Relying on the Sighting and Not Considering the Difference in Moonrise Times

Question: How do people fast when the moonrise times differ? And are the people of distant countries, such as America and Australia, required to fast according to the sighting of the people of the Kingdom, since they do not see the same crescent moon?

Answer: The correct view is to rely on the sighting and not to consider the difference in moonrise times in this matter; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded reliance on the sighting and did not make a distinction in this regard. This is based on what is authentic from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): And there are many hadiths in this meaning.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not mention the difference in moonrise times, although he knew of it. A group of scholars have held that each country has its own sighting if the moonrise times differ. They argued with what is established from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he did not act upon the sighting of the people of Sham, while he was in Madinah . The people of Sham had seen the crescent moon on the night of Friday and fasted on that basis during the time of Mu'awiyah . As for the people of Madinah, they did not see it until the night of Saturday. So when Kuraib informed Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) of the sighting of the people of Sham and their fasting, he said: "We saw it on the night of Saturday, so we will continue to fast until we see it or complete the number."
He also argued with the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The hadith. This is a view that has a share of strength. Members of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have adopted this view, combining the evidences. And success is from Allah.