If there is an obstruction in the sky such as clouds: First: The accepted view regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent is that the testimony of one person of good character or a just person is accepted — meaning one who is not clearly sinful — even if they are a servant, a woman, or someone who has been punished for slander and has repented. It is not required for anyone to claim it or for the witness to say: I bear witness to my sighting; because it is a religious matter similar to the narration of hadiths, and it is not among the rights of individuals that necessitate a claim and testimony, as mentioned in 'Umdat al-Ri'ayah 1: 309, and 'Al-Hidayah' 1: 121, and 'Tanbih al-Ghafil wa al-Wasnan on the Rulings of the Ramadan Crescent' by Ibn Abidin 1: 216. The acceptance of the testimony of one person regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent is supported by what was narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "The people sighted the crescent, and I saw it, so I informed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and he fasted and commanded the people to fast," in Sahih Ibn Hibban 8: 231, Al-Mustadrak 1: 585, Sunan al-Darimi 2: 9, Sunan al-Bayhaqi al-Kabir 4: 212, Sunan al-Daraqutni 2: 156, Sunan Abu Dawood 2: 302, and Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat 4: 164. And from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), it was said: "A Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: I saw the crescent. He said: Do you bear witness that there is no god but Allah? Do you bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: O Bilal, announce to the people to fast tomorrow," in Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3: 74, Al-Mustadrak 1: 586, Al-Muntaqa 1: 103, Sunan al-Darimi 2: 9. The author of Al-Mirqat said: Al-Hakim authenticated it, and Al-Bayhaqi mentioned that it came through connected and disconnected chains, and the connected chains are authentic. See: I'la al-Sunan 9: 126. Furthermore, the restriction by an obstruction in the sky is not mentioned in the hadith, but the evidence for it is that if there is no obstruction in the sky, the testimony is not accepted until it is seen by a large group whose report is known; because the uniqueness of the sighting in this case may imply error, and thus it must be suspended until it is a group, unlike if there is an obstruction in the sky; because the clouds may part at the location of the moon, allowing some to see it, as mentioned in I'la al-Sunan 9: 125. Second: The accepted view regarding the sighting of the crescent for breaking the fast of Ramadan is that the testimony of two men or one man and two women is accepted, provided they say: I bear witness, without the need for a claim; due to the rights of individuals being involved, unlike Ramadan, which is a right of the Shari'ah, as mentioned in Majma' al-Anhar 1: 236; from Rubai, from some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), it was said: "The people differed on the last day of Ramadan, so two Bedouins came and testified before the Prophet (peace be upon him) that they had seen the crescent the evening before, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded the people to break their fast," in Sunan Abu Dawood 2: 301, Al-Muntaqa 1: 106, Sunan al-Bayhaqi al-Kabir 4: 248, Sunan al-Daraqutni 2: 168.