A benefit regarding the sighting of the crescent moon and the Shaykh’s detailed explanation thereof

The Shaykh : The appearance is two hours; here it will be twelve hours, two hours before sunset.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : It is not seen because it is during the day.
The student : During the day, yes.

The Shaykh : So, regarding these two hours, we have shortened them; we shortened them like this so that only a few minutes remain between the setting of the crescent and the setting of the sun.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Well, this is the first point. Then we have something else: the point that 'Asim is making about the elderly, the old people. I think I have heard it from some of our Salafi brothers, unaware of a certain fact, which is that the appearance of the moon here, and consequently its setting here, varies according to the length and shortness of the day.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : So, for example, let us exaggerate and say the day is eight hours; the moon’s rising will be very late, because it is calculated based on the four hours that complete the eight.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : So it cannot be said, “By Allah, we saw the morning moon yesterday, and it is impossible to see it at sunset.” Why? Because it may be possible at one time and impossible at another, depending on the length and shortness of the day.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Does the moon not travel a full circle in twenty-four hours?
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : So, the half-circle that is behind our horizon may sometimes be fourteen hours.
The student: Correct.

The Shaykh : And the circle that we are in during the day may be eight hours.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, I do not think that those who say, “By Allah, we saw the moon,” notice this difference between the length and shortness of the day. So, how long is our day now?
The student : Our day is nearly equal.

The Shaykh : Nearly equal? The sun rises at six.
The student : Six minus five.

The Shaykh : Six minus five.
The student : And it sets at six minus a quarter.

The Shaykh : Yes, as I said, it is equal. Well, when did you see the crescent now?
The student : Five-ten.

The Shaykh : Five-ten. So, where will five-ten be?
The student : In the middle of the day.

The Shaykh : Five-ten in the evening.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : That is, before the setting of the sun.
The student : By one hour.

The Shaykh : By one hour.
The student : By one hour.

The Shaykh : Ah, but if there is shortness or length, it will differ completely.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : So, there will be a day when, if you see it here, you can see it there.
The student : If the day is long.

The Shaykh : Yes.
The student : Such that it takes a long cycle.

The Shaykh : Yes.
The student : And it is seen in it...

The Shaykh : Ah, and the opposite is the opposite, completely.
The student : Yes, yes. Well, my Shaykh, glory be to Allah, this is truly a benefit regarding the issue of rotation.

The Shaykh : If it were.
The student : It was absent, glory be to Allah, from my knowledge. I used to think, after...
The student : This is the first time I have heard this.

The Shaykh : Yes.
The student : This is the first time we have heard this; that is, we all know that when we see it, it is done...

The Shaykh : No, that is wrong, that is correct. There are eight hours between fourteen hours, or conversely, fourteen hours or eight. Yes, what else should I say? This is with respect to our region.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : With respect to another region, there is also a second difference.
The student : Yes, where the day is twenty-four hours or more.

The Shaykh : Yes, less or more, because these days differ from one region to another.
The student : Yes.