Press Release
The Sighting of the Moon Has Been Turned into a Patriotic and Political Issue and No Longer a Fiqh Issue

It is very unfortunate instead of the Muslims to commence their holy month of Ramadhan in peace and blessings like the month itself; it is just the beginning of hostility amongst Muslims precipitated by the issue of Sighting the Moon.

The colonial agreement between Britain and France; Sykes-Picot of dividing the Muslims along colonial borders and ruling them through agents (current leaders in Muslims' countries) for a long time they have been identifying themselves by their nationalism, patriotism and regionalism. The worst situation is that each country has its own scholars and religious councils and the worst is that these councils keep issuing despicable fatwas that contradict directly the Shari'ah evidences. We categorically state that fasting and Eid celebrations is worshipping and hence Muslims are anticipated to abide by the Shari'ah and not their whims as witnessed today under secular governments.

Based on this reality despite having two genuine opinions on the issue of Sighting the Moon, global opinion and regional opinion; but due to the effects of Sykes-Picot now we have a new foreign opinion that the sighting of the moon is per patriotism! Therefore, even if between two countries there is a difference in one, three or four minutes Muslims do not fast as a unity globally or even within the same country!

We reiterate clearly that living under these secular nations, they have inflicted harm on the unity of the Muslims, which was made compulsory by Allah (swt) when He said:

(وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا) “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” [Aal-e-Imran: 103]

This verse is commanding Muslims wherever they are; they must consider themselves as one Muslim Ummah. It is not allowed for them to identify themselves as per nationalism, patriotism and tribalism since all of them are dreadful thoughts whose foundations do not deserve to unite people. Furthermore, we witness how these thoughts have sunk the Ummah into wars today.

This situation is directly linked to the Muslims by the absence of their Islamic State of Khilafah (Caliphate) that is led by one leader whose statement is final.

Therefore, we continue to emphasize that the reestablishment of the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood will put a stop to these conflicts between Muslims and incitements from the enemies of Islam by destroying their unity. In the Khilafah, the leader Khalifah or Imam has authority to force an Islamic opinion to Muslims to preserve their unity. Indeed, it has been said that the command of the leader (Imam) removes conflicts.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya