Making a mistake in citing the moon has occurred before and would not be the first time and neither is it confirmed nor have the scholars in Saudi spoken regarding it as far as I know. Majority of those spreading this are from the indo pak region or those in to astronomy who are known to cause fitnah every single year over this same subject of the moon being sighted or not.

When the moon is being sighted to start Ramadan, they say Saudi made a mistake, and then at the end of Ramadan as well, they say Saudi made a mistake.

I remember a few years back they said the same and said we will only fast 28 days due to Saudi’s mistake. Shaykh Yahya was asked about it at that time and he replied, “if it does happen, we will have to make up a fast”. Similarly in the year 1404 Hijri, they fasted 28 days and the Ulema at that time gave a fatwa that a day be made up. Also Shaykhul Islaam mentioned a mistake was made at the time of Ali رضي الله عنه as well wherein they fasted 28 and thus they had to make up a fast. Thus even the part of the Kaffarah (in riyaal that people are claiming must be done by Saudi for their mistake) makes absolutely no sense as what would be a must is just to make up the fast (and nothing else). Thus it is befitting that one does not listen to these people and rather asks or waits for the scholars. If it did occur, they will clarify and all that’s needed to be done is to make up the fast. These people who are stubborn regarding moonsighting have a lot of contradictions with them and in reality many on social media that I have seen speak about these affairs are extremely ignorant or blind followers.

I asked Shaykh Abdul Hameed Al Hajooree about his and he replied,

هذا كذب
ولو أخطأوا فما وجه الكفارة في الشرع وإنما يقضون يوما
وبهذا تعلم كذب هذا القول

“This is a lie. Even if they made a mistake, what is the reason for the Kaffarah (expiation) in the legislation? They just have to make up a day. Thus with this, it is known the falseness of this statement”. End translation.

Mentioned by

Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl