Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Apr 2007
|
As-salaamu 'Alaykum,
Perhaps someone could offer some sort of advice in this situation, insha'Allaah.
I have been living in Marrakech for three years now, alhamdulillaah. When Ramadaan comes around the people start it a day late, intentionally. For example, Ramadaan is declared to have started, and the government says that it starts here the following day. Meaning the start fasting a day behind KSA, and most of the other countries.
I have researched this while here, and it has nothing to do with moon sighting, or moon rising zone, or anything with the moon what-so-ever. It is strictly a practice that mostly has stemmed from when Morocco broke from the Khalifah during the Middle Ages. However, it remains and all the people here go with it without question. When I have question it, the people have replied "In Saudi it starts today, so we start tomorrow."
My question is, do I, personally, have to follow the Ruler in this regard because he is going against Islaam here? I liken it to as if he changed the times of prayer from the correct times. Like saying that dhuhr comes in at asr time or something similar.
I can easily start fasting on the correct day and care less what everyone else is doing, similar to what we had done in the US on numerous occasions when ISNA and their likes have started Ramadaan a day late. However, the difference here is that there is a Muslim ruler, and we are supposed to follow him.
I understand that there will probably not be a general ruling on this because it could cause chaos, which is why I am speaking for myself, personally in this issue.
Jazakallaahu khayr.
|
|
ibn_cabassa
20-03-2009 @ 6:08 PM
