Q: There is a local imam in XXXX XXXX XXXX that says that we can follow mecca.  Sheik (XXX name omitted in respect of the honorable sheik and his services) said that the hadith allows for one moon being for all countries. So why are you refusing to following him. He too is a scholar. He also outlined that you view is wrong. (text and email)

A: May Allah bless the Sheikh for all the good he does. May Allah continue to take good work from him. May Allah elevate his position. May Allah increase him in religious wisdom. May Allah fulfill all his halal desires and wants. May Allah give him insight to the deen. May Allah help us all to not just talk deen, but live as He wants us to live. May He make us the best of role models in all our affairs, Ameen.

There has never been a scholar that has ever furnished me with an existing hadith wherein it states, the sighting in one locale is to be accepted by all people in all places.  I challenge you with deepest sincerity to furnish such a hadith. Nor is there any authentic hadith that states: members of one country must follow members of another country. Islam is not based on the mere fantasies of scholars or their students, children or their fore-bearers. Nor is it based on emotions and sentiments.  Islam is based on facts. And the facts are as follows:

Ask your scholar to explain the following hadith to you:

????? ? ????? ?? ???? ? ?????? ?? ???? ? ??????? ? ????? ??? ? ???? ? ????? ?? ???? ? ??????? ? ????? ??????? ? ?????? ? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ? ??? ? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ? ??? ? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ? ?????? ??? ? ??????? ? ??????? ? ???? ????? ? ?????? ? ?????? ?????? ? ??????? ? ???? ????? ???? ? ??????? ? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ? ???????? ? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ? ???? ???? ?? ???? ? ???? ???? ????? ? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ? ??????? ? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ? ????? ???? ? ??? ?? ? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ? ??????? ???? ??? ? ????? ????? ???? ???? ? ???? ???? ???? ????
? ?

The above hadith makes evident that when Sayidinah Abbas (RA) was told by the actual person sighting the moon that the people of Shaam have started the Ramadhan on a given day, Abbas (RA) responded that it was Rasulullah (SAW’s) blessed way to not make obligatory the moon sighing of one locality upon another.

Although I reject the scholar’s claim as presented in the query until proof is shared, I still respect him based on the fact that Allah has blessed his heart with Quran and Hadith. I personally do not think that a scholar would say negative statements about another Muslim, be the other Muslim a scholar or not.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.