In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful
Important Announcement for the Muslim Community in Relation to the Announcement of the Joyous Occasion of ^Idul-Fitr 1444
All Praise is due to Allah and May Allah raise the rank of our master and leader Prophet Muhammad and his kind Al and companions.
Thereafter, Allah the Exalted said in the Qur’an:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَرَجٗا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمٗا
The Ayah means: [By your Lord, they will not believe in truth until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning what they dispute over among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort for what you have judged and submit in full submission].
Al-Bayhaqiyy also narrated in his book ‘As- Sunan Al- Kubra’ that the Prophet peace be upon him said what means: <<The trustworthy scholars inherit this knowledge from their predecessors. They preserve it from the misinterpretations of the ignorant ones, the false claims of the perpetrators and the distortion of the exaggerators>>.
In abiding by this holy Ayah and this noble Hadith, Darulfatwa – The Islamic High Council of Australia reinstates the call to the Islamic community to remain unison in stand and word and to remain in adherence with the Book
of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet peace be upon him and not be drawn into practices of sedition that divide the nation and sell it for political advantage. This is the consequence when some prioritize gathering crowds for popularity scores which then compels them to announce the Day of ^Idul-Fitr for 2023 -1444 prematurely and without Islamic proof. This is a clear deviation from the statement of the Prophet peace be upon him who does not speak of his own accord, <<Do not fast the month until you sight the crescent and do not end the month until you sight the crescent, and if you are unable to sight the crescent then complete the month to thirty days.>> Narrated by Imam Malik in “Al-Muwatta’”.
As declared by scholarly consensus, determining the ^Id Day on any day whether it be Friday or Saturday relying on astronomy and calculations is a deviation from the right path and from the methodology of moderate Muslims.
It has become clear that any deviation from the righteous and moderate path causes divide, community fragmentation and confusion to many; except to those upon whom Allah had bestowed His mercy and guided them to practicing what the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him taught.
As a matter of religious due diligence and entrustment, we call upon everyone to follow the honourable Islamic rules and to be cautious of sedition and its advocates.
Imam Ahmad in his Musnad related from the route of Abu ad-Darda’ that he said: The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: <<The thing I fear most for you are the corrupt leaders>>.
We will uphold the practice of observing the crescent after sunset on Thursday the 29th of Ramadan which coincides with 20th of April 2023 in accordance with the honourable rules of Islam and as was called for by the Fatwa Councils around the Islamic world.
On this basis, we will then announce the ^Idul-Fitr Day for this year 1444H via different media channels and social media platforms, in agreement with the practice of the reliable scholars and the credible Islamic institutions, in our aim to unify the nation and consolidate the words of truth and guidance.
May Allah guide us to the right path which He accepts.
Darulfatwa
The Islamic High Council of Australia
20 Ramadan 1444H
11-4-2023
