An accountable person must follow the sighting of the moon or the location of their residence when the month begins, based on the verse: “So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it” [Al-Baqarah 2:185], meaning whoever witnesses the start of Ramaḍān while residing or personally sees the new moon.

Therefore, if someone was residing in Oman and left before the month began, they should fast according to their new place of residence, which in this case is Istanbul. Additionally, they are allowed to break their fast while traveling if the journey is for four days or less according to the majority opinion, or fifteen days or less according to the Ḥanafī scholars.

Precise astronomical calculations confirm the possibility of sighting the new moon on the evening of Sunday, the 29th of Sha῾bān 1445, which aligns with the moon sighting in some Islamic countries. Therefore, based on these calculations and the opinion that considers unified moon sighting, fasting should begin on Monday, not Tuesday.

Fatwā issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr