13/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1081a — Ramadan Moon Sighting
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 Moon Sighting for Ramadan
Sahih Muslim : 1081a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1081a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ، الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَصُومُوا ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1081aIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2378
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1081a
Abu Huraira reports that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a clear rule for Ramadan moon sighting. When the new moon of Ramadan is sighted, Muslims observe the fast. When the new moon of Shawwal is sighted, they break the fast. If the sky is cloudy, the instruction in this wording is to observe fast for thirty days. The hadith about moon sighting Ramadan is direct and practical. It ties the beginning and end of fasting to sighting the crescent, while also giving a way forward when clouds block the view. The text does not ask the reader to guess. It gives a simple action: sight it, fast or end the fast; if hidden, complete thirty.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fasting begins with sighting the Ramadan crescent.
- Fasting ends with sighting the Shawwal crescent.
- If clouds block sighting, the month is completed as thirty days.
