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Starting Ramadan according to calendar or local moon siting

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Fatwaa.com

Salaam alaykum
In USA the vast majority of Muslims go by the calendar on when to start fasting Ramadan and celebrating Eids. A small minority go by local moon siting. The mosque closest to my house goes by local moon siting. Should I follow when the vast majority start fasting Ramadan for the sake of unity or go by the local moon siting in accordance to the sunnah which is usually one day later than the majority. pls advise . Thank you

JAK

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

It is great to note that the Masjid closest to you follow local moon sighting. We recommend that you follow this Masjid, since you will be practicing on the Sunnah. Your unity will be with the people of your town and community, even though it contradicts the vast majority in your country.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best

Wassalaam,

Ismail Moosa (Mufti)

References

عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنه قال قال  رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: الشهر تسع و عشرون ليلة فلا تصوموا حتى تروه فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا العدة ثلاثين – متفق عليه

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال  رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: صوموا لرؤيته و أفطروا لرؤيته فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثين – متفق عليه

This answer was collected from Fatwaa.com which is an excellent Q&A site managed by Mufti Ismail Moosa from South Africa. .

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