They ask you concerning the crescents. Say, ‘They are Mawaaqeet for mankind…’(Quran 2:189)
Allah describes the lunar crescents as Mawaaqeet which is plural for Meqaat. The word Meqaat describes a sign which fixes something in either space or time. So the place where the pilgrim enters into Ihraam for Umrah and Hajj is called a Meqaat because it is a fixed place where the pilgrim must be in a state of Ihraam. Similarly Allah calls the crescent a Meqaat because it is a fixed sign which marks the beginning of the month. So the sighting of the crescent marks the first night of the month with the day following the night. We should all know that Allah created darkness before light and the night before the day with night time preceding daytime in the progression of time.
Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘A month is so and so (and he pointed with his hands three times, folding the thumb on the third time, meaning twenty-nine days) or so and so (and he pointed with his hands three times, meaning thirty days).’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘The month can be 29 nights and do not fast till you see the crescent moon, and if the sky is overcast, then complete sha’baan as thirty days.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
Allah has created a spectacular celestial calendar wherein the light from the Moon changes shape from a withered crescent to its beaming fullness. The days of the month can be deduced by looking at these shapes. And the duration of the month can be either 29 days or 30 days. If the crescent of the following month is not seen, then 30 days of the month are completed before the next month begins.
LEGISLATED WAYS OF DETERMINING THE BEGINNING OF RAMADAAN
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(1) Completing 30 days of Sha’baan if the crescent of Ramadaan is not sighted
Aa'eshah said, ‘The Messenger of Allah used to be more concerned with determining the beginning of Sha’baan than about any other month. (sunan of abu dawood; musnaad of ahmad)
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘The month can be 29 nights and do not fast till you see the crescent moon, and if the sky is overcast, then complete Sha’baan as thirty days. (saheeh of bukhaari)
Although we commonly associate Moon sighting of Ramadaan with looking for the crescent of Ramadaan we should know that searching for the crescent of Sha’baan, which precedes Ramadaan, is an important aspect of Ramadaan and our Prophet was extremely concerned about it. This is because if the crescent for Ramadaan is not sighted due to weather conditions then the beginning of Ramadaan is determined by completing 30 days of Sha’baan.
(2) Sighting the crescent of Ramadaan
Ibn Umar narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger saying, ‘When you see the crescent start observing fast and when you see the crescent stop observing fast. (saheeh of bukhaari)
However when the crescent of Ramadaan is sighted then it marks the first night of Ramadaan and the following day fasting begins. These are the two ways the beginning of Ramadaan is established.
ERRONEOUS WAYS OF DETERMINING THE BEGINNING OF RAMADAAN
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(1) Using astronomical calculations
Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘We are an illiterate nation. We neither write nor know accounts. The month is so and so and so and so.’ (saheeh of bukhaari; saheeh of muslim)
Some people rely on astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of months. This idea is not a new one and was suggested at the time of our Prophet. However, our prophet rejected it and emphasized using natural signs in creation to determine the calendar. His use of the word illiterate is used in this context. The month can only be 29 or 30 days with the beginning of the month defined by either sighting the crescent or completing 30 days of the previous month if the crescent is not sighted. Astronomical calendars are not from Islam and the month of Ramadaan cannot be determined based on such methods.
(2) Fasting a day or two days before Ramadaan
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘None of you should observe fast for a day or two ahead of Ramadaan unless he has the habit of observing fast on that day (saheeh of bukhaari)
The fasts of Ramadaan cannot be started by fasting one or two days before the anticipated beginning of the month due to fear that one may not be able to detect the crescent or establish the start of the month. The beginning of Ramadaan is only established by legislated means as discussed above. Fasting a day or two before is not righteousness. Rather it is prohibited and a clear contradiction to the Prophetic Sunna. However there is no harm in fasting during these days if one is in the habit of performing voluntary fasts during these days.
Written by Kamillah Khan
