The Holy Quran...
The Holy Quran, Surah Baqarah verse 189 says: يَسْــَٔـلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْاَہِلَّۃِ۰ۭ قُلْ ہِىَ مَوَاقِيْتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ They question you concerning the new moons. Say, “They are timekeeping signs for the people and [for the sake of] hajj.
[^1] اَيَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدٰتٍ (Fasting) a certain number of days… [^2] And in Surah Baqarah verse 185: شَہْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْٓ اُنْزِلَ فِيْہِ الْقُرْاٰنُ ھُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْہُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِ۰ۚ فَمَنْ شَہِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّہْرَ فَلْيَصُمْہُ۰ۭ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيْضًا اَوْ عَلٰي سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّۃٌ مِّنْ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَ۰ۭ يُرِيْدُ اللہُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيْدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ۰ۡوَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّۃَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللہَ عَلٰي مَا ھَدٰىكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ۱۸۵ The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction Therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein And whoever is sick or upon a journey, then [he shall fast] a [like] number of other days Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and [He desires] that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the Greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.
[^3] As per the ayahs above, we are supposed to follow the lunar calendar but nowhere does Quran specify fixed number of days for any months. The ahadith of the Ahlul Bayt (as) specifically tell us to start fasting when the moon of the Holy month of Ramadan is sighted and then stop fasting when the moon of Shawwal is sighted. Here is a tradition of the Holy Prophet (sawa) that is in the famous book of Qadhi Numan that the Ismailis, especially the Bohras follow.
قَالَ: اِذَا رَاَيْتُمُ الْهِلَالَ اَوْ رَآهُ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ نَهَارًا فَلَا تُفْطِرُوْا حَتّٰى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِي اَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ اَوْ فِيْ آخِرِهٖ وَ قَالَ لَا تُفْطِرُوْا اِلَّا لِتَمَامِ ثَلَاثِيْنَ يَوْمًا مِنْ رُؤْيَةِ الْهِلَالِ اَوْ بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ اَنَّهُمَا رَاَيَاهُ The Holy Prophet (sawa) said: ‘When in the day time, you sight the crescent or two just (‘Adil) persons sight it do not break your fast until the sun sets, this is whether (it is sighted) in the beginning of the day or the latter part of the day.
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