In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
بِسمِ اللهِ الرحْمَنِ الرحِيم
الحمدُ للهِ ربِّ العَالمَين ، الصلاةُ والسلامُ عَلَى سيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِمْ
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is known as the month of fasting. The Arabic word “Ramadan” (رمضان) carries a deeper meaning than just a name for a month. It comes from the verb “ramada” (رَمَضَ) which translates to “to be intensely hot” or “to parch the land”. This linguistic connection reflects the physical and spiritual “burning” that Muslims experience during the month through abstaining from food, drink, and other worldly desires
Originally, in Arabic, the word ‘as-Sawm’ meant ‘al-Imsak’. As an Islamic Fiqh term, it denotes abstaining from actions that break the fast, subject to specific conditions. Its obligation (fard) was declared during the month of Sha’aban in the second year of Hijra. Ramadan stands as a special gift to the ummah of Prophet Muhammad r, and denial of its obligation would deem one outside the fold of Islam.
How the month of Ramadan established?
The establishment of the month of Ramadan follows two primary methods:
- Completion of 30 days from Sha’aban, the eighth month of the Islamic Calendar.
- Sighting the new moon of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, with the naked eye.
These two methods serve as the traditional means by which the arrival of Ramadan is determined, marking the beginning of a sacred and spiritually significant time for Muslims worldwide
Difficulty in knowing the arrival of Ramadan
Difficulty in determining the arrival of Ramadan can pose a challenge for some individuals, especially those who are isolated or unable to access information about the current month. In such circumstances, it becomes incumbent upon them to make their best effort to estimate and commence fasting.
The validity of their fast hinges upon several scenarios:
- If the month they fasted remained unknown due to their circumstances, their fast is considered valid.
- If the month they fasted indeed coincided with the month of Ramadan, their fast is also valid.
- If the month they fasted fell after Ramadan, their fast remains valid.
However, if the month they fasted occurred before Ramadan, their fast is not deemed valid. Nevertheless, if they have no remaining obligatory fasts to make up, this fast is considered a recommended (nafl) fast. Conversely, if they have outstanding obligatory fasts, then this fast would be considered obligatory to fulfill their missed fasts.
In Islamic jurisprudence, the witnessing of the new moon to establish the beginning of Ramadan follows specific guidelines. Here are the key points:
- Witness Requirement: A single witness is deemed sufficient to establish the arrival of Ramadan, while two witnesses are required for other months.
- Qualifications of the Witness: The witness must meet certain criteria:
- Male: The witness should be a male member of the Muslim community.
- Just (Adil): The witness must be known for his honesty, integrity, and adherence to Islamic principles.
- Accountable (Mukallaf): The witness should be mentally sound, mature, and legally responsible under Islamic law.
The sighting of the new moon marks the commencement of Ramadan, rendering fasting obligatory for Muslims. However, if the sky is overcast and the new moon remains unseen, the month of Sha’ban is assumed to last for thirty days, with the following day marking the onset of Ramadan.
Furthermore, if the new moon is sighted during daylight hours, it is attributed to the following night.
In cases where the new moon is sighted in one town but not in another, the ruling varies:
- If the towns are adjacent, the ruling applies to the nearby town as well.
- However, if the towns are not adjacent, defined either by differences in sunrise times or (according to some scholars) by a distance of approximately 82 miles (referred to as the ‘distance of qasr’), the ruling does not extend to the nearby town.
📘 About the Author
Abdu Shaheed Azhary
Teacher, researcher, and writer focused on moral clarity and Islamic guidance rooted in classical scholarship.