By: Shaykh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee (may Allah have Mercy on him)
Source: Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah #224 (1/440-445)

[ In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, may His Salaah and Salaam be upon his final Messenger Muhammad, and upon all his family members and Companions, to proceed… ]

Regarding the hadeeth:

الصوم يوم تصومون والفطر يوم تفطرون

“Fasting begins on the day you all begin to fast, and Al-Fitr (the ‘Eed) is the day when you all have broken your fasts.” [1]

At-Tirmithee, after mentioning this hadeeth, said, “And some of the people of knowledge explained this hadeeth, saying that fasting and breaking the fast are both done along with the Jamaa’ah and the masses of the Muslims.”

And As-San’aanee said, “In it is evidence that proves that agreement of the people is needed for establishing the ‘Eed, and that the one who is alone in his knowledge of the moon sighting must go along with the others, and their decision regarding the prayer, the breaking of the fast, and the day of slaughtering is binding on him.” [2]

And Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allah have Mercy on him, explained this, saying, “And it has been said (by the people of knowledge) that there is a refutation in this for those who say that a person can fast and break his fast based on calculated estimations, without others having knowledge of this. And it has also been said that if a lone witness sights the moon, and the judge does not accept his sighting (for some reason), then he himself does not begin his fast based on it, nor do the people begin their fasts based on it.” [3]

And Abul-Hasan As-Sindee, after mentioning the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah found in At-Tirmithee’s Sunan, said, “And what is apparent from the hadeeth’s meaning is that these affairs are not Continue reading →