Question
Is the difference in horizons considered in fasting and breaking the fast?
Answer
The difference in the sighting of the moon is not considered significant according to the established view, which means that if the moon is sighted by the people of one town but not by the people of another town, the latter must fast based on the sighting of the former, regardless of the circumstances. Thus, if the people of one town fast for thirty days and the people of another town for twenty-nine days, they must make up one day. This is the view of most scholars, as mentioned in "Taj al-Haqaiq" 1: 321, and it is stated by Imam al-Nasafi in "Kanz al-Daqaiq" 1: 321, and by the scholar Ibrahim al-Halabi in "Multaqa al-Abhar" 1: 239. The scholar Ibn al-Humam said in "Fath al-Qadir" 2: 313: "If it is established in one country, it is binding on all people; thus, the people of the East must follow the sighting of the people of the West according to the apparent school of thought." The scholar al-Sharnbali said in "Al-Sharnbaliyya" 1: 201: "This is the apparent school of thought, and it is the basis for fatwas as mentioned in "Al-Bahr" from "Al-Khulasa". He also said in "Al-Kafi": The apparent narration does not take into account the difference in sightings." Sheikh Zadah said something similar in "Majma al-Anhar" 1: 239. The scholar Ibn Abidin mentioned in "Tanbih al-Ghafil" p. 110: "The difference in moon sightings in different regions is not significant except according to the Shafi'i school." He also stated in "Tanbih al-Ghafil" p. 107: "The established and preferred view among us is that the difference in moon sightings is not considered, which is the apparent narration, and it is supported by texts such as "Kanz" and others. This is also the correct view among the Hanbalis as mentioned in "Al-Insaf" 3: 273. Likewise, this is the opinion of the Malikis, as stated in "Mukhtasar Khalil" and its explanation by Sheikh Abdul Baqi: The obligation to fast applies to all regions if its establishment is reported from two just witnesses, and the well-known narration regarding the ruling based on the sighting of two just witnesses or based on a widely reported sighting is used as evidence. This is supported by the general command in the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Fast" which is contingent upon the sighting as mentioned in: "for its sighting," and by the sighting of a group that fulfills the definition of sighting, thus establishing what is related to the general ruling, making it obligatory, as mentioned in "Fath al-Qadir" 2: 313 and the margin of "Taj al-Haqaiq" 1: 316.