Lunar Month Chapter – 1, Episode – 14 If new-moon is sighted in one country, then all other countries will have to start Ramadan & observe Eid.

If new-moon is sighted in one country, then all other countries will have to start Ramadan & observe Eid.

1. In Bangladesh, there is a “National Moon Sighting Committee”.
   1. The job of this committee is to inform the citizen, about sighting of new-moon anywhere in Bangladesh.
   1. The committee does not hesitate to announce the new-moon sighting of Jessore, Thakurgaon or Shatkhira to all, even if it is not sighted at Dhaka or any other place.
   1. Questions may arise, as to why people of those areas will keep fast, where new-moon is not sighted?
   1. If people of some area of a country can start Ramadan without sighting the new-moon, then why can’t the people of the neighboring countries start Ramadan?
   1. With this logic, it can easily be said that, if new-moon is sighted in one country, all other countries will have to start fasting or observe Eid. Reason behind this is that, the earth is round for which the 1^st new moon will be seen from only few countries and never from all the countries of the world at a time.
   1. Difference in places of  moon rise or border of a country is not the pre-condition for sighting of the new-moon –
      1. In ayat no. 2:189, Allah (swt) has said that the whole mankind is to start 12 months unitedly with the help of 12 new-moons. He did

not say to count months separately in different countries.

• Rasul (pbuh) also instructed the entire Muslim Ummah to start Ramadan by sighting new moon. But he did not tell the people of any area or country to do so separately.
  • Why did we introduce the system of sighting the new-moon on different days in different countries, by disobeying the rule set by Allah (swt) or His Rasul (pbuh)?
  • As additional references, other than 4 Mazhabs, following Hadith and books on Fatwa may be consulted-  

• Muslim Sharif -1/347
• Fathul Bari Fi sarhe

saheeheel Bokhari – 4/154

• Tirmizi sharif – 148
• Abu Daud – 320
• Ibn Maza – 119
• Nasayi – 231
• Mishkat – 174
• Al Muntaka Fi Sharhil

Muatta – 2/137

• Bazlul Mazahud Fi Halli Abu

Daud – 11/107

• Mayarifus sunan – 5/337
• Fatwaye Shami – 2/99,105
• Fatwaye Alamgiri – 1/158,198
• Fatwaye Darul Ulum – 6/385
• Majmuaye Fatwa – 358
• Azizul Fatwa – 422
• Fatwaye Kazikhan – 1/198
• Fatwaye Tatar khania – 2/355
• Fatwaye Ibn Taimiya – 25/107
• Fatwaye Rashidiya – 437
• Fatwaye Bajjaziyah – 4/567
• Al Fatwa Al Waheda – 1/620
• Imdadul Mufti – 55
• Nahrul Fayek Majmuaye

Fatwa – 1/369

• Fatwaye Azizia – 3/49
• Al Fiqh Alal Mazhabil

Arbaye -1/550

• Al Bahrur Rayek – 2/270
• Kurtubee – 2/197
• Taqrire Termizee – 22
• Sharhu Fathil Qadir – 2/243
• Ramzul Hakayek Sharhu

Kanzuddakkayek – 2/209

• Hashiatut Tahtabi Ala Marakil

Falah – 359

• Waqiatul Muftiyeen – 10
• Majmaul, anhur sharhu

Multakal Abhur – 1/239

• Al Fikhus sunnah – 1/307
• Al Mugni – 4/122
• Tazbinul Hakayek – 2/164
• Mayariful Madaniyyah – 3/23
• Miftahun Najjah – 1/432
• Tanzimul Astat – 1/41
• Behesti Jewor – 11/510
• Fathul Mulhem – 3/113
• Jameur Ramuj – 156
• Muratal Manajih – 2/143
• Tarikhal Islam – 2/188
• Al Kafi – 1/468