Each narration below is shown in its original Arabic alongside an English translation, with its chapter, number, and reference.
" صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ "
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).
" صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمُ الشَّهْرُ فَعُدُّوا ثَلاَثِينَ "
Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to clouds) the actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty (days).
" إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلاَثِينَ "
Observe fast when you see it (the new moon) and break fast when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal), but when (the actual position of the month is) concealed from you (on account of cloudy sky), then count thirty days.
" لاَ تَقَدَّمُوا رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَلاَ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمًا فَلْيَصُمْهُ "
Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day.
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ بِشْرٍ الْحَرِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَلاَّمٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ، مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Abi Kathir with the same chain of transmitters.
" إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ "
When twenty-nine nights were over, which I had counted, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me (he came to me first of all). I said: Messenger of Allah, you had taken an oath that you would not come to us for a month, whereas you have come after twenty nine days which I have counted. Whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.
" إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ "
) He came to us on the twenty-ninth day, whereupon we said: It is the twenty-ninth (day) today. Thereupon he said: So far as the month is concerned, (and he, with a view to explaining it) flapped his hands thrice, but held back one finger at the last turn.
" إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ يَكُونُ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ "
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) separated himself from his wives for a month. (His wives said: ) He came to us on the morning of the twenty-ninth. Upon this some, of the people said: It is the morning of twenty- ninth (according to our calculation). Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The month. may also consist of twenty-nine days. The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) then flapped his bands thrice, twice with all the fingers of both his hand (to indicate twenty-nine) and by the third time with nine (fingers).
" إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ يَكُونُ تِسْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا "
Apostle of Allah, you took an oath that you would not come to us for a month, whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا رَوْحٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ، - يَعْنِي أَبَا عَاصِمٍ - جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ .
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters.