13/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1081d — Crescent Sighting Rule
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.
Ramadan Crescent Sighting Hadith Explained
Sahih Muslim : 1081d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1081d
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ، عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ " إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلاَثِينَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) made a mention of the new moon and (in this connection) said: Observe fast when you see it (the new moon) and break fast when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal), but when (the actual position of the month is) concealed from you (on account of cloudy sky), then count thirty days.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1081dIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2381
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1081d
This narration says that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the new moon and then gave the rule: when you see it, fast; when you see it, break the fast. If the month is concealed due to cloudy sky, count thirty days. This is a plain Ramadan moon sighting hadith. Its teaching is not hard to understand. The crescent is the sign for starting and ending the fast, while cloudy weather is handled by a full count of thirty. The hadith helps avoid confusion because it gives an action for both cases: when the moon is seen and when it cannot be seen.
What we learn from this hadith
- The crescent is tied to starting the fast.
- The crescent is tied to ending the fast.
- If sighting is blocked, the month is counted as thirty days.
