What is your opinion regarding those who cite the permissibility of fasting based on the sighting of the crescent moon using astronomical observatories?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : What is your opinion regarding those who cite the permissibility of fasting based on the sighting of the crescent moon using astronomical observatories?
The Shaykh : We do not consider that permissible.
The questioner : With the evidence.
The Shaykh : Based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 2319Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning thirty and twenty-nine.
And his saying (peace be upon him) regarding this hadith and others:Sahih Muslim 1081b. The command here is for its sighting, a visual sighting, not a calculated sighting or an instrument added to the sight that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) created.
So his saying: It is as if he (peace and blessings be upon him) intends for this Ummah to remain with visual sighting and not to assist it with astronomical calculations. And what is said that visual sighting may err, and some objections are raised against it, this is first a matter excused by the Shari'ah. And secondly, the error that applies to astronomical sighting also applies to visual sighting.
And thirdly and finally, since our Shari'ah is a general Shari'ah suitable for every time and place, such that he (peace and blessings be upon him) made this sign by which every person with sight can know the emergence of the crescent moon, its rising, and the beginning and end of the month, whereas if the matter were tied to astronomical calculation, the determination of the Shari'ah month would be restricted to a group of people, whereas the Shari'ah determination is for all people.
Therefore, it is not permissible that what is a general evidence in the Sunnah should be transformed and restricted to a group of people without the general public. That is a facilitation from your Lord and a mercy, so it is obligatory to stand by this.
The questioner : What is your opinion regarding those who cite the permissibility of fasting based on the sighting of the crescent moon using astronomical observatories?
The Shaykh : We do not consider that permissible.
The questioner : With the evidence.
The Shaykh : Based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
The month consists of twenty-nine days
نحن أمة أمية لا نكتب ولا نحسب الشهر هكذا وهكذاAnd his saying (peace be upon him) regarding this hadith and others:
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon)
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيتهSo his saying:
We are an illiterate Ummah.
نحن أمة أميةAnd thirdly and finally, since our Shari'ah is a general Shari'ah suitable for every time and place, such that he (peace and blessings be upon him) made this sign by which every person with sight can know the emergence of the crescent moon, its rising, and the beginning and end of the month, whereas if the matter were tied to astronomical calculation, the determination of the Shari'ah month would be restricted to a group of people, whereas the Shari'ah determination is for all people.
Therefore, it is not permissible that what is a general evidence in the Sunnah should be transformed and restricted to a group of people without the general public. That is a facilitation from your Lord and a mercy, so it is obligatory to stand by this.