Khaberni - The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Ahmed al-Hassanat, confirmed that the General Iftaa' Department is not subject to any pressures from any side, be it political or security-related, regarding the announcement of the fasting dates for Jordanians, emphasizing that the department's decision is not revealed to anyone before it is made and officially announced.
Al-Hassanat explained on Al-Mamlaka channel that Jordan did not make the decision to start fasting on Thursday alone, but it was in agreement with the majority of Islamic countries, noting that about 90% of Muslims announced their fasting on the same day, and that the countries that started fasting on Thursday represent the majority of the Muslim world's population.
He added that the Iftaa' Department strives to unify the fasting date as much as possible, pointing out that it prefers not to contradict the neighboring countries, and that fasting of the nation on one day is a priority and provides general comfort, while differing dates cause psychological pressure.
Al-Hassanat reiterated the confirmation that Jordan fasted along with the majority of Islamic countries, and that the decision on Thursday was in line with what was announced by the larger proportion of Muslims around the world.
He said that the differences in jurisprudential and religious matters have been recognized and considered since the inception of Islam.
Al-Hassanat added that jurisprudential differences are "healthy", and it is not permissible nor proper to allow disagreement to become a reason for dispute and discord between countries.
Regarding the sighting of the crescent, he indicated that there are different approaches, and each group of imams and scholars has its acceptably considered interpretations, even though some of these interpretations are not agreed upon, assuring that he neither discredits nor doubts anyone’s scholarly efforts.
He explained that regarding the sighting of the crescent every year, there are jurisprudential and astronomical schools in determining the beginning of the month, and among the most famous of these schools is the one that still adheres to the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him: (Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it), meaning that the proof for the commencement of the month is the sighting of the crescent.
