Sighting the Hilal (Crescent) for the Holy Month of Ramadan
FASTING FOR A DAY OR TWO DAYS AHEAD OF RAMADAN
Abu Huraira (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day”. (Saheeh Muslim)
COMMENCING AND COMPLETING RAMADAN UPON ACTUAL SIGHTING
Ibn Umar (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying in connection with Ramadan: “Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break fast till you see it” (Saheeh Muslim)
Ibn Umar (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) made a mention of Ramadan and he with the gesture of his hand said: “The month is thus and thus. (He then withdrew his thumb at the third time). He then said: Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy calculate it (the months of Sha'ban and Shawwal) as thirty days.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Abu Huraira (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. And when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.”(Saheeh Muslim)
Abu Huraira (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to clouds) the actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty (days).” (Saheeh Muslim)
DIFFERENT SIGHTINGS OF THE NEWMOON DURING THE TIME OF THE NOBLE SAHABA
Kuraib (ra) reported that Umm Fadl (ra), daughter of Harith, sent him (Fadl, i.e. her son) to Mu'awiya (ra) in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month. Abdullah b. 'Abbas (ra) asked me (about the new moon of Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said.: We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: (Did) you see it yourself?-I said: Yes, and the people also saw it and they observed fast and Mu'awiya also observed fast, whereupon he said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has commanded us. (Saheeh Muslim)
IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THE NEW MOON IS LARGE (ON ACCOUNT OF APPEARING AFTER THIRTY NIGHTS) OR SMALL (ON ACCOUNT OF APPEARING ON THE THIRTIETH NIGHT)
Abu'l-Bakhtari (ra) reported: We saw the new moon of Ramadan as we were at Dhit-i-'Irq. We sent a man to Ibn Abbas (ra) to ask him (whether the sighting of a small moon had something of the nature of defect in it). Upon this Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had said: “Verily Allah deferred its sight, but if (the new moon) is hidden from you, then,complete its number (thirty).” (Saheeh Muslim)
Dua (supplication) Upon Sighting the New Moon
Talhah bin Ubaidullah (ra) reported: At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (pbuh) used to supplicate: "Allahumma ahillahu `alaina bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah, Hilalu rushdin wa khairin (O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Rubb and mine is Allah. May this moon be bringing guidance and good).''
(Tirmidhi)
Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada
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