Question:Is the crescent confirmed by encirclement?

Answer:In the name of Allah, one of the ways of approving the crescent is its appearance as encircled; there is a fine line of light encircling the whole moon starting from one side of the crescent to the other side forming a circle. This is an indication that it has appeared one night before.

Question:Regarding moon sighting, does His Eminence believe in the unity of the horizon (lying on the same latitude) or of the latitude multiplicity? Does his Eminence believe in sighting with bare eyes or armed eyes (armed with telescope or any other device)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, His Eminence believes in the universal sighting; it means that if the crescent is sighted in any country in the world, its ruling will cover all the countries of the world. He does not say of the armed eyes or calendars, but approves the bare-eye sight. Allah knows best.

Question:Do Iran, Iraq and Azerbaijan lie on the same latitude?

Answer:In the name of Allah, according to me, if the crescent is sighted in an area, the ruling will include the entire world. Allah knows best.

Question:What is meant by the unity of horizon?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it means that if the crescent is sighted in any part of the world, then moon sighting is confirmed for all the other parts of the world or some of the parts on another opinion. Allah knows best.

Question:If the religious authority says that it has been approved for him the beginning of the hijri month, do all have to follow him?

Answer:In the name of Allah, the judge of the religious authority applies to all the people even the other Mujtahids. If he declares the approval of seeing the crescent in authentic ways, then it is approved for anyone who is convinced with his opinion. Allah knows best.

Question:On the 29th day of Ramadan, I see the crescent of Eid one or half an hour before the sunset prayers, must I complete my fasting or can I break my fast (since I see the Eid crescent)?

Answer:In the name of Allah, it is not permissible for you to break your fast before fast breaking time which is due only after the sunset redness vanishes from the sunset side. Allah knows best.

Question:I would like to know the jurisprudential reasoning of His Eminence the Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Al-Najafy (may Allah prolong his life) concerning moon sighting so that we include His Eminence’s opinion with the ones of the other Religious Authorities in this regard. 1.Does he favour the unity or the multiplicity of the horizon? 2.Does his opinion favour seeing with Telescope only? 3.Does his Eminence see the adequacy of astronomical calculations?

Answer:In the name of Allah: 1.Yes he does. Allah knows best 2.You can use it to locate the moon, and then you can see with your bare eyes. Only then do religious rules apply. Allah knows best. 3.They are not considered religious evidence by themselves. However, if they provide absolute information, it must be taken. Allah knows best.