Question
I want to know more about fasting. Need some proofs which are saying fast when you see the moon.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran,
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ (البقرة: 185)
Translation: “So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month (Ramadhan), let him fast it (the month).”
This is further clarified by the following Hadith:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه ذكر رمضان فقال: لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال، ولا تفطروا حتى تروه، فإن أغمي عليكم فاقدروا له
Translation: “Ibn Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned Ramadhan and said, Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break the fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy, calculate it (full thirty days).” (Muslim-1080)
The above shows the importance of commencing and ending the month of Ramadhan by sighting the crescent. However, it is difficult for each and every Muslim to commence and cease his fasting based on personal sighting of the crescent. Therefore, the Fuqaha have laid out certain laws deduced from the Holy Quran and Hadith to facilitate ease for the people of a community, city and country.
For further detail on the subject, you may refer to ‘answer 2’ here.
For additional FAQ related to the laws of fasting, you may access the following links.
http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/38403
http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/38408
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ml Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia