Ibn Abbas explained the following Qur'anic verse: "O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you" During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, when the people offered night prayer, they were asked to abstain from food and drink and (intercourse with) women, they kept fast till the next night. A man betrayed himself and had intercourse with his wife after he had offered the night prayer, and he did not break his fast. So Allah, the Exalted, intended to make it (fasting) easy for those who survived, thus providing a concession and utility. Allah, the Glorified, said: "Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves." By this Allah benefited the people and provided concession and ease to them.  

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ } فَكَانَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّوُا الْعَتَمَةَ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِمُ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ وَالنِّسَاءُ وَصَامُوا إِلَى الْقَابِلَةِ فَاخْتَانَ رَجُلٌ نَفْسَهُ فَجَامَعَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَقَدْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ فَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ ﷻ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ ذَلِكَ يُسْرًا لِمَنْ بَقِيَ وَرُخْصَةً وَمَنْفَعَةً فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَهُ { عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ } وَكَانَ هَذَا مِمَّا نَفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ النَّاسَ وَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ وَيَسَّرَ  

Al Bara’ (bin Azib) said “When a man fasted and slept, he could not eat till (another nigh) like it.” Sarmah bin Qais Al Ansari came to his wife while he was fasting and asked her Do you have something (to eat)? She replied “No”. Let me go and seek something for you. So, she went out and sleep overcame him. She came (back) and said (to him) .You are deprived (of food). He fainted before noon. He used to work all day long at his land. This was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ. So the following verse was revealed. “Permitted to you on the nights of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what yes used to do secretly amongst yourselves. But he turned to you and forgave you. So now associate with them and seek what Allaah hath ordained for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you. He recited up to the words “of dawn”.  

لاَ لَعَلِّي أَذْهَبُ فَأَطْلُبُ لَكَ شَيْئًا فَذَهَبَتْ وَغَلَبَتْهُ عَيْنُهُ فَجَاءَتْ فَقَالَتْ خَيْبَةً لَكَ فَلَمْ يَنْتَصِفِ النَّهَارُ حَتَّى غُشِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ يَوْمَهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَنَزَلَتْ { أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ } قَرَأَ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { مِنَ الْفَجْرِ }  

Salamah bin Al Akwa said “After the revelation of the verse “For those who can do it(with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of one, that is indigent, is one of us intended to leave fast and pay ransom, he could do so.” until the verse following it was revealed and abrogated the (previous) verse.”  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ } كَانَ مَنْ أَرَادَ مِنَّا أَنْ يُفْطِرَ وَيَفْتَدِيَ فَعَلَ حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي بَعْدَهَا فَنَسَخَتْهَا  

Ibn ‘Abbas explain the Qur’anic verse “For those who can do it(with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of one, that is indigent” said “If one of them wished to pay ransom by providing food to an indigent person he could pay ransom.. Thus, his fast was complete. Allaah, the Exalted pronounced “But he that will give more of his own free will, it is better for him”. Again he pronounced “So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting.” But, if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later.  

أَنْ يَفْتَدِيَ بِطَعَامِ مِسْكِينٍ افْتَدَى وَتَمَّ لَهُ صَوْمُهُ فَقَالَ { فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ } وَقَالَ { فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ }  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “The verse concerning the payment of ransom stands valid for pregnant and sucking woman.”  

أُثْبِتَتْ لِلْحُبْلَى وَالْمُرْضِعِ  

Explaining the verse; "For those who can do it (with hard-ship) is a ransom, the feeding of one, that is indigent," he said: This was a concession granted to the aged man and woman who were able to keep fast; they were allowed to leave the fast and instead feed an indigent person for each fast; (and a concession) to pregnant and suckling woman when they apprehended harm (to themselves).  

كَانَتْ رُخْصَةً لِلشَّيْخِ الْكَبِيرِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ وَهُمَا يُطِيقَانِ الصِّيَامَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَا وَيُطْعِمَا مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِسْكِينًا وَالْحُبْلَى وَالْمُرْضِعُ إِذَا خَافَتَا  

The Prophet ﷺ said: The month consists of twenty-nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days. When the twenty-ninth of Sha'ban came, Ibn Umar would send someone (who tried) to sight the moon for him. If it was sighted, then well and good; in case it was not sighted, and there was no cloud and dust before him (on the horizon), he would not keep fast the next day. If there appeared (on the horizon) before him cloud or dust, he would fast the following day. Ibn Umar would end his fasting alone with the people, and did not follow this calculation.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّا أُمَّةٌ أُمِّيَّةٌ لاَ نَكْتُبُ وَلاَ نَحْسُبُ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَخَنَسَ سُلَيْمَانُ أُصْبَعَهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ يَعْنِي تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ وَثَلاَثِينَ  

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ as saying “The month consists of twenty nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days. When the twenty-ninth of Sha’ban came, Ibn ‘Umar would send someone (who tried) to sight the moon for him. If it was sighted then well and good, in case it was not sighted and there was no cloud and dust before him (on the horizon) he would not keep fast the next day. If there appeared (on the horizon) before him cloud or dust, he would fast the following day. Ibn ‘Umar would end his fasting alone with the people and did not follow this calculation.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا كَانَ شَعْبَانُ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ نُظِرَ لَهُ فَإِنْ رُؤِيَ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُرَ وَلَمْ يَحُلْ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ وَلاَ قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا فَإِنْ حَالَ دُونَ مَنْظَرِهِ سَحَابٌ أَوْ قَتَرَةٌ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يُفْطِرُ مَعَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَأْخُذُ بِهَذَا الْحِسَابِ  

'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz wrote (a letter) to the people of Basrah: It has reached us from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, like the tradition narrated by Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet ﷺ. This version adds: The best calculation is that when we sight the moon of Sha'ban on such-and-such date, fasting will being on such-and-such dates, Allah willing, except they they sight the moon before that (date).  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ زَادَ وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مَا يُقَدَّرُ لَهُ إِذَا رَأَيْنَا هِلاَلَ شَعْبَانَ لِكَذَا وَكَذَا فَالصَّوْمُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لِكَذَا وَكَذَا إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ  

We kept fast for twenty-nine days along with the Prophet ﷺ more often than we kept fast for thirty days.  

لَمَا صُمْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا صُمْنَا مَعَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ  

The Prophet ﷺ as saying: The two months of 'Id (festival), Ramadan and Dhu al-Hijjah, are not defective.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ شَهْرَا عِيدٍ لاَ يَنْقُصَانِ رَمَضَانُ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: The end of Ramadan is on the day when you end it, and the 'Id (festival) of sacrifice is on the day when you sacrifice. The whole of Arafah is the place of staying, and the whole of Mina is the place of sacrifice, and all the roads of Mecca are the place of sacrifice, and the whole of Muzdalifah is the place of staying.  

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِيهِ قَالَ وَفِطْرُكُمْ يَوْمَ تُفْطِرُونَ وَأَضْحَاكُمْ يَوْمَ تُضَحُّونَ وَكُلُّ عَرَفَةَ مَوْقِفٌ وَكُلُّ مِنًى مَنْحَرٌ وَكُلُّ فِجَاجِ مَكَّةَ مَنْحَرٌ وَكُلُّ جَمْعٍ مَوْقِفٌ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not count any other month; then he fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted.  

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ تَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ مَا لاَ يَتَحَفَّظُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُومُ لِرُؤْيَةِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْهِ عَدَّ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا ثُمَّ صَامَ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not fast (for Ramadan) before the coming of the month until you sight the moon or complete the number (of thirty days); then fast until you sight the moon or complete the number (of thirty days).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تُقَدِّمُوا الشَّهْرَ حَتَّى تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ أَوْ تُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ ثُمَّ صُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ أَوْ تُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not fast one day or two days just before Ramadan except in the case of a man who has been in the habit or observing a fast (on that day); and do not fast until you sight it (the moon). Then fast until you sight it. If a cloud appears on that day (i.e. 29th of Ramadan) then complete the number thirty (days) and then end the fasting: a month consists of twenty-nine days.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تُقَدِّمُوا الشَّهْرَ بِصِيَامِ يَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَىْءٌ يَصُومُهُ أَحَدُكُمْ وَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ ثُمَّ صُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ حَالَ دُونَهُ غَمَامَةٌ فَأَتِمُّوا الْعِدَّةَ ثَلاَثِينَ ثُمَّ أَفْطِرُوا وَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked a man: Did you fast the last day of Sha'ban ? He replied: No. He said: If you did not observe a fast, you must fast for a day. One of the two narrators said: For two days.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ صُمْتَ مِنْ سَرَرِ شَعْبَانَ شَيْئًا قَالَ لاَ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَوْمَيْنِ  

AbulAzhar al-Mughirah ibn Farwah said: Mu'awiyah stood among the people at Dayr Mustahill lying at the gate of Hims. He said: O people, we sighted the moon on such-and-such day. We shall fast in advance. Anyone who likes to do so may do it. Malik ibn Hubayrah as-Saba'i stood up and asked: Mu'awiyah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say something (about this matter), or is this something on the basis of your opinion? He replied: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Fast the month (in the beginning) and in the last.  

قَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي النَّاسِ بِدَيْرِ مِسْحَلٍ الَّذِي عَلَى بَابِ حِمْصَ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا قَدْ رَأَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَأَنَا مُتَقَدِّمٌ بِالصِّيَامِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْهُ قَالَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ مَالِكُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ السَّبَئِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ أَشَىْءٌ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْ رَأْيِكَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ صُومُوا الشَّهْرَ وَسِرَّهُ  

I heard Abu 'Amr al-Auza'i say: The word sirrahu means beginning of the month.  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو يَعْنِي الأَوْزَاعِيَّ يَقُولُ سِرُّهُ أَوَّلُهُ  

On the authority of Abu Mushir. He said: Sa'id, that is, Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz said: The meaning of the word sirraha is "in the beginning of it (the month)"  

وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ سِرُّهُ وَسَطُهُ وَقَالُوا آخِرُهُ  

That Umm al-Fadl, daughter of al-Harith, sent him to Mu'aqiyah in Syria. He said: I came to syria and performed her work. The moon of Ramadan appeared while I was in Syria. We sighted the moon on the night of Friday. When I came to Median towards the end of the month (of Ramadan), Ibn 'Abbas asked me about the moon. He said: When did you sight the moon ? I said: I sighted it on the night of Friday. He asked: Did you sight it yourself ? I said: Yes, and the people sighted it. They fasted and Mu'awiyah also fasted. He said: But we sighted it on the night of saturday. Since then we have been fasting until we complete thirty days or we sight it. Then I said: Are the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiyah and his fasts not sufficient for us? He replied: No. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to do so.  

أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ ابْنَةَ الْحَارِثِ بَعَثَتْهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالشَّامِ قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ فَقَضَيْتُ حَاجَتَهَا فَاسْتُهِلَّ رَمَضَانُ وَأَنَا بِالشَّامِ فَرَأَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ ثُمَّ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فِي آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ فَسَأَلَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ مَتَى رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ قُلْتُ رَأَيْتُهُ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ قَالَ أَنْتَ رَأَيْتَهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ وَرَآهُ النَّاسُ وَصَامُوا وَصَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قَالَ لَكِنَّا رَأَيْنَاهُ لَيْلَةَ السَّبْتِ فَلاَ نَزَالُ نَصُومُهُ حَتَّى نُكْمِلَ الثَّلاَثِينَ أَوْ نَرَاهُ فَقُلْتُ أَفَلاَ تَكْتَفِي بِرُؤْيَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَصِيَامِهِ قَالَ لاَ هَكَذَا أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

That man and the people of his city should not fast as an atonement except that they know (for certain) that the people of a certain city of Muslims had fasted on Sunday. In that case they should keep fast as an atonement.  

عَنِ الْحَسَنِفِي رَجُلٍ كَانَ بِمِصْرٍ مِنَ الأَمْصَارِ فَصَامَ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَشَهِدَ رَجُلاَنِ أَنَّهُمَا رَأَيَا الْهِلاَلَ لَيْلَةَ الأَحَدِ فَقَالَ لاَ يَقْضِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ الرَّجُلُ وَلاَ أَهْلُ مِصْرِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَهْلَ مِصْرٍ مِنْ أَمْصَارِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَدْ صَامُوا يَوْمَ الأَحَدِ فَيَقْضُونَهُ  

AbuIshaq reported on the authority of Silah: We were with Ammar on the day when the appearance of the moon was doubtful. (The meat of) goat was brought to him. Some people kept aloof from (eating) it. Ammar said: He who keeps fast on this day disobeys AbulQasim (i.e. the Prophet) ﷺ.  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَمَّارٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَأُتِيَ بِشَاةٍ فَتَنَحَّى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ مَنْ صَامَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Do not fast one day or two days just before Ramadan, except in the case of a man who has been in the habit of observing the particular fast, for he may fast on that day.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ تَقَدَّمُوا صَوْمَ رَمَضَانَ بِيَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ صَوْمًا يَصُومُهُ رَجُلٌ فَلْيَصُمْ ذَلِكَ الصَّوْمَ  

She never saw the Prophet ﷺ fasting the whole month except Sha'ban which he combined with Ramadan.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَصُومُ مِنَ السَّنَةِ شَهْرًا تَامًّا إِلاَّ شَعْبَانَ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ  

AbdulAziz ibn Muhammad said: Abbad ibn Kathir came to Medina and went to the assembly of al-Ala'. He caught hold of his hand and made him stand and said: O Allah, he narrates a tradition from his father on the authority of AbuHurayrah who reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: When the middle of Sha'ban comes, do not fast. Al-Ala' said: O Allah, my father narrated this tradition on the authority of AbuHurayrah from the Prophet ﷺ  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا انْتَصَفَ شَعْبَانُ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا فَقَالَ الْعَلاَءُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ أَبِي حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ  

Husayn ibn al-Harith al-Jadli from the tribe of Jadilah Qays said: The governor of Mecca delivered a speech and said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a pledge from us that we should perform the rites of hajj after sighting the moon. If we do not sight it and two reliable persons bear witness, we should perform the rites of hajj on the basis of their witness. I then asked al-Husayn ibn al-Harith: Who was the governor of Mecca? He replied: I do not know. He then met me later on and told me: He was al-Harith ibn Hatib, brother of Muhammad ibn Hatib. The governor then said: There is among you a man who is more acquainted with Allah and His Apostle than I. He witnessed this from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He then pointed with his hand to a man. Al-Husayn said: I asked an old man beside me: Who is that man to whom the governor has alluded? He said: "This is Abdullah ibn Umar, and he spoke the truth. He was more acquainted with Allah than he. He (Abdullah ibn Umar) said: For this is what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us (to do).  

عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نَنْسُكَ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ فَإِنْ لَمْ نَرَهُ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدَا عَدْلٍ نَسَكْنَا بِشَهَادَتِهِمَا فَسَأَلْتُ الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ مَنْ أَمِيرُ مَكَّةَ قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي ثُمَّ لَقِيَنِي بَعْدُ فَقَالَ هُوَ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ حَاطِبٍ أَخُو مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَاطِبٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ الأَمِيرُ إِنَّ فِيكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ مِنِّي وَشَهِدَ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى رَجُلٍ قَالَ الْحُسَيْنُ فَقُلْتُ لِشَيْخٍ إِلَى جَنْبِي مَنْ هَذَا الَّذِي أَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ الأَمِيرُ قَالَ هَذَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَصَدَقَ كَانَ أَعْلَمَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ بِذَلِكَ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

On the authority of a man from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ: People differed among themselves on the last day of Ramadan (about the appearance of the moon of Shawwal). Then two bedouins came and witnessed before the Prophet ﷺ swearing by Allah that they had sighted moon the previous evening. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded the people to break the fast. The narrator Khalaf has added in his version: "and that they should proceed to the place of prayer (for 'Id)".  

عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ اخْتَلَفَ النَّاسُ فِي آخِرِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَقَدِمَ أَعْرَابِيَّانِ فَشَهِدَا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِاللَّهِ لأَهَلاَّ الْهِلاَلَ أَمْسِ عَشِيَّةً فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ أَنْ يُفْطِرُوا زَادَ خَلَفٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ وَأَنْ يَغْدُوا إِلَى مُصَلاَّهُمْ  

A bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: I have sighted the moon. Al-Hasan added in his version: that is, of Ramadan. He asked: Do you testify that there is no god but Allah? He replied: Yes. He again asked: Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah? He replied: Yes. and he testified that he had sighted the moon. He said: Bilal, announce to the people that they must fast tomorrow.  

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْهِلاَلَ قَالَ الْحَسَنُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ أَتَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَتَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ يَا بِلاَلُ أَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ فَلْيَصُومُوا غَدًا  

Once the people doubted the appearance of the moon of Ramadan, and intended neither to offer the tarawih prayer nor to keep fast. A bedouin came from al-Harrah and testified that he had sighted the moon. He was brought to the Prophet ﷺ. He asked: Do you testify that there is no god but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes; and he testified that he had sighted the moon. He commanded Bilal who announced to the people to offer the tarawih prayer and to keep fast.  

عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ أَنَّهُمْ شَكُّوا فِي هِلاَلِ رَمَضَانَ مَرَّةً فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ لاَ يَقُومُوا وَلاَ يَصُومُوا فَجَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ مِنَ الْحَرَّةِ فَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ رَأَى الْهِلاَلَ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَتَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ رَأَى الْهِلاَلَ فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُومُوا وَأَنْ يَصُومُوا  

The people looked for the moon, so I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I had sighted it. He fasted and commanded the people to fast.  

تَرَاءَى النَّاسُ الْهِلاَلَ فَأَخْبَرْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِصِيَامِهِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The difference between our fasting and that of the people of the Book is eating shortly before dawn.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ فَصْلَ مَا بَيْنَ صِيَامِنَا وَصِيَامِ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أَكْلَةُ السَّحَرِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ invited me to a meal shortly before dawn in Ramadan saying: Come to the blessed morning meal.  

دَعَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى السَّحُورِ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ إِلَى الْغَدَاءِ الْمُبَارَكِ  

The Prophet ﷺ as saying: How good is the believers meal of dates shortly before dawn.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ نِعْمَ سَحُورُ الْمُؤْمِنِ التَّمْرُ  

The adhan (call to prayer) of Bilal should not prevent you from taking a meal shortly before dawn, not does the whiteness of horizon (before dawn) in this way (vertically) until it spreads out horizontally.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ مِنْ سَحُورِكُمْ أَذَانُ بِلاَلٍ وَلاَ بَيَاضُ الأُفُقِ الَّذِي هَكَذَا حَتَّى يَسْتَطِيرَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The summons (adhan) of Bilal should not restrain one of you from taking a meal shortly before dawn, for he utters adhan or calls (for prayer) so that the man at prayer may return, and the man asleep may get up. Dawn is not (the whiteness) which indicates thus (in perpendicular) - the narrator Musaddad said: Yahya joined his palms (indicating the spread of whiteness vertically - until it indicates thus - and Yahya spread out two ring-fingers of his (demonstrating the spread of whiteness horizontally)l  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَذَانُ بِلاَلٍ مِنْ سَحُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُؤَذِّنُ أَوْ قَالَ يُنَادِي لِيَرْجِعَ قَائِمُكُمْ وَيَنْتَبِهَ نَائِمُكُمْ وَلَيْسَ الْفَجْرُ أَنْ يَقُولَ هَكَذَا قَالَ مُسَدَّدٌ وَجَمَعَ يَحْيَى كَفَّيْهِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ هَكَذَا وَمَدَّ يَحْيَى بِأُصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَتَيْنِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Eat and drink; let not the white and ascending light prevent you from (eating and drinking); so eat and drink until the red light spreads horizontally.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلاَ يَهِيدَنَّكُمُ السَّاطِعُ الْمُصْعِدُ فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَعْتَرِضَ لَكُمُ الأَحْمَرُ  

When the verse "Until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread" was revealed, I took a white rope and a black rope, and placed them beneath my pillow ; and then I looked at them, byt they were not clear to me. So I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He laughed and said: Your pillow is so broad and lengthy ; that is (i.e. means) night and day. The version of the narrator 'Uthman has: That is the blackness of night and whiteness of day.  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ } قَالَ أَخَذْتُ عِقَالاً أَبْيَضَ وَعِقَالاً أَسْوَدَ فَوَضَعْتُهُمَا تَحْتَ وِسَادَتِي فَنَظَرْتُ فَلَمْ أَتَبَيَّنْ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَضَحِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ وِسَادَكَ لَعَرِيضٌ طَوِيلٌ إِنَّمَا هُوَ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَبَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand, he should not lay it down till he fulfils his need.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا سَمِعَ أَحَدُكُمُ النِّدَاءَ وَالإِنَاءُ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَلاَ يَضَعْهُ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ مِنْهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ as saying: When the night approaches from this side and the day retreats on that side, and the sun sets - according to the version of Musaddad - he who fasts has reached the time to break it.  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا جَاءَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا وَذَهَبَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا زَادَ مُسَدَّدٌ وَغَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ  

We went along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was fasting. When the sun set, he said to Bilal: Bilal, come down and prepare barley beverage for us. He said: Messenger of Allah, would that you waited for the evening. He said: Come down and prepare barley beverage for us. He said: Messenger of Allah, the say still remains on you (i.e. there remains the brightness of the day). He said: Come down and prepare barley drink for us. So he came down and prepared barley drink. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drank it and said: When you see that the night approaches from this side, he who fasts has reached the time to break it ; and he pointed to the east with his finger.  

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى يَقُولُ سِرْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ يَا بِلاَلُ انْزِلْ فَاجْدَحْ لَنَا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَمْسَيْتَ قَالَ انْزِلْ فَاجْدَحْ لَنَا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ عَلَيْكَ نَهَارًا قَالَ انْزِلْ فَاجْدَحْ لَنَا فَنَزَلَ فَجَدَحَ فَشَرِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ اللَّيْلَ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ مِنْ هَا هُنَا فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَأَشَارَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَزَالُ الدِّينُ ظَاهِرًا مَا عَجَّلَ النَّاسُ الْفِطْرَ لأَنَّ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى يُؤَخِّرُونَ  

I and Masruq entered upon 'Aishah and we said: Mother of believers, there are two persons from the Companions of the Muhammad ﷺ. One of them hastens to break the fast and hastens to pray while the other delays to break the fast and delays praying. She asked: Which of them hastens to break the fast and hasten to pray ? We replied: 'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud). She said: Thus did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do.  

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ ؓ أَنَا وَمَسْرُوقٌ فَقُلْنَا يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ أَحَدُهُمَا يُعَجِّلُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُعَجِّلُ الصَّلاَةَ وَالآخَرُ يُؤَخِّرُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُؤَخِّرُ الصَّلاَةَ قَالَتْ أَيُّهُمَا يُعَجِّلُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُعَجِّلُ الصَّلاَةَ قُلْنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَتْ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ يَصْنَعُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ صَائِمًا فَلْيُفْطِرْ عَلَى التَّمْرِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدِ التَّمْرَ فَعَلَى الْمَاءِ فَإِنَّ الْمَاءَ طَهُورٌ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to break his fast before praying with some rutabah dates; but if there were no rutabah dates, he had a few fully ripened dates, and if there were no fully ripened dates, he took some mouthfuls of water.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُفْطِرُ عَلَى رُطَبَاتٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ رُطَبَاتٌ فَعَلَى تَمَرَاتٍ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَسَا حَسَوَاتٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ  

I saw Ibn Umar holding his beard with his hand and cutting what exceeded the handful of it. He (Ibn Umar) said that the Prophet ﷺ said when he broke his fast: Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills.  

وَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ  

The Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to say when he broke his fast: O Allah, for Thee I have fasted, and with Thy provision I have broken my fast.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ  

We broke the fast one during Ramadan when it was cloudy in the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ; then the sun rose. Abu Usamah said: I said to Hisham: Were they commanded to atone for it ? He replied: That was inevitable.  

أَفْطَرْنَا يَوْمًا فِي رَمَضَانَ فِي غَيْمٍ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ قُلْتُ لِهِشَامٍ أُمِرُوا بِالْقَضَاءِ قَالَ وَبُدٌّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited perpetual fasting. They (the people) said: You keep perpetual fasting, Messenger of Allah. He said: My position is not like that you yours. I am provided with food and drink.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَهَى عَنِ الْوِصَالِ قَالُوا فَإِنَّكَ تُوَاصِلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَهَيْئَتِكُمْ إِنِّي أُطْعَمُ وَأُسْقَى  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Do not observe perpetual fasting. If any of you wants to observe perpetual fast, he should observe it until the dawn. They (the people) asked: You observe perpetual fast ? He replied: My position is not like that of yours. There is One Who gives me to eat, and there is One who gives me to drink.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ تُوَاصِلُوا فَأَيُّكُمْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُوَاصِلَ فَلْيُوَاصِلْ حَتَّى السَّحَرِ قَالُوا فَإِنَّكَ تُوَاصِلُ قَالَ إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَهَيْئَتِكُمْ إِنَّ لِي مُطْعِمًا يُطْعِمُنِي وَسَاقِيًا يَسْقِينِي  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: If anyone does not abandon falsehood and action is accordance with it, Allah has no need that he should abandon his food and drink. The narrator Ahmad (b. Yunus) said: I learnt the chain of narrators from Ibn Abi Dhi'b, and a man by his side made me understand the tradition. I think he was his cousin.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ فَهِمْتُ إِسْنَادَهُ مِنَ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ وَأَفْهَمَنِي الْحَدِيثَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ أُرَاهُ ابْنَ أَخِيهِ