8/5. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 688 — Do Not Fast Before Ramadan
What Has Been Related About: Fasting And Breaking Fast Are Based Upon The Sighting (Of The Crescent)
Do Not Fast Before Ramadan: Crescent Sighting Hadith
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 688
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 688
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَصُومُوا قَبْلَ رَمَضَانَ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ حَالَتْ دُونَهُ غَيَايَةٌ فَأَكْمِلُوا ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي بَكْرَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Said: "Do Not Fast Before Ramadan. Fast With Its Sighting, And Break Fast With Its Sighting, And If It Is Obscured From You, Then Complete Thirty Days."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 688In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 688
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 688
This hadith about Ramadan moon sighting states the rule in a direct way. The Messenger of Allah said, do not fast before Ramadan. He then said to fast with its sighting and break fast with its sighting. If the crescent is hidden or obscured, then complete thirty days. The hadith teaches patience and clarity. A Muslim should not rush into Ramadan early, and should not end it by guesswork either. The month is connected to the sighting of the crescent or to completing the count. This makes Ramadan fasting a shared act based on clear signs rather than personal doubt.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not begin Ramadan fasting before the month is confirmed.
- Start and end the fast by crescent sighting.
- If sighting is blocked, complete the count of thirty days.
