Answered by: Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
What is dhāhir al-riwāyah (stronger position) in terms of moon sighting whether there is consideration of different maṭāli’ (horizons) or not?
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Answer:
Imam Ibn ‘Ābidīn (may Allāh’s mercy be upon him) has stated that the strongest position agreed by the majority of scholars of the Ḥanafī school is that there is no consideration of multiple horizons (individual local regional sightings). He also declares that this is what the muftā bihī position is. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 2, Page 393, Dār Al-Fikr)
Only Allāh knows best.
Written by Maulana Yūsuf Badāt
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham