Press Release
Results of the Moon Sighting of Ramadan
(Translated)

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

(شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌمِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ)

I seek refuge from the cursed Shaytan

"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful." [TMQ 2:185]

 All Praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, allies, and those who followed in his path; thus making the Islamic Aqeedah the basis for one's thoughts, the Ahkaam Shari'ah (Legislative Rulings) the measure for one's actions and a source for their rulings.

Bukhari reported in his Sahih through Mohammad bin Zeyad who said: I heard Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) say: that the Messenger of Allah (saw), or he said: Abu Al-Qasim (saw) said:

"صوموا لِرُؤيتِهِ وأَفْطِرُوا لرؤيتِهِ فإنْ غُـبِّيَ عليكم فأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شعبانَ ثلاثين" "Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy do calculate it (the months of Shaban and Shawwal) as thirty days."

And pertaining to this we have received from the scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah, Amir of Hizb ut Tahrir, the following:

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Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

 To the sincere brothers that carry the dawah....

To all the Muslims in all places of the world....

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmat Allahu wa Barakatu....

The Almighty says:

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ)

 "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 183]

And the Glorified and Exalted says:

(فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْه)

"So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it." [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 185]

And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says in what was reported by al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Huraira (ra):

«صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُبِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلاَثِينَ»

"Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy do calculate it (the months of Shaban and Shawwal) as thirty days."

And Muslim reported that Abu Huraira related, in another narration, that the Prophet (saw) said:

«صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ»

"Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty)."

After investigation and checking the moon of the Blessed month of Ramadan on this night, the night of Tuesday, no valid sighting of the New Moon of Ramadan has taken place according to the Shari'ah requirements, therefore, tomorrow Tuesday is the continuation for the month of Sha'ban InshaAllah, making the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan in the year of 1434 AH corresponding 10/07/2013.

We ask the Almighty that he accepts the fasting and qiyyam of the Muslims and that Allah forgives us for what we have committed of sin, as the Prophet (saw) said in what al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that Abu Hurayra narrated:

«مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ، إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

Allah's Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven."

And in a different narration that Abu Hurayra (ra) related that the Prophet (saw):

«مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

"Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

Dear brothers, in the month of Sha'ban in the second hijri year, Allah Almighty made fasting the month of Ramadan obligatory. It is the month that the Quran was sent down

(شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ )

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 185]

It is the month that Allah honored the Ummah with distinct conquests and victories. The great Battle of Badr on the 17^th of Ramadan was when the polytheists of Mecca were wholly defeated.... and other critical battles were in this blessed month, starting with the conquest of Mecca that was on 20 Ramadan al-Mubarak in the eighth Hijri year, to the Battle of al-Buwayb, (near modern day Kufa) that was Persian Yarmook, when the Muslims were victorious under the leadership of al-Muthanna on 14 Ramadan of the year 31 AH, then to the conquest of ‘Amooriyah under the leadership of al-Mu'tasem on 17 Ramadan year 213 AH, and to the Battle of Ayn Jaloot when the Muslims defeated the Tatars on 25 Ramadan year 658 AH to other victories in this blessed month....

And so fasting was indicated with the Holy Quran which shall not be affected by any falsehood ...And fasting was indicated with distinct conquest and victory.... And fasting was indicated with Jihad.... Fasting was indicated with the implementation of Allah's Laws.... And everyone with clear vision and insight realizes that Allah Almighty's Laws cannot be separated from one another, whether they are acts of worship or Jihad or transactions or morals or conduct, or crimes and punishments.... For all of these are the same problems and whoever ponders the verses of the Holy Quran finds that this is explicitly clarified. Likewise it is clear in these verses of fasting and what comes before and afterwards, in the following:

Allah the Almighty revealed the verses of fasting in Surat al-Baqara, in the second part in the second quarter of it, which begins with His (swt) saying:

(لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ...)

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets..."  [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 177] up until His (swt) saying:

(أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ)

"Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in account." [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 202]

And by pondering these verses it becomes clear that they include laws of righteousness and faith, and of retribution, and commandment, and the verses of fasting, and of supplication... and the rulers and the consumption of unlawful wealth, and fighting in the name of Allah, and Hajj. For Allah's laws are all taken together, and there is no difference between one law and another or between one obligation and another, for the One who    revealed the acts of worship is Him (swt) is the One who revealed the laws of transactions, punishments, politics and Jihad, and revealed the morals, provisions, clothing and others. And they are all equal in strength of how they should be implemented and observed, for the obligation in acts of worship is exactly like that of obligation in transactions, like that of obligation in punishments and obligation in the Bayah of the Khaleefah, Jihad and other Ahkam (laws), it is not permissible to separate them in any case, for Islam is one whole, that cannot be separated, and the call to Islam is one call to be implemented in the State, life and society. Therefore whoever separates the verses of Allah and calls for the separation between religion and life, or the separation between religion and politics; thereby has committed a great sin and heavy crime that will lead that person to humiliation in this life and to a painful torment in the Hereafter.

And in conclusion, Allah Almighty mentioned the act of supplication in between the verses of fasting in Surat al-Baqara, and the Almighty said:

(وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ)

"And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided." [Surah Al Baqara: Aya 186]

And the partition of the inseparable is proof of the magnificence of the Revealer, for Allah Almighty commanded the fast, then commanded the act of supplication, and then followed with verses of fasting to show to greatness of the act of supplication, so increase supplication in Ramadan, for the Prophet (saw) said in the Hadith that was related by Ahmed narrated by Abu Hurayra:

ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمْ: الْإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ، وَالصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ تُحْمَلُ عَلَى الْغَمَامِ، وَتُفْتَحُ لَهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاوَاتِ، وَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: وَعِزَّتِي لَأَنْصُرَنَّكَ وَلَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

"The supplications of three people are not rejected: the supplication of a fasting person at the time of breaking fast, of a just ruler, and of a person who is wronged. Allah causes their supplications to rise above the clouds, and gates of heaven are opened for them, and Allah says, ‘By My Majesty, I will help you, even if it is after a while."

And supplication was mentioned between the verses of fasting as proof for the insistence of supplication in the month of fasting and a statement of its merit and glad tiding of it being answered, for Allah is close and respondent.

And the final conclusion, as we must be protective of our fast so Allah may be pleased with us and forgive our sins, thus we should also be keen to work to resume the Islamic way of life with the establishment of the Righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" so that we will be from the victors in this life with the implementation of Allah's Laws, under the banner of Allah's Messenger (saw), Rayat al Uqab, the banner of لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله , and likewise be the victors in the Hereafter, Allah willing, under Allah's shade on the Day of no shade except His Shade, and we ask Him that he accept our fasting in this blessed month, whose beginning is mercy, middle is forgiveness, and end is a shield from the Fire. And when next Ramadan arrives, there will be a Righteous Khilafah "Caliphate" on the way of the Prophethood that has honored us and returned the Ummah as the best Ummah.

(كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ)

"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah." [Surah Al Imran: Aya 202]

And the Khaleefah will be as the Prophet (saw) said,

«إِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ، يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ، وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ...»

"Behold, the Imam is but a shield from behind whom the people fight and by whom they protect themselves." Extracted by Muslim on the authority of Abu Huraira (ra).

That the Khaleefah will have eradicated the tyrants in the land of al-Sham, and rescued its Muslims, the elderly, women and children, from the filth of the tyrants and oppressors... and that we be behind him to eliminate the tyrants from the land of Islam, and implement the laws of Islam, so that the strife in Egypt and besides Egypt that is a result from the absence of the implementation of Allah Almighty's Law... and then he will lead us to liberate Palestine, all of Palestine, from the filth of Jewish state to restore al-Quds, the land of Isra' and Mi'raj of the Messenger of Allah (saw), will return honored and dignified by Islam, and by the army of Islam.... And we will fight behind him to liberate Kashmir as well, and the rest of the occupied Islamic land, from the Kaffir Imperialists, so that there will not remain an inch of Islamic land that is not shaded by the banner of Islam,

(وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ)

"And that day the believers will rejoice * In the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful."

Wassalamu Alaykum wa-Rahmat Allahu wa Barakatu

Your brother, Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir

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I am pleased to convey the congratulations of the Head of The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir and all those working for the Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir, the eminent scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, and the rest of the Muslims on this holy month, asking Allah (swt) to make us among those who are freed in the month of forgiveness and goodness, and we also ask Allah (swt) to allow us to reach Laylat ul-Qadr and grant us its rewards.

Oh Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the earth, honour us with the Bayah of the Khaleefah of the Muslims in the second righteous Khilafah "Caliphate", very soon...

Allahumma Ameen Ameen Ameen.

Wassalamu Alaykum wa Rahmat Allahu wa Barakatu

The night of Tuesday, will have completed the 30^th of Sha'ban for the year of 1434 AH, corresponding to 9/7/2013.

Osman Bakhach
Director of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir