There is nothing wrong with using modern equipment to sight the moon

 

Is it permissible to rely on the calculations of the astronomical observatory regarding the beginning and end of a month? Is it permissible for the Muslim to use the modern equipment to sight the moon? Or must it be seen by the naked eye?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The shar’i method of proving that the new month has begun is
for the people to sight the crescent moon. That should be done by people
whose religious commitment and strong eyesight are to be trusted. If they
sight it, then it is obligatory to act upon this sighting, by fasting if it
is the new moon for the month of Ramadaan and by breaking the fast if it is
the new moon for the month of Shawwaal.  

It is not permissible to rely on astronomical calculations if
the moon is not sighted, but if there is a sighting, even if it is done by
an astronomical observatory, then it counts, because of the general meaning
of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him):
“When you see it then fast, and when you see it, then break the fast.” 

With regard to calculations, it is not permissible to act
upon them or to rely on them. 

With regard to using a telescope to see the crescent, there
is nothing wrong with it, but it is not necessary, because the apparent
meaning of the Sunnah is that we should rely upon ordinary sighting and not
anything else. But if it is used and the moon is sighted by a trustworthy
person, then this sighting may be acted upon. In the past, the people used
that because they used to climb up the minarets on the night before the 30th
of Sha’baan and the night before the 30th of Ramadan and look for
it by means of a telescope. 

Whatever the case, once it has been proven that it has been
sighted by any means, then it becomes obligatory to act upon this sighting,
because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allaah be upon him): “When you see it then fast, and when you see
it then break the fast.” End quote. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (May Allaah have mercy on
him). 

Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam
(p. 192, 193) 

we have quoted a fatwa from the Standing Committee for
Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas concerning this issue in the answer to
question number 1245, in which it says: It is permissible to use telescopes
etc. to sight the moon, but
it is not permissible to rely on astronomical data to
confirm the beginning or
end of the blessed month of Ramadaan. End quote. 

See: Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (9/99) 

Thus it is clear that those who claim that our scholars say
that it is haraam to use modern equipment to sight the moon and say that it
is obligatory to sight it with the naked eye are lying and making things
up. 

We ask Allaah, may He be exalted, to show us the truth as
truth and enable us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and
enable us to avoid it. 

And Allaah knows best.