News by telegraph and telephone

Question

Is news of the sighting of the new moon conveyed by radio, telegram or telephone reliable according to the Shari'a or not?

Answer

This news does not have the ruling of Shari'a testimony: [ar]لأن الخط يشبه الخط، والنغمة تشبه النغمة[/ar] “For handwriting resembles handwriting, and a voice resembles a voice” — especially when the intermediaries of the telegraph and the like are non-Muslims; moreover, mistakes often occur in understanding the meaning as well.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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