Question: What is Ikhtilaful-Matali' and what is Ittihadul-Matali'?
Answer: These are two Fiqh positions; both are considered valid Fiqh positions by the Ulamaa.
Ikhtilaful-Matali' means every locality can rely on its local sighting of the moon. This was adopted by Imam Maalik, Imam Shafi'i and Imam Hanbal.Ittihadul-Matali' means if authentic moonsighting news comes from other areas, then local moonsighting is not necessary. This was adopted by Hanafi Imams and scholars. However, Ittihadul-Matali' position was only meant for short distances considering Matla' remains the same. It never meant to be for large distances, certainly not for the whole globe (It is physically not possible).
Here, another point should be made clear that following Saudi Arabia is neither Ittihadul-Matali' nor Ikhtilaful-Matali'. Ittihadul-Matali' was for any locality that sees the moon first, not Makkah or Saudi Arabia. Following Saudi is a third position, which is not a valid Fiqh position, until Ulamaa do ijtihad and agree for it to become a valid Fiqh position.
Common sense tells us that Allah SWT created the globe and its rotation (with time differences). Matla' is different for far locations. Shari'ah, principles have never changed because of scientific inventions. Invention of watches did not change the prayer times that were in practice before watches
Telecommunications made it possible to know when Hujjaj are in Arafat. Before that, for centuries other locations did not know when was hajj. They were all celebrating Eid-al-Adha without knowing that, based on local sighting. If it was important to know when is hajj, then the Prophet, Khulafae-Rashidoon and Khulafaa' after them could have send someone to Makkah and find out in 10 days when is Hajj. But this was never done in the 14 centuries.
Eid al-Adha and its connection with Hajj
Unity in the Ummah does not come from centralization. Hajj is the key pillar of Islam and an event of great power and spirituality but this is for the Hujjaj (pilgrims) who are actually performing the Hajj in Makkah and the surrounding areas. It is clear that no attempt was been made to directly intertwine Hajj and Eid al-adha in Islamic history. Eid al-Adha should be marked on the locally agreed upon 10th of Zil-Hajjah rather than Makkan 10th of Zil-Hajjah
