Excerpt from the Book Ru’yat al-Hilal by Fadilat al-Shaykh Maqsood al-Hasan Faizi
Chapter 1: The Importance of Moon Sighting (Ru’yat al-Hilal)
In the sight of the Shari‘ah, moon sighting holds great importance, because the acts of worship and transactions of Muslims depend upon the lunar months. Accurate knowledge of lunar months is not possible without giving due attention to moon sighting.Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, in his treatise “Al-Hilal”, while discussing moon sighting and its importance, writes:
المقصود ان التسعة والعشرين يجب عددها واعتبارها بكل حال فى كل وقت.
Reference: Majmu‘ al-Fatawa 25/153
“The objective is that the twenty-ninth day must be counted and taken into consideration at all times and in every situation.”
Students of knowledge are requested to read Shaykh al-Islam’s treatise Al-Hilal.
Particularly, the sighting of the moon for the months of Muharram, Sha‘ban, Ramadan, and Dhul-Hijjah holds even greater significance, because certain pillars of Islam are connected with these months.
The famous Indian scholar, ‘Allamah ‘Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi رحمه الله, writes:
مسألة: يجب على الناس كفاية ان يلتمسوا هلال رمضان يوم التاسع والعشرين من شعبان لأنه قد يكون ناقصا نص عليه الشرنبلالي فى مراقي الفلاح.
Reference: Al-Qawl al-Manshur fi Hilal Khayr al-Shuhur p.148
See also:
Reference: Maraqi al-Falah p.126
,
Reference: Sharh Fath al-Qadir 2/313
Moreover, the majority of jurists have declared it Fard Kifayah. See:
Reference: Al-Fiqh ‘ala al-Madhahib al-Arba‘ah 1/551
,
Reference: Buhuth Fiqhiyyah Mu‘asirah p.223
“It is a communal obligation upon the people to seek the moon of Ramadan on the 29th of Sha‘ban, because sometimes the month may be incomplete (i.e., 29 days).”
Moon Sighting in the Light of Hadith
The importance of moon sighting is also clear from the following statements of the Prophet ﷺ:①Carefully count and observe the crescent of Sha‘ban for (the coming of) Ramadan.
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 687
Reference: Mustadrak al-Hakim 1/425
Reference: Sunan al-Daraqutni 2/163
See also:
Reference: Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 565
“Accurately count and preserve the moon of Sha‘ban for (the coming of) Ramadan.”
②Sayyidah ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates regarding the practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتحفظ من شعبان ما لا يتحفظ لغيره فإن غم عليه عد ثلاثين يوما ثم صام.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud: 2325
Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1910 (3/203)
Reference: Sahih Ibn Hibban: 869
See also:
Reference: Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud 3/50
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would take greater care in observing (the days of) Sha‘ban than any other month. If it became cloudy, he would complete thirty days and then fast.”
Meaning, he would carefully count and remember the days of Sha‘ban so that the fasts of Ramadan could be observed on their correct dates.
From these hadiths it becomes clear that:
① There is a command to give attention to moon sighting, especially for Sha‘ban and Ramadan.
② Careful observance of Sha‘ban indicates that other months should also generally be observed.
③ Proof of observing every month’s moon is also found in the following narrations:
Fasting of Ayyam al-Bid (13th, 14th, 15th)
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every month.Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates:
أوصاني خليلي بثلاث لا أدعهن حتى أموت – صيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر وصلاة الضحى ونوم على الوتر.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1981
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 720
“My beloved (ﷺ) advised me with three things which I will not abandon until I die: fasting three days of every month, performing Duha prayer, and sleeping after performing Witr.”
Similar advice was given to Abu al-Darda’ and Abu Dharr رضي الله عنهما.
Furthermore, Qudamah ibn Milhan رضي الله عنه states:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأمرنا بصيام أيام البيض ثلاث عشرة وأربع عشرة وخمس عشرة وقال هن كهيئة الدهر.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud: 2449
Reference: Sunan al-Nasa’i: 2432
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah: 1707
See also:
Reference: Sahih al-Targhib 1/603
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would command us to fast the Ayyam al-Bid (13th, 14th, 15th), and he would say: Fasting these days is like fasting the entire year.”
If the moon of every month is not properly observed, how can these dates be correctly determined?
Supplication Upon Seeing the New Moon
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates:اللهم أهلله علينا باليمن والإيمان والسلامة والإسلام ربي وربك الله.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad 1/162
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3451
Reference: Mustadrak al-Hakim 4/285
See also:
Reference: Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 1816
“O Allah, cause this moon to rise upon us with blessings and faith, with safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
The wording of the supplication indicates that the Prophet ﷺ paid special attention to moon sighting, and that it is an act of worship and a means of drawing near to Allah.
Matters Connected to Lunar Months
Many Islamic rulings are connected to lunar months, such as:✔ ‘Iddah (waiting period) of divorce
✔ ‘Iddah of widowhood
✔ Obligatory and expiatory fasts
✔ Fasting of ‘Arafah and ‘Ashura
✔ Determining Eid al-Adha and the Days of Tashriq
✔ Knowing the days in which fasting is prohibited
Without proper moon sighting, these matters cannot be accurately fulfilled.
Using Modern Instruments for Moon Sighting
Modern instruments such as telescopes and binoculars do not alter reality; they merely assist in seeing what already exists.Just as eyeglasses assist weak eyesight without changing reality, telescopes only magnify or bring objects closer.
Therefore, telescopes may be used for moon sighting.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin رحمه الله stated:
“The legislative method for determining the month is that people attempt to sight the moon. If trustworthy individuals see it, it is obligatory to act upon that sighting. As for using telescopes, there is no harm in that. However, their use is not obligatory.”
He cited the general statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
إذا رأيتموه فصوموا وإذا رأيتموه فأفطروا.
“When you see it, fast; and when you see it, break your fast.”
Reference: Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymin 19/36–37
The Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia also issued the same ruling.
Reference: Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah 10/99
Relying on Astronomical Calculations
There has been consensus among the scholars that the beginning and ending of lunar months are established only by moon sighting.Some later scholars discussed relying on astronomical calculations in cases of cloudy skies. However, their views were limited and conditional.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله wrote:
وقد اجمع المسلمون عليه ولا يعرف فيه خلاف قديم اصلا ولا خلاف حديث الا ان بعض المتاخرين...
Reference: Majmu‘ al-Fatawa 25/132–133
“The Muslims have unanimously agreed upon this. No early disagreement is known. Only some later jurists after the third century claimed that if the sky is cloudy, the astronomer may act according to calculation for himself. Even this view is anomalous and preceded by consensus against it.”
Ibn Hajar رحمه الله wrote:
“The scholars of our madhhab agree that fasting based on astronomical calculation is not obligatory. Ibn al-Mundhir transmitted consensus that if the sky is cloudy and the moon is not seen, fasting on the thirtieth day is not obligatory.”
Reference: Fath al-Bari 4/157–158
Thus, the established position of the scholars is:
✔ Moon sighting is the basis for beginning and ending lunar months.
✔ If the sky is cloudy and the moon is not seen, thirty days are to be completed.
✔ Astronomical calculation is not a substitute for moon sighting.
And Allah knows best.
