Eid al Filter

Let us side-step all other discussions about authenticity, context and take this Hadeeth on face value.

Doesn’t it demolish the entire concept of Ruyah (sighting) in Islam. In 2017, all we have to do is wait for some sighting somewhere (first) and the whole world merely follows that sighting? For example Malaysia/Indonesia sight and California 12+ hours earlier simply announces start (or end of) Ramadhan. Does your mind accept the implication and applicability of this Hadeeth? Why bother with the sighting of the Moon, then?

Next, why is it that for the past 40 years Saudi Arabic has consistently sighted the Moon (more often than not) before anyone else on Planet Earth? Before the changing of rules, it was consistent and every time. Does your mind accept that a single location on Earth can consistently sight the moon for 40 years before anybody else? Again, take the Hadeeth on face-value and nobody needs to sight the moon, at all.

Even if you disregard the issue of Hadeeth being quoted in error and you cling to the (supposedly Hanafi) opinion that there is no differences of horizons (i.e. sighting in Jakarta is valid for Rabat thousands of miles away), British Muslims still cannot follow Saudi Arabia for Dhul-Hijjah as the Hanafi Madhab is clear:

www.wifaqululama.co.uk/is-hajj-invalid/

Allamah Shami (RA) [1198–1252] states Local Sighting for Dhul-Hijjah:

Allamah Shami (RA) [1198–1252] explicitly states that global sighting is not applicable for the month of Dhul-Hijjah and there is clear evidence for this in the Hanafi Madhab even if a person follows the opinion of global sighting in the Hanafi Madhab

يُفْهَمُ مِنْ كَلَامِهِمْ فِي كِتَابِ الْحَجِّ أَنَّ اخْتِلَافَ الْمَطَالِعِ فِيهِ مُعْتَبَرٌ فَلَا يَلْزَمُهُمْ شَيْءٌ لَوْ ظَهَرَ أَنَّهُ رُئِيَ فِي بَلْدَةٍ أُخْرَى قَبْلَهُمْ بِيَوْمٍ وَهَلْ يُقَالُ كَذَلِكَ فِي حَقِّ الْأُضْحِيَّةِ لِغَيْرِ الْحُجَّاجِ؟ لَمْ أَرَهُ وَالظَّاهِرُ نَعَمْ؛ لِأَنَّ اخْتِلَافَ الْمَطَالِعِ إنَّمَا لَمْ يُعْتَبَرْ فِي الصَّوْمِ لِتَعَلُّقِهِ بِمُطْلَقِ الرُّؤْيَةِ، وَهَذَا بِخِلَافِ الْأُضْحِيَّةِ فَالظَّاهِرُ أَنَّهَا كَأَوْقَاتِ الصَّلَوَاتِ يَلْزَمُ كُلَّ قَوْمٍ الْعَمَلُ بِمَا عِنْدَهُمْ فَتُجْزِئُ الْأُضْحِيَّةُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثَ عَشَرَ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَلَى رُؤْيَا غَيْرِهِمْ هُوَ الرَّابِعَ عَشَرَ وَاَللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ

…It is understood from their words in kitab ul-hajj (chapter of hajj) that difference of place in respect of the moon’s rising (ikhtilaaf ul-mataali’) is taken into considerstion (for thu l-hijjah). Therefore, they will not be liable of (any missed acts of worship) if it becomes evident that it (the crescent) was sighted in another country a day before them. Can the same be said for the Qurbani of non-pilgrims? Although I have not seen this (issue in books), the plausible (answer) is, yes! Because ikhtilaaf ul-mataali’ is given no consideration in respect of fasting, as fasting is dependant on absolute/sheer/… sighting, while Qurbani is similar to the times of prayers; each group (of people) is tasked with performing it according to their circumstances. As such, Qurbani on the 13th day (of thu l-hijjah) is valid, although it maybe the 14 day according to the sighting of others. Allah knows best.