Month is 29 days .... (Hadith)

Explanation of the Hadith - "Soomu li-Ru'yatihi .............."

Even before the Prophet [peace be upon him (pbuh)], it was well known practice of using lunar calendar by the Arabs and Ramadan was one of the month. It was well known that lunar months were either 29 days or 30 days. When Qur'an Ayah (2:189) was revealed, it said, "When you witness the month of Ramadan, fast for it". Islam prescribed Ramadan for fasting month, because fasting was prescribed for the Ummah even before, so that Muslims can obtain piety (Taqwa) and Qur'an was revealed in this month, so it was chosen for attaining Tqawa and fasting.

Lunar calendar and Ramadan did not start in our Deen (Madhhab). They were known to Mushrikeen of Makkah. Fasting for the month of Ramadan started even when the practice of Nasi' (interjection or intercalation of a month) had been going on. Beginning of Ramadan is not a religious matter. It is just like a special prayer was prescribed on the day of Jumu'ah, while the day of Jumu'ah was not a matter of Deen (Madhhab). Similarly, the lunar calendar and a month of Ramadan in it were already known to Arabs. Fasting in that month was prescribed, but when Ramadan comes was not a matter of Deen; it was a matter of observed repeated patterns, science, and astronomy. Allah (SWT) said in Qur'an (2:185), "When you witness the month of Ramadan, fast for it".

The famous Hadith, which starts with, "Ashshahru tis'un wa ishroon fa soomu li-ru'yatihi wa aftiru li-ru'yatihi fa in ghumma alaikum faqduru lah......", meaning the month is 29 days so if you see the moon start the month. This was an answer from the Prophet (PBUH) to a question from Sahabah, who asked, Since reward for every act in the month of Ramadan is many times greater, why don't we make Ramadan always 30 days, to get the most rewards. The Prophet (PBUH) clarified; N0, month can be 29 days. So when you see it start fasting .........". It was not made a requirement to see the Hilal. Please also note that there is not a single Hadith that the Prophet himself ever stood to see the moon on 29th. After him there is not a single Hadith that the 4 Khulafa' ever stood to see the moon.

The sighting was mentioned first time in a famous Hadith by Hadrat Kuraib, in Hadrat Moaviah time. The confusion started in the interpretation of Hadith, "Ashshahru tis'un wa ishroon fa soomu li-ru'yatihi wa aftiru li-ru'yatihi fa in ghumma alaikum faqduru lah......", (not intentional) by some narrators who omitted the first part of the Hadith, "Ashshahru tis'un wa ishroon" (month is also 29 days), which has caused the confusion and totally different interpretation of the Hadith. In the context of this Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) explained that do not stress to have the 30 days of Ramadan, if the moon is seen on 29th day, start the month. If moon was not seen on 29th day, then there is no requirement to see the moon on 30th day, because it was commonly known by observation and experience that the lunar month cannot be more than 30 days. Sighting the moon is not a religious matter. Calendar making is not a matter of "Deen" or is not the responsibility of Ulamaa' as long as the calendar is lunar; rather it is the responsibility of those who have the "Ilm" (knowledge) of heavenly bodies, movement of the sun, moon and earth. It is not a religious matter; it is the responsibility of State or government, who must use experts of astronomy to come up with a lunar calendar for the society or the country. To start a month whatever means are available (to be sure that moon cycle has completed) should be used. If the science has given a better means to ascertain that the new month has begun, then that should be used. Just like the prayer times were found by observations in Prophet's time, and we use watches now and calculations, similarly, we can use scientific instruments and knowledge for the certainty of the beginning of a month. Sighting was not the necessary condition to start the month. If scientifically with certainty we know that the birth of moon has occurred then after that whatever method or condition seems satisfactory can be used.

What has happened is that in the narrations, a mistake occurred (not intentional) by some narrators to omit the first part of the Hadith, "Ashshahru tis'un wa ishroon (month is 29 days)", which has caused the totally different interpretation of the Hadith. In the context of this Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) explained that do not stress to have the 30 days of Ramadan, if the moon is seen on 29th day, start the next month. If moon was not seen on 29th day, and on the 30 days it was not seen due to clouds, then start the month even though moon was not seen. This means that seeing the moon was not necessary condition; estimation or calculation of 30 days is another condition that can start the month, because it was commonly known by observation and experience that the lunar month cannot be more than 30 days.

Hadith does not mean that sighting is neceassary for starting a month. Sighting the moon is not a requirement nor is it a religious matter. Calendar making is not a matter of "Deen" or is not the responsibility of Ulamaa' as long as the calendar is lunar; rather it is the responsibility of those who have the "Ilm" (knowledge) of heavenly bodies, movement of the sun, moon and earth. It is not a religious matter; it is the responsibility of the State or government, who must use experts of astronomy to come up with a lunar calendar for the society or the country.

Hadith: "Ashshahru tis'un wa ishroon fa soomu li-ru'yatihi wa aftiru li-ru'yatihi......" Explained in Urdu by a Pakistani well known Scholar Javed Ghamidi.