Hilal Moon
Sighting
Discussion of various schools of
thought
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The controversy of marking the start of
Ramadan / Eid, whether by moon sighting or other means has been the
topic of discussion for many years. This controversy is even more so
in western nations where various Muslim communities follow different
schools of thought to celebrate Ramadan and Eid. The controversy
becomes even more heated as Muslims belonging to the same mosque
hold to their own views of moon sighting and marking the beginning
of Ramadan / Eid. |
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The following
provides sources of information that discuss various schools
of thought on the subject of Hilal and moon sighting.
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The
opinion of Sheikh Al-Munajjid from Saudi-Arabia is included later
on this page
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At the
end, visit a link posted by ISNA (Islamic Society of North
America) the title of which is "The Astronomical Calculations: A
Fiqhi Discussion"
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Hilal-Sighting.com provides hilal sighting information based on
astronomical data.
Sheikh Muajjid's Opinion on Moon Sighting
(Islam-Qa.com)
Question: It is
not possible to see the new moon with the naked eye before it is 30
hours old, and in addition to that, it is sometimes not possible to
see it at all because of the weather conditions. On this basis, is
it permissible to resort to using astronomical information to
calculate the likely time for sighting the new moon and the start of
Ramadaan, or do we have to actually sight the new moon before we
start fasting the blessed month of Ramadaan?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
It is permissible
to use telescopes etc. to sight the moon,
but it is not permissible to rely on astronomical data to confirm
the beginning or end of the blessed month of Ramadaan, because Allah
has not prescribed that for us in His Book or in the Sunnah of His
Prophet (saws) (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). What He
has prescribed for us is to confirm the beginning and end of
Ramadaan by sighting the new
moon of Ramadaan to start fasting,
and the new moon of Shawwaal to
end the fast and gather to offer the Eid prayers. Allah has made the
new moons to mark fixed periods of
time for mankind and for the Hajj, so it is not permissible for
Muslims to use any other method to determine the times for acts of
worship such as fasting, celebrating Eid, performing Hajj, fasting
for two months as expiation (kafaarah) for killing someone by
mistake or divorcing one’s wife by zihaar, and so on. Allah says
(interpretation of the meanings):
“… So whoever
among you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadaan), he must observe sawm (fast) that month…” [al-Baqarah
2:185]
“They ask you (O
Muhammad) about the new moons.
Say: these are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and
for the pilgrimage…” [al-Baqarah 2:189]
The Prophet (saws)
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fast when you see
it [the new moon]
and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is cloudy then complete
the month with thirty days.” On this basis, the one who does not see
the new moon
from the time it rises on a clear or cloudy night must complete the
month (of Sha’baan) with thirty days.
(Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/100).
This is the case if the
sighting of
the new moon
is not confirmed in another country; if the
moon
is sighted according to the guidelines of Sharee’ah, then fasting is
obligatory, according to the majority of scholars. And Allah knows
best.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(Islam-Qa.com)
Read the ISNA Report on The Astronomical Calculations: A Fiqhi
Discussion
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