Is it permissible for a person to fast with a country other than the one in which he lives, and likewise for the festival?

The questioner : Is it permissible, Professor, for one to fast with a community other than the community in which he lives?

The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible.

The questioner : Meaning he fasts with the people he lives with, in the community he lives in?

The Shaykh : The basis for this issue is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , to the end of the well-known hadith. This means that all Muslims should fast together based on the sighting in one country, and that there is no effect on fasting due to the difference of regions.

The questioner : So what about the issue of the different moon sightings?

The Shaykh : This is what we reject now, the term "moon sightings" or "the condition of moon sightings." This condition was implied by the circumstances of the Muslims at that time, where they could not know what was happening in the East while they were in the West, and vice versa.

The questioner : There was no communication, meaning?

The Shaykh : Yes. You, Abu Ahmad, your name is first, you are adding to the trouble and making the situation worse, we want to cut your hair because...

The questioner : No, Shaykh, because of a thorn.

The Shaykh : A thorn... there is no sacrifice...

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good, and you have taught us a lot. The truth is more deserving to be spoken, and if we will speak the truth, through the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we learned from...The Shaykh : ...also, may Allah reward him with good, as he taught us that knowledge returns to its people, so may Allah reward you with good. We learned from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): , so this invitation from some of our brothers, he is responsible for the money and we are responsible for the effort, do you know this participation is permissible?

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you all with good.

The questioner : And Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said: , and out of fear that we will praise what we do not do, we are, if Allah wills, responsible for a little... and the rest is on the people, so may Allah reward you with good and may Allah bless you, and may it be an opening of good for us all to cooperate. So we say: "The righteous have eaten your food, the angels have sent blessings upon you, and the fasting have broken their fast with you."

The Shaykh : The principle is that all Muslims in one country should fast. At that time, they were not able to implement this legal ruling to the widest extent. Now the known means have been found, but unfortunately, obstacles have also been found.

The questioner : Other than the world?

The Shaykh : Yes, these obstacles have now become, and they are within the power of man to remove, they have become in the status of the difference of moon sightings which they were not in a position to remove. Therefore, the difference occurred as a result of this difference which was not imposed on them except because of their sins. The difference in fasting occurred as was their case in the old days.

The questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. We do not, of course, accept this division at a time when we accept that division, because it is not within their power and ability to get rid of it. And this, as we say in jurisprudential issues, requires that there be closeness and understanding in them within the limits of ability. What cannot be done, Allah does not burden a soul except with what it can bear.
The Shaykh : Now, fasting with the sighting of one country is possible, but this is not the point here, meaning it is not within the power of individuals but rather within the power of the ruling, controlling states. The current reality is as it was in that time, with a difference in what? The cause and the reason. Therefore, each country should fast with its own sighting, and this is from the perspective of repelling the greater harm with the lesser harm, and this is from the perspective of repelling the greater harm with the lesser harm. What is the lesser here and what is the greater? The lesser is that each state fasts on its own as is the reality. The greater is that the single state and the single people are differing from each other. What is this? The greater.
The Shaykh : And therefore, to repel the greater harm with the lesser harm, it is said to the people of the country: do not fast with another country, because there will be a difference, which we were safe from, until the difference will appear in the same house, as happens, for example, in matters that are necessary between a Salafi and a Khalafi, and so on. This is a reality.
The Shaykh : But this one fasted with Saudi Arabia and the other, for example, his father fasted with the country. This is not permissible, because the fasting he fasted with Saudi Arabia is not a proof, as long as a greater harm follows from it. The issue is now clear.

The questioner : Let us assume there is no harm, and no one... and there is no disagreement or harm or anything?

The Shaykh : Do not assume, because we will tell you, according to what we have accustomed our knowledge to, we will tell you it is permissible hypothetically. So what did you benefit? But even so, there will be confusion at the end of the month, for example, on the twenty-ninth day here it is the festival, there it is not. How will he celebrate? With whom will he celebrate? Therefore, deeds are judged by their endings, so he must fast with the people of the country. If there is an error, the people do not bear the burden of this error; the one who bears it is the ruling authority or its representative, such as the judge, or something similar. This is our opinion in this issue.

The questioner : ...the moon sightings, except with the details mentioned above, meaning, meaning the difference of moon sightings was, Professor, in...?