The Obligation of Fasting Based on the Testimony of a Trustworthy Person Regarding the Sighting of the New Moon
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السؤال:
He asks and says: What is the ruling for one who relies on the naked eye for sighting the new moon, when they are from the Bedouin people? They stand on the night of searching for the new moon, men and women, old and young, and they look at the setting of the sun until the twilight disappears, but they do not see the new moon no matter how clear the sky is. Then they are surprised in the middle of the night that the sighting of the new moon has been confirmed, for example, in the media. Your guidance, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, regarding this issue. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Once it is established that it was seen by the testimony of a trustworthy person, fasting becomes obligatory for anyone who hears of it in the specific kingdom, such as Saudi Arabia, or in any country that announced the new moon in the Sharia-compliant manner by sighting the new moon with the eye. It is obligatory for those Bedouin people to fast, even if they did not see it, because eyesight differs, and the knowledge of the location of the new moon and its determination varies among people. Not everyone who sees it knows its location and where it exists so that they can focus on it, and eyes are not all equal; rather, they differ. Therefore, if its sighting is established by others, they must fast if the sighting is valid, such as the announcement of this country or from a country that relies on sighting rather than calculation. In that case, it is obligatory to follow that, and to fast based on the sighting, even if those Bedouin people, or the village or city, did not see it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured from you, then complete the count of thirty. If two witnesses testify, then fast and break your fast".
So he (peace and blessings be upon him) relied on the sighting by testimony without the need for everyone to see it. In fact, when two witnesses testify, that is sufficient. In fact, one trustworthy witness is sufficient. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The people looked for the new moon, and I informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that I had seen it, so he fasted and ordered the people to fast," (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
He asks and says: What is the ruling for one who relies on the naked eye for sighting the new moon, when they are from the Bedouin people? They stand on the night of searching for the new moon, men and women, old and young, and they look at the setting of the sun until the twilight disappears, but they do not see the new moon no matter how clear the sky is. Then they are surprised in the middle of the night that the sighting of the new moon has been confirmed, for example, in the media. Your guidance, Shaykh Abdul Aziz, regarding this issue. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Once it is established that it was seen by the testimony of a trustworthy person, fasting becomes obligatory for anyone who hears of it in the specific kingdom, such as Saudi Arabia, or in any country that announced the new moon in the Sharia-compliant manner by sighting the new moon with the eye. It is obligatory for those Bedouin people to fast, even if they did not see it, because eyesight differs, and the knowledge of the location of the new moon and its determination varies among people. Not everyone who sees it knows its location and where it exists so that they can focus on it, and eyes are not all equal; rather, they differ. Therefore, if its sighting is established by others, they must fast if the sighting is valid, such as the announcement of this country or from a country that relies on sighting rather than calculation. In that case, it is obligatory to follow that, and to fast based on the sighting, even if those Bedouin people, or the village or city, did not see it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured from you, then complete the count of thirty. If two witnesses testify, then fast and break your fast".
So he (peace and blessings be upon him) relied on the sighting by testimony without the need for everyone to see it. In fact, when two witnesses testify, that is sufficient. In fact, one trustworthy witness is sufficient. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The people looked for the new moon, and I informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that I had seen it, so he fasted and ordered the people to fast," (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.