How many witnesses are required for sighting the crescent of Ramadan and of Shawwal?
Scholars have differed on establishing the crescent moon of based on the testimony of a single upright witness:
- Imam Ahmad and many others held that one witness is sufficient, citing prophetic traditions as evidence. - Conversely, Malik, Layth, and Awza'i maintained the necessity of two witnesses, arguing with narrations from the Companions and drawing a comparison to the testimony for Shawwal. - Abu Hanifa differentiated between clear and cloudy skies, accepting the testimony of a single witness only in the case of cloudiness. - As for the crescent moon of Shawwal, the jurists agreed on requiring the testimony of two upright witnesses, with the exception of Abu Thawr.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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