1 Fasting is obligatory on every Muslim who finds Ramadan
2 Calenders should not be used to determine the dates
3 Naked Eye should be used for moon sighting
4 Moon sighting is a regional issue not a global issue
5 Only one witness is enough for moon sighting
Lets have a look on all these issues in depth in light of Quran and Sunnah
1 Fasting is obligatory on every Muslim who finds Ramadan:
Allah swt has made it clear in the Holy Quran that whosoever finds the month of Ramadan he/she has to fast in it.Allah swt says:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadân i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu-Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadân and Shawwâl] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
2 Calenders should not be used to determine the dates:
Unlike Solar calendar Lunar calendar cannot be used to determine dates .The dates are determined after moon sighting.
Allah swt says:
They ask you (O Muhammad) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allâh. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allâh that you may be successful. (Al-Baqarah 2:189)
This fact has also been mentioned in a hadith
Narrated Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu:The Prophet salal laho aliehi wasalam said: "We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days."(Bukharee Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith 137)
3 Naked Eye should be used for moon sighting:
There are many hadiths which indicate that human eye should be used for moon sighting and in case there are clouds month of shabaan should be taken as a month of 30 days.
Narrated Abu Huraira radi Allahu anhu:The Prophet or Abu-l-Qasim salal laho aliehi wasalam said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban."(Bukharee,Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith 133)
Narrated Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu: I heard Allah's Apostle salal laho aliehi waslaam saying, "When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)".( Bukharee,Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith 124)
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar radi Allahu anhu:Allah's Apostle salal laho aliehi waslam said, "The month (can be) 29 nights (i.e. days), and do not fast till you see the moon, and if the sky is overcast, then complete Sha'ban as thirty days."( Bukharee,Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith 131)
Narrated Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu:The Prophet salal laho aliehi wasalam said, "We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days."(Bukharee Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith 137)
4 Moon sighting is a regional issue not a global issue:
It is an absolute and undisputed reality that salahs are offered with the movement of sun and fasting and Hajj are offered with the lunar dates.No one in England,Pakistan ,America and other parts of the world will offer zuhar according to the sun of Makkah similarly moon of Saudia or any other country cannot be taken as a base for starting month of Ramadan.Every country has its own moon and this reality has been mentioned in the following hadith:
Kuraib narrated that Um Ul-Fadl has sent him to visit Muaa'wia in As-Shaam (Syria). He said: 'I went to As-Shaam and accomplished the purpose of my visit, and while I was there, Ramadaan started; I had seen the crescent moon on Thursday night, and then went back to Madinah at the end of the month. Ibn Abbaas mentioned the crescent moon asking, 'When did you see the crescent moon?' I replied: 'We saw it on Thursday night.' Ibn Abbaas radi Allahu anhu then asked: 'Kuraib, did you see it?' I answered: 'Yes! And the people had seen it, and they fasted, and so did Muaa'wia.' So Ibn Abbaas said radi Allahu anhu: 'But we had seen it Friday night, so we will fast until we complete thirty days or until we see the crescent moon. I then asked: 'Aren't you satisfied with Muaa'wia's sighting and his fasting?' Ibn Abbaas radi Allahu anhu answered: 'No, this is what the Messenger of Allaah salal laho aliehi wasalam had ordered us to do. (Muslim Hadith 1078)
5 Only one witness is enough for moon sighting:
Generally it is assumed that a large group should be witness of moon .This is not right only one witness is enough on issue related to moon sighting.This fact is clear from the following hadiths:
The son of Umar radi Allahu anhu said: "The people looked to see the crescent, so I told the Messenger of Allaah salal laho aliei wasalam that I have seen it, so the Prophet fasted and ordered the people to fast." (Imaams Abu Dawood and Ibn Habbaan corrected it; Al-Haakim said: it is an authentic hadeth according to Muslim's condition)
Ibn Abbaas radi Allahu anhu said: "A Bedouin came to the messenger of Allaah salal laho aliehi wasalam and said: 'I have seen the crescent of Ramadaan,' so the Prophet said: 'Do you witness that there is no God but Allaah?' The Bedouin said: 'Yes!' Prophet salal laho alieh wasalam said: 'Do you witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah?' The Bedouin said: 'Yes!' Then the Prophet asked Bilaal to inform the people to fast the next day." (Recorded by Imaams Abu Dawood, Tirmedhi, Ibn Habbaan and Al-Haakim corrected it)
May Allah give us toufeeq to follow Quran and Hadith in each and every aspect of life ameen.