Prohibition of fasting on the Day of Doubt

Q: Dear Shaykh, please give us a ruling on the Sawm (fasting) of Ramadan, because people are still differing over this in our African countries. Some of them perform the Sawm on seeing the crescent moon and break their Sawm on seeing it, acting in accordance with the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), “When you see it (the new moon of Ramadan) fast, and when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal) stop fasting; but if the clouds obstruct your sighting of the new moon, then calculate it (thirty days).” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Some of them perform the Sawm before seeing it and their Sawm coincides with the day the new moon of Ramadan appears, even though this contradicts the literal meaning of the Hadith. We are confused about this matter, would you advise us?

A: Anyone who fasts on the 30th of Sha‘ban, without the confirmed sighting of the new moon of Ramadan prescribed by Shari‘ah (Islamic law), and their Sawm coincides with the first day of Ramadan, it will not count for them as validly sufficient Sawm, as they did not base their Sawm on the Islamic basis and also because that is the Day of Doubt. The authentic Sunnah gave evidence for the prohibition of fasting on that day, so anyone who did this must make up for that day. Ibn Qudamah (may Allah be merciful to him) said in this regard, "There is a third report from Ahmad that states that it must not be fasted and it does not compensate for Ramadan, if fasted." This is the view held by the majority of the scholars, such as Abu Hanifah, Malik, Al-Shafi‘y, and those who followed their opinions. Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah (Part No. 10; Page No. 118) (peace be upon him) said, “Fast when you see it (the new moon of Ramadan) and stop fasting when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal); but if the clouds obstruct your sighting of the new moon, complete the month of Sha‘ban thirty days.” (Related by Al-Bukhari) It is related on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Fast when you see it (the new moon of Ramadan) and stop fasting when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal); but if the clouds obstruct your sighting of the new moon, then calculate it thirty days.” (Related by Muslim) It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade fasting on the Day of Doubt (agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim), and this is the Day of Doubt. The basis of the ruling is that it is still the month of Sha‘ban, and moving on to the next month cannot be based on doubt." End of quoting from "Al-Mughni".May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.