Compiled by: Ubaidullah Tahir Hafizahullah
«عَن عَبْدِ اللهِ بنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَكَرَ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ: لَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْا الْهِلَالَ، وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ.»
«وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ، فَلَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ.»
Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Do not begin fasting until you see the crescent moon, and do not end fasting until you see it. If it is obscured, then complete the count (of 30 days)."
[Sahih Bukhari 1906, Sahih Muslim 1080]
In another narration:
"The month can be 29 days, so do not fast until you see the crescent, and do not end fasting until you see it. If it is obscured, then complete 30 days."
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2320, Sahih]
Note:
Scholars conclude that if the crescent is not sighted on the 29th day, the month will be considered as 30 days.
«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا يَتَقَدَّمْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.»
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Do not precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two earlier, unless a person is in the habit of fasting on that particular day."
[Sahih Bukhari 1914, Sahih Muslim 1082]
Note:
It is disliked to fast for precaution one or two days before Ramadan. However, if it is later discovered that Ramadan began earlier, fasting for the missed day becomes obligatory.
«عَنْ صِلَةَ، قَالَ: كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَمَّارٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ، فَأَتَى بِشَاةٍ، فَتَنَحَّى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ، فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: مَنْ صَامَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.»
Sila (RA) narrated: "We were with Ammar (RA) on the day of doubt (30th Sha'ban). A sheep was brought, and some people refrained from eating. Ammar (RA) said: 'Whoever fasts on this day has disobeyed Abu al-Qasim (PBUH).'"
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2334, Sunan Tirmidhi 686, Sahih]
Note:
The "Day of Doubt" refers to the 30th of Sha'ban when the crescent for Ramadan is not sighted. Scholars consider fasting on this day to be disliked. If someone fasts and it later turns out to be Ramadan, they must compensate for the day.
«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الصَّوْمُ يَوْمَ تَصُومُونَ، وَالْفِطْرُ يَوْمَ تُفْطِرُونَ، وَالْأَضْحَى يَوْمَ تُضَحُّونَ.»
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Fasting begins when you all fast together, and Eid al-Fitr is on the day when you all celebrate it together, and Eid al-Adha is on the day you all offer sacrifices."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 697, Hasan]
Note:
Fasting and Eid celebrations should be observed collectively under the leadership of scholars and authorities. Individuals should not act independently.
«عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا بَعَثَتْهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالشَّامِ... فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: هَكَذَا أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.»
Kuraib (RA) narrated that Umm al-Fadl sent him to Mu'awiyah (RA) in Sham (Syria). The crescent was sighted on a Friday in Sham, but when he returned to Madinah, Ibn Abbas (RA) informed him that they saw the crescent on Saturday. Ibn Abbas (RA) said: "This is what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) commanded us to do."
[Sahih Muslim 1087]
Note:
This indicates that local moon sightings are valid, and each region should follow its respective sighting.
Guidelines for Establishing Ramadan and Shawwal
❀ Evidence from Hadith:«عَن عَبْدِ اللهِ بنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَكَرَ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ: لَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْا الْهِلَالَ، وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ.»
«وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ، فَلَا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، وَلَا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ.»
Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Do not begin fasting until you see the crescent moon, and do not end fasting until you see it. If it is obscured, then complete the count (of 30 days)."
[Sahih Bukhari 1906, Sahih Muslim 1080]
In another narration:
"The month can be 29 days, so do not fast until you see the crescent, and do not end fasting until you see it. If it is obscured, then complete 30 days."
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2320, Sahih]
Note:
Scholars conclude that if the crescent is not sighted on the 29th day, the month will be considered as 30 days.
Prohibition of Fasting One or Two Days Before Ramadan
❀ Evidence from Hadith:«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا يَتَقَدَّمْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.»
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Do not precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two earlier, unless a person is in the habit of fasting on that particular day."
[Sahih Bukhari 1914, Sahih Muslim 1082]
Note:
It is disliked to fast for precaution one or two days before Ramadan. However, if it is later discovered that Ramadan began earlier, fasting for the missed day becomes obligatory.
Prohibition of Fasting on the Day of Doubt (Sha'ban 30th)
❀ Evidence from Hadith:«عَنْ صِلَةَ، قَالَ: كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَمَّارٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ، فَأَتَى بِشَاةٍ، فَتَنَحَّى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ، فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: مَنْ صَامَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.»
Sila (RA) narrated: "We were with Ammar (RA) on the day of doubt (30th Sha'ban). A sheep was brought, and some people refrained from eating. Ammar (RA) said: 'Whoever fasts on this day has disobeyed Abu al-Qasim (PBUH).'"
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2334, Sunan Tirmidhi 686, Sahih]
Note:
The "Day of Doubt" refers to the 30th of Sha'ban when the crescent for Ramadan is not sighted. Scholars consider fasting on this day to be disliked. If someone fasts and it later turns out to be Ramadan, they must compensate for the day.
Congregational Observance of Fasting and Eid
❀ Evidence from Hadith:«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الصَّوْمُ يَوْمَ تَصُومُونَ، وَالْفِطْرُ يَوْمَ تُفْطِرُونَ، وَالْأَضْحَى يَوْمَ تُضَحُّونَ.»
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Fasting begins when you all fast together, and Eid al-Fitr is on the day when you all celebrate it together, and Eid al-Adha is on the day you all offer sacrifices."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 697, Hasan]
Note:
Fasting and Eid celebrations should be observed collectively under the leadership of scholars and authorities. Individuals should not act independently.
Consideration of Regional Moon Sightings (Ikhtilaf al-Matali')
❀ Evidence from Hadith:«عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا بَعَثَتْهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالشَّامِ... فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: هَكَذَا أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.»
Kuraib (RA) narrated that Umm al-Fadl sent him to Mu'awiyah (RA) in Sham (Syria). The crescent was sighted on a Friday in Sham, but when he returned to Madinah, Ibn Abbas (RA) informed him that they saw the crescent on Saturday. Ibn Abbas (RA) said: "This is what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) commanded us to do."
[Sahih Muslim 1087]
Note:
This indicates that local moon sightings are valid, and each region should follow its respective sighting.
Testimony for Crescent Sightings
- One Witness for Ramadan:
❀ Narration of Abdullah bin Umar (RA): "I informed the Prophet (PBUH) that I saw the crescent. He fasted and commanded others to fast."
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2342, Sahih] - Two Witnesses for Shawwal:
❀ Narration regarding two Bedouins testifying to seeing the crescent of Shawwal. The Prophet (PBUH) ordered the breaking of the fast and gathering for Eid prayers.
[Sunan Abu Dawood 3339, Sahih]