Which method of moon sighting do you follow?

[Amina987]

every year muslims in england start Ramadan at a different times to the other half despite efforts to reach an agreement

Ramadan is supposed to begin at the sighting of the new moon

One half will wait for astronomical calculations to inform them accurately when the new moon will arrive

and the other half wait for physical sightings in saudi arabia to be relayed back to london. overcast skies could delay this happening until a day later


Me and my family follow the birmingham mosque, which method does your mosque follow and do you have any opinions on what is more correct?

Jazakallah

[Rabbits]

as-Salamu Alaikum,

What about not doing either and just looking for the crescent moon in Birmingham according to the calendar in the United Kingdom. That would be more practical and maybe easier, if I'm correct.

And Allah knows best.

[nadeemabdulhamid]

and the other half wait for physical sightings in saudi arabia to be relayed back to london. overcast skies could delay this happening until a day later

Saudi doesn't follow "physical" sighting and they always start before the rest of the world (astronomically impossible)... And saudi scholars say that rest of world should not follow Saudi announcement but go with local sighting...

[Nawawi619]

every year muslims in england start Ramadan at a different times to the other half despite efforts to reach an agreement

Ramadan is supposed to begin at the sighting of the new moon

One half will wait for astronomical calculations to inform them accurately when the new moon will arrive

and the other half wait for physical sightings in saudi arabia to be relayed back to london. overcast skies could delay this happening until a day later


Me and my family follow the birmingham mosque, which method does your mosque follow and do you have any opinions on what is more correct?

Jazakallah

As Salamu Alaykum

It all depends on what school of jurisprudence you follow. In the Shafi'i and Maliki schools the main position is local moonsighting (for example north america constitutes one region). If the moon is not sighted on 29th night of Sha'ban, then Sha'ban goes to 30 days. The day after the 30th day of Sha'ban would then be the first fasting day of Ramadan.

In the Hanafi school, global sighting is the main position, while other Hanafis also take the Shafi'i/Maliki position of local sighting. So if the moon is verifyably sighted in any part of the world, then their next day is the fast day. If no reliable witnesses view the moon, they follow the 30 days of the Sha'ban and fast the following day.

I personally wouldnt follow masajid or centers do unless their moonsighting is based on the four accepted schools of jurisprudence.

Wa Llahu Alim.

[Amina987]

Saudi doesn't follow "physical" sighting and they always start before the rest of the world (astronomically impossible)... And saudi scholars say that rest of world should not follow Saudi announcement but go with local sighting...

The traditional method, mentioned in the Qur'an and followed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) , is to look to the sky and visibly sight the slight crescent moon (hilal) that marks the beginning of the month. If one sees the hilal at night, the next day is the first day of Ramadan and thus the first day of fasting. At the end of the month, when the community sights the hilal again, the Festival of Fast-Breaking ('Eid al-Fitr) begins.

[Amina987]

as-Salamu Alaikum,

What about not doing either and just looking for the crescent moon in Birmingham according to the calendar in the United Kingdom. That would be more practical and maybe easier, if I'm correct.

And Allah knows best.

As far as i'm aware this is the prevailing opinion on this matter now. Me and my family have always followed our local mosque as we have been advised that this is the easiest option for us to take. May Allah reward us for trying to please Him best

[Saeed M]

You can refer to this thread for more information on this matter.

[Amina987]

You can refer to this thread for more information on this matter.

Jazakallah bro, this will be a great help to me for forming my own opinion on the matter

Salams

[Sarah Mc]

As salamu aleykum
I've just started researching this in preparation for my first Ramadan, I will go and look out of my bedroom window, window of the front room or go and sit in the garden and when I see spot the moon, I will recite the takbir, insha'Allah. Then I will go and pray and eat my dates and drink my water

And Allah knows best.

Sarah

[not known]

As salamu aleykum
I've just started researching this in preparation for my first Ramadan, I will go and look out of my bedroom window, window of the front room or go and sit in the garden and when I see spot the moon, I will recite the takbir, insha'Allah. Then I will go and pray and eat my dates and drink my water

And Allah knows best.

Sarah

Good answer