The Ruling on Relying on Observatories in the Sighting of the New Moons
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Question:
What has appeared in the modern era, which is called observatories, does the Shaykh rely on them?
Answer:
They are used as an aid, but it is not permissible to take them as a proof. If the observatory does not see it, it is said: No. For example, we have an observatory, or in Egypt there is an observatory—for example—it is not said: If the observatory did not see it, the testimony is not accepted in Egypt, nor in Riyadh, nor in the Levant. The observatory is used as an aid; but if two just witnesses testify that they saw the crescent, we act on their testimony and do not pay attention to the observatory, even if it says that they made a mistake, or even if it says that the crescent had not yet been born. The testimony of the just is given precedence over the observatory and over anything other than the observatory. And even one witness is sufficient for the entry of the month, according to the correct view. Even one witness, for it is established from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said:, based on the sighting of 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father). Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. But what if the people of the observatories see it, and the people of the visual sighting do not see it?
The Shaykh: If the observatory sees it with their own eyes.
The presenter: With their own eyes, and not by calculation.
The Shaykh: It is not by calculation, but by the eye, and he is trustworthy. It is not so-and-so and so-and-so, people who have no standing, but in the observatories there are with them drunkards or those known for sins. No, their testimony is not accepted. So if a just person sees it with his own eye in the observatory, it is like if he saw it in the mosque, or in the minaret; it is the same.
The presenter: Or with a telescope, for example? Or if he saw it through the telescope?
The Shaykh: The point is if he is certain that he saw it with his own eye or through a magnifier.
The presenter: And he is just.
The Shaykh: And he is just, there is no harm, his sighting is acted upon. And two witnesses are more cautious if they are available. This is for the entry of the month. And for the exit, two witnesses are necessary, and so it is for the rest of the months. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
What has appeared in the modern era, which is called observatories, does the Shaykh rely on them?
Answer:
They are used as an aid, but it is not permissible to take them as a proof. If the observatory does not see it, it is said: No. For example, we have an observatory, or in Egypt there is an observatory—for example—it is not said: If the observatory did not see it, the testimony is not accepted in Egypt, nor in Riyadh, nor in the Levant. The observatory is used as an aid; but if two just witnesses testify that they saw the crescent, we act on their testimony and do not pay attention to the observatory, even if it says that they made a mistake, or even if it says that the crescent had not yet been born. The testimony of the just is given precedence over the observatory and over anything other than the observatory. And even one witness is sufficient for the entry of the month, according to the correct view. Even one witness, for it is established from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said:
The people looked for the crescent, and I saw the crescent, 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
تراءى الناس الهلال فرأيت الهلال، وأخبرت النبي ﷺ أني رأيته، فصامه وأمر الناس بالصيامThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good. But what if the people of the observatories see it, and the people of the visual sighting do not see it?
The Shaykh: If the observatory sees it with their own eyes.
The presenter: With their own eyes, and not by calculation.
The Shaykh: It is not by calculation, but by the eye, and he is trustworthy. It is not so-and-so and so-and-so, people who have no standing, but in the observatories there are with them drunkards or those known for sins. No, their testimony is not accepted. So if a just person sees it with his own eye in the observatory, it is like if he saw it in the mosque, or in the minaret; it is the same.
The presenter: Or with a telescope, for example? Or if he saw it through the telescope?
The Shaykh: The point is if he is certain that he saw it with his own eye or through a magnifier.
The presenter: And he is just.
The Shaykh: And he is just, there is no harm, his sighting is acted upon. And two witnesses are more cautious if they are available. This is for the entry of the month. And for the exit, two witnesses are necessary, and so it is for the rest of the months. 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.