Obstructed sky: The imam may accept one upright witness, male or female, for Ramadan’s crescent.
Clear sky: A single report is not enough for public establishment; a large group whose report yields reliable knowledge is required.
Credibility matters in both cases. The difference concerns what degree of corroboration is appropriate to the visibility conditions.
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Kitab al-Sawm: Crescent Sighting and Establishing Ramadan
Obstructed sky: The imam may accept one upright witness, male or female, for Ramadan’s crescent.
Clear sky: A single report is not enough for public establishment; a large group whose report yields reliable knowledge is required.
Credibility matters in both cases. The difference concerns what degree of corroboration is appropriate to the visibility conditions.