obstruction in the sky, he begins the day without fasting.” The same was transmitted from him by his two sons, Sālih and ‘Abd Allāh, by al-Marrūdhī (1), al-Fadl ibn Ziyād, and others (2).

The answer (3) may be given in several ways:

First: None of the reports you have cited from the Companions explicitly states (4) that fasting that day is obligatory, such that their practice would contradict the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him (5). At most, these reports show that they fasted it as a precaution. Anas explicitly stated that he fasted it only because he disliked opposing the rulers. Hence Ahmad said in one narration: “The people follow their leader in fasting and not fasting (6).” The accounts of the Messenger of Allah’s actions and statements that we cited earlier (7) indicate that fasting the day when the crescent is obscured is not obligatory; they do not indicate that it is forbidden. Whoever does not fast it thus avails himself of what is permissible, while whoever fasts it takes the precautionary course.

Second: Some of the Companions fasted that day, as you have related, while others did not. The soundest and most explicit reports of fasting it are those concerning ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said (8): “Tāwūs al-Yamānī (9) and Ahmad ibn Hanbal adopted his view, and a similar view has been reported