A: Deciding the beginning of any lunar month is only...

A: Deciding the beginning of any lunar month is only possible through one of the following methods: sighting the new moon by the person bound by religious obligation [mukallaf] himself; the testimony of two just witnesses to that effect; numerous reports that bring conviction that the moon has been sighted; completion of 30 days since the month''s beginning; or the decree of a religious authority.

Suppose it is permissible to follow certain government''s announcement about the sighting of the crescent which could act as a scientific standard for other countries,