Moon-sighting versus Calculations
The issue of sighting the crescent versus using calculations to determine the beginning of the month of Ramadan is the subject of a lot of discussion among today's Muslims. Some ask: why should we go out and sight the crescent? Isn't the science of astronomy advanced enough to determine the first day of Ramadan? To clarify the Islamic standpoint on this issue, we should rely on the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and what is agreed upon by Muslim scholars.
Firstly: the correct opinion which must be acted upon is that indicated by the words of the Prophet (
): "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." That is the basis for determining the beginning and end of Ramadaan by the actual sighting of the new moon. The Islamic sharee'ah with which Allaah sent our Prophet Muhammad () is universal and everlasting, until the Day of Resurrection. (It is valid for every time and place, whether worldly sciences are advanced or otherwise, whether there are telescopes etc. or not, whether there are any people in the population who are able to do astronomical calculations or not. Sighting the moon is something that people of all places and times can do, unlike calculations which may or may not be within the reach of the people, and telescopes which may or may not be available)
Secondly: Allaah knew what progress would be made in astronomy and other sciences, but despite that He still said (interpretation of the meaning): "… 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] and the Messenger of Allaah () said: "Fast when you see it [the new moon] and stop fasting when you see it…" So the beginning and ending of Ramadaan are connected to the actual sighting of the moon, and not to the calculations of astronomers, even though Allaah knew that the astronomers would develop their science to the point where they would be able to calculate the positions of the stars and heavenly bodies. The Muslims are obliged to follow what Allaah has prescribed for them through His Prophet (), basing the beginning and end of the fast on the sighting of the moon. This is like the consensus of the scholars, whoever differs with this and relies on calculations is shaadhdh ("odd") and his opinion cannot be relied on.[1]
Islam is easy and its rules apply to everyone, mankind and jinn alike, regardless of whether they are scholars or illiterate, settled or nomadic. So Allaah made it easy for them to know the times for the acts of worship, and made their beginning and end signs which everyone can know. He made the setting of the sun the sign for the beginning of Maghrib and the end of 'Asr, and He made the disappearance of the red glow in the sky the sign of the beginning of the time of 'Isha'. He made the sighting of the moon after its disappearance at the end of the month the sign of the beginning of the new lunar month and the end of the previous month. He did not give us the task of knowing the beginning of the lunar month from something which is known to only a small number of people, namely astronomy and its calculations. Thus the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah make the actual sighting of the new moon the signal for the Muslims to start fasting Ramadaan; they stop fasting when they see the new moon of Shawwaal; the dates of Eid al-Adhaa and Yawm 'Arafaat are similarly determined. Allaah 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 (peace and blessings of Allaah 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."
The Prophet (
) made the beginning of the fast conditional upon the confirmed sighting of the new moon of Ramadaan, and the ending of the fast conditional upon the confirmed sighting of the new moon of Shawwaal; he did not connect this to calculations of the movements of stars or other heavenly bodies. This is how it was done at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), during the rule of the Khulafa' al-Raashidoon, at the time of the four imaams, and during the three centuries which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said were the best. Referring to calculations of the lunar months to start and end periods of worship, instead of actually sighting the new moon, is a bid'ah (reprehensible innovation) that has no good in it and has no basis in sharee'ah. The best of all is to follow the salaf in religious matters, and the worst of all is to follow newly-invented innovations in religion. May Allaah protect us and you and all the Muslims from tribulation, both obvious and hidden.[2]
[1] Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/106.
[2] From the site: www.islam-qa.com
Abu Huraira reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. and when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.
Sahih Bukhari, Book 006, Number 2379
Sighting of moon a must, Ulema board
MAKKAH – The Board of Senior Ulema dismissed the idea of determining the beginning of Ramadan with astronomic calculations without visibly sighting the month's crescent, Al-Madina reported.
The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Sheikh, said astronomic calculations are based on mathematical equations and are not acceptable in terms of fasting. He said the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Hadith of "Fast at its sighting" and the one of "Do not fast until you sight it" were clear and decisive.
The Board finished discussing the issue last Tuesday and concluded to continue depending on sighting the crescent since only three members agreed on using the mathematical calculations instead.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2008082315205
'Fasting begins only after moon sighted'
MAKKAH: The Saudi Council of Senior Scholars has rejected the demand that the beginning and end of lunar months should be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations.
"Shariah does not accept astronomical calculations based on mathematical computing as the basis for the beginning and ending of Ramadan," said Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the council.
"If anyone doubts our moon-sighting, fasting and feasting, it betrays his weak faith and defective perception," the grand mufti, who is head of the Administration of Research in Religious Sciences and Fatwa said. He cited a Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which says:
"You start fasting when you see (the moon) and stop it when you sight (the next moon) and when it is hidden by clouds, complete (30 days of) fasting."
The grand mufti added that it is obligatory on the Muslims to start fasting when any Muslim known for his honesty and healthy eyesight claims to have sighted the new moon. This is the practice in the Kingdom, he said, dismissing suggestion that Muslims may depend on astronomical calculations to begin fasting in Ramadan and celebrate Eid.
It is the Supreme Judicial Council that announces the sighting of the new moon to mark the beginning of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar), Shaaban (the month preceding Ramadan), Ramadan, and the three months following it, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=113244&d=23&m=8&y=2008
Al-Fawzan okays Ramadan, Eid moon sighting through observatories
Makkah – Sheikh Saleh Bin Fowzan Al-Fowzan, member of the Permanent Committee and Board of Senior Ulema has approved sighting of Ramadan and Shawal crescent through observatories.
Replying to a question by Al-Madina on possibility of depending on observatories in sighting the crescent of Ramadan and if the sighting with a naked eye is obligatory, Sheikh Al-Fowzan said "Sighting the Ramadan crescent with observatories and telescopes is permissible as is the case with sighting it with a naked eye."
He added the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith "Fast at its sighting and terminate the fast at its sighting."
However this shows that it doesn't matter if the sighting is with the naked eye or through observatory.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2008082215108
Telescopes and sighting the new moon
Question:
What is the legislated Sharee'ah method by which the beginning of the month is established? And is it permissible to rely on astronomical observatories in determining the beginning of the month and its ending? And is it permissible for the Muslim to use a telescope in sighting the crescent?
Response:
The legislated Sharee'ah method in verifying the beginning of the month is for the people try to sight the crescent. And (in doing so) it is befitting the sighting be verified by one who is trustworthy with respect to his religion (and character) and strong vision. So if they sight it, they must act upon this sighting, and start fasting if it was the crescent of Ramadhaan, or stop fasting if it was the crescent of Shawwaal.
It is not permissible to rely on the calculations of the astronomical observatories if there was no actual sighting. However, if there was a sighting, even if the sighting was through the astronomical observatories, then it is accepted, since it falls under the general statement of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"When you see it then fast, and when you see it break your fast"
As for calculations, then it is not permissible to act upon it, or to rely on it.
As for the use of what is known as a telescope - which is a glass instrument that magnifies the crescent - then there is no harm in using it, however, it is not obligatory. (This is) because what is apparent from the Sunnah is the reliance upon normal sighting (with the naked eye), and not anything else. However, if it is used, and someone trustworthy sights it, then this sighting is to be acted upon.
The people of the past would use similar means when they would climb up to a height after Maghrib on the 29th day of Sha'baan or Ramadhaan; So they would seek out the crescent (from this height) using a telescope.
In any case, whenever the sighting of the crescent is verified, in whatever manner it was seen, then it is obligatory to act upon this sighting, based on the generality of the statement of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"When you see it then fast, and when you see it break your fast"
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 62, Fatwa No.28
al-Fataawa libni 'Uthaymeen - Kitaab ad-Da'wah - Volume 1, Pages 150-151
http://www.fatwa-online.com/fataawa/worship/fasting/fas003/0090820.htm
Beneficial Reminders:
1. 'Astronomical calculations' is an ancient type of 'knowledge'. The Arabs, as well as, the Persians, Indians, Greeks, Chinese and Egyptians excelled in the 'knowledge' of astronomy and astronomical calculations. Read any book on the history of astronomy and you shall come to know the truth of our statement here.
2. Currently, many Muslims who discuss this topic are utterly unaware of or about the vast knowledge mankind had about astronomy and astronomical calculations, both before and after Islam. The fact that the Prophet, salla-llahu `alaihi wa-sallam, mentioned the word 'Hisab' is self-evident of the knowledge they had on it.
3. The Quran and Sunnah are a revelation from Allah, the All-Knower of the past, present and future. Even though Allah granted mankind knowledge in astronomy both before and after He sent Muhammad, salla-llahu `alaihi wa-sallam, as His Final and Last Prophet, He ordered Muslims to sight the Hilal, with their eyes.
4. Shari`ah vs. Majority Rule:
{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error}; [33:36].
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