Continuation of the discussion on the ruling regarding reliance on astronomical calculations to establish the new moons

The Shaykh : And so they also said on such an occasion, "Not knowing a thing does not necessitate knowing its non-existence." Therefore, the denial by those who deny, and the testimony of those four [witnesses] that they saw the crescent, is also contrary to this legal maxim. I repeat it and reiterate it to your ears: "The affirmer takes precedence over the denier," and "One who knows is a proof against one who does not know." Therefore, I advise Muslims, wherever they are, whether in the lands of Islam or in lands of exile and disbelief, not to leave room for disagreement among them, and that they all return to the ruling of Allah and His Messenger, which is to rely on the visual sighting of the new moons, and not on the scientific sighting, because this scientific sighting may differ radically from the visual sighting. We know from a scientific perspective that the sun does not absolutely set from the earth; rather, it is always rising as long as this earth remains standing until Allah and those upon it inherit it. And yet we say: "The sun has risen, the sun has set." When one of us sees the sun rising over the peak of a mountain, science says that the sun is still behind the peak, but the sun's rays have been raised to our sight, so we see it. Do we then rely on such knowledge that contradicts what people see with their own eyes in all their lands? And by doing so, we nullify such as His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , and He also said: . These are legal rulings based on ordinary sight, not on scientific opinions. Therefore, we say in conclusion to this answer regarding the new moons and establishing Ramadan by the crescent: Let science follow its course and its progression to what Allah wills, and do not mix it with the legal knowledge, because this legal knowledge is in accordance with His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): , .