Crescent

♣ Holy Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan) start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)

Narrated by Ibn Umar (RadhiAllahu Anhu)​​

Sahih Bukhari Book 31, Hadith 124

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♣ Holy Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

Do not fast before Ramadan. Fast on seeing the new moon and break fast on seeing it. If the atmosphere is cloudy then complete the thirty days.

Narrated by Ibn Abbas (RadhiAllahu Anhu)​​

Tirmdhi 688, Ahmed1985, Abu Dawud 2327, Nasai'i 2128

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♣ Hazrat Kuraib RadhiAllahu Anhu reported that Umm Fadl bint Harith sent him to Mu'awiya RadhiAllahu Anhu in Syria. I arrived in Syria and did the needful for her. It was there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month. Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu Anhu asked me about the new moon of Ramadan and said: When did you see it? I said: We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: Did you see it yourself? I said: Yes and the people also saw it and they observed fast and Mu'awiya also observed fast. Whereupon Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu Anhu said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we complete thirty or we see it the new moon (of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم has commanded us.

Sahih Muslim 2391, Tirmidhi 693