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The World Federation exists to achieve the pleasure of Allah SWT by developing spiritual and vibrant communities serving humanity
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The World Federation enables its member institutions to promote the values and practices of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Faith for the spiritual and material well being of humanity at large

From the book: Al Fiqh Lil Mughtaribin by Ayatullah Seestani Pg 111/2


Q118: For establishing the beginning of some months, a few scholars of some countries in the East declare the sighting of the moon based on the testimony of a few who saw the crescent. However, some facts have to be taken into consideration:
a) The witnesses, who may number, say, 30, hail from different parts of the region. For example there may be 2 from Isfehan, 3 from Qum,, 2 from Yazd, 4 in Kuwait, 5 in Bahrain, 2 in Ihsaa, 6 in Syria, etc.
b) The skies in many countries in the West are clear and believers are actively trying to get a glimpse of the new moon since there is nothing obstructing their view.
c) The British Observatory declares that sighting of the new moon in Britian that night without a telescope is highly unlikely. They confirm that sighting the new moon with bare eyes may be more likely the following night.
In such a situation, how are we to act? Please guide us, may the Almighty reward you…

A118: The precept here is either individual satisfaction that the moon has been sighted or there is unquestionable evidence suggesting that it has been sighted. In the above mentioned case and similar ones, one would not normally be satisfied that the new moon appeared on the horizon and was seen with the naked eye. On the contrary, one would be more satisfied that the moon has not been sighted and that the testimonies of sightings could have been illusions or erroneous judgement; and Allah knows the best.

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