Is a person to be believed who claims to have seen the new moon at a time when it is impossible for it to be seen according to astronomical science?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : We do not write and we do not calculate; we have no part in astronomical science.
The questioner : If someone comes...
The Shaykh : What does astronomical science say?
The questioner : It says that the new moon cannot be seen at a specific time.
The Shaykh : May I ask you a question? What does astronomical science say when you see the sun on the peak of a mountain?
The questioner : It says that the sun has not yet risen.
The Shaykh : It has not risen, okay. So what does the Shari'ah say?
The questioner : The Shari'ah says that you have seen it, but if the new moon is absolutely impossible to see...
The Shaykh : My brother, may Allah reward you, you are speaking within the limits of astronomical science.
The questioner : No, I am speaking within the limits of knowledge, not astronomical science. I mean, according to scientific calculation, it is impossible to see it, not by astronomy.
The Shaykh : My dear friend, this scientific calculation is astronomical science.
The questioner : Yes, but if you came to look at it, you would not see it; it is impossible.
The Shaykh : .
The questioner : We do not disagree, but if someone comes and says he saw it at a time when it is impossible to see it, do we believe him?
The Shaykh : ... My brother, Islamic rulings are not built on scientific theories, but...
The questioner : If someone came...
The Shaykh : Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) know astronomy?
The questioner : No, someone would come...
The Shaykh : Be patient for a moment. Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) know astronomy?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Okay, what did he know?
The questioner : He knew if someone saw the new moon, that was it.
The Shaykh : The matter is finished. As for the philosophy of astronomy, we have no part in it. The sun does not set from the earth at all; this is geographical astronomy. Is there doubt in this?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : But we do not care about this theory.
The questioner: Good.
The Shaykh : Okay, so look, look the matter is finished, .
The questioner : If you see it, if it is impossible to see it and someone says he saw it, do we refute him?
The Shaykh : Adnan, you do not understand me. I am speaking about the Shari'ah sighting, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting.
The questioner : The Shari'ah sighting is that someone comes and says he saw it.
The Shaykh : Yes, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting, correct?
The questioner : The possible sighting, if someone...
The Shaykh : My dear friend, my dear friend, the possible sighting astronomically?
The questioner : Logically and scientifically.
The Shaykh: Peace be upon you.
The questioner : Sir, if someone came before the sun set and said it has set, would you refute him?
The Shaykh : Excuse me, excuse me, we have not met. I am speaking about the Shari'ah sighting, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting. We do not meet. But let us understand each other now: are you speaking about the astronomical sighting or the Shari'ah one?
The questioner : The Shari'ah astronomical sighting.
The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Because the Shari'ah one is on its own.
The Shaykh : You are contradicting the Shari'ah now. When it tells you:Sunan Abi Dawud 2319Sahih (Al-Albani) that is the end, the matter is finished. It refers to visual sighting, not optical sighting. There is a difference.
The questioner : I agree with you.
The Shaykh : You are not with me, you are not with me.
Please, my brother.
The questioner : Our Shaykh, from Sudan. Of course, the Sudanese government has declared Islam, as you know.
The Shaykh : All the countries, what Allah willed, have declared it.
The questioner : But it is not applied. I mean, we Salafis have differences with them in many things in the field of creed and in their application. They have free mixing of men and women and singing in the government and on the radio, and they declare jihad in the south in the war of the south. If, these days, they stopped the firing, we have brothers who are stopped in this field. So what is the Shaykh's view on this matter?
The Shaykh : Yes, and you want the answer now in this pause? This requires a lecture. May Allah guide us and you.
The questioner : Forgive us, our Shaykh, regarding the Sudanese garment...
The questioner : Regarding the brother's question, I understood what he intended. He does not want to mean...
The Shaykh : I mean, you are still...
The questioner : No, wait, if you please, Shaykh, just give me a chance. He means, if a Muslim came and said he saw the moon, meaning the moon, meaning Shawwal, meaning he saw it, is this the festival?
The Shaykh : No, that is not what he intends.
The questioner : I understood from him that...
The Shaykh : He did not mention astronomical science with this, may Allah guide you. He did not mention that someone claimed he saw the moon and astronomical science says it is impossible for it to be seen. Did he not say this? Why do you mention half the speech and mention the second part, and then boast over me and say I understood from him this?
The questioner : If someone comes...
The Shaykh : What does astronomical science say?
The questioner : It says that the new moon cannot be seen at a specific time.
The Shaykh : May I ask you a question? What does astronomical science say when you see the sun on the peak of a mountain?
The questioner : It says that the sun has not yet risen.
The Shaykh : It has not risen, okay. So what does the Shari'ah say?
The questioner : The Shari'ah says that you have seen it, but if the new moon is absolutely impossible to see...
The Shaykh : My brother, may Allah reward you, you are speaking within the limits of astronomical science.
The questioner : No, I am speaking within the limits of knowledge, not astronomical science. I mean, according to scientific calculation, it is impossible to see it, not by astronomy.
The Shaykh : My dear friend, this scientific calculation is astronomical science.
The questioner : Yes, but if you came to look at it, you would not see it; it is impossible.
The Shaykh :
If it is cloudy for you
إذا غُمَّ عليكمThe questioner : We do not disagree, but if someone comes and says he saw it at a time when it is impossible to see it, do we believe him?
The Shaykh : ... My brother, Islamic rulings are not built on scientific theories, but...
The questioner : If someone came...
The Shaykh : Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) know astronomy?
The questioner : No, someone would come...
The Shaykh : Be patient for a moment. Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) know astronomy?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Okay, what did he know?
The questioner : He knew if someone saw the new moon, that was it.
The Shaykh : The matter is finished. As for the philosophy of astronomy, we have no part in it. The sun does not set from the earth at all; this is geographical astronomy. Is there doubt in this?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : But we do not care about this theory.
The questioner: Good.
The Shaykh : Okay, so look, look
If you see it, fast, and if you see it, break your fast
إذا رأيتم فصوموا ، إذا رأيتم فأفطرواIf it is cloudy for you, complete the month as thirty days
فإن غُمَّ عليكم فأتمُّوا الشهر ثلاثين يومًاThe questioner : If you see it, if it is impossible to see it and someone says he saw it, do we refute him?
The Shaykh : Adnan, you do not understand me. I am speaking about the Shari'ah sighting, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting.
The questioner : The Shari'ah sighting is that someone comes and says he saw it.
The Shaykh : Yes, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting, correct?
The questioner : The possible sighting, if someone...
The Shaykh : My dear friend, my dear friend, the possible sighting astronomically?
The questioner : Logically and scientifically.
The Shaykh: Peace be upon you.
The questioner : Sir, if someone came before the sun set and said it has set, would you refute him?
The Shaykh : Excuse me, excuse me, we have not met. I am speaking about the Shari'ah sighting, you are speaking about the astronomical sighting. We do not meet. But let us understand each other now: are you speaking about the astronomical sighting or the Shari'ah one?
The questioner : The Shari'ah astronomical sighting.
The Shaykh: May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Because the Shari'ah one is on its own.
The Shaykh : You are contradicting the Shari'ah now. When it tells you:
The month consists of twenty-nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days.
نحن أمَّة أمِّيَّة لا نكتب ولا نحسب ، الشهر هكذا وهكذا وهكذا ، والشهر هكذا وهكذا وهكذاThe questioner : I agree with you.
The Shaykh : You are not with me, you are not with me.
Please, my brother.
The questioner : Our Shaykh, from Sudan. Of course, the Sudanese government has declared Islam, as you know.
The Shaykh : All the countries, what Allah willed, have declared it.
The questioner : But it is not applied. I mean, we Salafis have differences with them in many things in the field of creed and in their application. They have free mixing of men and women and singing in the government and on the radio, and they declare jihad in the south in the war of the south. If, these days, they stopped the firing, we have brothers who are stopped in this field. So what is the Shaykh's view on this matter?
The Shaykh : Yes, and you want the answer now in this pause? This requires a lecture. May Allah guide us and you.
The questioner : Forgive us, our Shaykh, regarding the Sudanese garment...
The questioner : Regarding the brother's question, I understood what he intended. He does not want to mean...
The Shaykh : I mean, you are still...
The questioner : No, wait, if you please, Shaykh, just give me a chance. He means, if a Muslim came and said he saw the moon, meaning the moon, meaning Shawwal, meaning he saw it, is this the festival?
The Shaykh : No, that is not what he intends.
The questioner : I understood from him that...
The Shaykh : He did not mention astronomical science with this, may Allah guide you. He did not mention that someone claimed he saw the moon and astronomical science says it is impossible for it to be seen. Did he not say this? Why do you mention half the speech and mention the second part, and then boast over me and say I understood from him this?
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.