The following is from www.crescentwatch.org, this is definitely
written better than I could have put it.

Announcements

Beginning of Ramadan on Weds. or Thurs. night

September 11, 2007 / Sha'aban 27, 1428

CrescentWatch.Org adheres to the traditional principal that Islamic
lunar months begin and end based on the confirmed, verifiable sighting
of the new crescent
moon.
Click here for Zaytuna's Statement Concerning the Beginning of Ramadan.

CrescentWatch.Org encourages everyone to go out to look for the new
crescent moon this Wednesday night in anticipation of the beginning of
the sacred month
of Ramadan. If the moon is sighted Wednesday night, Ramadan will then
begin and the first day of the fast would be Thursday. (There is a
also possibility
that the moon won't be sighted on Wednesday, and if so, Ramadan would
start Thursday night with Friday being the first day of the fast.)

The crescent would be visible shortly after sunset, slightly to the
left, and above where the sun had set. It is a beautiful experience to
sight its emergence,
and it is a sunnah of our noble Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa salam,
that we hope the ummah revives. Please check the CrescentWatch website
for regular
updates, moon sighting reports, and an additional resources for Ramadan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statement Concerning the Beginning of Ramadan

From Zaytuna Institute

September 11, 2007 / Sha'aban 27, 1428

In The Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

As Muslims we have a clear methodology for determining the beginning
of the lunar month. We start all months upon the initial physical
sighting of the waxing
crescent moon on the western horizon of the evening sky. The method
for beginning the month of Ramadan is no exception as the Messenger of
Allah, peace
upon him, has said: "Begin your fast upon sighting [the crescent moon]
and end your fast upon sighting [the subsequent crescent]." The four
schools of
Sunni Islam hold that this is an unambiguous, clear textual proof that
is not open to subsequent interpretation.

Here at the Zaytuna Institute, we have consistently adhered to this
methodology. With the assistance of an experienced international team
of crescent observers,
we endeavor to share with the Muslim community information concerning
the beginning of the lunar months, with special attention paid to the
months of Ramadan,
Shawwal, and Dhul-Hijja. In Sha Allah, we will continue to provide
this service to our community.

As for starting Ramadan based upon mathematical calculation, we have
found no convincing argument that this was ever a practice of the
Muslim community
and truly believe based upon the position of our great jurists and
masters of Ijtihad, namely, that the text supporting physical sighting
is unequivocal
and thus not open to any new Ijtihad. Furthermore, we understand the
issue not to be one of sound difference of opinion but rather
innovation and should
be avoided. The Prophet, peace be upon him said, "Beware of introduced
affairs [in our religion], for every introduced affair is an
innovation and ever
innovation is a type of going astray." And God alone knows best.

Having said that, we never desire to see any divisiveness in our
community and request that Muslims avoid disputes and bitter arguments
concerning this
point. Those who have put forward calculation as a method are doing so
with their understanding that it is a way of facilitation for the
Muslims in the
West. They are scholars in their respective areas of expertise. And
while we differ with their attempts at a new Ijtihad, we believe their
intentions are
sound and that their honor ('Ird) should be respected. Rather, we
encourage our brothers and sisters to consider the various arguments
and then make a
mature decision bearing in mind the prescient advice of our noble
Prophet, peace upon him: "Leave that which causes you doubt for that
which eradicates
doubt."

May Allah bless everyone with a productive and beneficial month of
fasting. …and the last of our prayers is all praise is for Allah, the
Lord of the Worlds.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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