Kurayb said that Umm Fadi bint Harith sent him to Muawiyah (RA) in Syria. He said that he reached and accomplished the task she had assigned him. Meanwhile, he observed the new moon of Ramadan. He was in Syria and sighted the moon on Friday night. Then he came to Madinah towards the end of the month. Ibn Abbas (RA) asked him when he had seen the new moon. He said, “We saw it on the night of Friday”. He asked. “Did you see it yourself?” He said, “The people saw it and kept fast. Mu’awiyah also kept fast”. Ibn Abbas said, ‘We saw the new moon on Saturday, so we shall keep fast for thiry days unless the new moon for eid is visible”. Kurayb said, “Is not the seeing of Mu’awiyah and fasting enough for you?” He said, “No! Allah’s Messenger (SAW) has commanded us to do like this”.
[Muslim 1078, Abu Dawud 2332, Nisai 2107]
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