The moon was not seen on the 30th of Ramadan

Question

On the basis of a Shari‘a testimony, the qadi of the city confirmed the sighting of the new moon (ru’yat al-hilal) and also made a general announcement, and in accordance with this announcement the common people and the elite began fasting. When, after thirty fasts had been completed, the time came on the 30th to look for the moon, the horizon was completely clear, yet despite this the moon was not seen. The question now is: should Eid be celebrated in the morning or not?

Answer

If at the time of the sighting of the crescent of Ramadan the horizon was not clear but there was cloud, and two witnesses stated their sighting before the qadi, whereupon the qadi announced that Ramadan had been established, and on the completion of thirty fasts, despite the horizon being clear, the moon of Eid was not seen even though this is the thirty-first night, then Eid…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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