upon seeing it, and if it is obscured from you, then estimate for it (a count of) thirty." Recorded by Muslim (7). It has been authentically established that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) forbade fasting on the day of doubt. This is agreed upon (8). This day (in question) is a day of doubt, and because the fundamental principle is the continuation of Sha'ban, one does not shift from it based on doubt. Our evidence is what Nafi' narrated from Ibn 'Umar, who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "The month is only twenty-nine (days); so do not fast until you see the crescent, and do not break your fast until you see it; but if it is obscured from you, then estimate for it." Nafi' said: When twenty-nine days of Sha'ban had passed, 'Abd Allah (9) ibn 'Umar would send someone to look for the crescent for him. If he saw it, that was it; but if he did not see it, and there was no cloud or dust obstructing the view, he would wake up breaking his fast (not fasting). If there was a cloud or dust obstructing his view, he would wake up fasting. [Recorded by Abu Dawud] (10). The meaning of
= 2/762; and al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter: What has been stated regarding not preceding the month with fasting, from the Chapters of Fasting. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 3/200; and al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter: Completing Sha'ban as thirty if there is cloudiness, from the Book of Fasting. Al-Mujtaba 4/107, 108; and al-Darimi, in: Chapter: Fasting upon seeing the crescent, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan al-Darimi 2/3; and Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/259, 263, 281, 287, 415, 422, 430, 438, 454, 456, 469, 497.
(7) In the preceding chapter. Sahih Muslim 2/759, 760. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter: Mentioning the difference of opinion regarding al-Zuhri in this hadith, from the Book of Fasting. Al-Mujtaba 4/108; and al-Darimi, in the preceding chapter. Sunan al-Darimi 2/3.
(8) This is because it is narrated that 'Ammar ibn Yasir said: "Whoever fasts on the day about which there is doubt has disobeyed Abu al-Qasim." Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter: The statement of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "If you see the crescent, then fast...", from the Book of Fasting. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/34. We did not find it in Muslim, and its documentation was previously mentioned on page 326.
(9) Dropped from M.
(10) Dropped from the original and B. In their marginal notes: "The correct version is 'agreed upon'." In the marginal note of B: "The mentioned hadith from Ibn 'Umar is agreed upon up to his statement: 'then estimate for it'." It was also recorded by Imam Ahmad, who added the action of Ibn 'Umar, as stated by Ibn al-Jawzi. Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned it as being extracted [sic] from the two Sahihs, and Allah knows best. The hadith with this wording was recorded by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter: The month being twenty-nine (days), from the Book of Fasting. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/542; and Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/5, 13. It was also recorded—without mentioning the action of Ibn 'Umar—by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter: The statement of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "If you see the crescent, then fast...", from the Book of Fasting. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/34; and by Muslim, in: Chapter: The obligation of fasting Ramadan upon seeing the crescent... = 2/760
