Statement Regarding Inaccurate Moonsighting.com Post
The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America was notified of an incorrect attribution made by the Moonsigthing.com website pertaining to the sighting of the crescent moon of the Holy Month of Ramadan.In their attribution, the Moonsighting.com website states under USA (no. 5): “5. Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announced: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America made a change in its earlier announcement that Tuesday, April 13th, 2021, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, 1442 A.H. for the entire region of North America, because the moon was sighted in California.”This statement is incorrect. The Crescent Committee’s second announcement was a clarification of why the Crescent Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars did not accept the sighting of California. The announcement further explained that those who are personally convinced of those reports may follow it depending on the fatwa of the mujtahid whom they follow as there are differences of opinion among the mujtahideen on the criterion of moon sighting (naked eye sighting versus optical aid; global implication versus regional implication).However, personal conviction is not sufficient for a community announcement; and the Crescent Committee was not fully satisfied with the reports of naked eye sightings from San Diego.Finally, for the followers of Ayatullah al-Sistani, the sighting of California, if verified in one’s own views, will apply to California and not to the rest of North America.The Moonsighting.com website administrators have been contacted to remove their post or modify it according to the above.Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi,On behalf of the Crescent CommitteeThe Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America
