In the Name of Allaah, the Ever Merciful, the Most Merciful…
All Muslims concerned with following the Quran and Sunnah properly should be advised that it is not permissible to plan the first day of Ramadhaan based solely on calendars and the scientific predictions behind them.
This is because Allaah has legislated fasting to begin with the sighting of the crescent of Ramadhaan or the completion of 30 days of Sha’baan when the crescent is not visible. His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, quite clearly:
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروه
“Do not begin fasting until you sight the moon, and do not break your fast (for ‘Eed) until you have sighted it.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Since Monday will be the 29th of Sha’baan, Ramadhaan 1434 will begin on either Tuesday (July 9, 2013) or Wednesday (July 10, 2013), depending on whether or not the moon is sighted.
Please be advised that any people claiming at this time that Ramadhaan will begin on a pre-specified day are people who are inviting you to leave the clear practice of fasting according to the Book and the Sunnah.
Please take the time to read the following official verdict of the Permanent Committee of Scholars on the topic if you are not entirely clear on the Islaamic rulings related to this matter:
May Allaah bless the Muslims and unite them upon the Book of their Lord, the Sunnah of His Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace), and the way of the Companions and early Muslims who practiced it purely.
NOTE: Do not allow the legitimate scholarly differing over the issue of “local” vs. “global” moonsighting to be grounds for anyone to introduce any concept they choose – like rejecting the entire concept of moonsighting altogether!
And Allaah knows best.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson
Assalamu alaikum akhi moosa, quick question. here in the west, namely the east coast of the USA our masjid follows saudi with the moon sighting for the beginning of ramadhaan. This is fine for us isnt it?
muawiyah
wa ‘alaykas-salaam, Abaa Safinah – that’s fine, wal-hamdulillaah. Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have Mercy on him) was asked about fasting in Spain along with the Saudi beginning and ending of Ramadhan, and he said that it was not a problem at all, and that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the foremost of countries to be followed due to their efforts in applying the Sharee’ah, may Allaah increase it (KSA) in success and guidance. Also (this is fine) since you live in a land that does not implement Islaam (as the law), nor do the people there (non-Muslims) care about the rulings of Islaam.” (His Fatwaa Collection, 15/105-106) May Allaah bless you for visiting and asking your question.
As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu,
Is it acceptable to begin the fast if we see the moon in the United States before it is sighted in KSA? And if KSA sees it before us here in the US, would it be ok to follow KSA?
In light of the hadeeth mentioned between paragraphs 2 and 3 above, I worry about the possible case that the moon is sighted here in the US a full day before it is sighted in the KSA, and not fasting that day.
We would like to obey Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and would prefer to do that which brings us closer to Allah.
May Allah reward you with the good of this life and of the hereafter. Jazakallahu khayran.
Wa ‘alaykum Salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. The [first] day of your fasting is when you all start fasting, and the day of your Fitr (Eed Feast) is when you all stop fasting. Review this from the works of Shaykh Al-Albaanee: http://www.bakkah.net/articles/eedunity.htm
What is your proof from the Quran that moonsighting is required to start the months in Islam?
Thank you for your question, Faruq, and may Allah bless you. We referred to an article from the senior scholars of Islaam that quotes two verses of the Quran (2:185 & 2:189) that refer specifically to moonsighting establishing the months in Islam, one of them specific to Ramadhaan. Please review that article and you will find what you are looking for in shaa’ Allaah.
Furthermore, it is important to note that once an issue is established clearly from the authentic speech of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam), the one sent to explain the generalities of the Quran and show how it is to be implemented, there is no need for something to be proven also in the Quranic text itself. In this case it is, wal-hamdulillaah, but it is not necessary to be found in BOTH the Quran and the Sunnah to be proven, rather either one is sufficient. Also, the consenses of the Companions and the early scholars shows just how correct the understanding must be, since no one is reported to have ever differed over this matter. And Allaah knows best.
It may be helpful to for brother Faruq to know that the reason “it is not necessary to be found in BOTH the Quran and the Sunnah to be proven, rather either one is sufficient” is that Allaah says:
{وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ – إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ}
[Nor does he (the Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.] (an-Najm 53 v 4)
And several other verses with similar meaning in the Qur’aan.
Isn’t it amazing how the ikhwani organizations in the West always try to push the idea of a pre-planned beginning and end of Ramadhaan, claiming this is for the sake of “uniting” the Muslims? The very source of differing among the Muslims is opposing the Quran and the Sunnah. No Muslim who knows his Deen would join with those who wish to eliminate the correct practices of Islaam! So they claim to run away from discord, and yet they land right in its most severe manifestions. They are even the cause of the division!
Sincere Muslims should reflect carefully: Is this really an honest mistake, or is this decision to set the dates by astronomical predictions just a convenient way to plan their huge ‘eed events? Meaning: Renting a stadium or large gathering area can cost upwards of $10k, which would be doubled if they had to rent it for two days to cover both possibilities…? Could financial motivations and conveniences be interfering with ikhwani decision making (again)?
I am from Pakistan and it has become a tradition in my country to have three Eids. The Dawoodi Bohra Fatimi Ismailis celebrate on Day One, the Pakhtoons in the north-west celebrate on Day Two and the rest of majority on Day Three. This occurs despite the presence of a government-backed committee of ulema who ironically use expensive ‘technologically-advanced’ telescopes from the country’s main space agency to sight the moon even on occasions when it the sky is polluted or cloudy and situation is not proper for sighting the moon. Our meteorology agency even predicts several days in advance that moon-sighting on such date is not possible. No “Ikhwan organizations in the west” are behind this and we are solely responsible for this. In 2009, the commitee had to withdraw its chosen date due to political pressure. So whose creating the greater discord? Is it the west or the very own conscience of the Muslim ummah.
The only solution to this kind of disunity is a complete and total return to the Religion of Islam based on its proper sources, in all beliefs and practices. What you have described is the natural result of trying to attain unity through other means. And Allaah knows best.
BaarakAllaahu feek, Ustaadh. You mentioned:
“This means that Ramadhaan 1434 will begin on either Tuesday (July 9, 2013) or Wednesday (July 10, 2013), depending on whether or not the moon is sighted.”
These two possible dates would be particular for Saudi and other countries that started Sha’ban on June 10th, right?
I mean, if for example, a country had started (according their own moon sighting), the month of Sha’baan on say, June 9th, then the possible dates for the start of Ramadhaan would be July 8th & 9th, correct?
JazaakAllaahu khayraa.
This is correct.
Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh akhi Moosa
I was reading an article by Shaykh al Albani (rahimahullah) on BAKKAH.NET pertaining to the issue of Unity when fasting and the day of Eed. My understanding is that we should stick with the main body of Muslims as to when to begin and end fasting.
The link is here Allah barik feek: http://www.bakkah.net/articles/eedunity.htm
Secondly there is another article by Shaykh Wasee Allah Abbaas on BAKKAH.NET in which he states the same hadith about unity and also adds “That which we know about this issue is that the different lands may have their own individual sightings based on whether or not the moon can possibly be seen in that land. So for two lands that have the same chance to sight the moon, then it is not permissible for them to differ, whether the one causing the difference is Salafee or khalafee” Here is the link: http://www.bakkah.net/interactive/q%26a/aawa023.htm
We in New Zealand are in a predicament if we were to adhere to this as the ikhwanees, the so called “Salafis” who infact are of the Bilal Philips, Yasir Qadhi, Tawfique Chowdhury affiliates call to unity with the Tableeghi/ikhwaanee/soofee organisation called FIANZ who we know for a fact depend upon astronomical calculations to determine when they should start sighting the moon. We are at least 9hrs ahead of Saudi and in certain cases when the moon was sighted in Saudi this organisation would totally disregard the sighting and in certain instances would not even sight the moon the following day according to their calculations.
In light of the above hadith and the statements of the Ulema what should be our stance in regards to when we should start or finish our fasting for the benefit of a very small salafi community in NZ who are striving to follow the haqq no matter how many out there are opposing it. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala reward you immensely for your efforts.
Wassalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
When are we supposed to fast for Ara’fa i.e. on 9th of Dhul Hijjah according to local moonsighting or when it is yaum Ara’fa in Saudi Arabia?
May Allah reward you.
Monday.
Barakallahu feek.
According to what you replied does it means that we can follow the saudi calender for fasting the day of Ara’fa?
What if in some countries it is the day of eid when it is yaum Ara’fa in Saudi Arabia?
Mt. ‘Arafah is one place and the Day of ‘Arafah is one day and the need for unity on that day is even greater. The scholars who support one common global moonsighting use this as one of their proofs for the importance of following the moonsighting established in Makkah. And Allaah knows best.
Salaam alaikum,
I was wondering what is the best way to find out which day it is exactly according to the Islamic calendar? Because people like to know when it’s the 13th, but when looking at sites like sahaab and miraath I still can’t figure out whether today is the 13th or yesterday.
I have another question linked to this: what if a person fasted yesterday because it was monday, and he thought today (tuesday) is the 13th, but then he finds out that yesterday (monday) was actually the 13th; can he still fast today with the intention of the sunnah of ’13/14/15′? Because he did actually fast the 13th, but he didn’t fast it with the intention of the sunnah of 13/14/15. He only fasted with the intention of the sunnah of monday-fasting.
I hope you understand my question. I know someone who has this problem and he would like to know what to do in his case.
Jazaakallaahu gairan
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
When should one stop eating, when the athaan for Fajr is called, or when Fajr is said to have entered according to the prayer times? In several cases, by the time Fajr arrives according to the prayer charts, the sky is till dark & there’s no distinction on the horizon, & when it comes time to call the athaan, that’s when the white thread on the horizon is clear…
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
Allaah has required us to stop eating and drinking when we are certain that Fajr has entered. If the athaan of your masjid is done at its time, then the athaan is sufficient. Otherwise, as Allaah says: [what means] “Keep eating and drinking until the white thread of dawn becomes clear to you from the black thread [of the night]…” [2:187] And Allaah knows best.