This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Muhammad Farooq's book Issues of the Two Eids.
Literal Meaning of Eid and Reason for its Naming :.
The various statements of scholars regarding the literal explanation of the word Eid and the reasons for naming it are as follows:
Imam Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
➊ The word Eid العود (to return) is derived from, and Eid is called Eid because every Eid brings back happiness and joy, and its plural is اعياد.
➋ The word Eid was originally عود, then according to the rule that a waw preceded by a kasra becomes ya, the waw was changed to ya, and عود became عيد.
➌ Khalil Nahwi says that every festival is called Eid because people return home on that day to join the Eid.
Ibn Anbari says: Eid is called Eid because on it every person returns to his status and position. Thus, the host entertains according to his status, and the guest is treated according to his status. The wealthy and affluent provide pleasure and honor according to their ability, and the poor and needy are given substantial financial support.
Reference: (Neel al-Awtar: 1/400)
➎ Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that there are various opinions among scholars regarding the meaning and definition of Eid:
1. It is called Eid because of the repeated returning on this day.
2. The day is called Eid because happiness and delight return on this day.
3. It is taken as a good omen that this day returns again to those who share in the joy of Eid, just as a caravan is called "Salimah" as a good omen that it remained safe from robbers and accidents on the way.
Reference: (Sharh al-Nawawi: 2/411)
Eid: A Religious Festival.
Every nation, religion, and community has a special religious festival in which they celebrate, express their religious slogans, and show joy and happiness. In contrast, the people of Islam are encouraged to celebrate two religious festivals: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and they are advised to avoid celebrating any other types of festivals such as non-Muslims' festivals, national celebrations, New Year celebrations, Independence Day, and Milad celebrations.
The command of Allah Almighty is:
لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ مَنْسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ فَلَا يُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِي الْأَمْرِ وَادْعُ إِلَى رَبِّكَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَى هُدًى مُسْتَقِيمٍ
Reference: (Al-Hajj: 67)
"For every nation We have appointed a rite of worship that they must follow, so let them not dispute with you in the matter (of religion), and invite to your Lord. Indeed, you are on the straight path."
This verse clarifies that the previous Shariahs and their methods of worship have been abrogated, and likewise, their religious festivals have also been abrogated. Muslims are advised to adopt their own worship and religious festivals and to avoid imitating non-Muslims. Just as they are commanded to celebrate their religious festivals (the two Eids) with enthusiasm, they are also prohibited from participating in the festivals of non-Muslims.
Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
دخل أبو بكر وعندي جاريتان من جواري الأنصار، تغنيان بما تقاولت الأنصار يوم بعاث قالت: وليستا بمغنيتين فقال أبو بكر: أمزامير الشيطان فى بيت رسول الله ﷺ؟ وذلك فى يوم عيد فقال رسول الله ﷺ: يا أبا بكر! إن لكل قوم عيدا، وهذا عيدنا
"Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered our house while girls from the Ansar tribe were singing the brave poems that the Ansar had recited in the Battle of Badr. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that those girls were not professional singers. (Upon hearing their poems) Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Are there satanic instruments in the house of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? And this happened on the day of Eid. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: O Abu Bakr! Indeed, every nation has its Eid, and this is our (Muslims') Eid."
Reference: (Bukhari: 952, Muslim: 892, Ibn Majah: 1898, Musnad Ahmad: 6/99)
This hadith is evidence that Muslims have complete freedom to celebrate their religious festivals. The two Eids are the religious festivals of Muslims, and they have no concern with the festivals of non-Muslim nations or un-Islamic festivals.
Islam and Eid: (How many Eids)
In Islamic Shariah, there are only two Eids (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha); besides these, there is no permission to celebrate any third Eid or religious festival.
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates:
قدم رسول الله ﷺ المدينة ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما فقال: ما هذان اليومان؟ قالوا: كنا نلعب فيهما فى الجاهلية فقال رسول الله ﷺ: إن الله أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما: يوم الأضحى ويوم الفطر
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Madinah, the people of Madinah had two days (appointed) in which they used to play and have fun. He ﷺ asked: What are these two days? They replied: We used to play on these two days during the time of ignorance. Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Indeed, Allah has replaced those two days for you with two better days (Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr)."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 1134, Sunan an-Nasa'i: 1557, Musnad Ahmad: 3/250, Sahihah: 2021, authentic chains)
Hameed al-Taweel is a mudallis narrator, but there is explicit hearing (sama') in Musnad Ahmad, which removes the defect of mudallas.
Benefits:
Shams al-Haq Azeem Abadi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
➊ In the era of ignorance, the people of ignorance had two days of happiness (one was Nowruz and the other Mehregan). Qamoos states that Nowruz is the first day of the new year and it is an Arabized form of the Persian word Norooz (new day). Nowruz is the first day when the sun moves into the Aries constellation, and it is the first day of the solar year. The appearance of the new moon in the month of Muharram is the first day of the lunar year. Mehregan is the opposite day of Nowruz and it is the first day of Libra (moderate season).
Both these days, Nowruz and Mehregan, are very moderate in terms of climate and temperature, and the day and night durations are equal. It means that the ancient wise men, who were associated with the knowledge of astronomy, had selected these two days for Eid, and the people of those times, believing that these wise men had supreme intellect, imitated them in this matter and gave these days the status of festivals and celebrations. Then the Prophets, peace be upon them, were sent and they declared these fabricated festivals and self-made Eids of the wise men null and void.
➋ Taybi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: (In the order of this Hadith) Eid al-Adha was placed before Eid al-Fitr because it is the greater Eid.
➌ Celebrating Nowruz and Mehregan (the Eids of ignorance) with amusement and expressions of joy and happiness is not permissible.
➍ In the two Eids, it is commanded to express extreme happiness and perform worship, because these are the days of true happiness: The command of Allah Almighty is:
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا
Reference: (Yunus: 58)
"Say, 'In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy—therein let them rejoice.'"
➎ Mazhar says this Hadith is evidence that honoring Nowruz, Mehregan, and other festivals and celebrations of the disbelievers is forbidden and prohibited. On this issue, Abu Hafs al-Kabeer Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, exaggerated and said that whoever honors Nowruz by giving an egg to a polytheist on that day will become a disbeliever and his deeds will be destroyed.
And Qazi Abu al-Muhassin Hasan bin Mansur Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Whoever on the day of Nowruz engages in extraordinary buying and selling beyond the usual or gives gifts contrary to the norm, if he does this to honor that day as the disbelievers and polytheists do, he will become a disbeliever. But if he buys and sells for comfort and luxury and gives gifts on that day as usual, he will not be a disbeliever, but due to resembling the disbelievers, these acts are disliked and should be avoided.
Reference: (A'un al-Ma'bood: 20/4)
➏ Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, explains: From this Hadith it is established that imitating the festivals of the disbelievers is forbidden because the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not maintain Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr on the days of the ignorant people's festivals, Nowruz and Mehregan, nor did he permit the Muslims to celebrate and play on those days. Rather, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said that Allah Almighty gave them two other days of happiness in exchange for those two days, and this exchange necessitates abandoning those (including the Eids of ignorance).
Reference: (Fayd al-Qadeer: 669/4)
➐ It is mentioned in the books of Seerah that the first Eid in Islam was Eid al-Fitr and it began in the second year of Hijra.
➑ Expressing happiness and joy on the two Eids is a recommended act and part of the Shariah which Allah Almighty has imposed on His servants.
Reference: (Subul al-Salam: 497/2)
The Islamic Method for Determining Eid al-Fitr:.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first of Shawwal, and the method of determining it is that if the moon of Shawwal is sighted after the twenty-ninth of Ramadan, then Eid is on that day; otherwise, if the thirty days of Ramadan are completed, Eid will be the next day. This is because the Islamic month is either twenty-nine or thirty days, and after counting thirty days, the next month inevitably begins.
➊ It is narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
صوموا لرؤيته و أفطرو لرؤيته، فإن غمى عليكم الشهر فعدوا ثلاثين
"Fast when you see the moon and break your fast when you see the moon (i.e., observe Eid al-Fitr). If the sky is cloudy and you cannot determine the month, then count the month as thirty days."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The Prophet's Saying: When you see the crescent, fast: 1909. Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The obligation of fasting Ramadan upon sighting the crescent: 1081 - Sunan Nasai: 2119. Musnad Ahmad: 415/2
➋ Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned Ramadan and said:
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروه، فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له
"Do not fast until you see the crescent of Ramadan, and do not stop fasting until you see the crescent. If the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate the month."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The Prophet's Saying: When you see the crescent, fast: 1906 - Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The obligation of fasting Ramadan upon sighting the crescent: 1080 - Sunan Nasai: 2123, Musnad Ahmad: 6322
➌ It is narrated from Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
الشهر تسع وعشرون، فإذا رأيتم الهلال فصوموا، وإذا رايتموه فأفطروا ، فإن غم عليكم فاقدرواله
"The month is twenty-nine days, so when you see the crescent of Ramadan, fast, and when you see the crescent of Shawwal, break your fast. If the sky is cloudy for you, then estimate the count of the month."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The Prophet's Saying: When you see the crescent, fast: 1907 - Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The obligation of fasting Ramadan upon sighting the crescent: 1080 - Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The month is either twenty-nine: 2320
Benefits:.
The aforementioned ahadith are evidence that the method of determining the fasts of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr is the sighting of the crescent of Ramadan and Eid. Otherwise, the determination of Ramadan and Shawwal will be made after completing thirty days of the month.
Reliable witness for the proof of the Eid crescent:.
How many witnesses' testimonies are valid for the proof of the crescent of Eid? Scholars differ on this matter. Below, we will present the arguments on this issue, the statements of scholars, and the preferred ruling.
➊ Abdul Rahman bin Zaid bin Khattab, may Allah have mercy on him, addressed the people on the day of doubt (Sha’ban 30) and said that indeed I attended the gathering of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and asked them about this issue. They told me that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
صوموا لرؤيته، و أفطروا لرؤيته، وانسكوالها، فإن غم عليكم فأكملوا عدة ثلاثين، فإن شهد شاهدان فصوموا وأفطروا
“Fast when you see the crescent, and break your fast when you see it, and determine the time of worship by the sighting of the crescent. Then if the sky is cloudy, complete thirty days of the month. Then if two witnesses testify to the sighting of the crescent, then based on their testimony, fast and break your fast.”
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 321/4, Sunan Nasai: 2118, Isnad Hasan
➋ Hussain bin Harith Jadali, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates that the Amir of Makkah (Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him) said in his address:
عهد إلينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن ننسك للرؤية، فإن لم نره وشهد شاهدا عدل نسكنا بشهادتهما
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, obligated us to determine the time of worship (fasting and Eid) by sighting the crescent. And if we ourselves do not see the crescent and two just witnesses testify to its sighting, then we determine the time of worship based on their testimony.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Testimony of Two Men on the Sighting of the Crescent of Shawwal: 2338, Sunan Dar Qutni: 2171, Sunan Baihaqi: 248/4 - Isnad: Hasan
➌ It is narrated from Rubai bin Harash, may Allah have mercy on him, that a Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
إختلف الناس فى آخر يوم من رمضان، فقدم أعرابيان فشهد عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بالله لاهلا الهلال أمس عشية، فأمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الناس أن يفطروا وأن يغدوا إلى مصلاهم
“There was disagreement among the people on the last day of Ramadan regarding the sighting of the crescent. Then two villagers came and swore by Allah in the afternoon before the Prophet, peace be upon him, that they had indeed seen the crescent the previous day. Upon this, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ordered the people to break their fast and commanded them to attend the Eid gathering the next morning.”
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Testimony of Two Men on the Sighting of the Crescent of Shawwal: 2339 - Musnad Ahmad: 314/4 - Sahih
Benefits:.
From these ahadith, it apparently appears that for the confirmation of the crescent of Shawwal, the testimony of at least two just Muslim witnesses is necessary. The majority of scholars have adopted this position by deducing from the ahadith that for the confirmation of Eid al-Fitr, the testimony of two just witnesses regarding the sighting of the crescent is obligatory.
➊ Thus, Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) states that except for Abu Thawr (may Allah have mercy on him), the position of all scholars is that the establishment of Eid al-Fitr based on the testimony of one just person who claims to have seen the moon is not valid. However, in this matter, Abu Thawr (may Allah have mercy on him) considered the testimony of one just person to be valid.
Reference: Sharh al-Nawawi: 189/4
➋ Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) states that the above-mentioned ahadith are evidence that the testimony of a single person regarding the sighting of the moon is not sufficient for the confirmation of Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 253/3
➌ Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and Abu Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on him) accept the testimony of one just person for the confirmation of Ramadan. Even in this regard, they accept the testimony of a slave and a woman, even a bondswoman, as valid. However, for the confirmation of Eid al-Fitr, they require the testimony of two just men and do not consider the testimony of one man and two women to be worthy of consideration. Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) does not permit the testimony of women for the sighting of the crescent for the confirmation of Eid al-Fitr. Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him), and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (may Allah have mercy on him) accept the testimony of at least two witnesses for the sighting of the moon for the confirmation of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: ‘Awn al-Ma‘bud: 28/7
Preferred Position:
The preferred position on this issue is that the sighting of the moon by one just person is sufficient as proof for Eid al-Fitr, and his testimony will be considered valid. The evidence for this is the following arguments.
Argument Number 1:
It is an established fact that the testimony of a just person is valid as proof for Ramadan. The evidence for this is a hadith narrated from Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said:
تراءى الناس الهلال، فأخبرت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أني رأيته، فصام وأمر الناس بصيامه
"People were trying hard to see the moon, then I informed the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that I had indeed seen the moon. Upon this testimony, the Prophet, peace be upon him, fasted and ordered the people to fast."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the Testimony of One Person Regarding the Sighting of the Ramadan Crescent: 2342 - Sunan Darimi: 1697 - Sahih Ibn Hibban: 3447. Sunan Darqutni: 2127. Sunan Bayhaqi: 212/4 - Mustadrak Hakim: 423/1 - Its chain is Hasan
This hadith is a clear text that the testimony of one just person seeing the moon is sufficient proof for Ramadan. Therefore, by analogy, the testimony of one person regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent will be valid proof for Eid al-Fitr.
Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Since it is not established from authentic hadiths that the testimony of two just men is a condition for proof of Eid al-Fitr, it is apparent that by analogy with the proof of Ramadan based on the testimony of one person, the testimony of one person is also sufficient for proof of Eid al-Fitr. Also, except for specific issues (where the testimony of two men is a condition), in other matters, solitary reports are acceptable as evidence. Similarly, the testimony of one person will be valid proof for the sighting of Eid al-Fitr.
Reference: Nail al-Awtar: 201/4
Khatib, may Allah have mercy on him, states: There is no disagreement on the issue that the testimony of two men regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent is accepted, but there is disagreement among scholars about the testimony of one person. The majority of scholars hold the position that for proof of Shawwal, the testimony of at least two witnesses seeing the moon is accepted.
Also, some scholars hold the view that the testimony of one person is valid proof for the sighting of the Eid crescent. They believe that the sighting of the crescent falls under the category of news (khabar), which does not apply to testimonies (for which the testimony of two witnesses is a condition). Therefore, just as the testimony of one person is accepted for proof of Ramadan, it necessarily follows that the testimony of one person seeing the moon is valid proof for the sighting of Shawwal as well.
Reference: A'un al-Ma'bud: 27/7
Argument Number 2:
The hadith which proves that the testimony of two men is a condition for the sighting of the crescent moon for Eid al-Fitr is weak.
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) and Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrate:
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أجاز شهادة رجل واحد على رؤية هلال رمضان، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يحير شهادة فى الإفطار إلا شهادة رجلين
"Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) accepted the testimony of one person regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent, but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) only accepted the testimony of two men for the sighting of the Eid al-Fitr crescent."
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani: 5353 - Sunan Dar Qutni: 2129 Its chain is weak
This hadith is weak; in its chain, Abu Ismail Hafs bin Umar San'ani (may Allah have mercy on him) is a weak narrator.
Supplication for sighting the new moon:
It should be remembered! There is no authentic Sunnah prayer for sighting the moon; rather, all the narrations related to moon sighting are not proven.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Talha bin Ubaidullah رضي الله عنه, who states:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا رأى الهلال قال: اللهم ! أهله علينا باليمن والإيمان، والسلامة والإسلام، ربي وربك الله
"Indeed, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw the new moon, he would supplicate: O Allah! Make this moon a cause of blessing, faith, safety, and Islam for us (then addressing the moon) My Lord and your Lord is Allah."
Reference: Jami' Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter on What to Say When Seeing the Crescent: 3451. Musnad Ahmad: 162/1 - Musnad Abu Ya'la: 661 - Sunan Darimi: 1688 - Mustadrak Hakim: 284/4 - Chain of narration weak
In this hadith, Sulaiman bin Sufyan Madani رحمه الله and Bilal bin Yahya bin Talha رحمه الله are weak narrators.
Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما states: When the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم saw the new moon, he would say these words:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا رأى الهلال قال: اللهم أهله علينا بالأمن والإيمان، والسلامة والإسلام، والتوفيق لما تحب وترضى ربنا وربك الله
"O Allah! Cause it to rise as a cause of peace, faith, safety, and enable us to perform those deeds which are beloved and pleasing to You. Our Lord and your Lord is One."
Reference: Tabarani Kabir: 13330. Sunan Darimi: 1693 - Sahih Ibn Hibban: 888 - Da'if al-Jami' 4404, chain of narration weak, Uthman bin Ibrahim Hatibi رحمه الله is a weak narrator.
Similarly, the supplications narrated regarding moon sighting are not free from weakness and fabrication.
The Day of Eid al-Adha:.
Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Baqar, Yawm al-Nahr, or Eid Qurban is celebrated on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is called Eid al-Adha because on this day animals are sacrificed for the pleasure of Allah. Also, in terms of virtue and greatness, the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah is superior to other days. Abdullah bin Qurt (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إن أعظم الأيام عند الله تبارك و تعالى يوم النحر، ثم يوم القر
"Indeed, the greatest day in the sight of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhu al-Hijjah), then the Day of Qir (11th of Dhu al-Hijjah)."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manasik, Chapter on the sacrifice if it is spoiled before reaching: 1765 - Musnad Ahmad: 350/4 - Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2866 - Sunan Bayhaqi: 237/5 - Its chain is authentic
The following hadith also confirms that the day of Eid al-Adha is the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is narrated from Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
أمرت بيوم الأضحى عيدا جعله الله لهذه الأمة
"I have been commanded to celebrate Eid on the day of Adha (10th of Dhu al-Hijjah), and Allah has made this day the Eid of my Ummah."
Reference: Mustadrak Hakim: 223/4 - Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on the obligation of sacrifices: 2789 - Sunan Nasai: 4370 - Sahih Ibn Hibban: 5914 - Sunan Dar Qutni - Its chain is Hasan, Isa bin Hilal Sadfi (may Allah have mercy on him) is a truthful narrator
Also, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) in Sahih Bukhari, in the Book of Sacrifices, under this heading (باب من قال الأضحى يوم النحر) pointed to the position of the person who says that Adha is Yawm al-Nahr (the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah), indicating that the day of Eid al-Adha is the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) states that Adha (the day of Eid Qurban) is the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Reference: Fath al-Bari: 11/10
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are communal festivals:.
Communality is intended in Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and adopting individuality or opposing communality in them is absolutely impermissible.
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
الصوم يوم تصومون، والفطر يوم تفطرون، والأضحى يوم تضحون
"Fasting is on the day when people fast, the day when people break their fast is Eid al-Fitr, and the day when people offer sacrifice is Eid al-Adha."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book of Fasting, Chapter on what has been narrated about fasting on the day you fast: 697 - Its chain of narration is authentic
Fiqh of Hadith:.
Imam San'ani, may Allah have mercy on him, writes that this hadith is evidence that the concurrence of people is necessary for the confirmation of Eid, and even if a single person sees the moon and thereby knows the Eid, the concurrence of the rest of the people is obligatory. This includes the prayer of Eid, both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which falls under the ruling of obedience to the rest of the people.
Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 356/3
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الفطر يوم تفطرون، والأضحى يوم تضحون
"The day you break your fast is Eid al-Fitr, and the day you offer the sacrifice is Eid al-Adha."
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter: If the people err in the sighting of the crescent: 2324 - Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Fasting, Chapter: What was mentioned about the two Eids: 1660 - Its chain is authentic
Fiqh of the Hadith: .
Allama Sindhi, may Allah have mercy on him, states: The meaning of this hadith is that there is no individuality involved in determining these matters (the two Eids), rather following and conforming to the Imam and the congregation is considered. In these matters, it is obligatory to follow the Imam and the congregation for those who hold a unique opinion. Thus, if a single person sees the moon of the two Eids and the ruler rejects his testimony, he cannot establish anything on his own; rather, in proving these matters, it is necessary for him to follow the general public.
Reference: (Hashiya Sindhi on Ibn Majah: 431/3)
Will the entire Muslim Ummah celebrate Eid on the same day?
There is considerable disagreement on whether the entire Muslim Ummah will celebrate the festivals of the two Eids on the same day or whether the people of each region, whose moon sightings and moon phases differ, will celebrate their festivals according to their own moon calculations. The prevailing view on this issue is that the people of each region will hold the Eid celebrations according to their own moon calculations.
The validity and correctness of this issue are supported by the following arguments.
Argument number 1:.
It is an established fact that the Islamic months begin with the sighting of the moon on the 29th day of the month or after completing thirty days, and the moon's position and the sky vary in every region. Therefore, the people of each area will determine the Eid days and Ramadan based on their own lunar calendar.
It is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned Ramadan and said:
لا تصوموا حتى تروه، ولا تفطروا حتى تروه، فإن أغمي عليكم فاقدروا له
"Do not fast until you see the crescent of Ramadan, and do not break your fast until you see the crescent of Eid al-Fitr. If the sky is cloudy, then estimate the count of the month."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The Prophet's Saying: When you see the crescent, fast: 1906 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The obligation of fasting Ramadan upon seeing the crescent: 1080 - Sunan Nasa'i: 2123, Musnad Ahmad: 63/2 - Sahih Ibn Hibban: 3445
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
صوموا لرؤيته: وأفطروا لرؤيته، فإن غمى عليكم فعدوا ثلاثين
"Fast upon seeing the crescent, and break your fast upon seeing the crescent, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then count thirty days."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 430/2 - Sahih Bukhari: 1909 - Muslim: 1081 - Sunan Nasa'i: 2120
Fiqh al-Hadith: .
These ahadith are clear evidence that there are two ways to determine Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr:
➊ After completing twenty-nine days of Sha'ban or Ramadan, if the moon is sighted.
➋ If the moon is not sighted on the twenty-ninth day, then the month is completed as thirty days. It is established that the sky of each region is different, so this ruling is specific to each region that shares the same sky for moon sighting, as proven by the following narration.
➌ Qareeb, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
أن أم الفضل بنت الحارث بعثته إلى معاوية بالشام قال: فقدمت الشام، فقضيت حاجتها، واستهل على رمضان وأنا بالشام، فرأيت الهلال ليلة الجمعة ثم قدمت المدينة فى آخر الشهر، فسألني عبد الله بن عباس رضى الله عنهما، ثم ذكر الهلال فقال: أنت رأيته فقلت: نعم، ورآه الناس، وصاموا وصام معاوية فقال: لكنا رأينا ليلة السبت، فلا نزال نصوم حتى نكمل ثلاثين، اونراه فقلت: اولا تكتفي برؤية معاوية و صيامه؟ فقال: لا ، هكذا أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Umm Fadl bint Harith, may Allah be pleased with her, sent him to Sham (Syria) for some task to Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him. He narrated that I came to Sham, completed Umm Fadl’s task, and while I was still in Sham, the moon of Ramadan was sighted. I saw the moon on the night of Friday. Then, at the end of the month, I returned to Madinah, where Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them, asked me about the situation. Later, when the topic of the Ramadan crescent came up, he asked, "When did you see the moon of Ramadan?" I replied, "We saw the moon of Ramadan on the night of Friday." He asked, "Did you see the moon yourself?" I said, "Yes! I and others with me saw it, and based on that sighting, everyone including Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, fasted." Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them, said, "But we saw the Ramadan crescent on the night of Saturday, so we will fast continuously until we complete thirty days or see the moon." I asked, "Isn't the moon sighting and fasting of Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, sufficient for you?" Hearing this, he said, "No! Rather, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to fast by either sighting the moon or completing the count of the month, and to organize Eid al-Fitr accordingly."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the fact that each town has its own moon sighting: 1087 – Abu Dawood, Book of Fasting, Chapter on if the crescent is sighted in a town: 2332 – Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the fact that each town has its own moon sighting: 693 – Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2113 – Musnad Ahmad: 306/1 – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1916
Fiqh al-Hadith:
This hadith is a clear text that the people of every region whose moon sighting is the same will celebrate Eid al-Fitr after sighting the moon or completing the thirty days of Ramadan, and the sighting of the moon in one region does not obligate all Muslims on earth to follow the people of that region.
