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According
to the majority of scholars, it does not matter if the new moon has been
sighted in a different location. In other words, after the new moon is
seen anywhere in the world, it becomes obligatory for all Muslims to
begin fasting, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"Fast due to its sighting and break the fast due to its
sighting." This Hadith is a general address directed to the whole
Muslim Ummah - that is, "if any one of you sees the moon in any
place, then that will be a sighting for all of the people."
According
to `Ikrimah, Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Salim, Ishaq, the correct opinion
among the Hanafis, and the chosen opinion among the Shafi`is, every
"country" (or territory) is to take into consideration its own
sighting and not necessarily to follow the sighting of others. This is
based on what Kuraib said: "While I was in Ash-Sham, the new moon
of Ramadan appeared on Thursday night. I returned to Madinah at the end
of the month. There, Ibn `Abbas asked me: 'When did you people see the
new moon?' I said: 'We saw it on Thursday night.' He said: 'Did you see
it yourself?' I said: 'Yes, the people saw it, and they and Mu`awiyyyah
fasted.' He said: 'But we saw it on Friday night. We will not stop
fasting until we complete thirty days or until we see the new moon.' I
said: 'Isn't Mu'awiyyah's sighting and fasting sufficient for you?' He
said: 'No . . . This is the order of the Messenger of Allah.'"
About
the Hadith, At-Tirmidhi says: "It is Hasan Sahih Ghareeb. Scholars
act in accordance with this Hadith. Every land has its sighting."
In Fathul-`Allam Sharh Bulughil-Maram, it is stated: “The [opinion]
closest [to the truth] is that each land follows its sighting, as well
as the areas that are connected to it."
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