FASTING ON YAUMUL SHAK (Doubtful if Ramadhan month has begun)

30th day of Sha’aban is called Yaumul Shak (doubtful day) if you do not receive news about Ramadhan moon sighting on 29th evening or before the end of 30th day.

It is haram to fast on 30th day of Sha’aban with the intention of 1st of Ramadhan.

It is Mustahab to keep fast on 30th day of Sha’aban but the Niyyat (intention) should be either

(a) With the Niyyat of Mafiz-zimma (to discharge my responsibility), or

(b) With the Niyyat of any Gaza fast of previous Ramadhan, if any, or

(c) With the Niyyat of Mustahab Sha’aban fast.

If you do a double Niyyat(intention) of fasting (i.e. 30th day of Sha’aban or  first day of  Ramadhan), then such a Niyyat is wrong according  to some Marja Taqlid ’s saying like Ayatollah Khui, but it is OK according to Ayatollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Sistani.

If you are fasting on 30th day of Sha’aban, and if, at any time on that day, you get the news of moon sighting of 29thof Sha’aban, and then you must immediately change Niyyat to Niyyat of 1st of Ramadhan.

If you have fasted on 30th day of  Sha’aban (with any Niyyat), and afterwards you come to know that it was 1st of Ramadhan, then your fast will automatically be counted as fast of 1st of Ramadhan.

If you are not fasting on 30th day of Sha’aban, then following actions are necessary on you:

(a) If you get the news after sunset of 30th of Sha’aban or later that the moon had been actually sighted on evening of 29th of Sha’aban, then you have to keep Gaza of 1st Ramadhan after the month of Ramadhan.

(b) If you get the news of moon sighting after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then it is haram to eat or drink or do anything which is not allowed during fasting from that time onward until Iftar time on that day, and you have to do Gaza of 1st of Ramadhan later on.

(c) If you get the news of moon sighting before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then:

• If you have not eaten or drunk anything or done anything which breaks fast, you must immediately do the Niyyat of fasting of Ramadhan for that day,

• if you have eaten or drunk something or have done anything which breaks fast, then you have to act as if fasting for the rest of the day, and then do Gaza of 1st of Ramadhan later on.

Source: duas.org

Other links:

Special Salawat taught by Imam Ali Ibn al-Hussein Zaynul Abideen (a.s)

The Birth of Imam Hussein on the third of Sha’aban and Related Dua’a

Excellence of the Month of Sha’aban

The Merits of the Month & 1st day of Sha’aban (Part 1)

The Merits of the Month & 1st day of Sha’aban (Part 2)