this wording in the first sense, because it expresses exclusivity.

It has also been said that this may refer to a particular month rather than to months in general: that is, “That month is only twenty-nine days,” as though he meant the month in which he swore to abstain from his wives. However, this is ruled out by his words immediately afterward:

“So do not begin fasting until you see it, and do not end fasting until you see it. If it is obscured from you, then reckon it.”

This shows that he said this to explain the general religious ruling concerning months, not a particular month, since he made clear that he mentioned it in connection with fasting.

Had he meant a particular month which he knew to have twenty-nine days, then, knowing that it had twenty-nine days, there would have been no difference between its being obscured and its being visible. Nor would he have said:

“So do not begin fasting until you see it.”

Moreover, this could not be known unless the crescent marking the beginning of the fast had already been sighted. In that case, it would not be said:

“If it is obscured from you.”

For this reason, the leading scholars, such as Imam Ahmad, understood his unqualified statement as referring to months in general, not to a particular month, and based religious rulings upon it.

Hanbal ibn Ishāq said:

Abū ‘Abd Allāh related to me: Yahyā ibn Sa‘īd related to us, from Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmān—Abū ‘Abd Allāh said: I asked Yahyā, “Those they call al-Mulā’ī?” He replied, “Yes”—from al-Walīd ibn ‘Uqbah, who said:

“We fasted during the time of ‘Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, for eight