The “28-Day Ramadan” Mistake and the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia

In the Name of Allaah…

A clear response by Moosaa Richardson to the blog, twitter, and facebook claims that the Saudi Government has done something to corrupt the Muslims’ month of Ramadan this year, 1434 (2013).

30 minutes of solid foundations to aid our brothers and sisters in understanding this pillar of our Religion according to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), including:

  • Islam is a perfect religion, one of ease that can be practiced by any human being, educated or uneducated.
  • Part of that perfect religion is fasting begun by a moon sighting according to the Book of Allah.
  • Starting a month is only done by a moon sighting or counting out 30 days according to the Sunnah.
  • The disobedience of those who fast on the 30th of Sha’baan without a moon sighting (thinking to play it safe because of cloud coverage), and their INVALID fasting.
  • The logical possibility of 28 days of fasting and how it has been dealt with throughout history.
  • Making up a day of fasting (qadhaa’) does not indicate that anything wrong was done.
  • The audacity of those who would accuse people who closely follow the orders of Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) of causing corruption and ruining people’s fasting, etc.
  • Ending the month of Ramadan spreading rumors and doubts is an indication of a failed month of worship (may Allah excuse us!)

Please spread it to help refute the many false rumors being circulated, may Allah reward you!

MP3: https://www.bakkah.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/saudi-court-moon-sighting-conspiracy-error-1434.mp3

Do not Disregard the Moonsighting to Rely on Calendars for the Beginning and End of Ramadhaan

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:

http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=30&PageNo=1&BookID=10

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