Question
The hilaal was not sighted anywhere in South Africa for Rabiuth Thaani, due it being overcast. However, the age of the moon was about 34 hours. In neighbouring countries the moon was sighted and today is the 2nd Rabiuth Thaani in Zimbabwe, etc. whereas it is the 1st for us in South Africa. At the end of the 30th day, the 34 hour hilaal was quite big. Does this not indicate that today is the 2nd of the new month. Should we not accept the news from neighbouring countries to have uniformity in our Islamic calendar?
Answer
The Shariah’s principle for determining the new month is the actual/physical sighting of the hilaal. The principle is not the birth of the moon or the number of hours lapsing since its birth or of the size of the hilaal. This principle is inviolable and was established by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) himself, and on which there exists Ijma’ (Consensus) of the Ummah – of all Four Math-habs. This has been the Shariah’s way since the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
The factors mentioned in the above question are irrelevant, having no Shar’i significance whatsoever. The following Hadith recorded in Muslim Shareef refutes these irrelevant factors:
“Abul Bakhtari narrates: ‘We set off for Umrah. When we reached the Valley of Nakhlah, we saw the hilaal. (Due to its large size) some people said: ‘It is the moon of the third night.’ Some said: ‘’It is the moon of the second night.’ Then we met Ibn Abbaas, and we said: ‘We saw the hilaal, then some said it is of the third night whilst others said it is the second night. He (Ibn Abbaas) asked: ‘On which night did you see it?’ We said: ‘On a certain night.’ He said: ‘Verily, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam
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