The Crescent (Hilaal) of Ramadaan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

صوموا لرؤيته وافطروا لرؤيته

'Do roza by seeing him and do iftaar by seeing him.'

(Rasulullah SA)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.

It is narrated that when Rasulullah SA left Madina for one of the battles before Shehrullah, his Ashaab asked him, “we used to fast with you and do iftaar with you, how will we know when to start in your absence?” Rasulullah answered “do roza by seeing him and do iftaar by seeing him.”

Many understand this Hadith by Rasulullah as a reference to the crescent moon (hilaal). It is only in the absence of the Imam, or the Dai in his seclusion, or if there is no contact with them, does one rely on the sighting of the moon. Syedna al-Qadi al-Nu’man clearly states that when in the presence of the Imam, or if there is contact with him, then one should begin roza and do iftaar in Eid-ul-Fitr following the Imam’s example. In the Imam’s seclusion, this rule applies the Imam’s representative, the Dai al-Mutlaq.

Rasulullah’s utterances are always full of hikmat. In the Arabic language the pronoun “hi” refers to both the inanimate (“it”) and also the animate (“he”). It is narrated that when Rasulullah left for this particular battle, Amirul Mumineen SA was in Madina. Rasulullah’s reference was not to the sighting of the physical crescent moon (“it”) - that may be shrouded by clouds or be seen in one city and not seen in another - but his reference was to the true crescent moon (haqiqi hilaal), Amirul Mumineen (“he”).

We are fortunate that we fast in Ramadaan following Allah Ta’ala’s commandment in the manner that Rasulullah showed us. We are also fortunate that we complete the count of the fasts according to the Quranic prescription (“and complete the prescribed count” li tukmilul-‘iddata – Surat al-Baqara: 185). There are many arguments in Dawat’s Kitaabs, especially in Syedna al-Mu’ayyad’s Majalis (42), that establish that Shehrullah must comprise a full thirty days – insha’allah we will publish these on a later date.

We are fortunate that we begin our roza by seeing “him” - Tayyib Imam’s Dai Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS - and we will insha’allah complete the thirty days with him and celebrate Eid by seeing “him.” May Allah Ta’ala grant Syedna longest life in sehhat and aafiyat so he may continue to guide, lead us in namaaz, roza and iftaar,and pray for us, one Ramadaan after another.