What is the Islamic ruling on moon sighting?

Question

Does it have to be a local moon sighting or an international moon sighting. I know doing the astronomical calculation is bidah.Here in USA a group of people follow the moon sighting of Saudi Arabia, and the other group follow local moon sighting.

Who is wrong and who is right according to the Shariah?

Answer 1

Here in America we fast when we hear Saudi Arabia and other muslim countries  have started Ramadan and the Taraweh has been prayed at MasjidulHaram.

So it is an international moon sighting.

Answer 2

The islamic ruling is, if you see the moon, that means the moon is there

Answer 3

When I researched on the topic, I found both local and global/international sighters use sahih hadiths to support their cause.  But the local sighting was weaker in argument because their point was, the ppl at the time of prophet did not follow international sighting, rather everyone observed from their own locations and started fasting or ended their fasts.  

Eventhough this is true, but it is because they didn't have fast & easy communications as today, and according to proofs, when there was communication, the prophet followed whoever have sighted the moon i.e. caravan passing by the location.

Generally the command is to all Muslims.  

For example,

Allaah said:

(فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ)(البقرة: من الآية185 )

So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhaan), he must fast that month. [Al- Baqarah (2) : 185]

the Messenger of Allaah (S) said: "[True] fasting starts on the day that your start" which means: this is the day you know as being the time to fast. If you did not know it, then it would carry no value for you". [Al Fataawaa 5/203] -- meaning there is no *true/accurate beginning, which the followers of calculation argue about.

This view is further clarified by the following narration: Abu al-Bukhturee said: "We went to the Minor Pilgrimage and saw the crescent of Ramadaan at Dhaatu-Irq. It seemed to have been two or three nights old. Later, we met Ibn Abbaas and mentioned this to him. Ibn Abbaas informed us that Allaah's Messenger (S) said: "Allaah has set crescent sighting as an indication of Ramadaan. Thus Ramadaan starts on the night that you see it. If it is obscured, then complete the count". [Muslim]

The order is to Muslims in general, and not to different groups of people in different areas.  

[Thus, when the moon is sighted anywhere on the earth, by at least one trustworthy muslim, this means that the whole Ummah has sighted it. Based on this, as the above hadeeth indicates all members of the Ummah are required to observe the new month as long as the informatation reaches them in a reasonable amount of time to be able to act upon it.

It has to be emphasised that unifying Muslims and bringing their word together is one of our main concerns; it is a heavy responsibility that no Muslim should neglect. However, true unity cannot be achieved in any other way than what conforms with the Quraan and the Authentic Sunnah and the guidance of the Righteous Salaf (pious predecessors). Any other claim to unity is unrealistic and short lived.

We call upon all Muslims to get involved in worship to attain the blessings of Ramadaan instead of wasting their time and energies in futile arguments and disagreements. May Allah (T) enable us to follow the Sunnah in all our beliefs and deeds.]

The scholars have strongly recommended to not fall into  disagreements and differenciate with fellow Muslims.  Therefore, if one's community or country is following the local sighting, then he must follow them and not be different.  

Answer 4

they have their own moon

Answer 5

Q. Is it essential that the moon be sighted with the naked eye, or can we use telescopes and modern instruments?

Ans:-

Praise be to Allaah.

The shar’i evidence indicates that people should not go to great lengths to sight the moon with these instruments; rather it is sufficient to sight it with their eyes. But if a person seeks the moon with them and is certain that he has seen it by means of them after the sun has set, and he is a Muslim of good character, then I do not know of any reason why his sighting of the moon should not be followed, because it is still a visual sighting and is not calculation. End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah (15/68, 69).

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Can he break the fast following Saudi when the people of his country are still fasting?

Praise be to Allaah.

If a Muslim is in a country that relies on moon sighting to determine the beginning and end of the month, then he is enjoined to start and end the fast when they do.

But if the Muslim is in a kaafir land, or in a land where they tinker with the beginning and end of the month according to their whims and desires, and do not pay attention to the moon sighting as prescribed in Islam, then there is no sin on him if he follows those whose moon sighting and adherence to Islamic rulings he trusts.  

And Allaah knows best.

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