How many witnesses are required for the sighting of the Shawwal moon (Eid al-Fitr)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
All jurists, except Abu Thawr, require the testimony of two just male witnesses for the sighting of the Shawwal moon. The reasoning is that this is testimony regarding the exiting of worship, not entering it, which distinguishes it from Ramadan sighting. Furthermore, it is testimony regarding a moon that does not initiate an act of worship, so it requires two witnesses like other testimonies.
Supporting text
Abu Thawr argued that the testimony of one person is accepted because it marks one of the two boundaries of Ramadan, similar to the beginning. He also reasoned that since the reporter and the reported share the knowledge, it is like religious narration.