Muslims united by the moon ( The use of the Islamic calendar, according to Sharee'ah )

The Muslims are required by Sharee'ah to be united in starting and ending the fast-and how that may be achieved. Why are the Muslims not united with regard to the beginning and end of Ramaadan ? How that can be achieved?

Praise be to Allah.
Undoubtedly for the Muslims to be united in starting and ending is something desirable and it is something that is required by Sharee'ah wherever possible , and there are only two conditions of achieving that:

1.  All Muslim scholars should do away with relying on calculations as the Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and the early generations of this ummah did,  and follow moonsighting or completing the number of days (in the month) as was explained by the Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) in the saheeh ahaadeeth.  Shaikh al Islam Ibn Taymiyah (Rahimahu Allah) said in al-Fataawa (25/132, 133) that the scholars were unanimously agreed that it is not permissible to rely on calculations for proving the beginning and end of the fast and so on. Al-Haafiz narrated in Al Fath (4/127) that al Baaji said: The consensus of the Salaf is that calculations should not be relied on , and their consensus is proof for those who come after them.
2. They should commit to following the sighting of the moon in any Muslim state that follows the  Sharee'ah of Allah and adheres to its rulings. When it is proven in that country that the new moon have been sighted with shar'i proof,with regard to the beginning or end of the fast ,then they should  follow that, in accordance with the words of the Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) " Fast when you see it , and stop fasting when you see it, and if is too cloudy then complete the number (of days)" and "We are an unlettered nation , we do not write or calculate.The month is such and such , and he gestured with all of his fingers , meaning that the month maybe twenty-nine days or it may be thirty. There are  many ahadeeth with similar meanings from Ibn 'Umar ,Abu Hurayrah, Hudhayfah Ibn al Yamaan and others ( Radia Allahu anhun). It is well know that what the Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said was not addressed only to teh people of Meedinah, rather it is addressed to the entire Ummah at all timesand in all places until the Day of Resurrection.

When those two conditions are met , then  All Muslim countries, will be able to fast together and break the fast together , and we ask Allah to enable them to do that and to help them to rule  by Islamic Sharee'ah and reject that  which goes against it. Undoubtedly that is obligatory upon them because Allah says: interpretation of the meaning:

" But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission”[al-Nisa’ 4:65]

And there are similar verses.
There is also no doubt that ruling all their affairs in accordance with sharee'ah is in their best  interests and will unite them and help them against their enemies and help them to attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.We ask Allah to open  their hearts to that and to help them to achieve it, for He is All-Hearing, Ever-near. End quote.


SOURCE:  Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (Rahimahu Allah) In Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah (15/74-76).