sighting by calculations

[talib-fil-Islam]

Assalamu alaikum

i have just learned that ISNA, ICNA and some other groups in Canada will be going with the North American Fiqh Council's decision to decide Ramadhan by calculation ONLY. Now in my city there were 2 main groups, the so called "global" who in my opinion really dont follow a global sighting but rather a Saudi sighting which i have still not found any proof for. the other group was a 'local' sighting thru a Hilal Committe" Now we have this 3rd group who will be using calculations... Whom should i go with keeping in mind my family will be going with the ICNA/ISNA calculations? I used to put great importance to the hadith recorded in at-tirmidhi which stated (paraphrased): "....your fast when the people fast........." and used to go with the local sighting which the majority of Muslims went with in our city and country. However, with this new decision i have no clue who is doing what.

jazakAllaahu khair

[Isam Rajab]

Walaikum Assalam,

We advised ISNA not to take that decision when we met with their president last year but they won't listen. Last year was a great lesson that we can't rely on mere calculations. They said it's impossible for the moon to be sighted yet it was seen and they announced the Eid and they changed their statement and that was just last year!
Alhamdulillah, here in Houston all the shuyoukh with no exception agreed to discard this opinion.
However, in your case, you go with what people do. Isna's opinion has some basis which is weak but it's still better than dividing the community, so if your community is going with isna then go with them.