First: I had sent you a message around 10:00 PM Madinah time last night (Saturday night) stating that the crescent moon was not seen that night, based on the moon-sighting reports we had received. We usually do not delay beyond 10:00 or 10:30 PM Madinah time on the night of the sighting so as not to be late in announcing it to our brothers in the East, such as Indonesia and its surroundings, so the announcement reaches them before the Fajr prayer. Accordingly, the announcement was issued that Saturday, 23/05/2020, would be the completion of the blessed month of Ramadan, and that Eid would be on Sunday, 24/05/2020.
Second: Then, news reached us that the crescent had been seen by three Muslims in Tanzania, in addition to other observers in Africa. We sent word to our representative there to send two people to those who saw it to verify the matter. He did so and sent us the answer, which is as follows:
5. The 3 witnesses saw a very thin crescent with the 2 points upwards and the bow facing the sun which had set.
6. They have sworn oaths and declared the shahada before our 3 shabab.
Third: We received the representative’s response around 1:00 PM Madinah time. This means that the sighting of the crescent was correct, as the "bow" of the crescent was toward the sunset: (the bow facing the sun which had set). This confirms that what was seen was the crescent of Shawwal, based on the testimony of three Muslims.
Fourth: After contemplating the matter and based on the hadith of the Messenger (saw) narrated by Imam Ahmad from Abu ‘Umayr bin Anas, who narrated from his paternal uncles among the Ansar who were companions of the Messenger of Allah (saw), who said:
غُمَّ عَلَيْنَا هِلَالُ شَوَّالٍ فَأَصْبَحْنَا صِيَامًا فَجَاءَ رَكْبٌ مِنْ آخِرِ النَّهَارِ فَشَهِدُوا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْا الْهِلَالَ بِالْأَمْسِ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا مِنْ يَوْمِهِمْ وَأَنْ يَخْرُجُوا لِعِيدِهِمْ مِنْ الْغَدِ
"The crescent of Shawwal was obscured for us, so we started the day fasting. Then a caravan came at the end of the day and testified before the Messenger of Allah (saw) that they had seen the crescent yesterday. So the Messenger of Allah (saw) ordered them to break their fast that day and to go out for their Eid the next morning." (Narrated by Ahmad)
And Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Al-Sunan al-Kubra from Rib’i bin Hirash from a man among the companions of the Prophet (saw) who said:
اخْتَلَفَ النَّاسُ فِى آخِرِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَقَدِمَ أَعْرَابِيَّانِ فَشَهِدَا عِنْدَ النَّبِىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِاللَّهِ لأَهَلاَّ الْهِلاَلَ أَمْسِ عَشِيَّةً فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا وَأَنْ يَغْدُوا إِلَى مُصَلاَّهُمْ
"The people disagreed on the last day of Ramadan, then two Bedouins came and testified before the Prophet (saw) by Allah that the crescent had appeared yesterday evening. So the Messenger of Allah (saw) ordered the people to break their fast and to go to their prayer place the next morning." (Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi)
Accordingly, and following the example of the Messenger of Allah (saw), today, Saturday 23/05/2020, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Therefore, Muslims should break their fast; and because this time is after midday (zawal), they shall go to the Eid prayer tomorrow. We ask Allah (swt) to accept from us our fasting and standing in prayer, and to make this noble month a beginning of goodness and blessing for all Muslims. May Allah (swt) hasten for the Muslims the establishment of their Khilafah and their healing from every epidemic, so they may be honored in this world and the Hereafter, for Allah is the Possessor of Great Bounty.
May Allah accept your acts of obedience, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
Your Brother,
Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
Day of Eid al-Fitr, 1st of Shawwal 1441 AH
Corresponding to 23/05/2020 CE