Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

 

Fasting becomes mandatory when one of these three things occurs: the completion of thirty days of the Islamic month of Sha`ban, the sighting of the crescent moon of Ramadan, or the presence of clouds on the night of the thirtieth of Sha`ban that prevents its sighting.

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has been reported as saying, “If there are clouds obstructing your view, (uqduroo) for it.” The word uqduroo can mean ‘estimate,’ which is the meaning used by those who advocate using calculations to determine when Ramadan begins and ends. It can also mean ‘limit it,’ which would mean limiting Sha`ban to 29 days in favor of Ramadan (in other words, not losing any of its days).

 

The correct understanding of the word was mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself when he said: “Consider Sha`ban to be thirty days.”

 

Therefore, as Muslims, we are presumed to start fasting when two trustworthy Muslims bear witness that they have already seen the crescent of Ramadan provided that the place where they sighted the moon shares a part of night with where we are fasting.

 

It is not a matter of political affiliation or following a certain country. I think some people follow Saudi Arabia because people there confirm that they follow the legal sighting of the moon.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.