FASTING

“O Muslims Fasting is prescribed for you just as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become fearful (of Allah)” Quran 2:183


DU`A WHEN SIGHTING THE NEW MOON

O Allah! Let the crescent moon appear over us
with security and Iman; with peace and Islam;
and with ability for us to practice
such actions which You love.
(O’ Moon!) My Creator and Your Creator is Allah.
SOME RULES PERTAINING TO THE MOON

1. It is incumbent on Muslims to search for the moon of Ramadhan on
the end of the 29th of Sha’ban.
2. The testimony of a fasiq (flagrant transgressor) regarding the
sighting of the moon is not acceptable.
3. The testimony of a person (whose personal condition is not
known) is acceptable according to Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A.).
4. If someone sees the moon of Ramadhan alone, but for some
reason his testimony was rejected, he will have to fast on that day.
If he does not, he will have to observe Qadha of the fast. However,
there is no Kaffarah on him in this case, if he completes thirty days
for Ramadhan and the moon for Eid was not sighted, he will have
to continue fasting with the people even if it means that he fasts for
thirty one days.
5. The moon for Sha’ban was sighted. The month of Rajab was
completed with thirty days and Ramadhan was commenced
without the moon of Ramadhan being sighted. At the end of 28th
day of Ramadhan the moon or Shawwal was sighted. In this case
the people have to make Qadha of one fast.
6. The moon for Sha’ban was not sighted. However, the month was
completed with thirty days and Ramadhan was commenced
without the moon of Ramadhan being sighted so Sha`ban was also
30 days. At the end of the 28th day of fasting the moon for Shawwal
was sighted. In this case two fasts have to be made Qadha.
7. One should not take offence if one’s report of sighting of the moon
is not accepted by the scholars. Non-acceptance of information
regarding the sighting of the moon is not always because of the
reporters being a fasiq or unreliable. At times the sighting of a single
person or even of a few persons is not acceptable to the Shariah.
Thus, rejection of testimony is based on Shari grounds.
8. If the sky is not clear and thirty days of Ramadhan have passed then
in declaring Eid-ul-Fitr there is no difference of opinion even if one
person testified for the commencement of Ramadhan.
9. There is no validity in seeing the moon in the day, whether it be
before or after Zawaal the moon that will be regarded as the moon
of the coming night can only be seen at night.