Mas'ud, Ibn Abbas, and those whom we named from the Companions. Their report is interpreted as referring to when it is sighted in the evening, evidenced by what would be the case if it were sighted after noon. Furthermore, the report only necessitates fasting and breaking the fast from the following day, evidenced by what would be the case if one were to see it in the evening. As for when the sighting occurs at the beginning of Ramadan, the correct position is also that it is for the following night. This is the opinion of Malik, Abu Hanifah, and al-Shafi'i. From Ahmad, there is another narration that it is for the past night, thus requiring the making up (qada) of that day and abstaining for the remainder of it as a precaution for worship. The first is more correct, because what is for the following night at the end of it is also for it at the beginning, just as if it were sighted after the Afternoon (Asr) prayer.
521 - Issue; He said: (And the preferred course is delaying the suhur (pre-dawn meal) and hastening the breaking of the fast.)
The discussion regarding this issue is in two parts: One of them is regarding the suhur, and the discussion about it involves three matters: The first is its recommendation (istihbab), and we know of no disagreement among scholars regarding this. Anas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Partake in the suhur, for there is blessing in the suhur." Agreed upon (1). From 'Amr ibn al-'As, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the meal of the suhur." Recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi (2), who said:
(1) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on the Blessing of the Suhur without Obligation, from the Book of Fasting. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/38. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Merit of the Suhur and the Confirmation of its Recommendation..., from the Book of Fasting. Sahih Muslim 2/770. It was also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding the Merit of the Suhur, from the Chapters of Fasting. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 3/227. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on Encouragement to Partake in the Suhur, from the Book of Fasting. Al-Mujtaba 4/115. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding the Suhur, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/540. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Merit of the Suhur, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan al-Darimi 2/6. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/215, 229, 243, 258, 281. (2) Recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Merit of the Suhur..., from the Book of Fasting. Sahih Muslim 2/771. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the Confirmation of the Suhur, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/547. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding the Merit of the Suhur, from the Chapters of Fasting. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 3/228. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Distinction Between Our Fasting and the Fasting of the People of the Book, from the Book of Fasting. Al-Mujtaba
