This excerpt is taken from the book of the esteemed Sheikh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani رحمه الله, Ahkam wa Masa'il Ramzan.
Seeing the Moon and Then Observing the Fast:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال، ولا تفطروا حتى تروه، فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting: Chapter on the Prophet’s Saying: “When you see the crescent, fast” (1906); Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the Obligation of Fasting Ramadan upon Seeing the Crescent (1080)
“Do not fast until you see the crescent, and do not break your fast until you see it. If the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the count (of thirty days).”
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
صوموا لرؤيته وأفطروا لرؤيته، فإن غمي عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثين
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting: Chapter on the Prophet’s Saying: “When you see the crescent, fast” (1909); Sahih Muslim: (same reference) (1081)
“Fast upon seeing the crescent and break your fast upon seeing it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the count of thirty (30) days of Sha‘ban.”
That is, observe the crescent on the 29th of Sha‘ban; if it is sighted, then fast the next day, and if it is not sighted or the sky is cloudy, then complete the count of Sha‘ban.
Sayyiduna Ammar ibn Yasir رضي الله عنه narrates:
من صام اليوم الذى يشك فيه فقد عصى أبا القاسم صلى الله عليه وسلم
Reference: Ibn Majah, Book of Fasting: Chapter on Fasting on the Day of Doubt (1640); Abu Dawud, Book of Fasting, Chapter on When the Month is Obscured (2334); Tirmidhi (686); Nasai (2190); Darimi (1982)
“Whoever fasts on this day (i.e., the day of doubt) has certainly disobeyed Abu al-Qasim ﷺ.”
It should be noted that for the sighting of the crescent, the testimony of one just and trustworthy person is sufficient.
Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما states:
تراءى الناس الهلال فأخبرت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أني رأيته فصامه وأمر الناس بصيامه
Reference: Abu Dawud, Book of Fasting: Chapter on the Testimony of One Person Regarding the Sighting of Ramadan’s Crescent (2342); Darimi, Book of Fasting: Chapter on Testimony Regarding the Sighting of Ramadan’s Crescent (2342); Dar Qutni (2/156); Bayhaqi (4/212); Ibn Hibban (871); Hakim (1/423); Al-Talkhis al-Habir (2/187)
“The people tried to sight the crescent; I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I had seen it, so he ﷺ himself fasted and ordered the people to fast as well.”
From this hadith it is understood that the testimony of one just Muslim suffices regarding the sighting of Ramadan’s crescent. Supporting this, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates a hadith as follows:
جاء أعرابي إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: إني رأيت الهلال - يعني رمضان - فقال: أتشهد أن لا إله إلا الله؟ قال: نعم، قال: أتشهد أن محمدا رسول الله؟ قال: نعم، قال: يا بلال، أذن فى الناس فليصوموا غدا
Reference: Abu Dawud, Book of Fasting: Chapter on the Testimony of One Person Regarding the Sighting of Ramadan’s Crescent (2340); Tirmidhi: Book of Fasting, Chapter on Fasting by Testimony (691); Nasai, Book of Fasting, Chapter on Accepting the Testimony of One Man (2111); Ibn Majah, Book of Fasting, Chapter on Testimony Regarding the Sighting of the Crescent (1652); Al-Muntaqa by Ibn al-Jarud (379)
“A villager came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: I have seen the crescent of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ asked: Do you bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah? He said: Yes. The Prophet ﷺ asked: Do you bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: O Bilal! Announce among the people that they should fast tomorrow.”
Testimony of a Single Person for Sightings of the Ramadan Crescent Moon:
A testimony of a just and trustworthy person is sufficient for the sighting of the Ramadan crescent.
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما reports:
تراءى الناس الهلال فأخبرت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أني رأيته فصامه وأمر الناس بصيامه
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Sawm: Chapter on the testimony of one person regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent (2342); Sunan al-Darimi (1698); Ibn Hibban (871)
“The people tried to sight the moon, and I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I had seen the moon. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself fasted and ordered the people to fast as well.”
This narration is also found in An-Nasa’i, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Dar Qutni, Mustadrak Hakim, and Tahawi, but its chain includes Samak ibn Harb from Ukayrmah from Ibn Abbas, and there is some confusion in this chain. Nevertheless, I have mentioned it as corroboration; otherwise, this matter is established from the authentic hadith of Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما.
From this authentic hadith, it is understood that the testimony of one just Muslim is sufficient regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself fasted and commanded the people to fast based on the testimony of Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما. This matter is further supported by another narration. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما reports that a villager came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that he had seen the Ramadan crescent. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do you bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah?” He said: Yes. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do you bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah?” He said: Yes. The Prophet ﷺ then said: “Announce among the people that they should fast tomorrow.” Therefore, fasting is to be observed even upon the testimony of one just person.
Supplication for Sight of the Moon:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما reports that when the Prophet ﷺ saw the moon, he would say:
الله أكبر، اللهم أهله علينا بالأمن والإيمان والسلامة والإسلام والتوفيق لما تحب ربنا وترضى، ربنا وربك الله
Reference: Sunan ad-Darimi, Kitab al-Sawm: Bab Ma Yuqal ‘Inda Ru’yat al-Hilal (4461)
"Allah is the Greatest. O Allah! Let it rise upon us with peace, faith, safety, and Islam, and with that which You love, O our Lord, and that which You are pleased with. (O Moon) Our Lord and your Lord is Allah."
This narration is authentic due to the abundance of evidence; see: سلسله الاحاديث الصحيحة
