14. Ibn Hajar
(RA) says:
"And if the countries are far away, there are
two views. According to the majority it is not obligatory and Abu Twayyib (RA)
and a group have chosen it as obligatory." This is narrated by Imam Baghvi
from Imam Shafiy (RA)". (Fat'hul Barry.Vol.6 page 601).
The difference of opinion among the scholars of the Shafy Madhab is only on the question of the Mathla'h' being different. The Date Line or the place of day break in the world of which Imam Shafiy (RA) mentioned was not known to them because the extent of the Earth or the Mathla'h' was not known in their days. Even the existence of America was unknown to them.
Therefore we need not worry about the contradictions
of the followers of Imam Shafiy (RA). The followers of the other three Imams
did not take up the subject at all because their Imams were silent on it.
Certainly they too would have no objection to accept the fact that the day and
date must differ on the sides of the Date Line, but not on any other place. So
we can say that there is no contradiction at all. All of them agree that the
Eid must be celebrated on the same Day all over the world.