Hadith Text & Reference

Ibn 'Umar reported the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) as saying "The month consists of twenty nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days. When the twenty-ninth of Sha'ban came, Ibn 'Umar would send someone (who tried) to sight the moon for him. If it was sighted then well and good, in case it was not sighted and there was no cloud and dust before him (on the horizon) he would not keep fast the next day. If there appeared (on the horizon) before him cloud or dust, he would fast the following day. Ibn 'Umar would end his fasting alone with the people and did not follow this calculation."

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2320 | Book: Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)

Primary Legal Rulings

The commencement and termination of Ramadan are established by actual moon sighting, not astronomical calculation.

The lunar month is typically 29 days, but may extend to 30 days when necessary.

When clouds or atmospheric conditions obstruct visibility on the 29th day, the month is completed as 30 days.

Personal verification through reliable witnesses is required for establishing the moon sighting.

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the fundamental principle that Islamic months begin and end with physical moon sighting (ru'yah), reflecting the simplicity and practicality of Islamic law. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized direct observation rather than mathematical calculations, making the religion accessible to all Muslims regardless of scientific knowledge.

Ibn 'Umar's practice demonstrates the importance of personal verification while maintaining community unity. His individual approach to ending the fast while beginning it collectively shows the balance between personal conviction and communal harmony in Islamic jurisprudence.

The ruling regarding cloudy conditions provides a practical solution for uncertainty, ensuring Muslims do not mistakenly fast or celebrate Eid on incorrect days. This reflects the Shariah's wisdom in addressing real-life situations while maintaining religious obligations.

Jurisprudential Significance

This narration forms the basis for the majority position among classical scholars regarding moon sighting. The Malikis, Shafi'is, and Hanbalis maintain the necessity of actual sighting, while the Hanafis permit calculation only in limited circumstances.

The distinction between clear and cloudy nights creates two separate legal scenarios, demonstrating Islam's attention to contextual circumstances in religious practice.

Ibn 'Umar's practice of beginning Ramadan with the community but ending it based on his own sighting shows the compatibility of individual religious diligence with communal unity in Islamic law.