Is it necessary to search for the moon by aeroplane?

Question

In Britain this year there was considerable disagreement over the beginning of Ramadan. The Islamic Cultural Centre, taking into account the news from the sacred Hijaz, announced the first fast on Monday, 29 November ’69; the “East Lund” Mosque (the centre of the Tablighi Jamaat) did so for Tuesday on the basis of news from South Africa; and the body of the ulama of Britain unanimously decided that news from foreign countries should not be considered reliable, and that if the moon is not seen in Britain, thirty…

Answer

If in Britain the moon is not seen on the 29th of Sha‘ban because of cloud, then those who saw it should be summoned by aeroplane from the surrounding places where it was seen, and they should be examined; if they are reliable and trustworthy (thiqa), their statement should be accepted and the ruling that Ramadan has been established should be given.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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