Is it a must to observe the crescent to start fasting in Ramadan?
The beginning and end of lunar months are determined according to the movements of the Moon. To begin fasting, the beginning of the month of Ramadan needs to be determined, and Ramadan changes every year according to lunar calendar. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can’t see it) then regard the month of Ramadan as of 30 days.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 5, 11; Muslim, Siyam, 3-4, 7-9)
At first glance, this hadith leads to the opinion that one may not begin to fast and observe the eid until seeing the crescent with bare eyes. Evaluating the other hadiths regarding the matter, it is understood that the aim of these hadiths is to teach the most appropriate practice of the conditions of the day. As a matter of fact, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 13; Muslim, Siyam, 15; Abu Dawud, Sawm, 4) and indicated that calculating may be used as the method to determine the beginning of lunar months.
The moon continues to its usual movements regardles of being seen with bare eyes or not. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an that the Sun and the Moon move according to a certain order (Rahman, 55/5); that they were created also as a calculation system apart from the other functions (An’am, 6/96); phases were determined for the Moon for us to know the number of years and the count of time (Yunus, 10/5); when skies and earth were created, an order was assigned as twelve months (Tawbah, 9/36); it is a time measurement for people and hajj that the moon begins to be seen as a crescent from the earth and later seen in different forms gradually (Baqarah, 2/189).
Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (saw) advised to see the moon with bare eyes to determine the start of lunar months probably because it was the most assurable way for the time, not because it is the only way to use. The purpose of watching the crescent is to determine the month of Ramadan has started or not. For this reason, it is possible to benefit from other methods to serve the purpose apart from watching the moon with bare eyes.
Today’s technological advancement makes it possible to watch even the slightest movements of the Moon in detail. Today, it is even possible to prepare calendars with prayer times for several years ahead by detailed astronomical calculations. Therefore it is legitimate to determine the beginnings of lunar months by calculation method.
Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS
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