Question: If the Day of Arafah in India differs from Saudi Arabia, when should I fast? According to India or Saudi Arabia?
Praise be to Allah
Summary: You should fast according to the local moon sighting in your country, India.
Detailed Answer:
Islamic dates, including the Day of Arafah, are determined by moon sighting, which can vary from country to country. Therefore, each country should follow its own local moon sighting. This means that if the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah in Saudi Arabia does not align with the 9th in India, you should fast according to the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah in India.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and other scholars have explained that moon sightings are location-specific, so Muslims should observe fasting based on their local sighting, similar to how prayer times are determined by the position of the sun in their location.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “When you see the new moon, fast, and when you see it, break your fast”
(Sahih Muslim 1081b).
This emphasizes the importance of local moon sighting for determining Islamic dates.
And Allah Knows Best
