Question: The moon was not sighted at the conclusion of the 29th day of Sha’baan hence 30 days were completed. Now the moon is visible on the 2nd day of the Ramadhan and it’s too big to be the second day Moon. I looked at the Moon last night and it was too big to be the first or second day Moon, looked more like a third day Moon. Doesn’t this mean that I have missed a Fast and what should I do? Can I use this method to determine if the moon is 2nd or 3rd or 4th day Moon?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
I would like to begin by extending our gratitude to you for asking this question. May Allah Ta'ala give you the best of rewards (Ameen).
The command given to us in Islamic (Law) is to go out and sight the Moon. If moon is not sighted on the completion of 29 days then we complete 30 days as we have been advised to do by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him):
Fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you, then complete thirty days of Sha’baan. And break your fast when you see the crescent. If it is obscured to you then fast thirty days.' [Bukhari and Muslim]
When the moon is seen the next day, it will be considered and counted as the second day Moon. To speculate and pass any other judgement is against the Sunnah...
