What counts with regard to the beginning and end of the month is sighting of the moon

 

Some people claimed to have sighted the new moon of Ramadan, whilst astronomers and those who follow calculations claim that it is not possible to have sighted it on that night. There is no confusion in my mind because of this, as calculations may be wrong. But what does confuse me is that the astronomers and those who deal with calculations claim that they tried to sight the moon that night with the telescopes and other equipment that they have but they did not see it. How can it be seen with the naked eye and not with modern equipment? If it were the other way around, and they saw it with their equipment but it was not seen with the naked eye, there would be some justification for the difference of opinion as to whether we should fast or not, and whether the people should break the fast or not. But the problem is: How can they see it with the naked eye and it is not seen with their equipment? In fact I would like you to explain clearly so as to dispel my anxiety and confusion, because I do not think I am alone in this matter.

Praise be to Allaah.

What counts with regard to confirming the beginning of the
month of Ramadan is sighting of the new moon or the completion of 30 days of
Sha’baan if the moon is not sighted. This is what is indicated by the saheeh
Sunnah, and the scholars are unanimously agreed on it. Al-Bukhaari (1909)
and Muslim (1081) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Fast
when you see it and break the fast when you see it, and if it is cloudy then
reckon the month as thirty.”  

Astronomical calculations do not count. The basic principle
with regard to sighting is that it should be done with the naked eye, but if
the crescent moon is sighted with modern equipment, then this sighting may
be acted upon, as stated in the answer to question number 106489. With
regard to how the new moon is sighted with the naked eye when it is not seen
with telescopes and equipment, this may be due to differences in the place
and time of sighting. 

Whatever the case, the ruling depends on sighting of the new
moon. So long as it has been seen by one or two trustworthy Muslims, then it
is obligatory to act upon this sighting. 

Shaykh Saalih ibn Muhammad al-Lahaydaan, the head of the
Higher Judiciary Council (may Allah preserve him) said: There is a brother
called ‘Abd-Allaah al-Khudayri who is famous for sighting the moon and he is
one of those who are known to be involved in sighting the moon at different
stages, even at times other than the new moon. Some astronomers went to him
and met with him in the region of Hawtah Sadeer. And he told me that they
estimated that the moon would appear on that night in a certain place
according to the calculations they did on their computers, but he told them
that it would not appear from the place that they said, because he had seen
it before them the night before, and he knew the stations of the moon and
from where it would rise every night. Then when the moon appeared, it rose
from the place he mentioned and not they place they mentioned. But he
excused them because their conclusion was not based on direct moon sighting;
rather it was based on calculations with the computers they had. End quote
from an interview with him in al-Riyadh newspaper.