From: "Al-Haramain Foundation" <[log in to unmask]>


     As-Salaamu 'Alaikum,

     Riyadh, KSA 8:40 p.m. +3 GMT. I am now listening to the official
 decision and announcement of the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia
 (interrupting a beautiful lecture on Ramadhan by Shaykh Ibn
 Al-'Uthaimeen by the way) that since no sighting of the hilaal has been
 confirmed tonight, that the first day of Ramadhan will indeed fall on
 Thursday (corresponding to December 9, 1999) due to the ruling of the
 Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) to count 30 if the hilaal is not
 sighted, walhamdulillah.

     Allah has shown us mercy and are we not greatly in need of it? He
 subhaanahu wa ta'aalaa, has resolved the perpetual controversy between
 the astronomical calculation dependant, and those who insist upon
 sighting and the reports from Muslim witnesses, since the former
 insisted that the hilaal was impossible to sight tonight anyway. (We can
 now just wait until the next controversy for the start of 'Eid,
 wallaahul musta'aan!)

     May Allah allow all those who read this to make it to and through
 Ramadhan. May Allah accept all our good deeds, our standing, our fasting
 and our repentance, ameen.

     Your Brother,
     Abdul-Qaadir Abdul-Khaaliq
  >>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------