Completing the Fasts of Ramadaan & Observing Eid in another country

Nasihah (Advice): The importance of sighting the moon

Sayyiduna Kuraib Radhiyallaahu Anhu reported that Ummul Fadl, daughter of Harith, sent her son (Fadl) to Mu’aawiya (Radhiyallahu Anhu) in Shaam. He (Fadl) says, “I arrived in Shaam, and fulfilled her (his mother’s) needs and the month of Ramadaan commenced. I saw the moon (of Ramadaan) on Friday. Then I came back to Medina at the end of the month. Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas Radhiyallaahu Anhuma asked me (about the moon of Ramadan) and said: “When did you see it?” I said: “We saw it on the night of Friday.” He asked: “Did you see it yourself?” I said: “Yes, and the people also saw it and fasted and Mu’aawiya (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) also fasted. Then he said: “We saw it on Saturday night. So, we will continue to fast till we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the moon of Shawwal). I said: “Is the sighting of the moon by Mu’aawiya (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) not valid for you?” He said: “No; this is how Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam commanded us.” (Sahih Muslim)

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Question and Answer:

1. I will be travelling from South Africa to Saudi Arabia for Umrah during the Month of Ramadaan and returning to South Africa after Eid. Sometimes, Saudi starts fasting before South Africa and has Eid before South Africa. So the Fasts may be shorter than South Africa. When I’m in Saudi, do I complete the Fasts with Saudi Arabia or with South Africa. What should I do?

(Question published as received)

1. As a general rule, if a person travels to another country/countries during the Month of Ramadaan, then he/she must complete the Fasts of Ramadaan and observe Eid with the sighting of the moon of Shawwal of the country in which one is present.

As an example, if one travelled from South Africa to Saudi Arabia during the Month of Ramadaan, one must complete the Fasts of Ramadaan and observe Eid with the sighting of the moon of Shawwal in Saudi Arabia. This may result in one keeping a total of 29, 30 or even 31 Fasts combined with the Fasts kept in South Africa.

However, if the combined total of the Fasts kept in South with Saudi Arabia results in keeping less than 29 days of Fasts i.e. less than the minimum number of a complete Month of Fasting, e.g. 28 Fasts, then one must observe Eid with Saudi Arabia and make Qadha of the Fasts after Eid that were lesser than 29 days. (Muheet-ul-Burhaani 2/378 – Fataawa Raheemiyyah 7/215)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

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