The Ruling on Qada for Breaking the Fast on a Radio Report

Question

What is the ruling on keeping or breaking the fast on the basis of a radio report? Is only qada (make-up) obligatory on those people who broke their fast upon hearing the radio report, or not? Or kaffara (expiation) as well?

Answer

If a report comes over the radio that the moon has been sighted in such-and-such a place, this is not sufficient. However, if an announcement comes that in such-and-such a place a Shari‘a qadi, or a Muslim ruler, or a moon-sighting committee (ru’yat-e hilal committee — the body that establishes the sighting of the new moon)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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