Moon sighting: Local vs Global?

[Servant of Allah]

For Moon sighting, should 1 follow local or global? Which is the stronger opinion?
I live in a country where unfortunately there is alot of controversy as to whether the organisations doing the moon sighting get it right or wrong, in this case should I just follow my country or follow global?
I saw this by Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah: "The sighting differs according to the east-west orientation. If it is seen in the east, it must be seen in the west, not the other way around. This is because the sunset in the west is delayed compared to its sunset in the east. Therefore, if it has been seen, it increases in brightness and moves further away from the sun and its rays at the time of its setting, making it more visible. This is not the case if it is seen from the west, because the reason for the delayed sighting may be the delayed sunset there, thus increasing the distance and the light. When the sun sets in the east, it is close to it. Therefore, when it is seen from the west, it has already set for those living in the east."
(Majmū al-Fataawa 25/104)

& I also seen the following but the wording may not be correct & if I'm wrong then please correct
"If the moon is sighted in a location, then regions to its west must follow that sighting - because the moon must be visible to the west. But those in the east, where the moon may not have risen yet at the time of the western sighting, are not automatically bound."
(If I'm not mistaken it's in Majmů al-Fatawa Vol 25/ Pg 111...page numbers may differ)

Can you please explain this view & what is your opinion on it?

 

[Danial]

For Moon sighting, should 1 follow local or global? Which is the stronger opinion?
I live in a country where unfortunately there is alot of controversy as to whether the organisations doing the moon sighting get it right or wrong, in this case should I just follow my country or follow global?
I saw this by Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah: "The sighting differs according to the east-west orientation. If it is seen in the east, it must be seen in the west, not the other way around. This is because the sunset in the west is delayed compared to its sunset in the east. Therefore, if it has been seen, it increases in brightness and moves further away from the sun and its rays at the time of its setting, making it more visible. This is not the case if it is seen from the west, because the reason for the delayed sighting may be the delayed sunset there, thus increasing the distance and the light. When the sun sets in the east, it is close to it. Therefore, when it is seen from the west, it has already set for those living in the east."
(Majmū al-Fataawa 25/104)

& I also seen the following but the wording may not be correct & if I'm wrong then please correct
"If the moon is sighted in a location, then regions to its west must follow that sighting - because the moon must be visible to the west. But those in the east, where the moon may not have risen yet at the time of the western sighting, are not automatically bound."
(If I'm not mistaken it's in Majmů al-Fatawa Vol 25/ Pg 111...page numbers may differ)

Can you please explain this view & what is your opinion on it?

The scholars have two major opinions:

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Opinion 1: Global Moon Sighting (One sighting for the whole Ummah)​

According to this view:
If the crescent is sighted anywhere in the Muslim world with valid shar‘i testimony, then all Muslims must follow that sighting.


This is the famous position of Imam Ahmad, and many scholars inclined to it.

Their evidences:​

1. Qur’an​

﴿فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ﴾
“Whoever among you witnesses the month must fast it.”

Reference: Quran: 2/185

They argue that Allah made the ruling general for all who witness the month.

2. Hadith​

«إذا رأيتموه فصوموا، وإذا رأيتموه فأفطروا»
“When you see it, fast. And when you see it, break the fast.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim: 1080

They say the wording is general: when you (Muslims) see it.

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Opinion 2: Local Moon Sighting (Following your region’s horizon)​

According to this view:
Each region follows its own sighting because horizons differ (اختلاف المطالع).
This is the opinion of the Shafi‘is, many Malikis, and it is the opinion chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen.

Their evidence:​

They also cite the same two texts, but their interpretation is different:

1. Qur’an​

﴿فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ﴾
“So whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it.”

Reference:

Reference: Quran: Surah al-Baqarah 2/185

If a person in a far country did not witness it nor share the same horizon, the ruling does not automatically apply to him.

2. Hadith​

«إذا رأيتموه فصوموا، وإذا رأيتموه فأفطروا»
“When you see it, then fast; and when you see it, then break the fast.”

Reference:

Reference: Sahih Muslim: Hadith 1080

It does not necessarily bind people who live far away with different horizons.

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2. Ibn Taymiyyah’s Explanation of East-West Difference​

You quoted correctly from Majmu’ al-Fatawa.


Ibn Taymiyyah explains:

If the moon is seen in the east,​

then logically it must be visible later in the west, because the sun sets later in the west, giving the moon more time to move away from the sun and become brighter.

But if it is seen in the west,​

this does not require that the east must have seen it, because:

• sunset occurs earlier in the east
• the moon may not have risen for them yet
• the angle and visibility conditions differ

So the ruling is not symmetrical.

Conclusion from his reasoning:​

• A western region may be obliged to follow the sighting of a region east of it.
• But an eastern region is not obliged to follow a western sighting.

This supports the principle: horizons differ.

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3. Statement attributed to Ibn Taymiyyah (vol. 25 / p. 111)​

You paraphrased it correctly:

“If the moon is sighted in a location, regions to its west must follow that sighting... but those in the east are not automatically bound.”

This is exactly the logic he presents in Majmu’ al-Fatawa.


It does not mean global moon sighting;
it means regional binding based on astronomical reality.

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4. The Fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمه الله)​

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen clearly prefers the opinion of local sighting based on horizons (اختلاف المطالع) and explicitly states this is the stronger view.

His reasoning (summarised from your quoted Urdu fatwa):​

• Scholars agree that horizons differ.
• Therefore, the ruling of the moon sighting must differ when horizons differ.
• Only if two countries share the same horizon should they follow one another.
• Ibn Taymiyyah held this position and his reasoning is “strong and supported by analogy and observation”.

He concludes this is the stronger opinion.

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5. Practical answer to your situation​

You said:

“In my country there is a lot of controversy about whether the organizations get it right.”

In such a case, the scholars advise:

Follow the reliable, shar‘i local authority IF it exists.​

Even if they may make mistakes, unity is better than chaos.

If there is no trustworthy local body,​

then you may follow:

1. the sighting of a nearby region that shares your horizon,
2. or a reliable Muslim country known for adhering to shar‘i committees (e.g., KSA),
   but only if your horizons are reasonably close.

This is the view of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Uthaymeen.

Do NOT follow global sighting blindly,​

because that contradicts the principle of differing horizons.

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6. Which opinion is strongest?​

According to Ibn Taymiyyah:​

Local/regional sighting with horizon consideration.

According to Ibn Uthaymeen:​

Local/regional sighting is the stronger view, and his argument is strong and logical.

This is also the view supported by astronomical reality and majority of contemporary Salafi scholars.​

 

[Servant of Allah]

I live in South Africa & there is alot of controversy as to whether they get their Moon sightings right especially since they rely primarily on the naked eye for sightings & don't accept any sightings with optimal aid & because of that they always usually 1 day later than Saudi even though Saudi time difference is only by 1 hour. Also, many times there are neighbouring countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe which share the same time zone as us yet they sometimes sight it but our Muslim authorities here in South Africa don't accept it as they want to rely strictly on local sighting

What should I do in this case?

 

[Danial]

I live in South Africa & there is alot of controversy as to whether they get their Moon sightings right especially since they rely primarily on the naked eye for sightings & don't accept any sightings with optimal aid & because of that they always usually 1 day later than Saudi even though Saudi time difference is only by 1 hour. Also, many times there are neighbouring countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe which share the same time zone as us yet they sometimes sight it but our Muslim authorities here in South Africa don't accept it as they want to rely strictly on local sighting

What should I do in this case?

In my openion, even if they may make mistakes, unity is better than chaos... , doesnt make sense if a majority is having fast and a few people not fasting....

Allah says يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم

واللہ اعلم بالصواب

 

[Servant of Allah]

In my openion, even if they may make mistakes, unity is better than chaos... , doesnt make sense if a majority is having fast and a few people not fasting....

Allah says يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم

واللہ اعلم بالصواب

In my country there are about 3 Salafi organisations while the rest is all run by Deobandis, Asharis & Maturidis

The 3 salafi organisations all follow the view of global sighting & generally follow Saudi & the Salafis here generally follow them so around 1000 people here follow the global while the vast majority which is Deobandi, Maturidi & Ashari which are around 200k people follow local