Calculations Versus Sighting

What are the Criteria?

At present, most bodies are determining the commencement and cessation of Ramadan by calculation and not by sighting. If a local Islamic authority is advertising the date of Eid 10 days in advance, then it is being determined by calculation.

Some scholars calculate Ramadan or Eid based on the birth of the new moon. If one is to follow the theory of the hadith, then the moon must either be sighted or sightable, that is the test. Just because the moon is born today, does not mean the new month begins tomorrow. As such, this website will determine the new lunar month by the theoretical sightability of the new moon and not its birth.

Local v Global Sighting

Much is made about local versus global sightings and now we have the further complexity of regional sightings. In short, a local sighting is one that takes place in your city, a regional sighting is one that takes place in a nearby city or country, and a global sighting is one that takes place anywhere in the world. Presumably there are fatwas that permit regional and global sightings.

If you are physically sighting the moon, you will typically reply on a local sighting. However, when determining the commencement of the new month by calculation, a global sighting is the more appropriate. This means the first possible theoretical global sighting marks the time. A theoretical sighting assumes ideal conditions.

To be sure, the Middle East has been using calculations and global sightings for some time. The evidence of this is that the new moon of Eid il Fitr (21 April 2023) was not sighted in the Middle East on 20 April 2023, it was in fact sighted elsewhere and during their night. Nonetheless, they broke the fast the following day.

Not All Countries Will fast the same number of Days or at the Same Time

There seems to be a view that the entire Ummah should fast and break fast on the same day. Whilst this may be ideal, regardless of the method used it often not possible. This may be seen as a controversial statement however the fact is whether using physical sightings or calculations, the local or global method, its unlikely the entire globe will be able to fast and break fast on the same day. The only way to achieve this is by consensus.

Since the dawning of Islam there has been conjecture about the commencement and cessation of Ramadan and whether the Ummah as a whole, should fast simultaneously or if each city or nation should determine Ramadan for itself. Even in the days shortly after the Prophet (PBUH) the companions had differing views as is set out by the below narration of a discussion between Kuraib (R.A) and Ibn Abbas (R.A):[1]

Kuraib (RA) said:   “While I was in Syria, the new moon of Ramadan appeared on Friday night. I returned to Medina at the end of the month. There, Ibn Abbas (R.A) questioned me in relation to the new moon:

He said:                  When did you see the new moon?

I said:                     We saw it on Friday night.

He said:                  Did you see it yourself?

I said:                     Yes, and the people also saw it, so they observed fasting and Mu’awiyah                                     also observed the fast.

He said:                 But we saw it on Saturday night so we will continue to observe the fast until                                 we complete thirty days of fasting, or we see it.

I said:                     Is the sighting of the moon and observing the fast by Mu’awiyah not valid                                     for you?

He said:                  No, this is how the messenger of Allah (PBUH) has commanded us.