✦ By: ʿUbaydullah Tahir ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Testimony of Two Individuals for Sighting the Shawwal Moon After Zawal
❀ Narration 1:
«عن رجل من أصحاب النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: اختلف الناس فى آخر يوم من رمضان، فقدام أعرابيان، فشهدا عند النبى صل الله عليه وسلم بالله لأهلا الهلال أمس عشية، فامر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الناس أن يفطروا. زاد خلف فى حديثه،: وأن يغدوا إلى مصلاهم). »
A companion of the Prophet ﷺ reports that once there was a disagreement among the people regarding the last day of Ramadan — some claimed it was the 30th of Ramadan while others believed it was the 1st of Shawwal. Subsequently, two Bedouins came before the Prophet ﷺ and testified in the name of Allah that they had seen the new moon the previous evening. Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed the people to break their fast. In the narration of Khalaf, it is further added that the Prophet ﷺ also commanded the people to proceed to the Eid prayer place the next morning.
[Sunan Abū Dāwūd 3339, Ṣaḥīḥ]
❀ Narration 2:
«عن أبى عمير بن أنس، عن عمومة له من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، أن ركبا جاءوا إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يشهدون أنهم رأوا الهلال بالأمس، فأمرهم أن يفطروا، وإذا أصبحوا أن يغدوا إلى مصلاهم»
Abū ʿUmayr bin Anas narrated from his uncles who were companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that a group of riders came to the Prophet ﷺ and testified that they had sighted the moon the previous night. Thereupon, the Prophet ﷺ instructed the people to break their fast and to proceed to the Eid prayer place the following morning.
[Sunan Abū Dāwūd 1157, Sunan al-Nasāʾī 1557, Sunan Ibn Mājah 1653, Ḥasan]
✔ Key Points:
① The testimony of trustworthy individuals regarding the moon sighting—even after zawal (zenith)—is valid.
② The Prophet ﷺ accepted such testimonies and gave practical rulings based on them.
③ Upon confirmation of the moon sighting, the ruling to end fasting and perform Eid prayer was immediately enacted.
④ These narrations demonstrate the significance of verified testimony in determining the Islamic calendar.
