The Ruling on Astronomical Calculations in Determining the Entry and Exit of the Month
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In some Islamic countries, the determination of the entry of the month of fasting, or the entry of Shawwal, or likewise the entry of Dhul-Hijjah, relies on astronomical calculations rather than sighting. Also, the announcement of this is usually made through the country's Ifta' and Religious Affairs authority. So, is astronomical calculation relied upon, and is the statement of these authorities accepted, or is the news from the radio stations of countries that rely on sighting accepted?
Answer: The obligatory requirement for establishing the new moons for Hajj and Ramadan is sighting, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2124Sahih (Darussalam) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan ad-Daraqutni 11:17 in several authentic hadiths in the two Sahihs and others from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2140Sahih (Darussalam) and he mentioned with his two hands... he spread out his two hands and repeated it three times, meaning: thirty he tucked in the thumb, meaning: twenty-nine Sunan an-Nasa'i 2124Sahih (Darussalam) in one wording: in another wording: Sahih al-Bukhari 1909 in a third wording: Thus the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified it.
As for calculation, it is not relied upon, and it is not permissible to depend on it. We have pointed this out more than once and have written about it many times. Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah, the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), mentioned that the scholars agreed that calculation is not relied upon in establishing the new moons; rather, the basis is the sighting of the crescent or completing the count. If Sha'ban is seen, for example, on the night of Sunday, it must be completed, so fasting will be on Tuesday, because its completion is on Monday, and fasting is on Tuesday, if the crescent is not seen on the night of Monday. Even if the calculators say that it enters on Monday, there is no action based on that. Likewise, if the calculators say that it does not enter until Wednesday, their statement is of no consequence; fasting is on Tuesday, because we have completed Sha'ban thirty days, because it entered on the night of Sunday, so if it is not seen on the night of Monday, we complete it thirty days, due to his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:Mishkat al-Masabih 1970 And we have completed thirty days, praise be to Allah, and so on.
So the point is that calculation and the statement of the calculators are not relied upon, but rather reliance is placed on sighting. Thus our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us, and thus our righteous predecessors, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them with excellence, proceeded. And thus the consensus on this was transmitted by the one we mentioned, Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah, the Shaykh al-Islam, and others from the people of knowledge clarified it.
As for the existence of those who differed on this among the later scholars, they are not to be heeded, even if they were great, even if they were scholars; they are not to be heeded in this matter, because they contradicted the Sunnah. And Allah, the Exalted, says: [An-Nisa: 59] And He, the Exalted, says: [Ash-Shura: 10] And this issue, if it is referred to the Book of Allah, Allah says: [Al-Ma'idah: 92] And He says: [Al-Hashr: 7] And He, the Exalted, says: [An-Nur: 63] And He says : [An-Nisa: 65] Thus it came in the great Book of Allah. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, as mentioned earlier in the hadiths: Sunan ad-Daraqutni 11:17 And in another wording: This is the clearest and most explicit thing in the speech of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so it is not permissible to rely on what contradicts that. And success is from Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The obligatory requirement for establishing the new moons for Hajj and Ramadan is sighting, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is obscured from you (too cloudy), then complete thirty
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدةDo not fast until you see the crescent, and do not break your fast until you see the crescent, and if it is obscured from you, then complete the count.
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروا الهلال، فإن غم عليكمم فأكملوا العدةWe are an unlettered Ummah, we do not use astronomical counting or computation. The month is like this, and this, and this,
إنا أمة أمية لا نكتبب ولا نحسب الشهر هكذا وهكذا وهكذاAnd like this, and like this, and like this, and he tucked in one.
وهكذا وهكذا وهكذا وخنس واحدةFast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is obscured from you (too cloudy), then complete thirty
فصوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته، فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدةThen complete thirty.
فأكملوا ثلاثينcomplete thirty days of Sha'ban
فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثينSo fast for thirty days
فصوموا ثلاثينAs for calculation, it is not relied upon, and it is not permissible to depend on it. We have pointed this out more than once and have written about it many times. Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah, the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him), mentioned that the scholars agreed that calculation is not relied upon in establishing the new moons; rather, the basis is the sighting of the crescent or completing the count. If Sha'ban is seen, for example, on the night of Sunday, it must be completed, so fasting will be on Tuesday, because its completion is on Monday, and fasting is on Tuesday, if the crescent is not seen on the night of Monday. Even if the calculators say that it enters on Monday, there is no action based on that. Likewise, if the calculators say that it does not enter until Wednesday, their statement is of no consequence; fasting is on Tuesday, because we have completed Sha'ban thirty days, because it entered on the night of Sunday, so if it is not seen on the night of Monday, we complete it thirty days, due to his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy treat Sha‘ban as having thirty days.
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثينthen complete the count as thirty
فأكملوا العدة ثلاثينSo the point is that calculation and the statement of the calculators are not relied upon, but rather reliance is placed on sighting. Thus our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us, and thus our righteous predecessors, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them with excellence, proceeded. And thus the consensus on this was transmitted by the one we mentioned, Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah, the Shaykh al-Islam, and others from the people of knowledge clarified it.
As for the existence of those who differed on this among the later scholars, they are not to be heeded, even if they were great, even if they were scholars; they are not to be heeded in this matter, because they contradicted the Sunnah. And Allah, the Exalted, says:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAnd obey Allah and obey the Messenger
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَAnd whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُواSo let those beware who dissent from the Prophet's order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌBut no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًاDo not fast until you see the crescent, and do not break your fast until you see the crescent, and if it is obscured from you, then complete the count.
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال، ولا تفطروا حتى تروا الهلال فإن غمي عليكم فأكملوا العدةDo not fast until you see the crescent or complete the count, and do not break your fast until you see the crescent or complete the count, and if it is obscured from you, then complete the count thirty.
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال أو تكملوا العدة،، ولا تفطروا حتى تروا الهلال أو تكلموا العدة، فإن غبي عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثينThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.