الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ ، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا ومولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة، من يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لا يضر إلا نفسه ولا يضر الله شيئًا. أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم،
شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدٗى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُۖ
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the month, let him fast it;…”
Ya IbadaAllah, I advise you to welcome the month of fasting with tawbah nasooha, purify yourself and be diligent in acts of obedience, trying your utmost to turn to Allah Almighty with complete devotion. It has been narrated that the Messenger ﷺ would say to his companions, saying:
أَتَاكُمْ رَمَضَانُ شَهْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ، فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامَهُ، تُفَتَّحُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَتُغْلَقُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ الْجَحِيمِ، وَتُغَلُّ فِيهِ مَرَدَةُ الشَّيَاطِينِ، فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ، مَنْ حُرِمَ خَيْرَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ.
“There has come to you the blessed month of Ramadan. Allah has prescribed fasting upon you during it, the gates of the heavens are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the rebellious shayateen are chained. In it, there is a night better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its goodness has truly been deprived.” (Nasai)
Because of these words, the companions would anticipate Ramadan long before its arrival and would feel elation at its coming more than someone deprived would rejoice upon finding what he had lost. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would supplicate:
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ، وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ
“O Allah bless us in Rajab, and Sha’ban and please grant us to reach Ramadan.” (Nawawi)
And when he finally saw the crescent moon, he would seize the opportunity to make duah
However, fasting as we know it today was not always prescribed in this manner. In the early days of Islam, fasting was limited to three days of each month and the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram). The situation was described in a hadith: “They used to eat, drink, and have halal relations as long as they did not sleep. But once they slept, they were required to abstain from these until the next evening.” Even if they awoke before fajr they had to abstain. An example of this early practice involves a man from the Ansar, named Ṣirmah, who used to fast while working. One evening, after a long day’s work, he prayed ‘Isha and fell asleep without eating or drinking anything. He had to continue fasting the next day and became severely fatigued. It was not until the second year after the Hijrah that fasting during Ramadan was prescribed as we know it today.
Sighting the crescent of Ramadan is a communal obligation (farḍ kifāyah). A group of Muslims must observe the moon on the 29th of Sha’ban after sunset, which is tonight. If anyone sights the crescent, they must report it to the qāḍī (judge). If he does not go, or if the judge rejects his testimony, he must still fast the next day. This is based on the words of Allah:
فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ”
“…Whoever witnesses the month, let him fast it…” (2:185)
Ramadan is confirmed through one of three means:
- The testimony of two upright witnesses (shāhidān ‘adlān).
- A widespread group (jam‘ ghafīr) whose testimony leads to certainty.
- Completing Sha‘bān as thirty days if the crescent is obscured by clouds or other factors.
**Astrological calculations are not valid for confirming Ramadan, as the moon sighting remains the authentic practice.**
The Prophet ﷺ said:
صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ
“Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured[1] from you, then complete the count (the month of Sha‘bān as thirty days).” (Muslim)
This applies in places where there are people actively observing the crescent. However, if there is no one specifically assigned to sighting the moon and following its phases, then the testimony of a single person is accepted, provided their integrity is established and people trust their report. Similarly, if a lone individual sights the moon and informs his own family, they may act upon it if moon sighting is generally observed in that region, like here at three anchor bay.
I relay these facts to inspire you to go out with your families and fulfil this Fard Kifaya, and welcome the birth of the month of Ramadan eagerly by witnessing it with your own eyes and joyfully echoing the prophets duah:
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ، رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
“O Allah, bring Ramadan upon us with blessings, Eman, safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah, the Almighty and Majestic..” (Bukhari)
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَعَرَفَ حُدُودَهُ وَتَحَفَّظَ مِمَّا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَتَحَفَّظَ فِيهِ كَفَّرَ مَا قَبْلَهُ
“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, acknowledging its limits and guarding it as it should be guarded, then it will expiate that which came before it.”
This hadith beautifully encapsulates the core of Ramadan. Fasting is not merely a physical act of abstention; it is a spiritual journey, a commitment to purify oneself, to renew our intentions, and to draw closer to Allah. But what truly defines the sincerity of our fast? It is the intention.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of intention in all of our actions, stating:
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
“Actions are judged by intentions.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Therefore, the foundation of our fast begins with a sincere intention (niyyah). Fasting without the proper intention is not complete, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ لَمْ يُجْمِعْ الصِّيَامَ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ فَلَا صِيَامَ لَهُ
“Whoever does not firmly intend to fast before Fajr, there is no fast for him.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This highlights the central role that niyyah plays in the validity of our fast. The intention must be made before Fajr, with clear and specific resolve to fast for the sake of Allah, whether it is an obligatory or voluntary Saum.
What is the Meaning of Siyam? Linguistically it means abstention or refraining. It refers to more than just the act of withholding food and drink; it is about abstaining from anything that would break the fast, including (qawl azoor) harmful speech and actions. Allah tells us about the fast of Saydatina Maryam (عليها السلام):
إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَنِ صَوْمًا
“Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful a fast.” (Maryam: 26)
In her case, her fast was one of silence, abstaining from speaking as an act of devotion. This teaches us that fasting encompasses not just the physical, but also the spiritual aspects of self-restraint. From a legal perspective, fasting (ṣiyām) is defined as:
هو الإمساك عن المُفَطَّرات كالأكل والشرب وال جِمَاعٌ، من طلوع الفجر إلى غروب الشمس بنية الصوم تقرباً إلى الله عز وجل
Fasting is refraining from anything that nullifies the fast—such as eating, drinking, and marital relations—from dawn (Fajr) until sunset, with the intention of fasting as an act of devotion to Allah.
The intention must be made before Fajr, and it must be specific, firm, and directed toward Allah. To ensure that our fast is valid, we must meet certain conditions for our niyyah:
- Pre-determination (Tabyīt): The intention must be made during the night before Fajr. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ لَمْ يُجْمِعْ الصِّيَامَ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ فَلَا صِيَامَ لَهُ
“Whoever does not determine the intention of fasting before Fajr, there is no fast for him.”
- Specification (Ta‘yīn): The intention must be specific to the fast of Ramadan. If you intend to fast a different fast, or you do not specify the fast at all, then your fast is invalid.
- Certainty (Azeema): The intention must be made with firm resolve, without hesitation or doubt. The heart and mind must be fully committed to the act of fasting, trusting that you will receive your reward from Allah (SWT).
For those who are fasting continuously—whether for Ramadan, expiation (kafārah), or a vowed fast (nadhr)—a single intention made at the beginning is sufficient. However, if there is an interruption in the continuity of fasting, such as due to illness, menstruation, travel, or other similar reasons, the intention must be renewed for the remaining days.
The same applies to Ramadan; if the continuity of fasting is broken, then each day requires a new intention to continue the fast. On the other hand, the Shafi’i school maintains that each day of fasting requires a new intention, regardless of whether the fast is broken or unbroken. This means that even if one intends to fast continuously the whole month of Ramadan at the beginning of the month, a fresh intention is required for each day of fasting. The time for making the intention begins after sunset (Maghrib) and extends until before Fajr. If you make the intention after Fajr, then your intention is invalid. However, if you make the intention at the beginning of the night, it remains valid even if something happens later. This highlights the importance of being mindful of our niyyah before the start of each day.
As we approach Ramadan, let us focus on the intention behind our fast. Fasting is not just a physical act; it is a spiritual commitment to purify ourselves, to seek closeness to Allah, and to earn His reward. The intention is the foundation of our fast, and it is through sincerity and resolve that we transform this act into an opportunity for forgiveness and elevation.
May Allah grant us the strength to fast in the manner He has prescribed, with pure intentions, and may He accept our efforts as a means of drawing closer to Him. Ameen.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللهم بارك لنا في شعبان وبلغنا رمضان ، اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ. ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.
[1] The phrase “غَبِيَ عليكم” means “it was hidden from you.”
