The astronomers' calculations are not acted upon
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Question: Does the issue of the astronomers' calculations remain regarding the sighting of the crescent, O Your Eminence?
Answer: The astronomers' calculations are not acted upon. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:. And he said: Sunan ad-Daraqutni 11:17.
As for the astronomers, no attention should be paid to them, nor should reliance be placed on their calculations. It is not befitting for them to publish their calculations, and they should be prevented from publishing them; for by doing so, they cause confusion among the people, whether in the matter of sighting the crescent or in the matter of eclipses, due to the confusion their announcements cause, and because it is not permissible to act upon their statements.
And the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) reported the consensus of the scholars that no reliance is placed on the statements of the astronomers regarding the entry of Ramadan or its exit.
Answer: The astronomers' calculations are not acted upon. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
We are an unlettered nation; we do not write and we do not calculate. The month is like this, and like this, and like this – and he indicated with his ten fingers three times, meaning thirty – and the month is like this, and like this, and like this, and he tucked in his thumb on the third time, meaning twenty-nine.
إنا أمة أمية لا نكتب ولا نحسب، الشهر هكذا وهكذا وهكذا –وأشار بأصابعه العشر ثلاث مرات يعني ثلاثين– والشهر هكذا وهكذا وهكذا، وخنس إبهامه في الثالثة يعني تسعًا وعشرينDo not fast until you see the crescent, and do not break your fast until you see the crescent. If it is obscured from you, then complete the count of thirty.
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروا الهلال، فإن أغمي عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثينAs for the astronomers, no attention should be paid to them, nor should reliance be placed on their calculations. It is not befitting for them to publish their calculations, and they should be prevented from publishing them; for by doing so, they cause confusion among the people, whether in the matter of sighting the crescent or in the matter of eclipses, due to the confusion their announcements cause, and because it is not permissible to act upon their statements.
And the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) reported the consensus of the scholars that no reliance is placed on the statements of the astronomers regarding the entry of Ramadan or its exit.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.