These are AI-generated notes from Shaykh Akram’s webinar Muslims & Moonsighting. The webinar offers valuable insights into the practice of moon sighting, particularly regarding the start of Ramadan and Eid. Shaykh Akram discusses various scholarly opinions on moonsighting and emphasises the importance of unity within the Muslim community.
You can watch the full webinar for free on ASI OnDemand. Click Here
1. Moon Sighting Is a Means, Not a Sacred Ritual
Shaykh Akram clarified that moon sighting is not an act of worship in itself. It is a tool for establishing time — nothing more. The real obligation is to fast in Ramadan, not to see the moon.
The Qur’an says: “They ask you about the crescent moons. Say: They are time markers for people and for Hajj.” (Surah al-Baqarah)
This verse makes clear that the moon is a means to regulate time, not a ritual to be performed.
Whether we use sighting, calculation, or rely on authorities, the point is not the method — it is to have certainty (yaqīn) about when to start and end acts of worship.
Conclusion: The crescent moon is meant to guide and organise — it should never be a cause of division.
2. Scientific Calculation Has a Role in the Shariʿah
Shaykh Akram explained three scholarly views on using astronomy to determine Islamic months:
View 1: Only rely on visual sighting, as per the hadith: “Do not fast until you see the crescent.”
View 2: Fully accept scientific calculation — especially when sighting is not possible.
View 3 (Moderate): Use calculations to invalidate false sightings, but otherwise stick to traditional methods.
Shaykh Akram supported the moderate position, recognising that calculation can serve the Ummah by confirming or rejecting moon-sighting claims, while still honouring the Prophetic model.
He stressed that any method which delivers knowledge and certainty is valid. The Prophet ﷺ himself acted upon knowledge, not guesswork — and our tools for gaining knowledge today have expanded.
3. Unity Is an Obligation; Being Right Is Not
A major emphasis in Shaykh Akram’s lecture was that unity among Muslims in collective acts is more important than personal correctness.
Fasting, Eid, and Hajj are collective matters — like praying behind an imam. Disagreement is not an option when it breaks the congregation.
Even if your personal opinion is valid or more accurate, you should set it aside if it undermines unity.
Shaykh Akram cited examples from early Muslim scholars who subordinated their ijtihād to the ruling of the state or the consensus of the people — for the sake of unity.
“Abū Ḥanīfah had his own opinion on moon sighting, but never broke away from the ruling of the governor in Kufa — because he valued unity over personal correctness.”
4. The Harm of Disunity Is Worse Than Error
Drawing from over three decades of experience in the UK, Shaykh Akram highlighted the social and spiritual harm caused by differing moon-sighting practices:
Families fast and celebrate Eid on different days.
Mosques on the same street begin Ramadan and Eid on conflicting dates.
Schoolchildren give different answers when asked when Eid is — creating confusion and embarrassment.
Communities break into camps, often speaking ill of one another.
He reminded us that Ramadan is the month of unity, taqwā and barakah — yet ironically, it’s become a time of dispute and fitnah in many communities due to this issue.
5. A Technical Problem, Not a Religious One
One of the most important points Shaykh Akram made is that moon sighting is not a religious matter — it’s a technical and organisational matter.
Like the timetable for ṣalāh, it is a means to achieve certainty about the time of worship.
He noted that even a non-Muslim astronomer or administrator could handle the task of determining months — just as we rely on scientists to calculate prayer times.
The sacred part is the fasting — not the method used to know when to begin.
6. The Real Issue: Organisation, Not Ijtihād
Shaykh Akram argued that this is no longer a matter of scholarly disagreement — the real issue is lack of organisation and coordination.
Every year, the same arguments are repeated, with no progress.
The Ummah lacks a system for handling collective matters — and instead of building one, people fall back into familiar disagreements.
More proofs will not solve this issue. What’s needed is leadership, humility, and a commitment to unity.
“This is not about who is right. This is about who is ready to step back — for the sake of the Ummah.”
7. A Call to Collective Leadership
Shaykh Akram made practical proposals:
Every country should have a single moon-sighting body, comprising representatives from all key communities and mosques.
Where possible, all communities should follow one decision for the start of Ramadan and Eid — even if the method is not what they personally prefer.
He even suggested that globally, the Ummah could agree to follow one sighting — such as that of Saudi Arabia — simply to achieve global unity.
“We already follow Saudi Arabia for Hajj — why not for Ramadan? Not because their method is perfect, but because unity is better than correctness in this matter.”
8. Dealing with Local Reality
When asked about children in schools, prisons, and others needing dates in advance, Shaykh Akram acknowledged that planning requires predictability.
He suggested that if Muslims accepted a pre-determined calendar (even based on calculation), it would greatly help in schools, prisons, and the wider society.
However, he stressed that such a solution only works if mosques and communities also follow the same decision.
He encouraged people to follow their local mosque, even if it differs from their personal view — because fasting and Eid are not individual matters.
9. Personal Worship vs Collective Unity
Shaykh Akram reminded listeners that in personal matters, you may follow your ijtihād or school of thought. But in collective matters, you must follow the community.
He likened it to praying behind an imam:
Even if your view on how to raise your hands differs, you follow the imam.
Similarly, for Ramadan and Eid, you follow the collective body — not your own opinion.
“Unity on a weaker opinion is better than division on a stronger one.”
10. Final Reflections
In closing, Shaykh Akram offered heartfelt advice:
Moon sighting should not be a repeated cycle of debate and division.
If necessary, decisions should be made even by random draw or vote — so long as everyone agrees to follow it.
The real disease is the inability to compromise for the sake of the Ummah.
The real solution is not who has the better evidence — but who has the bigger heart.
Practical Takeaways from Shaykh Akram
In your local context, follow your mosque or majority to preserve unity.
Work with your community to create or strengthen a reliable local or national committee.
If national unity isn’t possible, push for regional or city-wide agreements.
Accept that no method is perfect — but unity is more perfect than any method.
