Ramadan Mubarak to All.
Alhamdu Lillah we have positive moon sighting reports from Mauritus and South Africa and therefore we will insha Allah be starting the month of Ramadan tomorrow Thursday 13 September 2007. The following is the report by Shaykh Muhammad Afifi Al-Akiti who is unable to do a sighting as he is traveling at the moment:
“Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (MCW member) from Oxford, UK, reported: Seen in East of UK (S. Africa)
I am travelling and unable to perform the obligatory sighting today for the UK on 29 Sha’ban or Wednesday, 12th of September. However, I have received news that sighting is not possible in Oxford because the horizon there is overcast. Nevertheless, news of positive sightings to the East of UK today, such as in South Africa, despite not being able to sight locally in the UK, makes it sufficient for those in the UK to establish the month of Ramadan [thubut al-hilal] for the UK to be tomorrow, Thursday, the 13th of September, with the Tarawih prayers beginning tonight after Isha. This is by following the default rule [dabit] in Islamic Law in this matter that whenever it is known that the crescent has been positively sighted in the East, local sighting inevitably follows, but not the other way round [mata hasalati r-ru’yatu fi l-sharqi lazima ru’yatuhu fi l-gharbi wa la-‘aks]. Ramadan Karim & may Allah accept our fasts and prayers during this blessed month!”
Abu Zaynah 