When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained,  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ  

Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: When it is the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ  

" When (the month of) Ramadan begins."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ بِمِثْلِهِ  

Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy calculate about it.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ لاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ  

The month is thus and thus. (He then withdrew his thumb at the third time). He then said: Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy calculate it (the months of Sha'ban and Shawwal) as thirty days.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَكَرَ رَمَضَانَ فَضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا ثُمَّ عَقَدَ إِبْهَامَهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فَصُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ  

If (the sky) is cloudy for you, then calculate thirty days (for the month of Ramadan).  

وَقَالَ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا ثَلاَثِينَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ  

The month may consist of twenty-nine days, and it may be thus, thus and thus, and (he further) said: Calculate it, but he did not say thirty.  

وَقَالَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَقَالَ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ ثَلاَثِينَ  

The month of Ramadan may consist of twenty-nine days. So do not fast till you have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break fast, till you have sighted it (the new moon of Shawwal), and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ  

The month (of Ramadan) may consist of twenty nine days; so when you see the new moon observe fast and when you see (the new moon again at the commencement of the month of Shawwal) then break It, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate it (and complete thirty days).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ  

When you see the new moon, observe fast, and when you see it (again) then break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate it.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ  

The month may consist of twenty-nine nights. So do not fast till you have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break it till you have sighted it, except when the sky is cloudy for you, and if it is so, then calculate it.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً لاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُغَمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ  

The month is thus and thus and thus (i. e. pointing with his fingers thrice), and he held back his thumb at the third time (in order to show that it can also consist of twenty-nine days).  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَقَبَضَ إِبْهَامَهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ  

The month may consist of twenty-nine days.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ  

The month (of Ramadan) is thus and thus, and thus. i.e. ten, ten and nine.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا عَشْرًا وَعَشْرًا وَتِسْعًا  

The month is thus, and thus, and thus, and he flapped his hands with all their fingers twice. but at the third turn, folded his right thumb or left thumb (in order to give an idea of twenty-nine).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَكَذَا وَصَفَّقَ بِيَدَيْهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ بِكُلِّ أَصَابِعِهِمَا وَنَقَصَ فِي الصَّفْقَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ إِبْهَامَ الْيُمْنَى أَوِ الْيُسْرَى  

The month (of Ramadan) may consist of twenty nine days, and Shu'ba (one of the narrators) (gave a practical demonstration how the Holy prophet ﷺ explained to them) by unfolding his hands thrice and folding his thumb at the third turn. 'Uqba (one of the narrators in this chain of transmitters) said: I think that he said that the month consists of thirty days and unfolded his palm three times.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ وَطَبَّقَ شُعْبَةُ يَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ وَكَسَرَ الإِبْهَامَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ قَالَ عُقْبَةُ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ الشَّهْرُ ثَلاَثُونَ وَطَبَّقَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ  

We are an unlettered people who can neither write nor count. The month is thus, and thus. folding his thumb when he said it the third time.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّا أُمَّةٌ أُمِّيَّةٌ لاَ نَكْتُبُ وَلاَ نَحْسُبُ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَعَقَدَ الإِبْهَامَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ وَالشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا يَعْنِي تَمَامَ ثَلاَثِينَ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Aswad b. Qais with the same chain of transmitters, but herein no mention has been made of the other month (consisting of) thirty days.  

عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ لِلشَّهْرِ الثَّانِي ثَلاَثِينَ  

This night is the midnight (of the month). Upon this he said to him: How do you know that it is the midnight (of the month), for I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The month is thus and thus (and he pointed with his ten fingers twice) and thus (i. e. at the third time he pointed with all his fingers but withdrew or folded his thumb)?  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَأَشَارَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ الْعَشْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَهَكَذَا فِي الثَّالِثَةِ وَأَشَارَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ كُلِّهَا وَحَبَسَ أَوْ خَنَسَ إِبْهَامَهُ  

Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. and when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَصُومُوا ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا  

Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ  

Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to clouds) the actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty (days).  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمُ الشَّهْرُ فَعُدُّوا ثَلاَثِينَ  

Observe fast when you see it (the new moon) and break fast when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal), but when (the actual position of the month is) concealed from you (on account of cloudy sky), then count thirty days.  

ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلاَثِينَ  

Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَقَدَّمُوا رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمًا فَلْيَصُمْهُ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Abi Kathir with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ  

When twenty-nine nights were over, which I had counted, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me (he came to me first of all). I said: Messenger of Allah, you had taken an oath that you would not come to us for a month, whereas you have come after twenty nine days which I have counted. Whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَقْسَمَ أَنْ لاَ يَدْخُلَ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ شَهْرًا قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ لَمَّا مَضَتْ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً أَعُدُّهُنَّ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ بَدَأَ بِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْنَا شَهْرًا وَإِنَّكَ دَخَلْتَ مِنْ تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَعُدُّهُنَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ  

) He came to us on the twenty-ninth day, whereupon we said: It is the twenty-ninth (day) today. Thereupon he said: So far as the month is concerned, (and he, with a view to explaining it) flapped his hands thrice, but held back one finger at the last turn.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اعْتَزَلَ نِسَاءَهُ شَهْرًا فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا فِي تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّمَا الْيَوْمُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ وَصَفَّقَ بِيَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَحَبَسَ إِصْبَعًا وَاحِدَةً فِي الآخِرَةِ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ separated himself from his wives for a month. (His wives said: ) He came to us on the morning of the twenty-ninth. Upon this some, of the people said: It is the morning of twenty- ninth (according to our calculation). Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The month. may also consist of twenty-nine days. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ then flapped his bands thrice, twice with all the fingers of both his hand (to indicate twenty-nine) and by the third time with nine (fingers).  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ؓ يَقُولُ اعْتَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ نِسَاءَهُ شَهْرًا فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا صَبَاحَ تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا أَصْبَحْنَا لِتِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ يَكُونُ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ ثُمَّ طَبَّقَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِيَدَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا مَرَّتَيْنِ بِأَصَابِعِ يَدَيْهِ كُلِّهَا وَالثَّالِثَةَ بِتِسْعٍ مِنْهَا  

Apostle of Allah, you took an oath that you would not come to us for a month, whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ ؓ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ حَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَدْخُلَ عَلَى بَعْضِ أَهْلِهِ شَهْرًا فَلَمَّا مَضَى تِسْعَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ يَوْمًا غَدَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ رَاحَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ حَلَفْتَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْنَا شَهْرًا قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ يَكُونُ تِسْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا  

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

The month is thus, thus (two times). He then withdrew (one of) his fingers at the third turn.  

ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى الأُخْرَى فَقَالَ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا ثُمَّ نَقَصَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ إِصْبَعًا  

Tho month is thus and thus, and thus, i. e. ten, ten and nine.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا عَشْرًا وَعَشْرًا وَتِسْعًا مَرَّةً  

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Abu Khalid with the same chain of transmitters.  

أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِهِمَا  

When did you see it? I said: We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: (Did) you see it yourself? I said: Yes, and the people also saw it and they fasted and Mu'awiya also fasted, whereupon he said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we will continue to fast till we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has commanded us. Yahya b. Yahya was in doubt (whether the word used in the narration by Kuraib) was Naktafi or Taktafi.  

أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتَ الْحَارِثِ بَعَثَتْهُ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ بِالشَّامِ قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ الشَّامَ فَقَضَيْتُ حَاجَتَهَا وَاسْتُهِلَّ عَلَىَّ رَمَضَانُ وَأَنَا بِالشَّامِ فَرَأَيْتُ الْهِلاَلَ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ ثُمَّ قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فِي آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ فَسَأَلَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ؓ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ مَتَى رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَقُلْتُ رَأَيْنَاهُ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْتَ رَأَيْتَهُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ وَرَآهُ النَّاسُ وَصَامُوا وَصَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَقَالَ لَكِنَّا رَأَيْنَاهُ لَيْلَةَ السَّبْتِ فَلاَ نَزَالُ نَصُومُ حَتَّى نُكْمِلَ ثَلاَثِينَ أَوْ نَرَاهُ فَقُلْتُ أَوَلاَ تَكْتَفِي بِرُؤْيَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَصِيَامِهِ فَقَالَ لاَ هَكَذَا أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَشَكَّ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى فِي نَكْتَفِي أَوْ تَكْتَفِي  

We went out to perform Umra and when we encamped in the valley of Nakhla, we tried to see the new moon. Some of the people said: It was three nights old, and others (said) that it was two nights old. We then met Ibn 'Abbas and told him we had seen the new moon, but that some of the people said it was three nights old and others that it was two nights old. He asked on which night we had seen it; and when we told him we had seen it on such and such night, he said the Prophet of Allah ﷺ had said: Verily Allah deferred it till the time it is seen, so it is to be reckoned from the night you saw it.  

خَرَجْنَا لِلْعُمْرَةِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا بِبَطْنِ نَخْلَةَ قَالَ تَرَاءَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ هُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاَثٍ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ هُوَ ابْنُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ قَالَ فَلَقِينَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّا رَأَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ هُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاَثٍ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ هُوَ ابْنُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَىَّ لَيْلَةٍ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا لَيْلَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَدَّهُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَةِ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ  

We saw the new moon of Ramadan as we were at Dhit-i-'Irq. We sent a man to Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) to ask him (whether the sighting of a small moon had something of the nature of defect in it). Upon this Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said: Verily Allah deferred its sight, but if (the new moon) is hidden from you, then, complete its number (thirty).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَمَدَّهُ لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ  

The two months of 'Id, Ramadan and Dhu'l-Hijja (are not incomplete).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ شَهْرَا عِيدٍ لاَ يَنْقُصَانِ رَمَضَانُ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ  

The months of 'Id are not incomplete. And in the hadith narrated by Khalid (the words are):" The months, of 'Id are Ramadan and Dhu'l-Hijja."  

أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ شَهْرَا عِيدٍ لاَ يَنْقُصَانِ فِي حَدِيثِ خَالِدٍ شَهْرَا عِيدٍ رَمَضَانُ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ  

" Until the white streak of the dawn becomes distinct from the dark streak" (ii. 187) Adi b. Hatim said: Messenger of Allah, verily I keep underneath my pillow two strings, one white and the other black, by which I distinguish night from dawn. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Your pillow seems to be very large. For the word khait implies the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn.  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ { حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ} قَالَ لَهُ عَدِيُّ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجْعَلُ تَحْتَ وِسَادَتِي عِقَالَيْنِ عِقَالاً أَبْيَضَ وَعِقَالاً أَسْوَدَ أَعْرِفُ اللَّيْلَ مِنَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ وِسَادَتَكَ لَعَرِيضٌ إِنَّمَا هُوَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَبَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ  

" Eat and drink till the white streak is distinct from the dark streak," a person would take hold of a white thread and a black thread and keep on eating till he could find them distinct (in the light of the dawn). It was then that Allah, the Majestic and Great, reveiled (the words) min al-fajr (from the dawn), and then it became clear (that the word khait refers to the streak of light in the dawn).  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ} قَالَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَأْخُذُ خَيْطًا أَبْيَضَ وَخَيْطًا أَسْوَدَ فَيَأْكُلُ حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَهُمَا حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { مِنَ الْفَجْرِ} فَبَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ  

When this verse was revealed." Eat and drink till the white streak becomes distinct from the dark streak for you," the person who decided to observe fast tied on one of his feet a black thread and on the other a white thread. And he went on eating and drinking till he could distinguish (between their colour) on seeing them. It was after this that Allah reveal- ed (the words): min al-fajr. And they (the Muslims) came to know that (the word khait) refers to the night and day.  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ} قَالَ فَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا أَرَادَ الصَّوْمَ رَبَطَ أَحَدُهُمْ فِي رِجْلَيْهِ الْخَيْطَ الأَسْوَدَ وَالْخَيْطَ الأَبْيَضَ فَلاَ يَزَالُ يَأْكُلُ وَيَشْرَبُ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ رِئْيُهُمَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ { مِنَ الْفَجْرِ} فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّمَا يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ  

Bilal would pronounce Adhan (at the fag end of the night in order to inform the people about the time of the Sahri). So you eat and drink till you hear the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum (which was pro- nounced at the conclusion of the Sahri and the commencement of the fast).  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ بِلاَلاً يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى تَسْمَعُوا تَأْذِينَ ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Bilal announces Adhan during the night, so you eat and drink, till you hear the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ بِلاَلاً يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى تَسْمَعُوا أَذَانَ ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ  

There were to callers of adhan for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum, the blind. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Bilal announces the adhan at night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum announces adhan." And he ˹the narrator˺ said: "The ˹period˺ between their ˹adhans˺ was not more than this that one climbing down ˹from the place of adhan˺ and the other one climbing up."  

كَانَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُؤَذِّنَانِ بِلاَلٌ وَابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ الأَعْمَى فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ بِلاَلاً يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ فَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يُؤَذِّنَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ قَالَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَهُمَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ هَذَا وَيَرْقَى هَذَا  

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah on the two chains of transmitters.  

عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بِالإِسْنَادَيْنِ كِلَيْهِمَا نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ  

The dawn is not like it, as one says (and he lifted his hand) till he (dispersed his fingers) and said: It is like this.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ أَذَانُ بِلاَلٍ أَوْ قَالَ نِدَاءُ بِلاَلٍ مِنْ سَحُورِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُؤَذِّنُ أَوْ قَالَ يُنَادِي بِلَيْلٍ لِيَرْجِعَ قَائِمَكُمْ وَيُوقِظَ نَائِمَكُمْ وَقَالَ لَيْسَ أَنْ يَقُولَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَصَوَّبَ يَدَهُ وَرَفَعَهَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ هَكَذَا وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ  

The dawn is not like it as it is said; he then gathered his fingers and lowered them. But he said, it is like this (and he placed the index finger upon the other one and spread his hand).  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ الْفَجْرَ لَيْسَ الَّذِي يَقُولُ هَكَذَا وَجَمَعَ أَصَابِعَهُ ثُمَّ نَكَسَهَا إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَلَكِنِ الَّذِي يَقُولُ هَكَذَا وَوَضَعَ الْمُسَبِّحَةَ عَلَى الْمُسَبِّحَةِ وَمَدَّ يَدَيْهِ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sulaiman Taimi with the same chain of transmitters and, at the end, it was said that the first Adhan was meant to awaken those who were in slumber amongst them and in order to make them turn who stand in (prayer) among them (towards food at the commencement of the fast). Jarir (one of the narrators) said that the Messenger ﷺ did not say like this but he said like it (true dawn) that the streaks of (true dawn ) are horizontal and not vertical.  

عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ التَّيْمِيِّ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَانْتَهَى حَدِيثُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ عِنْدَ قَوْلِهِ يُنَبِّهُ نَائِمَكُمْ وَيَرْجِعُ قَائِمَكُمْ وَقَالَ إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ جَرِيرٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ وَلَيْسَ أَنْ يَقُولَ هَكَذَا وَلَكِنْ يَقُولُ هَكَذَا يَعْنِي الْفَجْرَ هُوَ الْمُعْتَرِضُ وَلَيْسَ بِالْمُسْتَطِيلِ  

Samura b. Jandub reported Muhammad ﷺ as saying. The call of Bilal may not mislead any one of you (and he may, under the wrong impression gathered from it, refrain) from taking meal before the commencement of the fast (for the streaks) of this whiteness (which are vertical indicate the false dawn and the true dawn with which the fast commences is that when the streaks of light are) spread.  

سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ يَقُولُ