{"_id":"69b94264bd1ef76f5cad24c7","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is it permissible to celebrate Eid with family if you believe Ramadan has not yet ended?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"My husband and I decided to follow local moon sightings for this year’s Ramadan. However, we live in a community that follows Saudi moon sightings, and this is also my first Ramadan being married and spending it with my in-laws.\\n\\nBased on the astronomical data, it seems that sighting the moon on Thursday night will likely be impossible, which would make Eid fall on Saturday according to the local-sighting approach. However, I believe the community here will still celebrate Eid on Friday if Saudi Arabia declares it, which has already happened.\\n\\nWhile we were able to quietly begin fasting a day later at the start of Ramadan, the end of Ramadan feels more tense, as celebrating Eid on a different day will create tension with my in-laws, who may view it as a decision that divides the family.\\n\\nHow should I navigate this situation? For the sake of family harmony, would it be okay to celebrate Eid with them on Friday, even though I personally believe that any moon sighting would not be astronomically possible?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"While it is valid to follow different opinions within the Sunni legal tradition regarding moon sighting, it is not correct to act against what you personally believe to be right, such as breaking your fast on a day you believe should still be a day of fasting.\\n\\nThe best course of action in this situation is to have an honest and thoughtful discussion with your family about how to handle this issue together. This is not a new problem, and it is likely to repeat itself in future years. It should not come as a surprise. Rather, it is a minor symptom of the broader disunity that exists within the Muslim ummah today.\\n\\nWhile we may not be able to resolve the larger issue of global disunity, we should at least strive to maintain unity within our families and, ideally, within our local communities. For this reason, a more serious discussion is needed at the community level. The recurring confusion surrounding the beginning and end of Ramadan continues to create unnecessary division.\\nLocal communities would benefit from discussing this issue openly with their local masjids and scholars, with the aim of adopting a consistent and transparent approach to moon sighting. This could involve either a clearly defined global-sighting position or a local-sighting position, rather than relying blindly on reports whose verification is questionable.\\n\\nGiven the ongoing confusion surrounding foreign announcements, one practical solution may be for local mosques to adopt local moon sighting through designated regional committees. This approach can provide greater clarity and allow communities to rely on processes they trust.\\n\\nSome may argue that Muslims everywhere should celebrate Eid on the same day. While that ideal is understandable, it may not be realistically achievable at present due to the absence of unified global religious leadership. Until such unity exists, establishing reliable and consistent practices at the local level may be the most practical way to reduce confusion and maintain communal harmony.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fde0b76658b4c232774","tag":"Fasting: Ramadan","count":97},{"_id":"668d9fe20b76658b4c23280c","tag":"Relationships: Extended Family","count":47},{"_id":"668d9fde0b76658b4c23278c","tag":"Relationships: In-Laws","count":11},{"_id":"668da0190b76658b4c232e19","tag":"Moonsighting","count":7}],"createdOn":"2026-03-17T12:00:36.533Z"}