Why Do Muslims Begin Ramadam/Fasting and End {Eid} this on Different Dates According to the Mosque you Attend?

Question

What is causing this conflicting opinions on the dates of Ramadan, and ultimately Eid? Why is this so? What does the authentic Hadiths have to say about this?

I am muslim btw, but my family all begin fasting on different days, and celebrate Eid over a span of 2-3days, when it should be on the same day, like the Christians who have over 3000 different sects, yet celebrate Christmas on the 25th December.

Answer 1

because of the moon

Answer 2

In Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, we don't do that. We hear from the national astronomy ascociation or whatever to see the sighting of the new moon. Then the result is passed on to the Grand Mufti of the country later on to be broadcasted on the television. In that way, the whole country fasts at the same time on the same day.

Of course, the fact that where you are also matter according to the time zone. But if certain parts of one country fast at a different day each, then it is certainly wrong and deluded.

A span of 2 or 3 days???? That is weird.

Answer 3

As Salaam to you all,

May I ask all Muslim's one question, "In which direction and to what object do you pray before Allah (SWT)?"

We as Muslim's all pray towards the Kabbah, although we pray at different times of the day. So the central point is within Saudi Arabia, hence we should all follow the Saudi sighting, even if they are wrong.

The celebration of Eid had been set by the Prophet (pbuh) to three days. This was to allow family members to travel to a central family location to spend the time together for at least one of those days.

The confusion of starting Ramadan is secular in origin rather than Islam. For one sect will not follow another and will actuall do everything in its power to be different, and this is quite evident between different Sunni Sects. I believe that most Shia Sects follow the same times together, although there may be one or two different sects who do their own thing.

Lastly, Islam should not have a clergy class (Imams) paid for their services, nor should a Musjid be state run. The Prophet (pbuh) stated that those gatherd together for prayer should choose the best and most knowledgable amongst them to lead them in Salat. The Musjid belongs to Allah (SWT) for the people by the people. It is up to them if they form a committee to keep the Musjid clean and fit for use. No single individual holds or should hold power over a Musjid for that would put them above the law of Islam. Nor should a Musjid come under the laws of a non Muslim state, nor any state which does not uphold full Shari'ah Law.

So it is up to the individual to decide on whom they follow and it is up to Allah (SWT) to either reward them or not, for their actions.

Wa Salaam

Answer 4

Salam for you Yes I agree with you  muslims in several countries have no same date of  the beginning of fasting during ramadan and automatically in ending of ramadan and starting of eidl fitri on the following month of Syawal.It is caused by the movement of moon can be seen clearly as a sign that ramadan will begin and also syawal will start.Each country has a commitee for deciding it. Several countries were decided  the geginning and ending of ramadan just to follow  the decision of the government Saudi Arabia.Indonesia my country does not follow it so we have different dates almost every year.In 1995 I made an umrah at the last 10 days of ramadan.I went back to Jakarta after I celebrated Iedl fitri in mesjidil haram,but tomorrow morning after l

came back to my home,I celebrated the iedl fitri in line with the government's decision..So I celebrated it twice in one year. due to the different sight  of the moon..Every year I follow the decision of my government for the beginning and ending of ramadan where there a difference of 1 or 2 days with another islamic group such as Muhammadiyah.

Answer 5

Of course it's all about moon-sighting: some people follow whatever islamic association is in their area who find the moon through mathematical calculations, while others do not believe this is authentic and seek the moon out for themselves, which sometimes are "seen" at different times.  

Answer 6

This has always been a major issue lol. It all depends upon the sighting of the moon, and it also depends upon the geography of a place. For instance, Saudia Arab has always been celebrating Eid first ever since, then comes the indian subcontinent and then the West. It also depends on the timings.  

Answer 7

Actually not all Christians celebrate Christmas in the first place.

I think the disputes regarding the different dates for Eid have less to do with sectarianism and more to do with simple date disputes of when the moon is or isn't visible.

I don't think there's any maliciousness involved.  If the world worked on a Lunar calender instead of a solar calender, it would probably be easier to keep tabs.

love for all, hatred for none

Answer 8

That is because some  follow the Global sighting and some follow the Local sighting of the moon and some scientifically calculate it.

They both use proofs from the Sunnah.  Some mention the hadiths about sighting it locally at prophet's time.  

And some mention that back then most of the time there wasn't fast communication like today, but whenever there was, such as a caravan passing by was celebrating eid, while the prophet and companions were fasting, and prophet asked them if they sighted the moon, and upon hearing yes he asked everyone to break fast and celebrate eid.  

some say that this can only be done so in the near by towns and cities, but not globally.  

and they might also differ in strong hadeeth and weak hadeeth etc., I can't clearly recall.  

I am saying in short, but you do have to do more research on it to know the proofs as I don't have them at the moment.

People often says that some people follow Makkah, but that isn't always true because the people of Makkah doesn't always sight the moon in Saudia on that first day, but they often declare ramadaan or eid upon the sighting elsewhere (global sighting).  This is how much I know.

Often the people who starts the 2nd day follows a local sighting, and therefore when not able to sight the moon locally, shaban completes with 30 days instead of 29.  

There is another very small group that starts on a 3rd day... that is because their arabic calender is one day behind and they are completing shaban 30 days.  This is baseless... from the information I was given.

There is another people now a days who scientifically calculates and this is forbidden in Islaam... I think ISNA does this?  

Answer 9

I believe the difference is because some people follow their home country and some follow Saudi Arabia.

We're actually supposed to follow the nearest Muslim country as the New Moon is rarely visible here in the UK.

There's also a special Moon committee who advise us when the Moon has been seen.

Answer 10

It depends on the moon!!

some countries  see it early & some see it late, so that's why it brings a day or two difference!!

if it was on the same day it would be more good!!