If you take "science" out of the equation, we are open to hearsay and counterclaims. Saudi authorities have repeatedly (and reportedly) clarified that their methodology is not based on sighting (I can possibly dig from internet some 'official' communication from Saudi on this regard). Nobody is accusing Saudi of lying or pretending that they have sighted the moon or even mis-calculating the birth of moon. I gather that the Saudi methodology, that is purely based on birth of moon, has no shar'i basis (unless you can confirm that it is). If the criterion is wrong, then their "moon-sighting" (or rather the new month declaration) is not reliable. To be honest, Saudi has never fudged its methodology and has been transparent and consistent in its use of umm-ul-qura calendar. They have even maintained that their "moonsighting" declaration is not meant for global consumption; at least officially they don't try to coerce other countries or their followers worldwide to follow Saudi moon. What is annoying is that people in few countries have outsourced their mental capacity to Saudi. Their contention is very simple, although bereft of any logic or hukm - if the moon has been sighted in Saudi then new month has commenced world over! Firstly, moon is never sighted in Saudi (for the month to begin) (but who can argue that mere declaration of the start of the new month by Saudi is not a confirmation of sighting). If Dhul-Hijja has commenced in Saudi, then how can the day of Arafah there not be followed by Eid worldwide? However stupefying these arguments may sound but these are the ones that are peddled by wahabi masajids/speakers/public. Since when was Qurbani linked to hajj (which was promulgated few years later)? Science can't be the basis for new month, but it can be and needs to be the facilitating tool. The basis has to be the established fiqh of moonsighting (barring the valid differences). Is the new month based on birth or visibility of moon? Scientific calculations exist for either of them. If visibility is the criteria, then scientific methods can help establish if moon can even be viewed in an area (see the links in my first post). If visibility is possible, then moon may be seen. If visibility is not even possible, how can moon be seen (not Saudi has claimed so).
i don't understand this paradox. 1. a group of people say that no calculations and scientific methods should be allowed and only actual sighting is accepted for ramadan/eid. 2. saudis say that the moon was sighted on sunday. 3. now the same group denies that saudis could have seen the moon. and the basis for denying it is, that according to calculations, it is impossible to see the moon on such and such a day in such-and-such geographical area. --- you can criticise saudis all you want, i am with you; but here, i am interested in the soundness of the argument. why can't the saudis be telling the truth? why is it not possible that the moon was indeed sighted on sunday? if you leave out the scientific calculation method out that tells you the "moon birth" and possibility of sighting - what proof do you have to deny that saudis saw the moon? just thinking aloud. --- if it helps, saudis urge people to go out and see the moon: http://www.arabnews.com/node/934451/saudi-arabia
This is why I am doubtful of them trying to establish the start of the month based on whether the moon was sighted anywhere on the earth. The problem here is that you can't equate the solar day to the lunar one (something that I have posted before)! The Islamic day may start a "solar" day earlier in the western countries. A good example is say Japan where the solar day starts before those on the eastern coast of the Americas. Now will those on the eastern coast change their dates a day later just so that they coincide with Japan? Obviously no! So why are we being so ignorant in trying to equate a lunar day with a solar one by picking a solar day as a single day to "unite"! A question arises that how long do they need to wait after Maghrib to get the news that the moon was sighted somewhere on earth? The other problem is that news on the internet or television or phone cannot be accepted as evidence. The only acceptable evidence will probably be if someone in the West sights the moon and then travels by plane to an eastern country before fajr and gives his shahadah. I don't see this being possible. It makes me tremble thinking about the hadith that the world will end in kufr. We are already compromising on core elements of belief so are already heading in that direction full speed.
The last link belongs to deobandi organisation. It is interesting to see their umbrella body/mouthpiece in UK "Wifaqul Ulema", also tows the sunni line. I am told that a growing body of deobandi mosques are now disassociating themselves from Saudi moon-sighting. On the other hand, our sunni masajids are now trying align themselves to caeserian moon birth. The reasons for the shift has apparently been the masjid committee's (as usual made of old, clean-shaven, half-educated men) fear of losing out on collections (especially on Eids). When Imams become spineless, committee starts calling the shot.
They are using predetermined calculations long before (12 months in advance I think) so they don't take this into consideration. This is what the problem is because even in the time of the Holy Prophet SalAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallim there were people who could calculate such things but the advice was to try and see the moon.
The crescent would be seen in western Latin America, long after even Fajr time has expired in Makkah shareef.
For those who are advocating on using other methods except "sighting" using our eyesight this is an excellent work: http://lamppostproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/The-Moon.pdf
The stance to start fasting upon site of the new moon anywhere is the majority opinion as far as I know and is the relied position in the Hanafi Madhab due to the general meaning of the words of Our Holy Prophet SalAllahu Alaihi wa Sallim " “Fast when you see it and stop fasting when you see it.”. The Shafi'i took the local moon sighting as the preferred position- [I saw the crescent [of Ramadan] on Friday night while in Damascus. I arrived at Medina at the end of the month and Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with both of them!) asked me: “When did you see the crescent?” I said: “We saw it on Friday night.” He said: “Did you see it yourself?” I said: “Yes, and the people saw it, and they and Mu‘awiya fasted.” He said: “But we saw the crescent on Saturday night. So we will not stop fasting until either we complete thirty [days] or we sight the crescent [of Shawwal].” I said: “Is Mu‘awiya’s sighting and fasting not sufficient for us?” He said: “No, this is how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him!) ordered us.”] (Related by Ahmad, the Famous Five except al-Bukhari, and by al-Daraqutni and al-Bayhaqi, with variants). Allah Knows Best
Up here in Glasgow all the sunni masjids have followed Saudi to upkeep "unity" in the city! This is not the first time they have done that. A few years ago I didn't get to go for eid salah as each and every masjid had done it a day earlier. Last year we did it on the correct day together so I guess the bad aqidas struck a bargain this year for the sunni masjids to it or with them. Unbelievable state of affairs here!
I watched part of the noor TV program yesterday. Though it was announced that Tues will be the start of Ramadaan there was this one "scholar" who stated that strictly speaking as per Hanafi principles if the moon has been sighted anywhere in the world then we can use that. This would imply that since the moon had been sighted in South America then from a shariah perspective it is okay to use it as a sighting. Never heard of this before so not sure if it is accurate. Just thought I should mention as I think this may be the start of more differences and splits to come.
Farcical scenes in UK this year, with Sunni masajids announcing separate Ramadhan start dates. Hitherto, most Sunni masajids followed UK's Ruyat-e-Hilaal Committee's announcement. This year, despite the latter declaring that Ramadhan would start on Tuesday. several sunni masajids in London have decided to start it tomorrow. I understand that Midlands and North UK masajids have stuck to Tuesday start. Apparently from this year, the breakaway masajids have decided to follow a new-fangled principle - if the moon birth is confirmed to happen at least 2-3 minutes before sunset, then the new month will assumed to have started. So apparently hilal is not going to be a condition anymore. Decision at this instance is not one-off but will be the new basis going forward. All these years, Saudi mahaq formula was ridiculed; now all of a sudden several sunni masajids have decided to follow its suit. Moon visibility was not possible today (Sunday) evening as per the moon-sighting charts. See here or here. Most detailed analysis here. Sad times indeed.
