Controversy between scholars over considering or neglecting the different sightings of the new moon of Ramadan

Q: We, the Muslims of France, are perplexed because of the ongoing controversy in the Arab countries over sighting the new moon of Ramadan. Saudi Arabia declared the beginning of the month of Ramadan to be on Thursday and Kuwait declared it to be on Friday. In Saudi Arabia the month of Sha`ban is 29 days and in Kuwait it is 30 days. The scientific and astronomical calculations done in Paris indicate that the new moon will be born at 7:49 pm on Wednesday, 30 May 1984.We would like your eminence to explain the principles (Part No. 10; Page No. 121) upon which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has declared the beginning of Ramadan to be on Thursday 31 May 1984? We would also like your eminence to explain to us the interpretation of the Qur'anic Ayah (Verse): So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month We rely upon Allah then upon your eminence to explain these issues as soon as you can. May Allah reward you best.

A: First: The controversy over considering the different sightings of the new moon of Ramadan has been an ongoing controversy among leading jurists. Second: Sighting the new moon of Ramadan in 1404 A.H. has not been confirmed to the officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until Thursday night. The officials issued a decree for people to complete Sha`ban as 30 days according to the authentic Hadith in this regard. They declared the beginning of Sawm (Fast) of Ramadan of this year to start on Thursday. After that they sighted the new moon of Shawwal in the year 1404 A.H. on Friday night then declared that the first day of `Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast) in the year 1404 A.H. will be Friday. Because of this, people fasted Ramadan as twenty eight days while lunar months cannot be twenty eight days. Sometimes, they are twenty nine days, sometimes thirty as reported in the authentic Hadith. When the officials discovered that they had delayed the beginning of Sawm in Ramadan, they declared it to people and told them to make up for the day (Part No. 10; Page No. 122) they missed at the beginning of Ramadan to free themselves from the responsibility and out of their duty towards them. From this we gather that the officials in Saudi Arabia acted upon the rulings of the Shari`ah in both cases. Third: The interpretation of Allah's Saying: So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month Allah (Exalted be He) orders whoever is resident and healthy to fast during the month of Ramadan. As for a person who is ill, or finds it hard to fast or suffers when fasting, or is on a journey, he can break his Sawm and later make up for the days he missed. Allah decrees this to ease the acts of worship and out of Mercy to His servants.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.