Moonsighting

May 6, 2021 | Sawm (Fasting)

Question

I live in an area where the majority of mosques including the two mosques in my city have signed an agreement that they will follow astronomical Moon calculation method for moonsighting. They follow this for ramadan and eid. I personally prefer to follow the actual moonsighting method. But if I follow that then I will be in a small minority of people celebrating ramadan and eid on different dates than the rest.
The agreement by the mosques about astronomical calculations also says that even if you don’t agree with this, you should observe ramadan and eid with the rest of the community. Please advise. I have attached file.


Answer

If it is practical for you to start and end your Ramadan by following the moon sighting method then there is no harm in you doing this. Even though you will be part of a small minority using this method, if you feel this is the correct approach then you should follow this.

If, however, it is difficult or impractical for you to follow the moon sighting method then you can follow the alternative method and make up the difference at a later date. For example, if you have large family who you will be doing Ramadan and Eid with, and they will be going by the astronomical moon calculation method, then you don’t necessarily have to agree with the method but you can start and end your Ramadan according to it so that your practice aligns with your family. However, as your belief is that the moon sighting method is correct, if that method has an extra day of fasting, compared to the calculation method, then keep that extra fast at a later date.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman-Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel