This work details the Islamic jurisprudence governing the sighting of the moon for the determination of lunar months, specifically Sha’baan, Ramadaan, Shawwal, Ziqaddah, and Zil Hijjah. It establishes that the sighting of the crescent is a communal obligation (Waajib-e-Kifaayah) and defines the legal requirements for testimony, the qualifications of witnesses, and the procedures for judicial confirmation. The text clarifies that astronomical calculations hold no legal validity in Shariah, which relies exclusively on physical sighting and formal testimony. It further addresses the conditions under which fasting or Eid celebrations become mandatory, the handling of cloudy weather, and the invalidity of modern communication methods like telegrams or telephone calls for confirming the moon’s appearance.

Key topics & takeaways

The Obligation of Sighting

• Months requiring moon sighting — it is Waajib-e-Kifaayah to attempt to sight the moon for Sha’baan, Ramadaan, Shawwal, Ziqaddah, and Zil Hijjah (page 7)
• Purpose of sighting — the moon of Sha’baan is sighted to determine the start of Ramadaan, Ramadaan to begin fasting, Shawwal to end fasting, Ziqaddah to determine Zil Hijjah, and Zil Hijjah for Eid ul Adha (page 7)
• Procedure for cloudy weather — if the moon is not sighted on the 29th of Sha’baan due to clouds, one must complete 30 days of Sha’baan before commencing Ramadaan (page 7)
• Invalidity of astronomy — astronomical calculations have no validity in Shariah for confirming the month, regardless of the expertise of the astronomer (page 8)

Testimony and Witnessing

• Required terminology — a witness must explicitly state "I testify" or "I bear testimony," except in the case of a cloudy sky for the Ramadaan moon, where a simple statement of having seen it is sufficient (page 8)
• Qualifications for Ramadaan witnesses — for Ramadaan, the testimony of one Aaqil (sane) and Baaligh (adult) Muslim is sufficient, provided they are Mastur (outwardly pious) or Aadil (upright), regardless of gender or slave status (page 9)
• Definition of Aadil — an Aadil person is one who abstains from major sins, is not persistent in minor sins, and avoids actions contrary to civility, such as eating in the marketplace (page 9)
• Obligation to testify — it is Waajib for an Aadil person who has seen the moon of Ramadaan to present their testimony, even for women in pardah or slaves, without needing permission from husbands or owners (page 10)
• Testimony for months other than Ramadaan — for Shawwal, Zil Hijjah, and other months, the testimony of two males or one male and two females is required, all of whom must be Aadil and free men (page 13)
• Secondary testimony — testimony based on the report of a primary witness (Shahaadat alash Shahaadat) is valid provided all standard conditions of testimony are met (page 11)
• Questioning witnesses — it is not necessary to interrogate a witness about the moon's position or appearance unless the testimony is doubtful, which is particularly relevant for Eid (page 10)

Legal Rulings and Procedures

• Individual sighting — if an individual sees the moon but their testimony is rejected by a judge, they must still fast, and breaking that fast is impermissible, though no Kaffarah is required (page 7)
• Judicial acceptance — if a judge accepts a witness's testimony, breaking the fast thereafter incurs a Kaffarah (page 8)
• Sighting in rural areas — if the moon is sighted in a village without a judge, the witnesses should testify before the village folk, and if the witnesses are Aadil, the community must act upon it (page 10)
• Global vs. local sighting — while a sighting is valid for the entire world, it is only legally authorized for a specific location when confirmed there through proper Shariah-compliant testimony or the command of a local authority (page 15)
• Prohibited confirmation methods — telegrams, telephone calls, video messages, calendars, and newspaper reports are not valid means of confirming the moon, as they do not constitute formal Shahaadat (page 15, page 17)
• Daytime sighting — if the moon is sighted during the day, it is counted as the moon for the following night; if seen on the 30th of Ramadaan, the day remains a fast day, and if seen on the 30th of Sha’baan, it remains a day of Sha’baan (page 14, page 15)
• Prohibited actions — pointing at the moon with a finger, even to show it to another person, is Makruh (page 17)
• Unified Eid — there is no requirement in Shariah for a unified Eid across all regions; celebrations are based on proper local confirmation of the sighting (page 17)