The Obligation to Follow the Guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Establishing the Month

The questioner: In this matter, O honorable Shaykh, I have received more than ten questions regarding the issue of sighting the crescent moon in America. I can summarize it for you: there is an organization in this country that claims to protect Muslims. In reality, every year in America, or in most years, confusion arises among some of the brothers. Some follow this organization, and some do not. The issue is that some of the brothers who do not follow them say that they rely on astronomical calculations. Generally, we can summarize the matter as follows: This year, the crescent moon was sighted by four people. They contacted me, and I received a set of messages from them confirming this. The people who saw the crescent moon spoke to me personally about this matter, and I have documents proving it. They say, "We saw the crescent moon." These people are from the eastern part of America, from the state of Louisiana. Their sighting was not accepted for three reasons. The first is that, according to information from Dr. Mahb al-Allah, the specialized astronomer for this organization, he said he rejected the sighting because Hassan Baki did not see the crescent moon in California. The second reason is that the location was contrary to the computer's location; that is, those who saw the crescent moon saw it to the left of the sun, whereas the computer or calculations say it must be to the right of the sun. The third reason is that the horns of the crescent moon should be on the right when you look west, but they saw it the opposite way. The brothers there told me that they reached the sighting location immediately after the sun set and did not confirm whether it was on the left or the right, but they said that was their independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). The result is that their testimony was rejected. So, is the question really that the question is very long and consists of approximately two points? The first point: Is it permissible to rely on astronomical calculations for entering Ramadan and for exiting it? And is it obligatory to question these people and reject them if they contradict the astronomical calculations, or not? Please inform us, and may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh: All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own selves and from the evil of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is no one who can misguide him, and whomsoever He leaves to misguide, there is no one who can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
, , , As for what follows:
Indeed, the best of speech is the speech of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and the worst of matters are their innovations, and every innovation is a misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire. And after that.
It is obligatory for every Muslim to adhere to the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): , , , and the verses are very, very numerous regarding the fact that it is obligatory for Muslims to obey Allah and His Messenger and not to take as allies anyone other than Allah and His Messenger. Among the matters mentioned in the Book of Allah and in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) are those related to the times, whether these times are related to prayer, fasting, or Hajj. It has come in the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): , so His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): is a general text that includes all the rulings established in the Shari'ah, such as fasting, prayer, and the like. Therefore, it is not permissible to abrogate this noble verse and what it contains of linking the Shari'ah times to the new moons. It is not permissible for any Muslim who believes in Allah and His Messenger with sincere faith to turn away from this Qur'anic text and what supports it from the verbal and practical Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is established in many, very many hadiths that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would establish the crescent of Ramadan and the end of Ramadan by witnesses, sometimes by two witnesses and sometimes by one witness when he is a just Muslim. This is his action (peace and blessings be upon him). As for his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), which is established in "the two Sahihs" in al-Bukhari and Muslim, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning thirty days. He said: meaning that it may be twenty-nine days. Thus was the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in action, as I mentioned, and in speech. It is not permissible for a Muslim to turn away from the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that is established from him with certainty, without doubt or ambiguity.