Sheikh Saleh Bin Fowzan Al-Fowzan, member of the Permanent Committee for Ftam and Board of Senior Ulema has approved sighting of Ramadan and Shawal crescent through observatories. Replying to a question by Al-Madina on possibility of depending on observatories in sighting the crescent of Ramadan and if the sighting with a naked eye is obligatory, Sheikh Al-Fowzan said “Sighting the Ramadan crescent with observatories and telescopes is permissible as is the case with sighting it with a naked eye.” He added the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith “Fast at its sighting and terminate the fast at its sighting.” However this shows that it doesn't matter if the sighting is with the naked eye or through observatory. __
