Determining the Beginning and End of the Fast

THE FAST BEGINS WHEN DAWN APPEARS AND SPREADS ON THE EASTERN HORIZON:

From Samurah ibn Jundub (radiAllaahu 'anhu) who said: “Allaah’s Messenger ( صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: 

"Let not the adhaan of Bilaal deter one of you from his suhoor (pre-dawn meal), nor the whiteness on the horizon which rises vertically like this, until it spreads horizontally like this."

[Reported by Muslim (no. 1094/43).]

From Ibn Mas`ood (radiAllaahu 'anhu) who said: “Allaah’s Messenger ( صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

"Let not the adhaan of Bilaal prevent you from your suhoor (pre-dawn meal), because he gives the adhaan whilst it is still the night, so that one of you who is standing in Prayer may return, and one of you who is asleep may awaken >>, and he said: << It is not when it is like this" and he moved his hand up and down "until it is like this" and he spread his fingers out.”      

[Reported by Muslim (no. 1093/39).]        

THE FAST ENDS WHEN THE DISC OF THE SUN HAS SET:

From Sahl ibn Sa`d -radiyallaahu `anhu-  who said: “Allaah’s Messenger ( صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "My nation will continue to be upon my Sunnah for as long as they do not wait for the stars with their breaking the fast", and when the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه و سلم) was fasting he would command a man to ascend an elevated place. So when he said that the sun had set, he would break his fast.” 

[Reported by al-Haakim (1/434). Declared ‘Saheeh’ by Shaikh al-Albaanee in ‘as-Saheehah’ (no. 2081).]

(Translated by Abu Talhah, rahimahUllaah) via ittibaa.com