The
month of Ramadaan… It is the month of Qur'an, the month of prayer, the
month of charity, the month of blessings and reward, the month of
fasting.
Allah said: “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183]
Allah also said:
"It is the month of Ramadaan in which the Qur’an was revealed a guidance for mankind with clear teachings showing the Right Way and a criterion of truth and falsehood. Therefore, anyone of you who witnesses that month should fast therein, and whoever is ill or upon a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185]
So fasting is an obligation and is a means of attaining taqwa, and taqwa means doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which He has forbidden.
Those who are not obliged to fast are the sick, the traveler, and the elderly. If the fast can be made up later on, then they to make up the fast, otherwise they have to feed one poor person for every day missed.
Allah said: “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183]
Allah also said:
"It is the month of Ramadaan in which the Qur’an was revealed a guidance for mankind with clear teachings showing the Right Way and a criterion of truth and falsehood. Therefore, anyone of you who witnesses that month should fast therein, and whoever is ill or upon a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185]
So fasting is an obligation and is a means of attaining taqwa, and taqwa means doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which He has forbidden.
Those who are not obliged to fast are the sick, the traveler, and the elderly. If the fast can be made up later on, then they to make up the fast, otherwise they have to feed one poor person for every day missed.
Allah said: "If any of you is ill or on
a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as
for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man, etc.), they
have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskīn (poor person) (for
every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for
him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." [Surah
Al-Baqarah 2:184]
We should all remember that the real meaning of fasting is not only giving up food and drink, rather Allah, may He be exalted, has enjoined fasting in order that we may attain piety (taqwa). Hence real fasting means refraining from sin by refraining from it and giving it up; this is the fasting of the heart, not just the fasting of the body.
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari, No. 1804]
And he (saws) has also said: “It may be that all a fasting person gets from his fast is hunger and thirst.” [Narrated by Ahmad, No. 8693; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan 8/257 and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb 1/262.]
Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) said: "Fasting does not mean abstaining from food and drink only, rather it is also abstaining from lying, falsehood and idle speech." [Quoted by Ibn Hazm in al-Muhalla 4/308.]
And it was narrated from Maymoon ibn Mahraam that the least of fasting is giving up food and drink. [Quoted by Ibn Hazm in al-Muhalla 4/308]
Some people, they fast yet do not even pray (obligatory prayers)! The Prophet (saws) has said: “The covenant that stands between us and them is prayer; whoever does not pray is a kaafir.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 22428; al-Tirmidhi, 2621; al-Nasaa’i, 431; Ibn Maajah, 1079]
And also: “Between a man and kufr and shirk there stands his giving up prayer.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh, 82]
Ya Muslimeen..,
In this month, there are great rewards which Allah has prepared for His servants. So a believer should take this time and use it wisely to increase his reward by doing a lot of worship, i.e. reciting the Qur'an, making a lot of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), praying (voluntary prayers), making du'aa, etc.
How many were those who witnessed the last Ramadaan, but now are in their graves?
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 37]
The Prophet (saws) has said: "There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed." [Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490]
If it is asked, how come we see many evil actions and sins committed in Ramadaan, for if the devils are chained up that would not happen?
The answer is that evil actions become less for those who observe the conditions and etiquette of fasting; or that the ones who are chained up are some of the devils – namely the rebellious ones – not all of them;or that what is meant is that evil is reduced in Ramadaan, which is a proven fact. If evil happens at this time, it is still less than at other times. Even if all of them (the devils) are chained up, that does not necessarily mean that no evil or sin will happen, because there are other causes of that besides the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and the devils among mankind. (Al-Fath, 4/145)
After mentioning some points regarding the importance of this month, we now come to some issues related to fasting, as discussed by the ullama (scholars).
It is a condition of the fasting person to have the intention to fast. The intention is not to be uttered on the tongue; rather it is in the heart (your desire to fast).
It is Sunnah for the fasting person to eat suhoor, because the Prophet (saws) has said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1923; Muslim, 1059).
It is Sunnah to delay the suhoor and to hasten in breaking the fast. Allah said: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187]
We should all remember that the real meaning of fasting is not only giving up food and drink, rather Allah, may He be exalted, has enjoined fasting in order that we may attain piety (taqwa). Hence real fasting means refraining from sin by refraining from it and giving it up; this is the fasting of the heart, not just the fasting of the body.
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari, No. 1804]
And he (saws) has also said: “It may be that all a fasting person gets from his fast is hunger and thirst.” [Narrated by Ahmad, No. 8693; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan 8/257 and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb 1/262.]
Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) said: "Fasting does not mean abstaining from food and drink only, rather it is also abstaining from lying, falsehood and idle speech." [Quoted by Ibn Hazm in al-Muhalla 4/308.]
And it was narrated from Maymoon ibn Mahraam that the least of fasting is giving up food and drink. [Quoted by Ibn Hazm in al-Muhalla 4/308]
Some people, they fast yet do not even pray (obligatory prayers)! The Prophet (saws) has said: “The covenant that stands between us and them is prayer; whoever does not pray is a kaafir.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 22428; al-Tirmidhi, 2621; al-Nasaa’i, 431; Ibn Maajah, 1079]
And also: “Between a man and kufr and shirk there stands his giving up prayer.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh, 82]
Ya Muslimeen..,
In this month, there are great rewards which Allah has prepared for His servants. So a believer should take this time and use it wisely to increase his reward by doing a lot of worship, i.e. reciting the Qur'an, making a lot of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), praying (voluntary prayers), making du'aa, etc.
How many were those who witnessed the last Ramadaan, but now are in their graves?
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 37]
The Prophet (saws) has said: "There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed." [Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490]
If it is asked, how come we see many evil actions and sins committed in Ramadaan, for if the devils are chained up that would not happen?
The answer is that evil actions become less for those who observe the conditions and etiquette of fasting; or that the ones who are chained up are some of the devils – namely the rebellious ones – not all of them;or that what is meant is that evil is reduced in Ramadaan, which is a proven fact. If evil happens at this time, it is still less than at other times. Even if all of them (the devils) are chained up, that does not necessarily mean that no evil or sin will happen, because there are other causes of that besides the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and the devils among mankind. (Al-Fath, 4/145)
After mentioning some points regarding the importance of this month, we now come to some issues related to fasting, as discussed by the ullama (scholars).
It is a condition of the fasting person to have the intention to fast. The intention is not to be uttered on the tongue; rather it is in the heart (your desire to fast).
It is Sunnah for the fasting person to eat suhoor, because the Prophet (saws) has said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1923; Muslim, 1059).
It is Sunnah to delay the suhoor and to hasten in breaking the fast. Allah said: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:187]
Al-Bukhari
(1919) and Muslim (1092) narrated from Aa’ishah (ra) that Bilaal used to give the adhaan at night, and the
Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Eat and drink
until Ibn Umm Maktoom gives the adhaan, for he does not give the adhaan
until the dawn comes.”
With regard to what appears on timetables as 'imsaak' – whereing people stop eating roughly 10-15 mins before fajr adhan, the scholars have said that there is no basis for such a thing and goes against the Sunnah.
Ibn Hazm (ra) narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) used to say: “If two men are uncertain about dawn let them eat until they are certain.” And it was narrated that Makhool (ra) said: I saw Ibn ‘Umar take a bucket of Zamzam water and say to two men, “Has dawn come?” One of them said: “It has come,” and the other said, “No (it hasn’t),” so Ibn Umar drank (the water).
And It was narrated that Ibn Abbaas (ra) said: “Allah has permitted drinking so long as you are uncertain, i.e., about the dawn.” [al-Muhalla 4/367]
]It is Sunnah to hasten (be quick) in breaking the fast. Al-Bukhari (1957) and Muslim (1098) narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
“The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.”
With regard to what appears on timetables as 'imsaak' – whereing people stop eating roughly 10-15 mins before fajr adhan, the scholars have said that there is no basis for such a thing and goes against the Sunnah.
Ibn Hazm (ra) narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) used to say: “If two men are uncertain about dawn let them eat until they are certain.” And it was narrated that Makhool (ra) said: I saw Ibn ‘Umar take a bucket of Zamzam water and say to two men, “Has dawn come?” One of them said: “It has come,” and the other said, “No (it hasn’t),” so Ibn Umar drank (the water).
And It was narrated that Ibn Abbaas (ra) said: “Allah has permitted drinking so long as you are uncertain, i.e., about the dawn.” [al-Muhalla 4/367]
]It is Sunnah to hasten (be quick) in breaking the fast. Al-Bukhari (1957) and Muslim (1098) narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
“The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.”
It
is Sunnah to break the fast with fresh dates. Anas (ra) who said: The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if
there were no (fresh dates) then with dry dates, and if there were no
(dried dates) then he would take a few sips of water. [Narrated by Abu
Dawood, no. 2356; al-Tirmidhi, 696; classed as hasan in al-Irwa’,
4/45].
It is Sunnah to say after breaking the fast: “Dhahaba al-‘thamau’
wa abtallat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajru in sha Allaah (the thirst is
gone, the veins have been moistened and the reward is assured, if Allaah
wills).” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2357; al-Bayhaqi, 4/239; classed as
hasan in al-Irwa’, 4/39].
Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in relation to things that break the fast: "Apart from hayd (menstruation) and nifaas (post-natal bleeding), other things that can break the fast are only considered to do so if the following three conditions apply: if a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant; if he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting; if he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it. Among the things that break the fast are actions that involves the expulsion of bodily fluids, such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping, and actions that involve ingesting matter, such as eating and drinking. [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/148]
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Munajjid said: "Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking, such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, or injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions. Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as penicillin and insulin, or tonics, or vaccinations, do not break the fast, regardless of whether they are intra-muscular or intravenous. (Fataawa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189). But to be on the safe side, all these injections should be given during the night." [Seethe book, 70 Matters Related to Fasting]Some scholars said: Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is needed. [Fataawa al-Da’wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979].
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast.” [Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3/89].
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (4/397):
"The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is not permissible for women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to fast, and that they should not fast in Ramadaan but should make up missed fasts. If they do fast, their fast is not accepted. ‘Aa’ishah said: “We used to menstruate at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and we were commanded to make up the fasts, but we were not commanded to make up the prayers.” (Agreed upon). The one who commanded them thus was the Prophet (saws).
Abu Sa’eed said: The Prophet (saws) said: “Is it not the case that when one of you menstruates, she does not pray or fast? That is what is meant by lacking in religious commitment.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)
If a person eats something, forgetting that he is fasting, then his fast is not invalidated but he has to spit the food out and continue fasting for the rest of the day. The Prophet (saws) has said: “If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink.” [Reported by al-Bukhari, Fath, no. 1933]
Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in relation to things that break the fast: "Apart from hayd (menstruation) and nifaas (post-natal bleeding), other things that can break the fast are only considered to do so if the following three conditions apply: if a person knows that it breaks the fast and is not ignorant; if he is aware of what he is doing and has not forgotten that he is fasting; if he does it of his own free will and is not forced to do it. Among the things that break the fast are actions that involves the expulsion of bodily fluids, such as intercourse, vomiting, menstruation and cupping, and actions that involve ingesting matter, such as eating and drinking. [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/148]
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Munajjid said: "Among the things that break the fast are things that are classified as being like eating or drinking, such as taking medicines and pills by mouth, or injections of nourishing substances, or blood transfusions. Injections that are not given to replace food and drink but are used to administer medications such as penicillin and insulin, or tonics, or vaccinations, do not break the fast, regardless of whether they are intra-muscular or intravenous. (Fataawa Ibn Ibraaheem, 4/189). But to be on the safe side, all these injections should be given during the night." [Seethe book, 70 Matters Related to Fasting]Some scholars said: Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast and is permissible because it is something that is needed. [Fataawa al-Da’wah: Ibn Baaz, no. 979].
The Prophet (saws) has said: “Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast.” [Saheeh hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3/89].
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (4/397):
"The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is not permissible for women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to fast, and that they should not fast in Ramadaan but should make up missed fasts. If they do fast, their fast is not accepted. ‘Aa’ishah said: “We used to menstruate at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and we were commanded to make up the fasts, but we were not commanded to make up the prayers.” (Agreed upon). The one who commanded them thus was the Prophet (saws).
Abu Sa’eed said: The Prophet (saws) said: “Is it not the case that when one of you menstruates, she does not pray or fast? That is what is meant by lacking in religious commitment.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)
If a person eats something, forgetting that he is fasting, then his fast is not invalidated but he has to spit the food out and continue fasting for the rest of the day. The Prophet (saws) has said: “If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink.” [Reported by al-Bukhari, Fath, no. 1933]
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