Ramaḍān and Fasting
Fasting Before Ramadan: Is It Allowed?
Shaykh Muqbil explains that one should not fast one or two days before Ramadan, even if unsure about its start. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade anticipating Ramadan, and if the moon is not sighted, the correct action is to complete Sha‘ban as thirty days.
Questioner:
Does a person who doubts the beginning of Ramaḍān, fast a couple of days before it?
Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādi’ī:
There are some from the Hanbalites who say this, however the correct opinion is that he should not fast since it has been authenticated that the Prophet said, “Do not anticipate Ramaḍān by fasting one or two days before it begins”. It has also been reported on the authority of ʿAmmār bin Yāsir who said, “He who observes the fast on a doubtful day, has in fact disobeyed Abūl-Qāsim [meaning the Prophet ]”. So the correct opinion is that he should not fast.
The Prophet said “Fast when you see the new moon and break your fast when you see the new moon, and if you are not sure, then complete the number of Shaʿbān as thirty days.” There isn’t anything [to be followed] after these clarifications.
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