The status of a radio announcement

Question

In some cities, for example Bombay, Delhi and others, a moon-sighting committee has been established. Up to how many miles is it permissible to follow their decisions, and for whom is it not, when their announcements and decisions reach people only by radio? And what is the ruling on relying on mere news, when it is said: why then do you accept the news of so-and-so's death, or of his election, or of an accident? What should an eyewitness be like according to the Shari‘a, and what qualities should he possess?

Answer

If the moon-sighting committee consists of people of knowledge and piety, and after proof of the sighting has been properly obtained it makes an announcement on the radio, then that announcement is an announcement of the sighting, not testimony. Just as an announcement by means of a cannon and a kettledrum is reliable, so this announcement too is reliable.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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