Sayf Al Furqan Publications

Al Imam Al Qurtubi said:

“And we don’t know any scholar who said this before (that we can depend on those who follow astronomical calculations) except some followers of the Shafie School, and the preceding scholarly consensus is a clear proof against them.” (Abu Abdillah Al Qurtubi, Al Jami’ L’ahkam Al Quran, V1, p.363)

Ibn Hajar Al Asqalany says in Fathul Bari:

“And some people were of the opinion that
depending on those who follow Astronomical Calculations is acceptable, and those people
are the Rawafid (Shi’aa), and it has been transmitted that some (Sunni) Scholars agreed
with them, but Al Baji confirmed that the preceding scholarly consen (Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, Fathul Bari Sharh Sahih Al Bukhari, V4, p.127)

Ibn Taymiya said:

“It is common knowledge in the religion of Islam that following the verdict of a Hasib (someone who follows Astronomical Calculations) on whether the Crescent is sightable or not sightable is not permitted in establishing the sighting of the crescent of fasting, pilgrimage, Idda (waiting period for a divorce or a widow), Iylaa’(form of divorce) or any other Islamic rulings dependent on the Crescent, and the wide spread legal texts from the Prophet (PBUH) supporting this are numerous, and Muslims have agreed on this and there is no old or new difference of opinion on the matter, except that some Scholars after the third century claimed that if the Crescent is obscured, then the Hasib (himself only) is permitted to follow his own Astronomical Calculations, so if his calculations lead to the sightability he fasts and if not he doesn’t fast, and this opinion, although restricted with obscurity of the Crescent and specifically allowed for the Hasib himself, is a rogue opinion preceded by Scholarly Consensus (i.e: the scholarly agreement that calculations are invalid in all cases). As for following Astronomical Calculations when the crescent is not obscured, or making ( Ibn Taymiya Al Harrani, Majmoo’ Al Fatawa, V25, p.132)

Ibn Taymiya also said:

“Undoubtedly the calculations are rejected by the Sunnah as well as consensus of the Companions, as the authentic Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim says, The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said: “We are an unlettered nation we do not write and we do not calculate, fast upon sighting it and stop fasting upon sighting it.” Therefore the one who depends upon calculations is a misguided innovator not only mistaken in the matters of Shari’ah but also in the matters of logic and the science of calculations” (Ibn Taymiya Al Harrani, Majmoo’ Al Fatawa, V25, p.207)

Ibn Abideen said in his commentary:

“(His saying: There is no significance to the statements of al­mowak­kiteen {those who calculate astronomically}) meaning in the obligation of fasting. In fact, in the book Al­Mi’raj it is mentioned that there is scholarly consensus that there is no value to their statements. And the Munajjim (the person who calculates astronomically) is not allowed to fast depending on his own calculations.” (Mohammad Ameen Ibn Aabideen, Rad Al Muhtar ‘Alad­duril Mukhtar, V2, p.100 )

Ibn Abideen also said:

“The Imams of the four schools stated that the correct opinion is that there is no significance to the sighting of the crescent in the morning and that the sighting is only significant at night, and that there is no significance in the statements of the munajjimeen (those who calculate astronomically).” (Mohammad Ameen Ibn Aabideen, Rad Al Muhtar ‘Alad‐duril Mukhtar, V2, p.104)

Imam Ad‐dareer said in Ash­sharhul Kabir:

“The start of Ramadan is established… either by completing the month of Shaaban thirty days … not by Astronomical Calculations according to the Mash­hoor (the famous fatwa in the school) because the legislator (Allah SWT) made the ruling dependent on the sighting of the crescent or the completion of thirty days for Shabaan.” ( Mohammad Ad‐dusuki, Hashiyat ad­dusuki ‘Alash­sharhil Kabeer, V1, p.510)

Sheikh Ahmad Zarrouk says in his commentary on Risalat ibn Abi Zayd:

“It is apparent from his words that no attention should be given to those who follow astronomical calculations, and this is the TRUTH!” (Ahmad Zarouk, Sharh Risalat Ibn Abi Zaid, V1, p.291)

Al Qurtubi said:

“ Ibn Nafi’ narrated that Malik said that if an Imam (Head of an Islamic State) does not fast according to physical moon sighting and does not break his fast according to moon sighting but instead fasts and breaks fast according to astronomical calculations, he is not to be obeyed or followed! (Abu Abdillah Al Qurtuby, Al Jami’ L’ahkam Al Quran, V1, p.363)

Imam An‐Nawawi said:

“Whoever approves of following Astronomical Calculations his opinion is rejected by the Prophet’s Hadith: (we are a nation that does not write or calculate, the month is like this and like this…) the Hadith… So the correct opinion is the opinion of the majority of Scholars and every other opinion is corrupt and rejected by the apparent Hadith (Yahia Ibn Sharaf An‐nawawi, Al Majmoo’, V6, p.270)

Ibn Hajar Al Haitami said in Tuhfatul Muhtaj:

“Fasting in Ramadan becomes compulsory through completing Shabaan or the sighting of the Crescent… not according to an astrologer… or a Hasib (one who calculates)… and it is not permitted for anyone to follow them (Ibn Hajar Al Haitamy, Tuhfatul Muhtaj, V4, P.492,493)

Shamsud‐din Ar‐ramli said in Nihayatul Muhtaj:

“We can also understand from the words of the author (An‐nawawi) that the sighting of the Crescent can be established by sighting even if Astronomical Calculations state that there is no possibility of sighting… because the legislator (Allah and His Prophet) did not depend on Astronomical Calculations but in fact totally ignored it, and this is the Truth as my father (Ash‐shihab Ar‐ramli) gave a Fatwa accordingly. (Shamsud‐din Ar‐ramly, Nihatul Muhtaj, V3, p.153)

Ibn Muflih Al Hanbali said:

“Whoever fasts according to astrology or astronomical calculations his fasting is invalid, even if he turns out to be correct, and no confirmation of sighting should be based on either, even if they are usually correct” ( Ibn Muflih Al Hanbali, Al Furoo’, V3, p.11)

Ibn Qudamah said:

“And if someone depends on the statements of astrologers and those who have the knowledge of calculation, and it turns out that he was right, his fasting is invalid, even if they are usually correct, because it is not a legal proof that one can depend on, or act upon, so its presence ( Ibn Qudamah Al Maqdisy, Al Moghny, V3, p.9)

Sheikh Abdur Raheem Tawfiq notes:

“The four Madhahib are in agreement and consensus that taking the opinions of astronomers is invalid, and that Imam al-Subki (who endorsed calculations) from the Shafi scholars had opposed the majority of the Muslims, which later day scholars from his Madhab had refuted him (afterwards).”. (Fatawa al Duktur al-Qaradawi allati khalafa al-Madhahib al-Arba’ah fi al-‘Ibadat, pg. 94)

Al-Jassas (RA) writes:

Therefore, the one who says we must regard the phases of the moon, and the calculations of the astronomers has come out of the pale of the ruling of the Shariah, and this is not a place Ijtihad can be performed, due to the clear direction in the Book, the explicit (Nass) Sunnah, and the consensus (Ijma’) of the jurists against it.” (Zafar Ahmad Al Uthmani, Ahkam al-Quran, 1/195)

Imam Ali al-Qari (d. 1014 AH) states in Mirqaat al-Mafateeh:

“Rather, I say: If an astronomer fasts Ramadan before its sighting, based on his knowledge, he is sinning in his fast… And if he establishes Eid al-Fitr based on his corrupt claim, he is a sinner (Fasiq). Expiation is obligatory upon him.”.