❖ Fasting on a Doubtful Day Is Prohibited — A Research-Based Review ❖
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Narrated by ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir (رضي الله عنه):
"مَنْ صَامَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ"
"Whoever fasts on the day of doubt has disobeyed Abul-Qāsim ﷺ."
[Bukhārī (Muʿallaq, before Hadith 1906), Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter on Sighting the Crescent, Abū Dāwūd: 2334, Tirmidhī: 686, Nasāʾī: 4/153, Ibn Mājah: 1645, Dārimī: 2/2, Dāraquṭnī: 2/157]
The doubtful day refers to the 30th of Shaʿbān, when the crescent moon of Ramadan is not seen due to clouds or overcast skies, raising uncertainty about whether Ramadan has started.
[Subul al-Salām: 2/861]
➊ Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fast upon sighting the moon and break your fast upon sighting it. But if the sky is overcast due to clouds, then:"
"فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ"
"Complete thirty days of Shaʿbān."
[Bukhārī: 1909, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter on Sighting the Crescent, Muslim: 1081, Nasāʾī: 4/133, Aḥmad: 2/415, Dārimī: 2/3, Bayhaqī: 4/205]
➊ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you see the crescent, begin fasting; and when you see it (again), break your fast. If the sky is cloudy, then:"
"فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ"
"Then calculate it."
In another narration from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is explicitly stated:
"فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ"
"Estimate it as thirty days."
[Bukhārī: 1906, Muslim: 1080, Ibn Mājah: 1654]
➋ Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not fast one or two days before Ramadan, unless it coincides with a day one is habitually fasting. Do not begin fasting until the crescent is seen. Then begin fasting, and stop fasting once it is seen again. If it is concealed by clouds:"
"فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ ثَلَاثِينَ ثُمَّ أَفْطِرُوا"
"Then complete the count to thirty days, and then break your fast."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2041, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter: If It Is Cloudy, Then Fast Thirty Days, Abū Dāwūd: 2327, Tirmidhī: 688, Nasāʾī: 4/136, Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/20]
✔ A doubtful day is when there is uncertainty whether Ramadan has begun due to the moon being obscured by clouds.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ prohibited fasting on such a day to avoid preceding Ramadan without certainty.
✔ Authentic Hadiths instruct to complete 30 days of Shaʿbān in such situations.
✔ Exceptions only apply to those who already had a habitual fasting routine on that day.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❀ Prohibition of Fasting on a Doubtful Day
Narrated by ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir (رضي الله عنه):
"مَنْ صَامَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ"
"Whoever fasts on the day of doubt has disobeyed Abul-Qāsim ﷺ."
[Bukhārī (Muʿallaq, before Hadith 1906), Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter on Sighting the Crescent, Abū Dāwūd: 2334, Tirmidhī: 686, Nasāʾī: 4/153, Ibn Mājah: 1645, Dārimī: 2/2, Dāraquṭnī: 2/157]
❀ What Is the “Doubtful Day”?
The doubtful day refers to the 30th of Shaʿbān, when the crescent moon of Ramadan is not seen due to clouds or overcast skies, raising uncertainty about whether Ramadan has started.
[Subul al-Salām: 2/861]
❀ Clear Instruction to Complete 30 Days of Shaʿbān
➊ Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fast upon sighting the moon and break your fast upon sighting it. But if the sky is overcast due to clouds, then:"
"فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ"
"Complete thirty days of Shaʿbān."
[Bukhārī: 1909, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter on Sighting the Crescent, Muslim: 1081, Nasāʾī: 4/133, Aḥmad: 2/415, Dārimī: 2/3, Bayhaqī: 4/205]
❀ If the Shawwāl Moon Is Not Sighted
➊ Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When you see the crescent, begin fasting; and when you see it (again), break your fast. If the sky is cloudy, then:"
"فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ"
"Then calculate it."
In another narration from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is explicitly stated:
"فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ"
"Estimate it as thirty days."
[Bukhārī: 1906, Muslim: 1080, Ibn Mājah: 1654]
➋ Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not fast one or two days before Ramadan, unless it coincides with a day one is habitually fasting. Do not begin fasting until the crescent is seen. Then begin fasting, and stop fasting once it is seen again. If it is concealed by clouds:"
"فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ ثَلَاثِينَ ثُمَّ أَفْطِرُوا"
"Then complete the count to thirty days, and then break your fast."
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2041, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Chapter: If It Is Cloudy, Then Fast Thirty Days, Abū Dāwūd: 2327, Tirmidhī: 688, Nasāʾī: 4/136, Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/20]
❖ Summary
✔ A doubtful day is when there is uncertainty whether Ramadan has begun due to the moon being obscured by clouds.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ prohibited fasting on such a day to avoid preceding Ramadan without certainty.
✔ Authentic Hadiths instruct to complete 30 days of Shaʿbān in such situations.
✔ Exceptions only apply to those who already had a habitual fasting routine on that day.
