What is the criterion when countries differ regarding the sighting of the Ramadan moon?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh: When the moon of Ramadan is sighted in most African countries, we are unable to see the moon on the first day. You find that some people listen, for example, to Islamic countries that have seen the moon and fast with them, while others say, "Our moon sighting differs from that of those countries." You find people differing greatly; some say, "You are following the Wahhabi state," and others say many things. What is the correct opinion in this case?
The Shaykh : The correct opinion is that they should look to what their scholars and judges there determine, because fasting is on the day people fast and breaking the fast is on the day people break their fast. And their following such a state or such a state, while their rulers who have authority in this matter do not see that they should follow them, is an error on their part, in our view. We see that they should follow their judges; if they rule that the month has entered, then what is required of them is required, whether breaking the fast on the festival or fasting upon the entry of the month of Ramadan. Yes, the people follow their imam; if he fasts, they fast, and if he breaks his fast, they break their fast. Yes.
The Shaykh : The correct opinion is that they should look to what their scholars and judges there determine, because fasting is on the day people fast and breaking the fast is on the day people break their fast. And their following such a state or such a state, while their rulers who have authority in this matter do not see that they should follow them, is an error on their part, in our view. We see that they should follow their judges; if they rule that the month has entered, then what is required of them is required, whether breaking the fast on the festival or fasting upon the entry of the month of Ramadan. Yes, the people follow their imam; if he fasts, they fast, and if he breaks his fast, they break their fast. Yes.