fasting has yet another, and a more important, physical value. The man who cannot face the hardships of life, who is not able to live, at times, without his usual comforts, cannot be said to be even physically fit for life on this earth. The moment such a man is involved in difficulty or distress, as he must be every now and again, his strength is liable to give way. Fasting accustoms him to face the hardships of life, being in itself a practical lesson to that end, and increases his powers of resistance.
With some exception, which will be mentioned later on, Muslims are required to fast for twenty-nine or thirty days of the month of Ramadzān. The exact number depends on the appearance of the moon which may be after twenty-nine or thirty days. Fasting commences with the new moon of Ramadzān and ends on the appearance of the new moon of Shawwāl. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said: “We are a people who neither write nor do we keep account; the month is thus and thus, showing (by his fingers) once twenty nine and again thirty” (Bu. 30:13). Another ḥadīth says: “The Holy Prophet mentioned Ramadzān and said, “Do not fast until you see the new moon and do not break fasting until you see it (again), and if it is cloudy, calculate its appearance” (Bu. 30:11; M. 13:2). Another says that if it is cloudy, thirty days should be completed (Bu. 30:11). To begin and end by the actual appearance of the new moon5 was the easier method for a “people who did not know writing, and did not keep account,” and it is still the easier method for the vast masses living in villages and distant places, but the ḥadīth quoted above also allows that the appearance of the moon may be judged by computation. There is however an express prohibition against fasting when the appearance of the moon is doubtful (yaum al-shakk) (AD. 14:10).
The injunction laid down in the Holy Qur’ān, relating to fasting in the month of Ramadzān, runs as follows: “The month of Ramadzān is that in which the Qur’ān was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the Criterion. So whoever of you is present
5 The actual appearance of the moon may be established by the evidence of a single man if he be trustworthy. It is related on a certain occasion the people of Madīnah were doubtful about the appearance of the new moon of Ramadzān and they had decided not to fast, when a man came from the desert and gave evidence that he had seen the new moon. And the Holy Prophet accepted his evidence and directed the people to fast (AD. 14:14).