Fiqh of Siyaam: Fasting is obligatory upon the sighting of the new moon

2. Fasting is obligatory upon the sighting of the new moon

Fasting in Ramadhaan has been obligated upon each and every Muslim upon the sighting of the new moon. The first day of Ramadhaan begins the day following the sighting of the new moon on the 29th day of Sha’baan. If he doesn’t see the moon there then he has to complete the 30 days of Sha’ban and then start Ramdaan. And the similar case is applied when spotting the moon for the end of Ramdaan and the beginning of Eid and the month of Shawwaal. Allah says in the Quran:

فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ …………

“… So whoever among you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadaan), he must observe sawm (fast) that month…” [Surah Al Baqarah (2) V. 185]

And also Aboo Hurayrah (radi Allâhu’ anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sall Allâhu’ alayhi wa sallam) said “Fast when you see it [the new moon] and stop fasting when you see it, and if it is cloudy then complete the month with thirty days.” This hadeeth could have two meanings First one being that each and every Muslim must sight the moon by himself. So for each muslim if he sees the moon then he fasts and if he doesn’t then he doesn’t fast. And the second one is that the Muslim community as a whole have to sight the moon. If anyone from the Muslim community has seen the moon then it is sufficient for all of the Muslims. These are the only two meanings that this hadeeth can have. And the sunnah shows us clearly that the meaning is clearly the second one. So for a Muslim to hear the news form someone else that the moon has been sighted, this is enough for him to fast. He does not have to go out and sight the moon himself. We will see the proof for this in the next few posts.

(Chapter 4 & 5 – Insha’Allah comming soon around Eid al Fitr)

6 Responses to “Fiqh of Siyaam: Fasting is obligatory upon the sighting of the new moon”

Feed for this Entry Trackback Address

1 Aadil September 26, 2006 at 8:11 am

Salaams. Can someone please clarify whether or not my fast during ramadan is valid or not, in my situation.

Ramadan has already started for a few days and I have kept all fasts so far. I went to sleep at night, with the intention of waking up and eating at sehri and then starting my fast.

However I was not woken up and when I woke up natually, it was daylight.

My intention was to fast the whole month of ramadan. I have not eaten anything on this day, where I didn’t say a dua, but is the fast still valid?

2 Ibn Al Hyderabadee September 26, 2006 at 8:49 am

Walaykum As Salaam wa Rahamtullah,

How ar eyou doing brother Adil, inshaAllah the only requirements for the fast to be valid are that you meet the conditions of a valid fast whihc can be found here – https://ibnalhyderabadee.wordpress.com/2006/09/08/fiqh-of-fasting-requirements-for-the-validity-of-a-fast/ – if you meet these conditions, then you have to make sur eyou dont eat or drink through out the day from fajr to maghrib and make sure you dont do the following things mentioned here – https://ibnalhyderabadee.wordpress.com/2006/09/19/fiqh-of-fasting-chapter-3-that-which-invalidates-fasting/ – and you should be fine Insha’Allah. Your fast will be accepted by Allah.

Allah Knows Best

3 shower August 3, 2008 at 4:09 am

I mean, though teens in showers he hadnt ever fucked at calendar at.