The Muslims should cooperate in sighting the moon and informing the authorities

 

What should a person do if he saw the new moon of Ramadaan or Dhu’l-Hijjah, and he did not tell the relevant authorities about that?.

Praise be to Allaah.

What the one who sees the new moon on the night of the
thirtieth of Sha’baan or the thirtieth of Ramadaan or the thirtieth of
Shawwaal or the thirtieth of Dhu’l-Qa’dah should do is to inform the court
in his city, unless he knows that the sighting of the new moon has been
confirmed by someone else, in accordance with the words of Allaah
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety)”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2] 

“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you
can; listen and obey”

[al-Taghaabun 64:16] 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “The Muslim must hear and obey.” Narrated by Muslim (1839). 

And he said: “I urge you to fear Allaah and to hear and obey,
even if a slave is appointed over you.”  

It is well known that the ruler via the highest judiciary
council of Muslims requires the one who sights the new moon to inform the
authorities. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Fast when you see it (i.e. the new moon) and stop fasting when you
see it, … but if it is too cloudy then complete the number.” There is no way
of following these ahaadeeth except by the help of Allaah, then by
cooperation among the Muslims in sighting the new moon, and informing the
authorities when it is sighted. The one who sights it has to inform the
official authorities of that. Thus obedience to the shar’i commands and
cooperation in righteousness and piety will be achieved. And Allaah is the
Source of strength. End quote. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)