In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
RAMADAN FASTING
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord and the Cherisher of the Universe.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the holy prophet, Muhammad
(PBUH), his household, companions and the followers of the right guidance
till the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur'an:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to
those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint. (Fasting) is for a
fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the
prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can
do it (with hardship, like old men/women) is a ransom the feeding of one
that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free will it is
better for him and it is better for you that you fast if you only knew.
Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to
mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and
wrong). So, every one of you who is present (at his home) during that
month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the
prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends ease
for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to
complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided
you; and perchance you may be grateful." Q2:183-185
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Islam is built upon [the following] five
pillars: testifying that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is
His Messenger, the establishment of the prayer (Salat), the giving of
charity (zakah), the fast of Ramadan (Siyam) and the pilgrimage to
Makkah." Talhah ibn 'Ubaidullah reported that a man came to the Prophet
and said: "O Messenger of Allah, tell me what Allah requires of me as
regards fasting." He answered, "The month of Ramadan." The man asked: "Is
there any other [fast]?" The Prophet answered: "No, unless you do so
voluntarily."
Fasting (As-siyam) is abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse and
bad things from dawn until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so
(for the sake of Allah). Intention is very important since many people
fast to loss weight, keep fit, etc. A Muslim will have both the spiritual
and physical benefits of fasting.
The Virtues of Fasting
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, saying:
"Allah said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting,
for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it. The fast is a shield.
If one is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice, or
behave foolishly. If someone reviles him or fights with him he should say,
'I am fasting,' twice. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad,
the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah
on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk. The one who is fasting
is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it, and
when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he has fasted." This is
related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa'i. A similar version was recorded by
al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud, but with the following addition: "He leaves his
food, drink, and desires for My sake. His fasting is for Me... I will give
the reward for it, and for every good deed, he will receive ten similar to
it."
The Virtues of Ramadan and the Deeds Done in it
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: "The
blessed month has come to you. Allah has made fasting during it obligatory
upon you. During it, the gates to Paradise are opened and the gates to
hellfire are locked, and the devils are chained. There is a night [during
this month], which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived
of its good is really deprived [of something great]." This is related by
Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Baihaqi.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:
"Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, obeying all of its limitations and
guarding himself against what is forbidden, has in fact atoned for any
sins he committed before it." Ahmad and alBaihaqi related this hadith.
Starting Ramadan Fasting
This event is confirmed by sighting the new moon of Ramadan, even if it is
seen by only one just person, or by the passage of thirty days in the
immediately preceding month of Sha'ban. Ibn 'Umar said: "The people were
looking for the new moon and when I reported to the Messenger of Allah
that I had seen it, he fasted and ordered the people to fast." This is
related by Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, and Ibn Hibban.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet instructed: "Fast after you have
seen it [the new crescent] and end the fast [at the end of the month] when
you see it. If it is hidden from you, then wait until the thirty days of
Sha'ban have passed." This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Essential Elements of Fasting
Allah instructs in the Qur'an: "And they are ordained nothing else than to
serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him." Q98:5. The Prophet, upon whom
be peace, said: "Actions are judged according to the intention behind
them, and for everyone is what he intended." The intention must be made
before fajr (morning prayer) and during every night of Ramadan. This point
is based on the hadith of Hafsah which reported that the Prophet said:
"Whoever does not determine to fast before fajr will have no fast" (that
is, it won't be accepted). This is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i,
at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah.
The intention is valid during any part of the night. It need not be
spoken, as it is in reality an act of the heart, which does not involve
the tongue. It will be fulfilled by one's intention to fast out of
obedience to Allah and for seeking His pleasure. If one eats one's
pre-dawn meal (sahoor) with the intention of fasting and to get
closer to Allah by such abstinence, then one has performed the intention.
If one determines that one will fast on the next day solely for the sake
of Allah, then one has performed the intention even if a pre-dawn meal was
not consumed. According to many of the jurists, the intention for a
voluntary fast may be made at any time before any food is consumed. This
opinion is based on 'Aishah's hadith: "The Prophet came to us one day and
said: 'Do you have any [food]?' We said, 'No.' He said: 'Therefore, I am
fasting." This is related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.
Who Must Fast
All scholars agree that fasting is obligatory upon every sane, adult,
healthy Muslim male who is not traveling at that time. As for a woman, she
must not be menstruating or having post-childbirth bleeding. People who
are insane, minors, and those who are traveling, menstruating, or going
through post-childbirth bleeding, and the elderly and breast-feeding or
pregnant women do not need to observe the fast. For some, the fast is not
obligatory at all, for example, the insane and the minors. In the case of
young people, their parents or guardians should encourage them to fast.
Some are to break the fast and make up the missed days of fasting at a
later date, e.g. travelers, sick persons and women menstruating, or going
through post-childbirth bleeding, or pregnant women, while others are to
break the fast and pay a "ransom" (in which case, they are not obliged to
make up the days they missed).
Acts That are Permissible and Not Permissible During the Fast
1. Pouring water over one's self and submersing one's self in water: Abu
Bakr ibn 'Abdurrahman reported from a number of companions that they had
seen Allah's Messenger pour water over his head while he was fasting due
to thirst or extreme heat. This is related by Ahmad, Malik, and Abu Dawud.
In al-Bukhari and Muslim, it is related from 'Aishah that the Prophet
would rise in the morning on a fasting day and then would perform ghusl (a
complete bath). If during the bath some water is swallowed
unintentionally, the fast is still valid.
2. If one is overcome and vomits unintentionally, he does not
have to make up the day later on or perform the acts of expiation. Abu
Hurairah reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: "Whoever is
overcome and vomits is not to make up the day." Whoever vomits
intentionally must make up the day." This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud,
at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, ad-Daraqutni, and al-Hakim.
3. It is preferred for the fasting person to use a tooth stick or a brush.
There is no difference if he uses it at the beginning or the ending of the
day. At-Tirmidhi affirms that: "Ash-Shafhi did not see anything wrong with
using a tooth stick [brush] during the beginning or the ending of the
day." The Prophet would use his tooth stick [brush] while fasting.
4.Ejaculation void the fast even if it was just due to kissing, hugging,
or masturbation, and the day must be made up. If the ejaculation was due
to looking at or thinking about something, then it is like having a wet
dream during the day and it, therefore, does not void the fast nor is
there any requirement on the person. Similarly, ejaculation of seminal
fluid does not harm the fast in any way.
Other things on Ramadan will be discussed in subsequent postings. May
Allah count us among the people that will witness the coming Ramadan, may
Allah accepts our repentance and have mercy on us.
Peace be on you.
Surajudeen.
KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA.
Source: As-sayyid Sabiq (Translated by S. Dabas and M. S. Kayani). Fiqh
Sunnah, Volume 3. American Trust Publications, USA.
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