MOON SIGHTING
Question:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
In order to begin the month of Ramadhan, a number of brothers went to look for the moon. It was a clear sky, with no clouds blocking our view from searching for the moon. In this situation, only one person said that he saw the moon to begin Ramadhan and the others said that they did not see it. What is the ruling on this? Should we accept this sighting and begin Ramadhan or continue with 30 days of Sha’baan?
Answer:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
With regards to the above mentioned situation, the sighting of that one person will not be accepted and as such, you will complete thirty (30) days of Sha’baan. In substantiation to this, Allamah Haskafi states in his ‘Ad – Durr’,
“The (testimony) of a large group on which firm/solid knowledge is gained from their information will be accepted when there is no hindrance (in the sky). (Durr Ma Ash Shami Vol. 7 page. 238 Dar AthThaqafa)
There is no specific amount of people for this group in order to accept it. However, Allamah Shami writes, “The correct opinion from all of them (the scholars) is that it is entrusted upon the opinion of the Muslim leader. If it occurs in his heart that what they bore witness to, is correct, and the witnesses are a lot, then he will order (them) to fast”. (Radd Al Muhtar Vol. 7 page. 239 Dar Ath Thaqafa ; Al Fatawa Al Hindiya Vol. 1 page. 218 Qadeemi; Al Fatawa As Sirajiya page. 128 Zam Zam; Kitab An Nawazil Vol. 6 page 315 Dar Al Isha’at).
And Allah Knows best
Maulana Saeed Ahmad Khan
27/01/2022
Checked and approved by
Mufti Waseem Khan
Principal