Question
I know some places who follow the calendar to decide what day Ramadhan starts and what day Eid is, which means that they already know the dates for Ramadhan and Eid.
Is this a valid opinion? Can I start my Ramadhan and is there room for such an opinion in the Hanafi Fiqh?
Answer
According to the Hanafi school of thought, there is no scope for such an opinion as these calendars are based on scientific calculations and not on the actual sighting of the crescent. The obligation of sighting of the crescent is clearly established in the following Hadith:
عن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: “صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ”
(مسلم: 1081)
Translation: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam as saying: “Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).”
(Muslim :1081)
We thus strongly advocate that you avoid following such pre-calculated calendars and follow reputable Ulema who search for the crescent at the each of every month and hence base their commencement of Ramadhaan, Eid, etc. on the actual sighting of the crescent.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
يَجِبُ أَنْ يَلْتَمِسَ النَّاسُ الْهِلَالَ فِي التَّاسِعِ وَالْعِشْرِينَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ وَقْتَ الْغُرُوبِ فَإِنْ رَأَوْهُ صَامُوهُ، وَإِنْ غُمَّ أَكْمَلُوهُ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْمًا كَذَا فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ شَرْحِ الْمُخْتَارِ. وَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَلْتَمِسُوا هِلَالَ شَعْبَانَ أَيْضًا فِي حَقِّ إتْمَامِ الْعَدَدِ، وَهَلْ يَرْجِعُ إلَى قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْخِبْرَةِ الْعُدُولِ مِمَّنْ يَعْرِفُ عِلْمَ النُّجُومِ الصَّحِيحُ أَنَّهُ لَا يُقْبَلُ كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ، وَلَا يَجُوزُ لِلْمُنَجِّمِ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِحِسَابِ نَفْسِهِ كَذَا فِي مِعْرَاجِ الدِّرَايَةِ.
الفتاوى الهندية (1/ 197)