Does the distance between the East and the West make each have a separate horizon?
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The questioner : Regarding the distance, I mean, currently...
The Shaykh : You have no concern with the distance.
The questioner : I mean, people in the West or the East, they are ahead of us by a day...
The Shaykh : My brother, the night follows the day, so it is not necessary that we have a division and disagreement because of a difference, for example, in the East that is not in the West. So if the West knows from the East that they saw the crescent, it will be two or three hours later for them than for us, depending on the distance. This is from one side, excuse me, from another side, as far as we know from the ease of the Shari'ah, it is not possible to burden the believing servants with establishing the rulings of their Shari'ah based on precise theoretical scientific matters. Who determines the horizons for you? Who determines the distance for you? This science, which is based on very precise scientific means, cannot set limits for such matters. And therefore, the ease came:Sahih Muslim 1081b So if the confirmation of fasting reaches him, he fasts, and if not, he does not fast. And thus, Allah, for a profound wisdom, concludes the verses concerning the issue of fasting with His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:185] . Please, what did you want to say?
The Shaykh : You have no concern with the distance.
The questioner : I mean, people in the West or the East, they are ahead of us by a day...
The Shaykh : My brother, the night follows the day, so it is not necessary that we have a division and disagreement because of a difference, for example, in the East that is not in the West. So if the West knows from the East that they saw the crescent, it will be two or three hours later for them than for us, depending on the distance. This is from one side, excuse me, from another side, as far as we know from the ease of the Shari'ah, it is not possible to burden the believing servants with establishing the rulings of their Shari'ah based on precise theoretical scientific matters. Who determines the horizons for you? Who determines the distance for you? This science, which is based on very precise scientific means, cannot set limits for such matters. And therefore, the ease came:
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon)
صوموا لرؤيته و أفطروا لرؤيتهAllah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
يريد الله بكم اليسر و لا يريد بكم العسر و لتكملوا العدّة و لتكبروا الله على ما هداكم و لعلكم تشكرون
Source
www.al-albany.com
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