Just a short time ago, Fatwa-Online was informed of the official announcement of the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, that in view of the contents of the decision of the Supreme Court, No.131H dated 1 Sha’baan 1441, that the beginning of the month of Sha’baan on the evening of Tuesday 29 Rajab 1441 was not determined by any sighting of the new moon – despite searching for it, then the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like the general Muslim population throughout the Kingdom to search for the new moon of the blessed month of Ramadhaan on Thursday evening – corresponding to the 30th of Sha’baan (23 April, 2020) according to the Umm al-Qura calendar, and the 29th of Sha’baan according to the aforementioned decision of the Supreme Court.
This is in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ:
Whoever sights the new moon – either with the naked eye or using a telescope or binoculars, is advised to promptly inform the local Sharee’ah court of their sighting, in shaa.-Allaah.
