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Old 01-06-2009, 10:01 PM   #10
doogiehoussi

Join Date
Oct 2005
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534
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Asslamo Allaikum,

I believe that dates for North America/Europe/Saudia are the same which are:

a) 09th of Muharram 1430 on Tuesday the 06th of January 2008
b) 10th of Muharram 1430 on Wednesday the 07th of January 2008

I believe that Saudia this year has changed its PRE-CALCULATED date for Muharram and gone one day ahead therefore all dates are now aligned.

http://www.moonsighting.com/1430muh.html

The simple solution to all people in North America & Europe is to follow the Sunnah and follow local Moonsighting and that way you won't be confused.

Wifaqul-Ulama Announcement for UK Residents:

http://www.wifaqululama.co.uk/

Sighting the Hilal for Muharram 1430AHMany Muslims throughout the UK did make the effort try to sight the moon of Muharram after Maghrib on the 27th ofDecember 2008, but all reported 'Negative sighting'. We did not receive news of a reliable sighting from any country to theEast of UK, hence the Wifaq Ul Ulama declares Thirty days for the month of Dhul Hijjah. The First of Muharram will be onMonday the 29th of December, and the day of Aashuraa will be on Wednesday the 7th of January, InshaAllah. Monthlycalendar to follow.

Hilal Committe for American Residents:

http://www.hilalsighting.org/content/view/97/1/

Hilalsighting Committee of North America would like to confirm that there were several verifiable reports of sightings of the Muharram Crescent after the sunset on Sunday December 28th, 2008. The reports were received from Miami, Austin, Orlando, Dallas, San Jose (CA), etc..

The astronomical data also strongly predicted the possibility of naked-eye sighting in most of North America.

Therefore,we announce that Monday, December 29, 2008 is the first date of Muharram 1430.

Islamic Date in Saudia:

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/ (Saudi Gazette: Take a look at the date)

http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewphotonews....=31735_T33.JPG (Saudi Press Agency: Take a look at the date)


Shaykh Uthaymeen (RA), Saudi Mufti tells people to follow their local Moon:

As we in India are keen to fast on the day of ‘Arafah, but the Hijri date in India is different from the date in Saudi: when the date in India is the 8th of the month, it is the 9th in Saudi. Should I fast on the 8th – which is the 9th in Saudi – or should I fast according to the date in India?

These are the type of question arrive every time when Ramadan comes or the day of Arafah comes Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: what if the day of ‘Arafah is different because of the moon being sighted at different times in different countries? Should we fast according to the moon sighting in the country where we are or according to the moon sighting in al-Haramayn (the two Holy Sanctuaries)?

He replied: This is based on a difference of opinion among the scholars: Is there only one moon sighting for the whole world or does it vary according to when the moon rises in different places?

The correct view is that it varies according to when the moon rises in different places. For example, if the moon is sighted in Makkah, and today is the ninth, and it is sighted elsewhere one day before Makkah, and the day of ‘Arafah in Makkah is the tenth for them, it is not permissible for them to fast on this day because it is Eid. Similarly if it so happens that they sight the moon after Makkah, and the 9th in Makkah is the 8th for them, then they should fast the day that is the 9th for them, which is the 10th in Makkah. This is the correct view, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you see it (the new moon) fast and when you see it break your fast.” Those who did not see the moon in their own location have not seen it. Just as people are unanimously agreed that the times for dawn and sunset vary according to their own location, so too the months are also worked out by location, just like the daily timings. Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 20.

And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about some people who worked in the Saudi embassy in a foreign country, who said that they were having a problem concerning the fast of Ramadaan and the fast on the day of ‘Arafah. The brothers there had split into three groups:

One group said: we will fast with Saudi and break the fast with Saudi.

Another group said: we will fast with the country where we are living and break the fast with them.

The last group said: we will fast Ramadaan with the country where we are living, but we will fast the day of ‘Arafah with Saudi.

They asked the Shaykh to provide them with a detailed answer concerning the Ramadaan fast and fasting the day of ‘Arafah, whilst noting that for the past five years, in the country where they were living neither Ramadaan nor the day of ‘Arafah had been observed on the same days as in Saudi; their Ramadaan started one or two days after it had been announced in Saudi, and sometimes three days after.

He replied:
In the name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) differed concerning the issue when the moon is sighted in one part of the Muslim world and not in another: do all the Muslims have to act on the basis of that, or only those who sighted it and the people who live in the same region, or only those who sighted it and the people who live under the same government? There are many different points of view.

The most correct view is that the matter should be referred to those who have knowledge of it. If the moon rises at the same point for two countries they become like one country, so if it is sighted in one of them that ruling applies to the other. But if the rising points differ, then each country has its own ruling. This is the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him); this is the apparent meaning of the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah and what is implied by analogy.

In the Qur’aan it says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

What is implied by this verse is that whoever does not see it is not obliged to fast.

In the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you see it (the new moon) then fast, and when you see it, break your fast.” What is implied by this hadeeth is that if we did not see it we are not obliged to fast or to break the fast.

With regard to analogy, the times for starting and ending the fast each day should be worked out in each country on its own, according to the local times of sunrise and sunset. This is a point on which there is scholarly consensus. So you see the people in east Asia starting their fast before the people of west Asia, and breaking their fast before them, because dawn breaks for the former before the latter, and the sun sets for the former before the latter.

Once this is established with regard to the times for starting and ending the daily fast, it also applies to the start and end of the monthly fast. There is no difference between them.

But if many regions come under the same government, and the ruler gives the command for the fast to start or end, then his command must be followed, because this is a matter of scholarly dispute but the command of the ruler dispels that dispute.

Based on the above, you should fast and break your fast along with the people of the country where you are living, whether that is in accordance with your country of origin or not. Similarly on the day of ‘Arafah you should follow the country where you are living.
by Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, 28/8/1420 AH. Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 19
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