Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not fast before Ramadan. Begin fasting upon sighting the crescent of Ramadan, and celebrate Eid upon sighting the crescent of Shawwal. If clouds prevent you from seeing the crescent, then complete thirty days.

A companion narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Do not fast before the arrival of Ramadan until you see the moon or complete thirty days of Sha'ban. Do not celebrate Eid until you see the moon or complete thirty days of fasting.

Hazrat Abdullah says: Fast upon sighting the moon and celebrate Eid upon sighting the moon; if clouds cover (the sky), then complete thirty fasts.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: Do not join anything with Ramadan; do not fast one or two days before Ramadan.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Fast upon sighting the moon and celebrate Eid upon sighting the moon; if the moon is not visible, then complete the prescribed number (of days).

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Fast upon sighting the moon and celebrate Eid upon sighting the moon; if the moon is not visible, then complete thirty days of fasting.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah states that it is forbidden to fast one or two days before Ramadan.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Refrain from fasting from the middle of Sha'ban until Ramadan."

Hazrat Abu Bakhtari narrates that we set out for Umrah. When we reached the place of Batn Nakhlah, we said that we have sighted the moon. Some people said that it is the moon of the third night, while others said that it is the moon of the second night. Upon this, we met Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) and we said that we have seen the moon; some people say it is the moon of the third night and some say it is the moon of the second night. He asked, "When did you see this moon?" We replied, "On such and such night." Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty has extended the sighting of the moon; the night of the moon will be the night on which you see it."

Hazrat Abu Bakhtari narrates that we saw the crescent of Ramadan at the place of Dhat 'Irq. We sent a man to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) to ask him about this matter. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty has extended the sighting of the moon; if you do not see the moon, then complete thirty days.

Hazrat Sha'bi narrates that when the month of Ramadan would arrive, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would deliver a sermon in which he would say: "Beware! Do not go ahead of the month. When you see the moon, begin fasting. When you see the moon, celebrate Eid. If you do not see the moon, then complete thirty days." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say this after Asr and after Fajr.

The same is narrated from Hazrat Umar.

Hasan and Muhammad say that fasting before Ramadan has been prohibited.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far and Hazrat Ata have declared fasting before Ramadan as disliked (makruh).

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that if a person has a habit of fasting, and during this time Ramadan arrives, then he should stop fasting a few days before Ramadan.

Hazrat Abu Qalabah says that the predecessors used to look for the moon; when they saw the moon, they would fast, and if they did not see it, they would wait for the word of their Imam.