Saudi Supreme Court calls on Muslims to sight the crescent

The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has called on Muslims in its jurisdictions to go out to sight the crescent of the sacred month of Ramadan, in an announcement that was released earlier today, 27^th of Shaʿbān 1438 at 10:56 AM Riyadh local time. ^[1]

This is as per the obligation of Muslim rulers to enjoin the people to try sight the moon and it is also a communal obligation (Wajib Kifāyah). ^[2]

The teachings for these actions are taken from Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) who encouraged the Muslims to seek sighting of the new moon. Abū Hurayrah (radiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:

“Fast when you see it and break the fast when you see it, and if it is too cloudy then complete the number (of days) of Shaʿbān as thirty.” ^[2]

And it was narrated from ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (radiy Allāhu ʿanhuma) that the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:

“The month is twenty-nine days, so do not fast until you see it, and if it is cloudy then complete the month as thirty days.” ^[2]

Please watch the below video for more clarification on the moon sighting and fasting times in Europe. The video’s description has lecture notes with approximate timestamps.

The Supreme Court has placed restrictions on the method of sighting to sighting by naked eyes and sighting through binoculars. The individuals who positively sight the moon have been asked to report to the neared court and register their testimony, or seek the assistance of the region’s centre in their respective areas of sighting to be facilitated to reach the nearest court.

The Islam21c team will keep you updated on this important information, please stay tuned. The Islam21c team would also like this take this opportunity to wish all readers a blessed Ramadān in advance.

 

 

References

[1]	Saudi Press Agency, “Supreme Court Calls on Muslims to Sight Ramadan Crescent on Thursday evening for 1438 H The official Saudi Press Agency,” Saudi Press Agency, 27 Sha’ban 1438. [Online]. Available: http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1633229. [Accessed 27 Sha’ban 1438].
[2]	Islamqa.info, “Is moonsighting essential? – islamqa.info,” Islamqa.info, 19 July 2012. [Online]. Available: https://islamqa.info/en/68828. [Accessed 23 May 2017].