Section

Since what we have explained establishes that appointed times are reckoned by the new moons, all such times must be tied to them.

Muslims do not disagree that when a legally prescribed period begins at the start of a lunar month, all its months are reckoned by the new moons. Examples include beginning an expiatory fast at the start of Muharram; a woman’s husband dying at the start of Muharram; a man swearing to abstain from intercourse with his wife at the start of Muharram; or selling someone something at the start of Muharram with payment due in two or three months. All these months are reckoned by the new moons, even if some or all of them are short months.

If, however, the legally prescribed period begins partway through a month, one view holds that all the months are reckoned by counting days. Thus, if someone sells something with payment due in a year, beginning partway through Muharram, he counts 360 days; if payment is due in six months, he counts 180 days. If the period begins in the middle of Muharram, it ends on the twentieth of Muharram.

Another view holds that the first month is completed by counting days, while the remaining months are reckoned by the new moons. Both views have been transmitted from Ahmad and others. Some jurists make distinctions in certain rulings.