23:113Al-Muminoon

) He came to us on the twenty-ninth day, whereupon we said: It is the twenty-ninth (day) today. Thereupon he said: So far as the month is concerned, (and he, with a view to explaining it) flapped his hands thrice, but held back one finger at the last turn.

The month may consist of twenty-nine days, and it may be thus, thus and thus, and (he further) said: Calculate it, but he did not say thirty.

‘How much of the month has passed?” We said: “Twenty-two (days), and there are eight left.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The month is like that, and the month is like that, (and the month is like that), three times, and he withheld one finger the last time.”

"We are an unlettered Ummah, we do not use astronomical counting or computation. The month is like this, and this, and this," he did three times, showing it as twenty-nine.

“Has anyone among you eaten today?” We said: “Some of us have eaten and some of us have not.” He said: “Complete the rest of your day (i.e., do not eat for the rest of the day), whoever has eaten and whoever has not eaten. And send word to the people of the suburbs to complete the rest of their day.” He was referring to the people of the suburbs around Al-Madinah.