The Book of Fasting

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of mercy are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”

Abu Huraira reported the same hadith, with the wording that the Messenger of Allah said, “When Ramadan begins.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet mentioned Ramadan and said, “Do not fast until you see the crescent, and do not end the fast until you see it. If it is obscured from you, then estimate its time.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah mentioned Ramadan, gestured with his hands, and said, “The month is like this, this, and this”—then he folded his thumb on the third count. He said, “Fast when you see it and end the fast when you see it. If it is obscured from you, then complete thirty days.”

Ibn Numayr transmitted this through the same chain from Ubayd Allah, with the wording, “If it is obscured from you, then complete thirty days,” similar to the narration of Abu Usama.

Ubayd Allah reported through the same chain that the Messenger of Allah mentioned Ramadan and said, “The month is twenty-nine days; the month is like this, this, and this.” He also said, “So estimate it,” but did not say, “thirty.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The month is only twenty-nine days, so do not fast until you see it and do not end the fast until you see it. If it is obscured from you, then estimate it.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The month is twenty-nine days. When you see the crescent, fast, and when you see it again, end the fast. If it is obscured from you, then estimate it.”

Salim ibn Abdullah reported from Ibn Umar that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “When you see it, fast, and when you see it again, end the fast. If it is obscured from you, then estimate it.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The month is twenty-nine nights. Do not fast until you see it, and do not end the fast until you see it, unless it is obscured from you. If it is obscured from you, then estimate it.”

Ibn Umar reported that he heard the Prophet say, “The month is like this, this, and this,” and he folded his thumb on the third count.

Ibn Umar reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say, “The month is twenty-nine days.”

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said, “The month is like this, this, and this: ten, ten, and nine.”

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The month is like this, this, and this.” He clapped his hands twice with all his fingers extended, then on the third count folded the thumb of either his right or left hand.

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The month is twenty-nine days.” Shuba demonstrated by joining his hands three times and folding the thumb on the third. Uqba said he thought the Prophet also said that the month is thirty days, and Shuba joined his palms three times.

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said, “We are an unlettered community: we neither write nor calculate. The month is like this, this, and this”—and he folded his thumb on the third count—“and the month is like this, this, and this,” meaning a full thirty days.

This hadith was transmitted through the same chain from al-Aswad ibn Qays, but it does not mention thirty days for the second month.

Saad ibn Ubayda reported that Ibn Umar heard a man say, “Tonight is the middle of the month.” Ibn Umar asked him how he knew that tonight was the middle. He replied that he had heard the Messenger of Allah say that the month is like this and this, indicating ten with his fingers twice, and like this, indicating it a third time with all his fingers while holding back or folding his thumb.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “When you see the crescent, fast, and when you see it again, end the fast. If it is obscured from you, then fast for thirty days.”