Saudi Arabia announced that Sunday, July 11, is the first day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and Eid al-Adha is on July 20. A statement issued by the Saudi Supreme Court stated, “Saturday is the 30th of Dhul-Qa’dah, and Monday, July 19, is the day of standing on Arafa,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.
What about astronomers? Is it counted in Shari^ah?
What is considered in the entry of the Hijri months is that the sighting of the crescent is confirmed by the testimony of the trustworthy men, and there is no entry for astronomical calculation in establishing whether the month has entered or not. And the evidence for this is many, including Prophet Muhammad’s saying, peace be upon him (what means): Do not fast until you see it, and do not break your fast until you see it, and if it is cloudy for you, then measure for it. (Narrated by Muslim).
And he, may God bless him and grant him peace, said (what means): “Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it.” This hadeeth is agreed upon, and his hadeeth, peace and blessings of God be upon him (what means): If you see it, then fast, and if you see it, break your fast. Narrated by Al-Bukhariyy.
The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, referred to the reason for making the entry of the month based on a proven sighting without reckoning, because of the ease in it for the obligated, this Shari^ah is tolerant and came to the urban and the Bedouin, the scholar and the ignorant. It is imperative that the ways of knowing the shari^ah rulings be accessible to everyone. This is the meaning of his saying, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him: We are an illiterate nation, we do not write or count, the month is like this and so, meaning twenty-nine times and thirty-nine times. Al-Bukhari narrated it from the hadith of Ibn Umar.
The texts of the scholars have proliferated indicating that the consensus of the predecessors is to abandon the work of arithmetic, and those who said otherwise were mistaken.
In conclusion, the sayings of astronomers and their opinions regarding the establishment of the beginning of the month or not are not taken into consideration, and that what is considered in this is the shari^ah way of sighting, so when the trustworthy men witnesses the sighting of the new moon, fasting and breaking the fast is obligatory. That you are obligated to make up because of what some astronomers say, but whoever said this has lost the cure.
