Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
No, we do not use astronomical calculations for moonsighting. Rather they are not considered at all. This is the position of the Hanafi Madhab as well as others. The Hanafis believe that the Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari clearly negates calculations for moonsighting.
Hadith
ابْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِنَّا أُمَّةٌ أُمِّيَّةٌ، لاَ نَكْتُبُ وَلاَ نَحْسُبُ، الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا» يَعْنِي مَرَّةً تِسْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ، وَمَرَّةً ثَلاَثِينَ
Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘We are an unlettered Ummah, we do not write or use (astronomical) calculations. A month is like this, and this.’ Meaning sometimes 29 and sometimes 30 days. (Sahih al-Bukhari , 1913).
The above Hadith has caused Hanafi scholars to conclude that we do not use calculations for moonsighting. In the Hadith the blessed Prophet ﷺ negates calculation for this Ummah (nation). This cannot be a general rule because Islam commands calculations for many aspects of the religion.
For example, we are required to calculate Zakah. We are also required to calculate inheritance. Thus, the Hadith is specific to moonsighting. This is clear from the Hadith since the blessed Prophet ﷺ negated calculation in the context of the Islamic month. Which is based upon moonsighting.
Therefore, the Hadith is understood to provide a specific exception to a general rule. The general rule is that we do use calculations for all aspects of general and religious life. The exception is moonsighting itself. With moonsighting we focus upon testimony. If a testimony is accepted then the moonsighting will be established. We will not consider astronomical calculations for moonsighting.
Hadith commentary
فَإِنَّهُ يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ مَعْرِفَةَ الشَّهْرِ لَيْسَتْ إِلَى الْكِتَابِ وَالْحِسَابِ كَمَا يَزْعُمُهُ أَهْلُ النُّجُومِ، وَلِلْإِجْمَاعِ عَلَى عَدَمِ الِاعْتِدَادِ بِقَوْلِ الْمُنَجِّمِينَ وَلَوِ اتَّفَقُوا عَلَى أَنَّهُ يَرَى، وَلِقَوْلِهِ – تَعَالَى – مُخَاطِبًا خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ خِطَابًا عَامًّا {فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ} [البقرة: 185] وَلِقَوْلِهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْخِطَابِ الْعَامِّ ” «صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ» ” وَلِمَا فِي نَفْسِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ: ” «لَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ» ” وَلِمَا فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – قَالَ: ” «الصَّوْمُ يَوْمَ يَصُومُونَ وَالْفِطْرُ يَوْمَ يُفْطِرُونَ» ” بَلْ أَقُولُ: لَوْ صَامَ الْمُنَجِّمُ عَنْ رَمَضَانَ قَبْلَ رُؤْيَتِهِ بِنَاءً عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ يَكُونُ عَاصِيًا فِي صَوْمِهِ، إِلَّا إِذَا ثَبَتَ الْهِلَالُ عَلَى خِلَافٍ فِيهِ، وَلَوْ جَعَلَ عِيدَ الْفِطْرِ بِنَاءً عَلَى زَعْمِهِ الْفَاسِدِ يَكُونُ فَاسِقًا، وَتَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ فِي قَوْلٍ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ، وَإِنِ اسْتَحَلَّ إِفْطَارَهُ فَرْضًا عَنْ عَدِّهِ وَاجِبًا صَارَ كَافِرًا. (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)
It proves that knowledge of the month is not based on writing or calculations. As opposed to the claims of astronomers. Also due to the consensus that the opinion of astronomers is not relied upon. Even if they agreed that it is seen. Since His (Most High) statement, addressing the best nation produced for mankind, is a general address. So whoever among you witnesses the month, must fast it. (Surah al-Baqarah: 185).
Also, because of his ﷺ general address: Fast upon its sighting and end your fast upon its sighting. As well as what is in the Hadith itself: Do not fast until you see it. And due to what is in the Hadith of Abi Dawud and al-Tirmidhi from Abu Hurairah that he ﷺ said: Fasting is the day they fast and ending the fast is the day they end the fast.
Rather, I say: If an astronomer fasts Ramadan before its sighting, based on his knowledge, he is sinning in his fast. Unless the crescent moon is established, despite a difference of opinion about it. And if he establishes Eid al-Fitr based on his corrupt claim, he is a sinner (Fasiq). Expiation is obligatory upon him, according to one opinion, which is the correct one. If he considers it permissible to end his fasting, necessarily based upon his calculation, then he becomes an unbeliever. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).
In the Nass (text) above, Imam Ali al-Qari confirms the Hanafi position regarding calculations for moonsighting. The Hanafis give no consideration to astronomical calculations due to the abundance of evidence against it.
Imam Ali al-Qari is one of numerous Hanafi Imams who have clarified the Hanafi position on calculations for moonsighting. Yet we have many Hanafi teachers in our time who seem to be unaware of this fact. Or they are intentionally ignoring it. Since, they never seem to bring it up in their discussions regarding moonsighting.
The Hanafi Position
قَوْلُهُ: وَلَا عِبْرَةَ بِقَوْلِ الْمُوَقِّتَيْنِ
أَيْ فِي وُجُوبِ الصَّوْمِ عَلَى النَّاسِ بَلْ فِي الْمِعْرَاجِ لَا يُعْتَبَرُ قَوْلُهُمْ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ، وَلَا يَجُوزُ لِلْمُنَجِّمِ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِحِسَابِ نَفْسِهِ، وَفِي النَّهْرِ فَلَا يَلْزَمُ بِقَوْلِ الْمُؤَقِّتِينَ أَنَّهُ أَيْ الْهِلَالَ يَكُونُ فِي السَّمَاءِ لَيْلَةَ كَذَا وَإِنْ كَانُوا عُدُولًا فِي الصَّحِيحِ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
Imam al-Haskafi: No consideration is given to the opinion of astronomers.
Imam Ibn Abideen: Meaning with regards to obliging fasting upon the people. Rather in al-Miraaj (the author said) there is consensus (Ijma) that their (astronomers) opinions are not considered and it is not permitted for a starwatcher to act according to his own calculations. In al-Nahr (the author stated) it is not binding to act upon the opinions of astronomers when they say the crescent will be (visible) in the sky on such a night, even if they (the astronomers) are upright, according to the sound opinion. (Radd al-Muhtaar).
In the above Nass (text), not only does Imam Ibn Abideen present the Hanafi position on using calculations, but he also claims consensus (Ijma) upon it. He further explains that calculations are not to be used even if the astronomers making the calculations are reliable.
Despite the clarity of the Hanafi texts in negating calculations for moonsighting, we often find many western Hanafi institutions and teachers using astronomical calculations to negate an established moonsighting. If they are doing this based upon another Madhab then they should clarify this to their congregations. Without such clarification they cause widespread confusion.
Generally, this is not the approach of Hanafis in the Muslim world. Rather they tend to follow the Sunnah method when it comes to moonsighting. They do not tend to use calculations for moonsighting.
Way of the Shia
وعلق الشَّارِع الصَّوْم وَغَيره بِالرُّؤْيَةِ لرفع الْحَرج عَن أمته فِي معاناة حِسَاب التسيير، وَاسْتمرّ ذَلِك بَينهم، وَلَو حدث بعدهمْ من يعرف ذَلِك، بل ظَاهر قَوْله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: فَإِن غم عَلَيْكُم فأكملوا الْعدة ثَلَاثِينَ. يَنْفِي تَعْلِيق الحكم بِالْحِسَابِ أصلا، إِذْ لَو كَانَ الحكم يعلم من ذَلِك لقَالَ: فاسألوا أهل الْحساب، وَقد رَجَعَ قوم إِلَى أهل التسيير فِي ذَلِك، وهم الروافض، وَنقل عَن بعض الْفُقَهَاء موافقتهم، قَالَ القَاضِي: وَإِجْمَاع السّلف الصَّالح حجَّة عَلَيْهِم، وَقَالَ ابْن بزيزة، هُوَ مَذْهَب بَاطِل. (عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري)
The Lawgiver made fasting and other things conditional upon sighting. To relieve the difficulty of astronomical calculations from his nation. This continued among them. Even though, people who knew it came after them. Rather, the apparent of his ﷺ saying: If it is cloudy for you, then complete the number to thirty, fundamentally negates the ruling being based upon calculation.
If the ruling had been known by that, he ﷺ would have said: Ask the people of calculation. Indeed, some people did refer to the astronomers for that, and they are the Rafidis. It was reported that some jurists agreed with them. Al-Qadi said: The consensus of the righteous predecessors is proof against them. Ibn Bazizah said: It is an invalid method. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni 852H, Umdatu al-Qari).
In this Nass, Imam al-Ayni explains that referring to astronomical calculations for moonsighting is not the way of Ahl al-Sunnah. Rather it is an innovation of the Shia. Regrettably, a small minority of Sunni scholars took that path too. However, the Imam explains that this is not only invalid but against the Ijma’ of the Salaf.
Minority
وَقَالَ ابْنُ الشِّحْنَةِ بَعْدَ نَقْلِهِ الْخِلَافَ: فَإِذَنْ اتَّفَقَ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ إلَّا النَّادِرَ وَالشَّافِعِيَّ أَنَّهُ لَا اعْتِمَادَ عَلَى قَوْلِ الْمُنَجِّمِينَ فِي هَذَا. (حاشية الشرنبلالي على درر الحكام)
After quoting the disagreement, Ibn al-Shihnah said: Thus, the companions of Abu Hanifah, except for an inconsequential minority, and al-Shafi’i, agreed that there is no reliance on the statements of astronomers regarding this. (Imam al-Shurunbulali 1069H, Haashiyah ala Durar al-Hukam).
ثُمَّ نُقِلَ عَنْ مَجْدِ الْأَئِمَّةِ التَّرْجُمَانِيِّ أَنَّهُ اتَّفَقَ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ إلَّا النَّادِرُ وَالشَّافِعِيُّ أَنَّهُ لَا اعْتِمَادَ عَلَى قَوْلِهِمْ.
It was narrated from Majd al-A’immah al-Tarjumani that the companions of Abu Hanifah, except for an inconsequential minority, and al-Shafi’i, agreed that there is no reliance on their (astronomer’s) statements. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).
Many Hanafi Imams claimed an agreement or consensus upon the fact that we do not use astronomical calculations for moonsighting. This is not surprising due to the clarity and abundance of evidence supporting this position. However, there exists a very small minority that did consider calculations for moonsighting.
Even if astronomers are reliable
Unfortunately, many Hanafis have been promoting reliance on astronomical calculations for moonsighting in recent years. Not only is this contrary to unambiguous Hadith but also contradicts the Madhab. This is a cause of widespread misguidance.
However, this error is made worse when they make claims that are in clear contradiction with the Hanafi Madhab. For example, some of them they say astronomy was not reliable that’s what the scholars were opposed to it. Others say the astronomers were not deemed upright or credible.
Any person who has studied this issue by looking at the agreed upon works of the Madhab will swiftly recognise the erroneous nature of these claims. Imam Ibn Abideen recognised that the calculations may well be Qati (definitive) but are still not followed.
In the Nass below, Fataawa Hindiyah clarifies that even if the astronomers are upright, we still do not consider their calculations for moonsighting. This is not due to obstinance or an anti-science attitude. Rather it is due to the obligation of following the clear instructions of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.
وَهَلْ يَرْجِعُ إلَى قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْخِبْرَةِ الْعُدُولِ مِمَّنْ يَعْرِفُ عِلْمَ النُّجُومِ الصَّحِيحُ أَنَّهُ لَا يُقْبَلُ كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ، وَلَا يَجُوزُ لِلْمُنَجِّمِ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِحِسَابِ نَفْسِهِ كَذَا فِي مِعْرَاجِ الدِّرَايَةِ. (الفتاوى الهندية)
Should one refer to the words of the upright experts who know the science of astronomy? The sound opinion says it is not accepted. As mentioned in al-Siraj al-Wahhaj. Also, it is not permissible for the astronomer to act according to his own calculations. That was mentioned in Mi ’raj al-Dirayah? (Al-Fataawa al-Hindiyah).
Conclusion
The Hadith is clear and the position of the Hanafi Madhab is clear. We do not use calculations for moonsighting. People who oppose this view must provide evidence to show why they do not follow the Hadith. They must also provide references from classical Hanafi works to demonstrate that they are representing the Hanafi position correctly. Without doing so, their arguments will be disregarded.
It is important to emphasise that the Hadith above is not considered to be general and consequently applicable to all aspects of life, rather it is specific to moonsighting. Therefore, we do use calculations for other matters but not moonsighting itself. Since the Hadith is clear in negating calculations for moonsighting.
And Allah (Most High) Knows best.
– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen (08.04.2021)
See also:
Is the Hadith about not using calculations for moonsighting Sahih?
Does taking an injection invalidate the fast?
See also (video):
