Starting and Ending Fasting with the Majority
27/07/2010| IslamWeb
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, 
, said: “Fast when people fast, break your fast when people break their fast, and offer your sacrifice when people offer their sacrifice.” [At-Tirmithi: Hasan Ghareeb]
Another version reads: “Your fast should be broken on the day you break fast and your sacrifice should be made on the day you make sacrifice.” [Abu Daawood]
It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “Breaking the fasting is when people break fast, and making the sacrifice is when people make sacrifice.” [At-Tirmithi: Saheeh]
, said: “Breaking the fasting is when people break fast, and making the sacrifice is when people make sacrifice.” [At-Tirmithi: Saheeh]Benefits and rulings:
First: The Islamic Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) is tolerant and easy. It saves people from any hardship by establishing the beginning and the end of fasting based on their own sighting of the crescent.
Second: The Islamic Sharee‘ah is keen on uniting the Muslims by uniting them in starting and ending fasting and determining the time of their ‘Eeds.
Third: The mistake committed in establishing the beginning or the end of the month of Ramadan is forgiven if Muslims act upon the Sharee‘ah-approved sighting of the crescent , or stay without fasting up to the end of the month of Sha‘baan if they cannot see the crescent marking the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Al-Haafith ibn ‘Abdul-Barr 
said, “Scholars have unanimously agreed that if the majority of Muslims missed the crescent in the month of Thul-Hijjah and thus stood on the mount of ‘Arafah on the tenth day of the month, then this will free them from liability. The same thing applies to ending the fasting (in Ramadan) and the ‘Eed of Al-Adh-ha.”
said, “Scholars have unanimously agreed that if the majority of Muslims missed the crescent in the month of Thul-Hijjah and thus stood on the mount of ‘Arafah on the tenth day of the month, then this will free them from liability. The same thing applies to ending the fasting (in Ramadan) and the ‘Eed of Al-Adh-ha.” Shaykh Ibn Baaz said, “If people miscalculated the beginning of the month after they had viewed the crescent according to Sharee‘ah, then they are rewarded and absolved.”
said, “If people miscalculated the beginning of the month after they had viewed the crescent according to Sharee‘ah, then they are rewarded and absolved.” Fourth: These two Hadeeths (narrations) indicate that what counts in confirming the first day of ‘Eed is the consensus of the people. The one who individually sights the crescent and thus knows the day of ‘Eed, is required to comply with the judgment of the rest of the community regarding the (beginning of) fasting, the ending of fasting and the sacrifice as mentioned by Ibn Al-Qayyim . Hence, if a man sees the crescent alone and his testimony is not accepted, he should not fast alone. Rather, he should fast with the people and what applies to them applies to him, as indicated by the apparent meaning of these Hadeeths.
. Hence, if a man sees the crescent alone and his testimony is not accepted, he should not fast alone. Rather, he should fast with the people and what applies to them applies to him, as indicated by the apparent meaning of these Hadeeths.www.islamweb.net