When the new crescent moon (*Hilāl*) of Shawwal is sighted during the day at the end of Ramadan, when should the fast be broken?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
If the crescent moon is sighted during the day, either before or after the zenith (*Zawal*), during the last days of Ramadan, the fast is not broken based on that sighting; the following day remains a day of fasting. This is the established position attributed to Ahmad, supported by the practice of Umar, Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Umar, Anas, as well as the jurists Al-Awza'i, Malik, Al-Layth, Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Abu Hanifa. The evidence for this ruling is the narration from Abu Wa'il concerning a letter from Umar stating not to break the fast upon seeing the moon during the day unless two witnesses testify they saw it the previous evening, and because the prophetic command to fast or break the fast based on sighting implies the sighting occurs in the evening, as is the case when seen after sunset.
Supporting text
Al-Thawri and Abu Yusuf hold that if the moon is sighted before the zenith, it pertains to the previous night, requiring breaking the fast. If sighted after the zenith, it pertains to the next night. This view is also narrated from Umar, based on the Prophet's command to fast upon seeing it and break the fast upon seeing it, and the proximity of the pre-zenith sighting to the preceding day.