If the Crescent of Ramaḍān Is Not Sighted, What Should Be Done?

Source: Fatāwā Āmanpūrī – Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Āmanpūrī

❖ Question​

If the moon of Ramaḍān is not sighted, what should one do?

✿ Answer​

• If the moon of Ramaḍān is not sighted, then the next day should be considered as part of Shaʿbān, completing thirty days, and fasting should begin the day after that.
• The command to sight the moon is only for the 29th night. If thirty days of the month are already completed, then there is no need for further sighting.

Evidence from Ḥadīth​

From Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:


صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا ثَلَاثِينَ
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1909; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1081)


Translation:
“Fast upon sighting the moon and break the fast upon sighting the moon. If it is obscured from you (due to clouds), then complete thirty days.”


From ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:


She said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days of Shaʿbān more carefully than any other month. Then, when he saw the crescent of Ramaḍān, he would fast. If the crescent was not sighted, he would complete thirty days (of Shaʿbān), then fast.”
(Musnad Aḥmad 6/149; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2325 – ṣaḥīḥ chain)

• Imām Ibn al-Jārūd (377), Imām Ibn Khuzaymah (1910), and Imām Ibn Ḥibbān (3444) authenticated this ḥadīth.
• Imām al-Ḥākim (1/423) declared it ṣaḥīḥ on the condition of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, and al-Dhahabī agreed.
• Imām al-Dāraquṭnī (al-Sunan 2/157) graded its isnād ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.

Conclusion​

• If the crescent of Ramaḍān is not visible, Shaʿbān is completed as thirty days.
• Fasting then begins after completing thirty days, based on the clear command of the Prophet ﷺ.

ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب