Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) or Abul-Qasim said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban."

Source Reference

Book: Fasting

Author: Sahih al-Bukhari

Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1909

Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental principle for determining the beginning and end of Ramadan through physical sighting of the crescent moon. The Prophet (ﷺ), also referred to by his kunya Abul-Qasim, provides clear guidance that visual confirmation is the primary method for establishing the lunar month.

The instruction to "complete thirty days of Sha'ban" when clouds obstruct visibility serves as a practical solution ensuring certainty in religious observance. This completion method prevents uncertainty and maintains the integrity of the fasting period, as Islamic law prioritizes certainty over speculation in matters of worship.

Scholars have derived from this hadith that the testimony of a single trustworthy Muslim witness is sufficient for confirming the Ramadan crescent, while the Shawwal crescent typically requires two witnesses, reflecting the caution needed when ending an obligatory act of worship.

Legal Implications

This hadith forms the basis for the traditional method of moon sighting in Islamic jurisprudence. It emphasizes the physical sighting over astronomical calculations for the masses, though later scholars have discussed the permissibility of using calculations in certain circumstances.

The ruling applies to all Muslims in a locality once the crescent is properly sighted and verified, creating unity in the community's observance of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.