Contradicting a country in fasting and breaking it (at the beginning and end of the month)

24-6-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

In my country, ‘Eed was on Saturday but some people fasted. My opinion is that this divides the nation. What is the religious ruling on this?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

If your country depends, in determining the start of Shawwaal or completing Ramadan, on sighting the moon, then all the people should break their fast on the day of ‘Eed if the country declares it. It is impermissible to observe fast on the day of ‘Eed.

If the country depends on astronomical calculations – not on the Sharee’ah-approved manner of sighting the moon – then what it declares does not matter in determining ‘Eed and fasting.

Allaah Knows best.