An illustration of the classical book Fathul Mu'in lying open on a wooden table, set against a background of a mosque window, a crescent moon, and dates, symbolizing the discussion of Fiqh and the laws of Ramadan fasting.
A complete guide to the Fiqh of Ramadan fasting, from the obligatory conditions (Syarat Wajib) to the determination of the beginning of the month, based on the book Fathul Mu'in.

Fiqh of Ramadan Fasting: History, Evidence & Moon Sighting Rules

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Every year, the question “how many days until Ramadan fasting?” is always widely discussed. For Muslims, this month is not merely an annual routine, but a sacred moment eagerly anticipated. However, behind this enthusiasm, do we truly understand how the Fiqh of Ramadan fasting regulates our worship? Starting from how to sight the new moon to the long history of why we are obligated to fast.

Based on references from the classical texts Fathul Mu’in and I’anah ath-Thalibin, let us thoroughly discuss everything about this holy month, starting from the evidence for fasting in Ramadan, its history, to its rules.

However, before reading further, it is advisable to first read the article the meaning of fasting according to Islamic teachings.

Legal Basis and Evidence for the Fast of Ramadan

The law of fasting in Ramadhan is a personal obligation (fardhu β€˜ayn) for every Muslim who meets the requirements. This is a non-negotiable obligation to fast in Ramadhan because the fast of Ramadhan is the fourth pillar (Arkān) of Islam (or the third in some narrations, but the essence is a major pillar).

The main foundation is, of course, the evidence for the fast of Ramadan, Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183:

يَا Ψ£ΩŽΩŠΩΩ‘Ω‡ΩŽΨ§ Ψ§Ω„ΩŽΩ‘Ψ°ΩΩŠΩ†ΩŽ Ψ’Ω…ΩŽΩ†ΩΩˆΨ§ كُΨͺِبَ ΨΉΩŽΩ„ΩŽΩŠΩ’ΩƒΩΩ…Ω Ψ§Ω„Ψ΅ΩΩ‘ΩŠΩŽΨ§Ω…Ω ΩƒΩŽΩ…ΩŽΨ§ كُΨͺِبَ ΨΉΩŽΩ„ΩŽΩ‰ Ψ§Ω„ΩŽΩ‘Ψ°ΩΩŠΩ†ΩŽ مِنْ Ω‚ΩŽΨ¨Ω’Ω„ΩΩƒΩΩ…Ω’ Ω„ΩŽΨΉΩŽΩ„ΩŽΩ‘ΩƒΩΩ…Ω’ ΨͺَΨͺΩŽΩ‘Ω‚ΩΩˆΩ†ΩŽ

“O you who have believed, prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous.”

In the book Fathul Mu’in it is explained:

يجب Ψ΅ΩˆΩ… Ψ΄Ω‡Ψ± ( Ψ±Ω…ΨΆΨ§Ω† ) Ψ₯Ψ¬Ω…Ψ§ΨΉΨ§

(Fasting during) the month (of Ramadhan) is obligatory by ijma’ (scholarly consensus).

It is clear that fasting during Ramadan is obligatory or sunnah – the answer is absolutely obligatory. Indeed, the ruling regarding not fasting during Ramadan for someone who denies its obligation can fall into disbelief, while for those who do not fast due to laziness (without a valid excuse) remain sinful.

History and Origins of the Ramadhan Fast

Did you know that the history of the Ramadhan fast has a unique story related to previous nations? In the interpretation quoted from I’anah ath-Thalibin, it is mentioned that fasting was actually also commanded to nations before the Prophet Muhammad ο·Ί .

However, a shift occurred in its implementation by previous generations. The pure origins of the Ramadhan fast once underwent a change. It is narrated that early Christians found it difficult to fast during the scorching summer months. Eventually, their religious leaders moved the fasting period to spring to enjoy more comfortable weather. As compensation for this change of time, they added ten days to the duration of the fast as a penalty (kaffarat), and this was further increased by vows made by their kings until it reached a total of 50 days.

Unlike previous nations, the Ramadhan fasting regulations for the followers of Prophet Muhammad ο·Ί were returned to their original sharia, namely following the lunar cycle (Qamariyah), not the seasonal cycle (Syamsiyah), and the number of days is not increased.

When Does the Fast of Ramadan Begin?

Pemandangan bulan sabit or hilal seen from the arch of a mosque window at night, an illustration of the method for determining when the fast of Ramadhan begins.
The determination of the beginning of Ramadhan is done in two main ways: observing the hilal (rukyah) or completing the number of months of Sha’ban (ikmal).

We are often confused about what day the Ramadan fast will begin. Do we follow the government, mass organizations, or calendar calculations? In Shafi’i Fiqh, there are two main ways to determine when the beginning of the Ramadan fast is:

  1. Completing Sha’ban (Ikmal): If the crescent moon is not sighted, the month of Sha’ban is completed to 30 days.
    Ψ¨ΩƒΩ…Ψ§Ω„ Ψ΄ΨΉΨ¨Ψ§Ω† Ψ«Ω„Ψ§Ψ«ΩŠΩ† ΩŠΩˆΩ…Ψ§
  2. Sighting the Crescent Moon (Rukyah): Observing the new crescent moon after sunset on the 29th of Sha’ban.

Interestingly, to determine the beginning of Ramadan, the requirements are slightly less stringent than determining the end of Ramadan (Shawwal). The book Fathul Mu’in states:

أو ر؀ية ΨΉΨ―Ω„ واحد , ΩˆΩ„Ωˆ Ω…Ψ³Ψͺورا Ω‡Ω„Ψ§Ω„Ω‡ Ψ¨ΨΉΨ― Ψ§Ω„ΨΊΨ±ΩˆΨ¨

Or, by the sighting (visual confirmation) of one just person, even if he is Mastur (a person whose outward character is good but inner state is unknown), who sees the new crescent moon after sunset.

Therefore, if there is one honest person who witnesses the new crescent moon before a judge, then fasting during Ramadhan is obligatory for all the inhabitants of that country.

What If You Reside in Different Regions?

This is often a question: “If fasting has already begun in Saudi Arabia, are we in Indonesia obligated to join?”

This is where the concept of Ikhtilaf al-Mathali’ (difference in the place of sunrise) applies. The distance of “near” and “far” becomes the determining factor. According to some scholars, the limit of a far distance is approximately 24 Farsakh (approx. 133 km).

There’s an interesting rule regarding cardinal directions mentioned in the book:

  • If the crescent moon is sighted in the East, then the people in the West are obligated to follow (because if the moon has risen in the East, the moon’s position will definitely be higher in the West, where the time is later).
  • If the crescent moon is sighted in the West, the people of the East are not obligated to follow (because it may be that at sunset in the East, the moon has not yet appeared).

ΩŠΩ„Ψ²Ω… Ω…Ω† Ψ§Ω„Ψ±Ψ€ΩŠΨ© في Ψ§Ω„Ψ¨Ω„Ψ― Ψ§Ω„ΨΊΨ±Ψ¨ΩŠ Ω…Ω† غير ΨΉΩƒΨ³

It is obligatory (required) to follow the sighting (of the new moon) in Western countries (for those in the West from the location of sighting), not the other way around.

Fasting Duration: 29 or 30 Days?

Many ask how many days the Ramadhan fast actually lasts? The Ramadhan fast is carried out by Muslims for a full month according to the Hijri calendar.

The Hijri calendar only has 29 or 30 days. It never has 31 days.

Ω‚ΩˆΩ„Ω‡ : ( في Ψ§Ω„Ψ³Ω†Ψ© Ψ§Ω„Ψ«Ψ§Ω†ΩŠΨ© Ω…Ω† Ψ§Ω„Ω‡Ψ¬Ψ±Ψ© ) أي ΩΩŠΩƒΩˆΩ† – Ψ΅Ω„Ω‰ Ψ§Ω„Ω„Ω‡ ΨΉΩ„ΩŠΩ‡ ΩˆΨ³Ω„Ω… – Ψ΅Ψ§Ω… ΨͺΨ³ΨΉ Ψ±Ω…ΨΆΨ§Ω†Ψ§Ψͺ … ΩˆΨ§Ω„ΨͺΨ³ΨΉ ΩƒΩ„Ω‡Ψ§ Ω†ΩˆΨ§Ω‚Ψ΅ Ψ₯Ω„Ψ§ Ψ³Ω†Ψ© فكاملة

The Prophet (ο·Ί ) fasted nine Ramadhans… and those nine (in terms of days) were less (than 29 days), except for one year which was complete (30 days).

So, if you ask how many days are left until the Ramadhan fast ends once you have begun it, the answer depends on the sighting of the new crescent moon of Shawwal at the end of the month.

Obligatory Conditions and Provisions of Fasting

Besides the entry of the month of Ramadan (through official itsbat announcements or personal sighting). In order for the worship to be valid, we must understand the obligatory conditions of the Ramadan fast. Based on the text of Fiqh, this obligation falls upon:

  1. Muslim.
  2. Pubescent.
  3. Of sound mind
  4. Capable of fasting (not severely ill or frail with old age).

There’s an interesting point regarding a person who sights the new crescent moon independently but whose testimony is rejected by the judge (for example, because he is considered immoral or a woman in the context of initial crescent moon sighting testimony). That person is still obligated to fast based on his own sighting (“Amal bi ru’yati nafsihi“).

Table: Comparison of the Determination of the Beginning & End of Ramadan

To better understand the Fiqh of the Ramadhan fast concerning the sighting of the new crescent moon, please refer to the following table:

CategoryBeginning of Ramadan (Obligatory Fasting)Beginning of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr)
Number of WitnessesSufficient with 1 maleMinimum of 2 males
Witness QualityPermissible with Mastur (Ordinary person with good outward appearance)Must be Adil (Tested for piety)
PurposePrecaution in entering worshipPrecaution in exiting worship

FAQ: Questions About Fasting in Ramadan

Is fasting during Ramadan obligatory or sunnah?

It is obligatory (Fardu Ain) for every Muslim who meets the requirements. This is a part of the pillars of Islam (Arkān).

How many days is the Ramadan fast observed?

Fasting is performed for a full month of the Hijri calendar, which can be 29 or 30 days, depending on the appearance of the Syawal crescent moon.

What is the ruling on not fasting during Ramadan?

If abandoned without a legitimate religious reason (ʿudhūr), it is Ḁarām and sinful. If abandoned due to denying its obligation (considering it not obligatory), it could lead to disbelief.

When does the fasting month of Ramadan begin this year?

The determination of the exact date awaits the isbat session, which combines the rukyah method (direct observation) and hisab (calculation). Usually, the determination of the 1st of Ramadan on the Hijri calendar is broadcast live and led by the Minister of Religious Affairs on the 29th of Sha’ban.

What is the evidence for the command to fast during Ramadan?

The main evidence is the Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183, and the Prophet ο·ΊΒ  Hadith which is narrated mutawatir.

By deeply understanding the command to fast during Ramadan through the lens of classical Fiqh, may our worship this year not merely be about abstaining from food and drink, but also in accordance with true Sharia guidance. Prepare yourselves, for the countdown to the arrival of Ramadan will continue to draw nearer.

Reference

Shaṭṭā, ΚΏUthmān ibn MuαΈ₯ammad, AbΕ« Bakr (al-MashhΕ«r bi-al-BakrΔ«) ad-Dimyāṭī. Iʿānat aαΉ­-ṬālibΔ«n ΚΏalā αΈ€all Alfāẓ FatαΈ₯ al-MuΚΏΔ«n (Commentary on FatαΈ₯ al-MuΚΏΔ«n with an explanation of Qurrat al-ΚΏAyn concerning the Essentials of the Religion). 1st ed. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1997.

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