Is It Possible to Begin Fasting Worldwide on the Same Day? ❖
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Some people suggest aligning moon sightings across the world with that of Makkah so that Ramadan and other Islamic months may begin simultaneously everywhere, reflecting unity among the Ummah. What is your opinion regarding this suggestion?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ From the perspective of astronomy, this proposition is impossible.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has stated that moon sightings (matāliʿ) differ from region to region, and this is unanimously affirmed by experts in astronomy.
Since the moon rises at different times in different locations, the logical and textual conclusion is that each region should follow its own sighting.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
“So whoever among you witnesses the month must fast it.”
If people living in distant regions have not sighted the moon, while the people of Makkah have, then how would this verse apply to those who did not witness the crescent?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣawm, Ḥadīth: 1909;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣiyām, Ḥadīth: 1081 [18])
“Fast upon seeing it (the crescent), and break the fast upon seeing it.”
If the people of Makkah sight the crescent, how can it become obligatory for the people of Pakistan or those living further east, when the moon hasn’t even risen on their horizon?
The Prophet ﷺ made the obligation of fasting conditional on sighting the moon.
Logical reasoning also supports this principle.
Just as Fajr (dawn) appears earlier in the East than the West, we do not obligate Western regions to refrain from eating when it rises in the East.
Similarly, when the sun sets in the East but not in the West, it is not permissible for those in the West to break their fast.
The same rule applies to moon sighting.
The only difference is that the sun governs daily worship (like prayer and fasting timings), while the moon governs monthly acts (like fasting, Eid, Hajj).
Allah also says:
﴿...وَكُلوا وَاشرَبوا حَتّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الخَيطُ الأَبيَضُ مِنَ الخَيطِ الأَسوَدِ مِنَ الفَجرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيامَ إِلَى الَّيلِ...﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 187)
“Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread (of night), then complete the fast until nightfall…”
And He said again:
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
Textual and rational proofs clearly indicate that the ruling on beginning or ending the fast is region-specific and must be based on local sighting of the crescent, just as the timing of other acts of worship is based on visible natural signs (moon, sun, Fajr).
Thus, global unification of fasting dates is not feasible, neither religiously nor scientifically. Every region should follow the commands of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ based on their own observable signs.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❀ Question:
Some people suggest aligning moon sightings across the world with that of Makkah so that Ramadan and other Islamic months may begin simultaneously everywhere, reflecting unity among the Ummah. What is your opinion regarding this suggestion?
❀ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ From the perspective of astronomy, this proposition is impossible.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has stated that moon sightings (matāliʿ) differ from region to region, and this is unanimously affirmed by experts in astronomy.
Since the moon rises at different times in different locations, the logical and textual conclusion is that each region should follow its own sighting.
❖ Textual (Naqli) Evidence:
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
“So whoever among you witnesses the month must fast it.”
If people living in distant regions have not sighted the moon, while the people of Makkah have, then how would this verse apply to those who did not witness the crescent?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣawm, Ḥadīth: 1909;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣiyām, Ḥadīth: 1081 [18])
“Fast upon seeing it (the crescent), and break the fast upon seeing it.”
If the people of Makkah sight the crescent, how can it become obligatory for the people of Pakistan or those living further east, when the moon hasn’t even risen on their horizon?
The Prophet ﷺ made the obligation of fasting conditional on sighting the moon.
❖ Rational (ʿAqli) Evidence:
Logical reasoning also supports this principle.
Just as Fajr (dawn) appears earlier in the East than the West, we do not obligate Western regions to refrain from eating when it rises in the East.
Similarly, when the sun sets in the East but not in the West, it is not permissible for those in the West to break their fast.
The same rule applies to moon sighting.
The only difference is that the sun governs daily worship (like prayer and fasting timings), while the moon governs monthly acts (like fasting, Eid, Hajj).
Allah also says:
﴿...وَكُلوا وَاشرَبوا حَتّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الخَيطُ الأَبيَضُ مِنَ الخَيطِ الأَسوَدِ مِنَ الفَجرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيامَ إِلَى الَّيلِ...﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 187)
“Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread (of night), then complete the fast until nightfall…”
And He said again:
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
❖ Conclusion:
Textual and rational proofs clearly indicate that the ruling on beginning or ending the fast is region-specific and must be based on local sighting of the crescent, just as the timing of other acts of worship is based on visible natural signs (moon, sun, Fajr).
Thus, global unification of fasting dates is not feasible, neither religiously nor scientifically. Every region should follow the commands of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ based on their own observable signs.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
