A narration about sighting the moon if there is cloud or dust

16-8-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamualaykum, Dear scholar, could you please explain to me this hadeeth, especially the part in caps: Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: ......When the twenty-ninth of Sha'ban came, Ibn Umar would send someone (who tried) to sight the moon for him. If it was sighted, then well and good;IN CASE IT WAS NOT SIGHTED, AND THERE WAS NO CLOUD AND DUST BEFORE HIM (on the horizon), HE WOULD NOT KEEP FAST THE NEXT DAY. If there appeared (on the horizon) before him cloud or dust, he would fast the following day. Ibn Umar would end his fasting alone with the people, and did not follow this calculation. (Abu Dawood) Jazaakallah
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Hadeeth that is mentioned in the question was reported by Abu Daawood, and Shaykh Al-Albaani may Allaah have mercy upon him classified it as Saheeh [authentic], but it does not include the word “alone”; it appears that you have added it. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86833.

Allaah Knows best.

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