13/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1080b — Crescent and Thirty Days
The obligation to fast Ramadan when the crescent is sighted, and to break the fast when the crescent is sighted, and that if it is cloudy at the beginning or end of the month, then the month should be completed as thirty days.
Hadith About Crescent Sighting and Thirty Days
Sahih Muslim : 1080b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1080b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، رضى الله عنهما أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَكَرَ رَمَضَانَ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ " الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا - ثُمَّ عَقَدَ إِبْهَامَهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ - فَصُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ " .
Ibn Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1080bIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2364
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1080b
This Hadith about crescent sighting and thirty days explains the start and end of Ramadan with a hand gesture. Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned Ramadan and indicated that the month can be like this and this, then held back his thumb the third time. He then said to fast when the crescent is seen and to break the fast when it is seen again. If the weather is cloudy, he said to calculate it as thirty days. The narration gives both the visual sign of a month being twenty-nine and the practical instruction for cloudy skies. Its focus is Ramadan timing through the crescent.
What we learn from this hadith
- The month may be twenty-nine days, as shown by the Prophet's gesture.
- Fasting begins when the crescent is seen.
- Fasting ends when the crescent is seen again.
- If the sky is cloudy, the Hadith mentions completing thirty days.
