students Union in countries whose governments are not Islamic serves the role of an Islamic government in the issue of establishing the moon for Muslims living in those countries. Based on what is stated in the second paragraph of the Council’s decision, this Union has the right to choose one of the two opinions: either considering the difference in rising points, or not considering it, and then it broadcasts its decision to the Muslims in the country where it is located, and they must adhere to what it has decided and broadcast to them; in order to unify the word, and to begin fasting, and to get out of the disagreement and turmoil,
and everyone living in those countries should look for the moon in the countries where they reside, and if a trustworthy person among them or more sees it, they fast based on that, and they inform the Union so that it can broadcast it. This is regarding the entry of the month. As for its exit, the testimony of two just witnesses to the sighting of the Shawwal moon is required, or completing Ramadan for thirty days; based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 2124Sahih (Darussalam) . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Q1: We are Muslim students in the United States and Canada , and at the beginning of every month of Ramadan we face a problem that causes Muslims to divide into three groups: 1 - A group that fasts based on the sighting of the moon in the town where they reside. 2 - A group that fasts in accordance with the start of fasting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . 3 - A group that fasts upon receiving news from the Muslim Students Union in America and Canada , which searches for the moon in multiple locations in America , and as soon as it is sighted in one of the countries, it broadcasts the sighting to the various centers, so that all Muslims in America fast on the same day despite the vast distances between the different cities. Which of these parties is more deserving of being followed, and fasting based on its sighting and news? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you.
A1: The Council of the Senior Scholars of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has previously examined this issue and issued a decision, the substance of which is as follows: First: The difference in the moon’s rising points (matla') is a matter known by necessity
both perceptually and rationally, and no scholar has differed on this; rather, the difference among Muslim scholars lies in whether to consider the difference in rising points or not. Second: The issue of considering the difference in rising points or not is a theoretical matter in which there is room for ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), and disagreement is a reality among those who have expertise in knowledge and religion. It is a permissible disagreement (khilaf) in which the correct one is rewarded with two rewards: the reward for ijtihad and the reward for being correct, and the one who errs is rewarded with the reward for ijtihad. The scholars have differed on this issue into two positions: some held that the difference in rising points should be considered, while others held that it should not be considered. Each group cited evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and perhaps both groups cited the same text, such as their shared use of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj."
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّObserve fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon)
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيتهScholars see that the matter should remain as it has been, and that this topic should not be stirred up, and that each Islamic state should have the right to choose, through its scholars, one of the two opinions mentioned in the issue, as each has its evidence and foundations. Third: The Council of the Committee examined the issue of establishing the moon by calculation and the evidence regarding it in the Book and the Sunnah, and reviewed the statements of the scholars on this, and they decided unanimously: not to consider astronomical calculations in establishing the moon in legal matters, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon)
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيتهD not fast until you see it , and do not stop fasting until you see it
لا تصوموا حتى تروه ولا تفطروا حتى تروهand everyone living in those countries should look for the moon in the countries where they reside, and if a trustworthy person among them or more sees it, they fast based on that, and they inform the Union so that it can broadcast it. This is regarding the entry of the month. As for its exit, the testimony of two just witnesses to the sighting of the Shawwal moon is required, or completing Ramadan for thirty days; based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is obscured from you (too cloudy), then complete thirty (days).
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثين يوما
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.