7. In Iqna the
famous book of Hambali School, it is said:
"When the Hilal is confirmed at a place near or
far, fasting is obligatory on all people. The ruling on those who did not see
is the same as for those who saw it, even if the Mathla’h (horizons) differed,
fasting is compulsory." (Iqna 1:309).
But this would not apply to those who live on the
sides of the Date line. The rules will not be same on the sides of the Date
Line. For example, the people living on the Island of Samoa cannot begin the
fasting with those living on the Island of Fiji even if they get the
information. There is a time difference of 24 hours between them and this must
be strictly adhered to. If the people of Fiji began fasting on Friday, the
people of Samoa too will begin fasting on Friday but there will be a gap of 24
hours between them. Both the places begin fasting on the same Day here also.
The scholars were not aware of the Date line (Mathla'h').