Muslims in Calgary http://muslimsincalgary.ca Fasting the Month of Ramadan Author : Younus Kathrada Definition of Fasting It is to worship Allah, the Exalted, through abandoning food, drink, and everything else that breaks one s fast, from the break of true dawn until sunset. Virtues of Fasting 1. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah, the Exalted, said, All of the actions of the children of Adam are for them, except fasting, for it is http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 1 / 12
Mine and I will give reward for it. Fasting is a protection. When any one of you is fasting on a day, they should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles them or tries to quarrel with them they should say I am a person fasting. By Him in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting one smells better to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when they break the fast, they are glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when they meet their Lord [after seeing the reward awaiting them]." (Reported by Muslim, Ahmad, and an-nasai) 2. Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Fasting and the Quran both intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, O Lord, I prevented them from eating and indulging in their desires during the day, so allow me to intercede. Then, the Quran will say, I prevented them from sleeping at night, so allow me to intercede, and both will be allowed." (Reported by Ahmad and al-albani ruled it as authentic) 3. Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I went to Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) and said, Tell me of an action that will make me enter Paradise. He (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "You must observe fasting, because it has no equal." (Reported by an-nasai and al-albani ruled it as authentic) 4. Sahl ibn Sa d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "There is a door to Paradise known as al-rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection, the fasting people will enter it; none else will enter from it. It will be said, Where are the fasting ones? They will stand and none but them will enter it. When they enter, the door will be closed, and none else will enter it." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) Virtues of the Month of Ramadan 1) Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion} (Quran 2:185) 2) Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.} (Quran http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 2 / 12
97:1-5) 3) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "When Ramadan begins, the doors of Paradise are opened, the doors of Hellfire are locked, and the devils are chained up." (Reported by Muslim) The virtue of fasting the month of Ramadan out of faith and expecting the reward is as Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking the reward, their previous sins will be forgiven." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) The virtue of praying by night during Ramadan out of faith and expecting the reward is as Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever prays by night in Ramadan out of faith and expecting the reward, their previous sins will be forgiven." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) The virtue of praying Lailat al-qadr (the Night of Decree) out of faith and expecting the reward is as Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever prays Lailat al-qadr out of faith and expecting the reward, their previous sins will be forgiven. Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking the reward, their previous sins will be forgiven." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) The Ruling on Fasting the Month of Ramadan Allah, the Exalted, has made fasting the month of Ramadan an obligation and one of the five pillars of Islam. Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} (Quran 2:183) {The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it.} (Quran 2:185) Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 3 / 12
(may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Islam has been based on five: Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah, and that Muhammad is Allah s Messenger, establishing the prayer, giving the poor-due, fasting Ramadan, and performing pilgrimage, for those who are able." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) The entire ummah has agreed that it is an obligation to fast the month of Ramadan, it is one of the pillars of Islam that are known by necessity, and whoever rejects it is a disbeliever and outside the fold of Islam. Deciding the Beginning of the Month of Ramadan The month of Ramadan is known through two things: 1. Completion of the previous month, as in, Sha ban. If the month of Sha ban completes thirty days, then the 31st day is definitely the first day of Ramadan. 2. Witnessing the crescent moon. If the crescent moon is seen on the night of the 30th of Sha ban, then the month of Ramadan has begun and it becomes obligatory to fast, because Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it.} (Quran 2:185) The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "If you see the crescent then fast, and if you see it, then break the fast [through completion of the month]; if the moon is invisible, then complete [Sha ban] as thirty days." (Reported by an-nasa i and al-albani ruled it as authentic) Those Obligated to Fast Every Muslim who has reached puberty, is of sound mind, is healthy and is not sick, and is resident, and not travelling must fast. Women who are pure and are not menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding must also fast. Valid Excuses for Breaking the Fast in Ramadan One may break their fast during Ramadan for any of the following reasons: (1) Sickness and old age. It is permissible for the one who is sick but is hoped to overcome the sickness to break their fast. When they become healthy, it is obligatory for them to make up the days they missed. This is based on the following textual http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 4 / 12
evidence from the Qur an: {[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up].} (Quran 2:184) {So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days.} (Quran 2:185) The dispensation is granted to the one who is sick to a degree that fasting would be severely hard for him. As for the sick person who is suffering a chronic illness, or the one that is chronically unable to fast, such as the old person, then he breaks his fast and does not have to redo the days. Rather, he must pay expiation, by feeding a poor person for every day that he missed. (2) Travelling. It is permissible for the travelling person to break their fast during Ramadan, but they must make the days up. Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up].} (Quran 2:184) The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said to the one who asked about fasting while travelling, "If you wish to fast, then do so, and if you wish to break your fast, then do so." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) If a traveling person fasts, his fast is accepted and valid, because Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, We used to travel with the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) and the fasting one would not pour blame or shame upon the one who broke their fast, and vice-versa. (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) However, this has the condition that fasting should not be too burdensome for them during traveling. If it is hard on them or harmful, then breaking the fast is better, by taking the dispensation, because the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) saw a man fasting while traveling, and he was being shaded due to the intense heat, and people gathered around him. The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "It is not from piousness to fast while traveling." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) (3) Menstruation and postpartum bleeding. The woman that is menstruating or http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 5 / 12
experiencing postpartum bleeding must break her fast during Ramadan, and this is obligatory. It is impermissible for her to fast, and if she does, it is not accepted, because of the hadith of Abu Sa id al-khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Is it not that when a woman menstruates, she does not fast? This is how she is "deficient" in her religion." (Reported by al-bukhari) It is required that women experiencing either case redo the missed days, due to the statement of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), We would [menstruate or go through postpartum bleeding], and we would be ordered to redo the fasting but not the prayer. (Reported by Muslim) (4) Pregnancy and breastfeeding. If a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding and fears for herself or her child due to fasting, it is permissible to break the fast, because of what Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) who said, "Allah, the Exalted, has relieved the traveler of half of their prayers, and the traveler, pregnant, and breastfeeding of their fasting." (Reported by Ibn Majah and al-albani ruled it as authentic) The pregnant and breastfeeding woman should redo their days that they missed if they feared for themselves. As for if they feared for their fetus or their breastfeeding child, then they must feed a poor person for every fast that was missed, and must also redo the days, because Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, The breastfeeding and pregnant woman must break their fast and feed [as expiation] if they fear for their children. (Reported by Abu Dawud and al-albani ruled it as authentic) In summary, the reasons that one may break the fast are traveling, sickness, menstruation, postpartum bleeding, fear of dying (as in the situation of the pregnant and breastfeeding) and incapability due to old age. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Recommended and Undesirable Actions during Fasting http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 6 / 12
There are various recommended actions and mannerisms that pertain to fasting. The Muslim should do them and be keen on them, so that their fasting is complete, their reward increases, and they achieve complete piety. The most important recommended actions for fasting during Ramadan consist of the following: Eating the pre-fajr meal, delaying the pre-fajr meal, hastening the breaking of the fast, breaking the fast with ripe dates or regular dates, supplicating at the time of breaking the fast, being generous in all ways, increasing in charity and feeding others, recitation and mutual study of the Quran, preservation and keenness on Tarawih prayers during Ramadan, praying by night, bringing the last ten nights to life through various types of worship, seeking the Night of Decree, praying during the Night of Prayer, and seclusion in the masjid (I tikaaf). Allah, the Exalted, said (what means), {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} (Quran 2:183) There are some things that are undesirable for the one fasting, and they might lead to harming their fast and lessening their reward. They are: 1. Washing the mouth and nose excessively during ablution: This is out of fear of swallowing it. The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, " Wash your nose and mouth thoroughly during ablution, unless you are fasting." (Reported by at-tirmidhi and al-albani ruled it as authentic) 2. Kissing, for those whose desires are aroused and they do not feel safe for themselves: It is disliked for a man to kiss his wife, because it might lead to arousal and could lead to invalidating the fast through ejaculation or intercourse. If they feel safe that their fast will not be invalidated, there is no problem, because the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) used to kiss while fasting. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, He had the most control over his desires among you. (Reported by Muslim). Likewise, they should avoid everything that arouses or moves their desires. 3. Swallowing phlegm: Due to the disgusting nature of this and also due to the harm that occurs when doing this action. 4. Tasting without a valid need: If they need to do so, such as if they are chefs and must check and taste if they have enough salt, and so forth, then there is no harm in that. However, they must avoid having any of that food reach their throat. Of the most important issues that a person must be keen in avoiding are the things that invalidate [the reward of] their fast in terms of their inward and outward sins, such as protecting their tongue from idle-talk, irrational talk, lying, backbiting, slander, http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 7 / 12
obscene language, rudeness, argumentation, and debating. They should protect their limbs from all desires and forbidden things, and should keep themselves busy with worship, remembrance of Allah, and recitation of the Quran. Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) referred to this as, The secret of fasting. In the authentic hadith, Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah, the Exalted, said, All of the actions of the children of Adam are for them, except fasting, for it is Mine and I will give reward for it. Fasting is a protection. When any one of you is fasting on a day, they should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles them or tries to quarrel with them they should say, I am a person fasting. " (Reported by al-bukhari) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting on that, then Allah does not need them to abandon their food and drink." (Reported by al-bukhari) Lawful Actions while Fasting The following is allowed for the fasting one: 1. Kissing and fondling the wife if one feels safe from ejaculating and arousal. Aishah, may Allah, the Exalted, be pleased with her, said, Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) used to kiss and fondle while he was fasting, but out of all of you, he was the one that controlled his desires the most. (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) 2. Waking impure in the morning. If someone does something to go into a state of ritual impurity during the night (through sexual intercourse or through a wet dream), and then they awaken fasting the next day, their fast is valid. They do not have to redo the day and are not sinful. If they have a wet dream while fasting, their fast is still valid and they do not have to redo the day. Aishah and Um Salamah, may Allah be pleased with them both, reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) used to reach Fajr time while he was junub (in a state of major ritual impurity) due to intercourse with his wife, then, he would take a bath and fast. (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) 3. Eating and drinking while fasting during the daytime does not break the fast if they were forgetful; they also do not need to redo the days. Likewise, if one has intercourse while forgetting that they are fasting, then it does not break the fast. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 8 / 12
forgets while they are fasting and eats or drinks, then he should continue his fast, because Allah, the Exalted, is the One that fed and gave him drink." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) 4. Taking a shower and pouring water on the head to cool down: Abu Bakr ibn Abd ar-rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that some Companions of the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, I saw Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) order the people to break their fast while traveling during the year of the conquest of Makkah. He (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Strengthen yourselves to meet your enemy." Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) fasted. The one who informed me said, I saw Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) at the al- Arj area, pouring water on his head while fasting, due to thirst or heat. (Reported by Abu Dawud and al-albani ruled it as authentic) 5. Washing the mouth and nose without exaggerating. Laqit ibn Sabrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah s Messenger (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, " Wash your nose and mouth thoroughly during ablution, unless you are fasting." (Reported by at-tirmithi and al-albani ruled it as authentic) 6. Wet cupping and donating blood, if it does not make the person weak. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) cupped while in ritual consecration and while fasting. (Reported by al-bukhari) There are some scenarios that pertain to taking blood: Wet cupping, bloodletting, and donating blood do not break the fast and are permissible for the fasting person who does not become weakened by doing so. It is disliked for the one who becomes weakened from doing so. It is forbidden for the one whose weakness leads to them breaking their fast. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, Did you use to dislike cupping for the fasting one? He said, No, except due to weakness. (Reported by al-bukhari) 7. Vomiting: Whoever vomits uncontrollably or for a purpose, then their fasting is valid; they are not obligated to expiate or redo the day. 8. Everything that is not food or drink, and is not used with the intention of eating and drinking, such as kohl, drops, injections (with some dispute among scholars), perfumes, incenses, and so forth. 9. Everything that one cannot avoid, such as dust on the road, flour, smoke, and everything else that is unavoidable. This is in the case of one swallowing that thing. Also, nosebleeds and bleeding are included. 10. Swallowing mucus or phlegm does not break the fast, but it is disgusting. It is appropriate for the person to spit it out because of its disgusting nature and http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 9 / 12
potential harm. 11. Tasting food for a purpose, as long as it does not reach the stomach, causing them to break their fast. 12. Eye drops, nose drops, ear drops, asthma inhalers, nose inhalers, kohl, suppositories, vaccinations, blood tests, perfumes, ointments, insulin injections, non-nourishing injections, lozenges that are placed beneath the tongue to cure heart attacks, being drugged if they are awake for a part of the day, scopes to view the stomach, as long as it does not entail any solutions or creams that enter the stomach, and other things that are not considered food or drink. Nullifiers of Fasting Things that nullify the fast are of two categories: 1. Things that nullify and require redoing the day. 2. Things that nullify and require redoing the day and expiation. As for what nullifies the fast and requires only redoing the day, then the scenarios are as follows: Eating and drinking on purpose, or anything that takes its place, such as nourishing injections. If they eat or drink forgetfully, mistakenly, or forcefully, then they do not have to redo the day or pay expiation. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever forgets while they are fasting and eats or drinks, then they should continue their fast, because Allah, the Exalted, is the One that fed and gave them drink." (Reported by al-bukhari and Muslim) At-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, This is to be acted on according to most scholars. Voluntarily vomiting: If they are overcome by vomiting then they do not have to redo the day or pay expiation. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever is overtaken by vomiting, they do not have to redo the day, but whoever vomits on purpose, let them redo the day." (Reported by at-tirmidhi and al-albani ruled it as authentic). This is safest, while acknowledging there is a difference of opinion on this issue. Menstruation and postpartum bleeding: Even if it occurs at the last moment before sunset. This is something the scholars have agreed on unanimously. Masturbation: This is regardless if ejaculation occurs through a man kissing or hugging his wife, or is with the hand. This invalidates the fast and necessitates that one redo the day. http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 10 / 12
Whoever intends to break their fast, even if they are fasting, their fast is broken, even if they do not eat something that breaks the fast. The reason behind this is that the intention is one of the pillars of fasting, and if it is negated, while intending to break the fast, then their fast becomes broken, without a doubt. As for things that break the fast that necessitate redoing the fast and paying expiation, then it is having intercourse. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, saying, A man came to the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) and said, I have become destroyed, O Allah s Messenger. He (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "What has destroyed you?" He said, I had intercourse with my wife during Ramadan. He (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Are you able to free a slave?" He said, No. The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Can you fast two consecutive months?" The man said, No. The Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Can you feed sixty needy people?" He said, No. Then he sat, and the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) was brought a basket of dates, and he (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said, "Give this in charity." The man said, Should I give it to someone less poor than us? There is none that live in this city more in need of it. Then the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) laughed until his canine teeth showed, and said, "Go feed it to your family." (Reported by Muslim) The man and woman are the same in this situation in terms of expiation, as long as they both intended to have intercourse and it was consensual during the day of Ramadan while intending to fast. If they do it forgetfully or are not doing it by choice, as in, they are forced to do it, then neither has to pay expiation. Some Obligations and Sunnahs of Fasting 1. Seeking to determine the beginning of the month; this is by way of trying to sight the new moon, and in the event the moon is not sighted, then we complete thirty days of Sha'ban. Regarding the sighting, in principle, if it is proven that the moon is sighted anywhere in the world by a trustworthy Muslim, the sighting is sufficient for the rest of the ummah. 2. The fast, like any act of worship, requires an intention; the place of the intention is the heart, therefore, there is no formula to be repeated as the intention. 3. To prevent anything from reaching the 'jawf' (meaning, the hollow interior of the body or stomach/intestines). 4. To abstain from sexual intercourse. 5. Abstaining from masturbation, in any form. http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 11 / 12
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) 6. Delaying suhoor. 7. Hastening the breaking of the fast with dates and/or water before praying Maghrib. 8. To be generous in Ramadan. 9. Reciting and studying the Quran. 10. I'tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan. http://muslimsincalgary.ca/fasting-the-month-of-ramadan/ 12 / 12