Is it permissible to keep Ramadaan fast before proper testimony of moon sighting?
Query: If a person kept the fast before the Shahaadat of Ru'yat (i.e.) before proper testimony of moon sighting passed), will it be counted as the fast of Ramadaan, or will he have to keep the Qaza for it.
Answer: Before the (confirmation) of the sighting, to keep the fast of Yaumush Shak (The Day of Doubt) is not permissible. It has been mentioned in the Hadith Shareef that, whosoever kept the fast of Yaumush Shak, he has disobeyed Abul Qaasim ﷺ.
This is in the case where Ru'yat was not proven and on that day, he kept the fast with the Niyyat of it being the fast of Ramadaan. For those who are in the habit of keeping fast on that day, or if they want to fast on that day, then they should simply fast with the Niyyat of Nafil.
In their hearts, they should not think that this is the fast of Ramadaan, or they should not think that if it is the Fast of Ramadaan, then it is the Ramadaan fast and if it is not, then it is Nafil. In this case, if there is this conflict in intention, the fast will not be valid. Now, if the Ru'yat is proven, then that Nafil Fast will be counted as the Fast of Ramadaan.
Answered by
Qazi ul Quzzat fil Hind as Shaykh Imam Mufti Mohammad Akhtar Rida Khan al Azhari RadiyAllahu Anhu
[Translation]
Mufti Afthab Cassim Qadri Ridawi Noori
References:
Query 13, Pg. 18, The Ordinances of Sayyidi Taj-ush-Shariah, Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center, Durban, South Africa
Fatawa Taj-ush-Shariah