It Is Not Permissible to Break the Fast on Seeing the Moon Before Sunset

Question

If the moon of the thirtieth is seen an hour or an hour and a half before the time of iftar, should the fast be broken or not? For some people have broken their fast, saying that the moon has been seen. What is the ruling concerning such people?

Answer

Even if the moon is seen an hour and a half before sunset, it is necessary (lazim) to complete the fast until sunset; breaking the fast before sunset and making others break their fast is haram: [ar]رُؤْيَتُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِلَّيْلَةِ الْآتِيَةِ[/ar] “Its sighting in the daytime is for the coming night” (“al-Durr al-Mukhtar” with “Shami”, vol. 2, p. 130).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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