When will the fasting be obligatory?

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar. As our great scholars explained, the obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadan becomes incumbent upon the happening of one of two conditions: to sight the crescent of Ramadan after the sunset of the 29th day of Sha’ban (the month directly preceding Ramadan) or, if the crescent is not seen, then completing thirty days of Sha’ban (Vajeez by Imam Rafie). So, the beginning of the month of Ramadan, as well as the end of the month is determined by sighting the crescent, and if not cited, then by completing the month with thirty days as in the case with determining all the months of the Lunar Calendar. This is taken from the Hadith of the Prophet (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) related by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim (May Allah Mercy upon them). The Prophet Muhammad (PBH) comes here as a role modal to all Muslims. 

So, on the 29th day of Sha’ban, immediately after the sun set, the Muslims turn their eyes towards the horizon. If the crescent (of the new moon) is seen, the following day will be the first day of Ramadan. If it is not seen, because of cloud cover or another reason, then the next day will complete thirty days of Sha’ban, and the day after that is the first day of Ramadan. 

The astronomical calculations would not be considered as the way for the obligation of fasting Ramadan. So, concerning these calculations, the fasting will not be a mandatory even to a Muslim astronomer (Fathhul Azeez 6/266). So, we should ignore those who determine the month of Ramadan relying upon astronomical calculations. 

The judge confirms the beginning of Ramadan while one upright Muslim, whose testimony has been accepted by the judge (1), bears witness that he saw the crescent.  There is a Hadith, as an evident, related by Abu Dawud from the route of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar: once Ibn ‘Umar told the Prophet that he had sighted the crescent; so the Prophet fasted the next day and ordered the others to fast as well.

Imam Ibnu Hajar (May Allah Mercy upon him) opinioned: the information, which becomes famous irrefutably among the people about the view of crescent, might be a cause for being the fasting mandatory. Then to get a good understanding about the fasting through the research or other signs is not like this. It is only become mandatory to such men of understanding (Hashiya thu Ssharvani). 

In accordance with it, the fasting becomes obligatory to those who get the better understanding on the sighting of crescent through the signs, which had been performed during the seeing of the crescent in the old days, such as shouting, knocking the drum, chanting the Salath in congregation and firing works. Likewise, to wail the siren, prevalent in some countries, is also one among such signs. 

The Messenger of Allah (PBH) has reminded us that if one sees the crescent, he should perform the fasting and if he couldn’t see by covering cloud the sky, then he should complete the month sha’ban. Hence, we should consider our Messenger’s this word rather than his words in dream to one. 

Imam kardhari (R) writes: “No one argues that the dream is an evident. They argue that the good dream is a perfect position that the Almighty bestowed to the virtuous people (Manaquibu Abee haneefa 2/41) 

In nutshell, we could understand from the above mentioned matters that every ways to make out the arrival of Ramadan are not the ways for becoming the fasting mandatory generally on a country. But the ways to become the fasting mandatory to all are the Islamic Judge’s assurance or become the sight of crescent famous among the people without any denial. 

(1) The conditions, which must be in a person for being his testimony accepted by the judge in this matter, are several. He must be Muslim, male, adolescent, free, clear of enormous sins, clear of having his small sins exceed his acts of obedience, and one who abides by the ethics and manners of the people of his class. Hence, if a person, who did not have these conditions such as a woman, or a child, or an enormous sinner, or a slave, testified to the judge that he/she saw the crescent, then the judge would not confirm the beginning of the month of Ramadan and never announce to the general public to commence fasting by relying solely upon their testimony. However, if just one upright Muslim, who has the conditions listed above, testifies to the judge that he saw the crescent, the judge would confirm the beginning of Ramadan for the next day. 
Moosa Sonkal
sonkalsunni.blogspot.com