Saying the moon is too big

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, it is wrong to say the moon is too big to be the first day moon if one is denying the validity of the sighting. To use the size of the moon to question the validity of a first day sighting opposes the authentic Hadith of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. However, many people a significantly misquoting or falsely referencing the Hadith. This must be rebuked too.

Explanation

عَنْ أَبِي الْبَخْتَرِيِّ، قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا لِلْعُمْرَةِ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا بِبَطْنِ نَخْلَةَ قَالَ: تَرَاءَيْنَا الْهِلَالَ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ: هُوَ ابْنُ ثَلَاثٍ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ: هُوَ ابْنُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ، قَالَ: فَلَقِينَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، فَقُلْنَا: إِنَّا رَأَيْنَا الْهِلَالَ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ: هُوَ ابْنُ ثَلَاثٍ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ: هُوَ ابْنُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ، فَقَالَ: أَيَّ لَيْلَةٍ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا: لَيْلَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: إِنَّ اللهَ مَدَّهُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ، فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَةٍ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ

Abu’l-Bakhtari said: We went to perform Umra and when we encamped in the valley of Nakhlah, we sought to see the new moon. Some of the people said: It was three nights old. Others said that it was two nights old. We then met Ibn Abbas and told him we had seen the new moon. But some of the people said it was three nights old and others that it was two nights old. He asked: On which night did you see it? We said: On such and such a night. He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Indeed, Allah extended it for sighting. So, it is for the night you saw it. (Sahih Muslim, 1088 – 29).

The above authentic Hadith makes it clear that denying a moonsighting due to the size of the crescent is unacceptable. Thus, saying the moon is too big to be for the first day is not permitted. Rather we accept sightings that align with the principles of global or local sighting.

Reckless narrators

There are too many so-called learned people regularly misquoting or falsely referencing Hadith. Sometimes they propagate fabrications as prophetic Hadith. These are grave crimes. Anyone with love for our blessed Prophet ﷺ would be outraged and seriously oppose such behaviour.

Yet, the followers of these people almost never question them regarding their attributions to the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Such people need to study the science of Hadith and must exhibit more passion in defence of the Mubarak Prophet ﷺ.

قَالَ الْعُلَمَاءُ يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ أَرَادَ رِوَايَةِ حَدِيثٍ أَوْ ذَكَرَهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ فَإِنْ كَانَ صَحِيحًا أَوْ حَسَنًا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَذَا أَوْ فَعَلَهُ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِيَغِ الْجَزْمِ وَإِنْ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا فَلَا يَقُلْ قَالَ أَوْ فَعَلَ أَوْ أَمَرَ أَوْ نَهَى وَشِبْهَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِيَغِ الْجَزْمِ بَلْ يَقُولُ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ كَذَا أَوْ جَاءَ عَنْهُ كَذَا أَوْ يُرْوَى أَوْ يُذْكَرُ أَوْ يُحْكَى أَوْ يقال أوبلغنا وَمَا أَشْبَهَهُ وَاللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْلَمُ

The Ulema have said that a person who wants to narrate a Hadith or mention a Hadith must look into it. If it is Sahih or Hasan, then one narrates it by saying the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said such and such or done such and such or the like of it using words of certainty. And if the Hadith is weak, then he is not to say (the Prophet ﷺ) said or done or commanded or prohibited or the like of that using words of certainty, rather he is to say it has been narrated regarding (the Prophet ﷺ) or it has been mentioned regarding (the Prophet ﷺ) or it is narrated or it is mentioned or it is said or it has reached us or the like of it. And Allah (Most High) knows best.  (Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, Vol. 1, pg. 71).

In the Nass (text) above, Imam al-Nawawi mentions the well-established principle that the onus of referencing Hadith and proving its validity is upon the person narrating it. He also explains how the narration of weak Hadith must be different to sound Hadith.

Sign of Judgement Day

We understand from the Hadith in Sahih Muslim that it is wrong to contradict a moonsighting based upon the size of the crescent. Therefore, one must not say, the moon is too big to be the first day, when sighted. Rather it must be accepted if it aligns with the rules of global or local sighting.

However, the Hadith in Muslim does not assert that such behaviour is a sign of Judgement Day. Therefore, people cannot reference that to Sahih Muslim. Even the weaker narrations that refer to large crescents being a sign are not worded like that.

Tabarani

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ انتفاخُ الْأَهِلَّةِ، حَتَّى يُرَى الْهِلَالُ لِلَيْلَتِهِ، فَيُقَالُ: هُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ

(Sayidina) Abu Hurairah narrated that The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Among the signs of the Hour is the swelling of the crescent moon. Until the crescent moon is seen on its night, but it is said: It is for the second night. (al-Tabarani al-Mujam al-Awsat, 6864).

The above narration from Tabarani does not state that saying, the moon is too big, is a sign of Judgement Day. But it does establish that a larger moon is from the signs. Therefore, people must be more precise when narrating Hadith. Also the Hadith is weak, so that must be highlighted when sharing it.

هَذَا حديث لا يَصِحُّ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الْعَقِيلِيُّ: لا يُعْرَفُ إِلا بِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَن وهو مجهول وحديثه غير محفوظ. (العلل المتناهية في الأحاديث الواهية)

This is not authentic to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Al-Uqayli said: It is only from Abd al-Rahman, and he is unknown. His Hadith narrations are not established. (Imam Abd al-Rahman Ibn al-Jowzi 597H, al-Ilal al-Mutanahiyah).

عبد الرَّحْمَن هَذَا مَجْهُول. (ذخيرة الحفاظ)

This Abdul Rahman is unknown. (Imam al-Qaysarani 507H, Dhakhirahtu al-Hufaadh).

عبد الرحمن بن يوسف. حدث عنه ابن أبي فديك. قال ابن عدي وغيره: لا يعرف. (ميزان الاعتدال في نقد الرجال)

Abd al-Rahman bin Yusuf, Ibn Abi Fudayk narrated from him. Ibn Adi and others said: He is not known. (Imam Shams al-Deen al-Dhahabi 748H, Mizan al-Itidal). 

وقال العقيلي مجهول في النسبة والرواية وحديثه غير محفوظ ولا يعرف إلا به. (لسان الميزان)

Al-Uqayli said: He is unknown in terms of connection and narration. And his narrations are not preserved. He is not known except with it. (Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani 852H, Lisan al-Mizan).

The Nusoos (texts) above, make it clear that leading Imams of Hadith have considered the narration if Tabarani to be weak. That is due to Abd al-Rahman bin Yusuf being unknown as a narrator of Hadith. People must mention the weakness in the Hadith when sharing it.

 

Also from Ibn Masood

Abd al-Rahman bin Yusuf also narrated the Hadith from Sayidina Ibn Masood. So that narrations weak too. Such narrations cannot strengthen one another, since they have the same weakness. Please study the science of Hadith for further details.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: مِنِ اقْتِرَابِ السَّاعَةِ انْتِفَاخُ الْأَهِلَّةِ. رَوَاهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي الْكَبِيرِ، وَفِيهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، ذَكَرَ لَهُ فِي الْمِيزَانِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ مَجْهُولٌ. (مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد) 

Abdullah bin Masud narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Among the signs of the approach of the Hour is the swelling of the crescent moon. Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabeer. It has Abd al-Rahman bin Yusuf. He mentioned this Hadith for him in al-Mizan and said: He is unknown. (Imam Noorud-deen al-Haythami 807H, Majma’ al-Zawaid).

Once again, the overall point these people are making remains sound. Namely, saying ‘the moon is too big,’ is not an acceptable critique of a moonsighting. However, being careless with the words of the blessed Prophet ﷺ is never acceptable, even when the overall point is correct.

Not Marfu

Sometimes the people asserting that it is a sign of Judgement Day to say the moon is too big to be the first day moon, cite Ibn Abi Shaybah as the source. They must clarify that this narration is not Marfu. Meaning it is not from the blessed Prophet ﷺ. Rather it is a statement of Abu al-Waddak. Since that is how Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated it.

وَكِيعٌ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْوَدَّاكِ، قَالَ: مِنَ اقْتِرَابِ السَّاعَةِ انْتِفَاخُ الْأَهِلَّةُ

Abu al-Waddak said: Among the signs of the approach of the Hour is the swelling of the crescent moon. (Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 37552).

 

The ruling

Despite my deep concerns regarding the way Hadith are being attributed to the blessed Prophet ﷺ, the ruling remains sound. Meaning, it is unacceptable to deny or oppose moonsighting based upon the size of the moon.

Thus, it is unacceptable for a person to say, the moon is too big, so I do not accept it is the first day. Imam Ali al-Qari clarified this point in his celebrated work Mirqaat al-Mafateeh.

وَلَا عِبْرَةَ بِكِبَرِهِ، بَلْ وَرَدَ أَنَّ انْتِفَاخَ الْأَهِلَّةِ مِنْ عَلَامَاتِ السَّاعَةِ. (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)

No consideration is given to it being large. Rather it has been narrated that: The swelling of the crescent moon is from the signs of the Hour. (Imam Ali al-Qari 1014H, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).

Conclusion

When it comes to moonsighting, many people are ignorant of important Hadith narrations of the blessed Prophet ﷺ regarding the issue. Yet they insist on speaking about it. This is incredibly dangerous. Since it often leads to them subsequently rejecting or misinterpreting authentic Hadith of the blessed Prophet ﷺ.

Rather a Muslim must remain silent unless he is aware of what Quran and Sunnah have said regarding an issue. Speaking without knowledge is sinful in itself and leads to many other sins too.

Another significant problem in our communities is weakness regarding Hadith studies. Many people, even so-called learned people, have little knowledge of the science of Hadith.

Thus, they make glaring errors regularly. They must address this shortcoming immediately since it is part of loving the blessed Prophet ﷺ to be protective of his ﷺ Hadith narrations.

In any case, the legal point these people are making is sound. Namely, it is unacceptable to say the moon is too big and reject a first day moonsighting on that basis. However, they should make this point without misquoting our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (04.04.25)