End of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia

29-12-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

It was impossible to see the new moon in Saudi on Friday 12th November, 2004. How did they manage to announce end of Ramadhaan? Where/when was the moon seen?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The sighting of the moon of the month of Shawwaal was announced in Saudi Arabia on Friday night based on the sighting of a person whose sighting and testimony is accepted by the Islamic court. The questioner did not illustrate why it was impossible to see the moon in Saudi Arabia on that day; it might be that it was based on the statements of the astronomers. If that is the case, then what matters is the sighting and not the astronomical calculations. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Fast according to the sighting of the moon (fast after you have seen the new crescent) and end the fast (at the end of the month) when you see it." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allaah knows best.

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