Firstly, regarding the lunar month cycle, it must go through known phases due to the position of the moon relative to the sun and the Earth and the nature of the sunlight reflecting off the moon, as we observe various parts of the moon in succession.
The phases of the lunar cycle are:
- New Moon (Muḥāk): This is the phase of the moon’s darkness, marking the end of the cycle and the beginning of the new moon’s formation.
- Crescent Moon (Hilāl): This is the beginning stage where a semicircular reflection of sunlight appears on the moon, signaling the start of the lunar month.
- First Quarter (Tarbī῾ ᾽Awwal): The visible illuminated area of the moon’s surface increases, and it can be seen during the day and disappears early at night.
- Waxing Gibbous (᾽Aḥdab): The moon approaches full illumination, and it remains visible throughout the night.
- Full Moon (Badr): The moon’s illumination reaches 100%, occurring in the middle of the month on the 14th and 15th days.
After that, the moon’s journey reverses until it reaches the new moon phase again, completing the cycle and starting the formation of the new crescent.
This means that the mere existence of the crescent is not by itself proof of the new month’s beginning until the moon passes through the mentioned phases. The crescent seen at the beginning of the month is similar to the one seen at the end, which happens due to the decreasing illuminated area after the 26th of the month. This latter crescent marks the end of the month, not the beginning.
Secondly, a solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, moon, and sun are almost aligned in a straight line, with the moon in the middle during the new moon phase at the start of the lunar month, casting its shadow on the Earth. In such a case, if we are in a suitable place to observe the eclipse, we will see the dark disk of the moon crossing the bright disk of the sun. Here, the illumination belongs to the sun, not the moon. As the moon moves, the sun reappears completely and resumes its brightness, which is different from the moon’s crescent.
Thirdly, jurists have unanimously agreed that the confirmation of the crescent moon must occur after sunset and not during the day. According to the four schools of Islamic law, a crescent seen during the day does not signal the start or end of fasting.
The scholars of the Indian Fatawā of Ḥanafī Fiqh: “If they see the crescent before noon-Ẓuhr- or after it, it does not mandate fasting or breaking the fast.”
In “Al-Falak Al-Dawwār,” Al-Laknawī says: “The Imams of the four schools have explicitly stated that the correct view is that a crescent seen during the day has no significance; only its sighting at night matters.”
Al-Buhūtī of the Ḥanbalī school says: “A crescent seen during the day has no effect.”
They cited a narration from Ibn Abī Shaybah in “Al-Muṣannaf” from Abī Wā᾽il who said: “We received a letter from ῾Umar while we were in Khanaqīn: ‘Some crescents are larger than others. If you see the crescent during the day, do not break your fast.'”
Therefore, the sighting of the Shawwal crescent during a solar eclipse has no effect on determining the start of ῾Iīd.
Fatwā issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr
