The
Month of Shawwaal
Prepared by: M. Tahir Farrath([email protected])
ALLAAHU AKBAR, ALLAAHU AKBAR, ALLAAHU AKBAR, LAA ILAAHA ILLAL LAAHU WAL
LAAHU AKBAR, ALLAAHU AKBAR WA LIL-LAAHIL HAMD…
ALLAAH is the Greatest,
ALLAAH is the Greatest, ALLAAH is the Greatest. There is no other god except
ALLAAH and ALLAAH is the Greatest. ALLAAH is the Greatest and to ALLAAH belongs
all praise…
With
these glorious words do the Muslimuun resoundingly greet the first day of the
10th Islamic month called Shawwaal in their homes, streets and
Masaajid. The Sharii’ah has presented this day as one of two annual festivals
for the Muslimuun in which to mark the accomplishment of a great ‘Ibaadah. They
have set this day apart from any other known festivity throughout the world.
Their happiness therein is not a reflection of any distant achievement or
present change of conditions, rather, they are rejoicing for having been
Granted the opportunity to please their Creator - the Lord of all the worlds.
As for the night called Laylatul Jaa-izah (the night of Reward) which precedes
this day of ‘Iidul Fitr, the Nabiy Muhammad, Sollal LAAHU
‘alayhi wa Sallam, kept himself awake with supplications. Happy are those who
fasted sincerely during the Blessed month of Romadaan for ALLAAH’s sake,
for the Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) has said:
…lis-Saa-imi Farhataan(i), Farhatun
‘inda Fiterihii, wa Farhatun ‘inda Liqaa-a Robbihii
“…for
the one who fasts (there are) two (types of) happiness; happiness when breaking
his fast, and happiness when he meets his Lord”.
Indeed,
Romadaan was a “stop station” for gathering spiritual provisions. And
among the signs of one's gratitude for it, is
when clear improvements are seen in one’s obedience to ALLAAHU Tabaarokahuu wa
Ta’aalaa, for HE Says:
La-in Shakartum la-Aziidannakum
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you (in
favour)…”(14.Iberaahiim:7)
Indeed,
those who are able to rectify their actions and be steadfast therein are the
ones who profit from the month of Romadaan and to them ALLAAHU Subehaanahuu
wa Ta’aalaa Says:
Fas-Taqim kamaa Umirta wa man Taaba ma’aka wa laa Tateghaw
“So remain on a right course as you have been Commanded, (you) and those who have turned back with you (to ALLAAH)”, and transgress not (from the Path). (11.Huud:112)
Those
who did not benefit will immediately revert to their old ways, finding it
difficult to get up for Fajr again and will start to neglect their Solaah
during the day, and will neglect their brethren yet again. And as they turn a
blind eye, become selective and deaf to what is happening around them, they
will be more active once more to pursue the leisure’s of life. To them ALLAAH
Says:
Innal LAAHA laa Yughoyyiru maa bi-Qowmin hattaa
Yughoyyiruu maa bi-Anfusihim
“Verily,
ALLAAH does not Change the condition of a people until they change what is in
themselves”. (13.Ra`d:11)
But the true Muslim who forever examines what he has
“really” accomplished for ALLAAH’s sake, his deeds never ends with the ending
of Romadaan. Instead, such actions will continue till his last breath,
for he knows that ALLAAH Says:
Wa’-Bude Robbaka hattaa
Ya_tiyakal Yaqiin(u)
"And worship your Lord
until the certainty (of death) comes to you”. (15.Hijr:99)
However,
the word ‘Iid refers to something that returns and is repeated, literally
meaning a recurrent event. It also points to a place often visited by people,
and of a period of time in which a particular act is regularly performed. Every
gathering that assembles regularly, including Jumu’ah, falls under this
category. Hence, ‘Iid (or festival) is found in every religion, and throughout
the development of a nation, and also at seasonal changes during the year. ‘Aa-ishah(R.A.H.)
reported that Rosuulul LAAH(S.A.W.S.) said:
…Inna li-kulli Qowmin ‘Iidan, wa inna ‘Iidanaa haathal
Yawm
"…indeed for every people there is a
festival and verily this day is our festival."
To
the Muslimuun this means that “our feast” is distinctly derived from the Sharii‘ah
alone, and they are to observe it in a manner that would clearly distinguish
the Muslimuun from those who do not believe. Therefore, Islaam prohibits the
Muslimuun from celebrating any of their festivals, and more importantly, it is Haraam
for a Muslim to fast on a day of ‘Iid. Worthy on this day is the collection of
the Zakaatul Fitr before the ‘Iid prayers and discharging it thereafter
among the needy Muslimuun so that they may equally enjoy the festivity along
with the able ones in their best (Islamic) attire, extending their forgiveness
for such things that are considered forgivable. There is an often quoted Hadiith
stating that one’s fasting for Romadaan hangs suspended between
heaven and earth and is not raised except through the discharge of Zakaatul Fitr.
According to As-Suyuutii it is a weak narration and in conflict with the Holy
Qur-aan. What should be taken note of is that once Zakaatul Fitr is paid
after the ‘Iid Solaah, it will be regarded as Sodaqah, and if one
intends paying on behalf of an adult family member, permission will be needed.
(NB: The Maalikiyyah and
Shaafi’iyyah hold that the ‘Iid prayer is Sunnah Mu-akkadah, and while the Hanaabilah
consider it to be Fard Kifaayah, the Hanafiyyah scholars regard
it as Waajib. In the performance of the prayer, the Hanafiyyah differ
with the Takbiiraat.)
Then, it is recorded by Ibn Hajar in his Fathul
Baarii that Jubayr ibn Nufayr(R.A.) said: "When people met one
another on the day of ‘Iid at the time of the Prophet (S.A.W.S.), they would
say: Taqobbalal LAAHU minnaa wa mink (May
ALLAAH Accept from us and from you)”.
Furthermore,
this month of Shawwaal has been honoured as the forerunner to the Ash-hurul Hajj
(months of Hajj - hence, an ‘Umroh can now fall under the laws of Hajj).
It is also said that in this month ALLAAH Sent Malak Jiberiil, ‘alayhis Salaam,
to teach the bee how to make honey. Moreover, it is stated that the Holy
Prophet(S.A.W.S.) said:
Man Saama Romadaana thumma Atba’ahuu
Sittan min Shawwaalin Kaana ka-Siyaamid Dahr(i)
“Whoever
fasts the month of Romadaan, then follows it with six (days) from
Shawwaal is as though he has fasted the entire year”.
Commenting on this Hadiith, the following is
recorded in Subulus Salaam: "If the thirty days of fasting for Romadaan
are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwaal, it altogether makes
36 days. According to Sharii’ah, each virtue is rewarded ten times. If 36 is
multiplied by 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of a year. Some
scholars are of the opinion that the six days of fasting in Shawwaal must be completed
in a continuous order immediately after the end of Romadaan (i.e. as
from the 2nd of Shawwaal). Others believe that it is enough to
merely complete six days of fasting in Shawwaal (in any order - either in
succession or with intervals), which is an opinion deemed correct”.
The Hanbaliy and Shaafi’iy
jurists, including the Hanafiyyah, are in agreement on the multiplied
effects, but according
to Ibn Rushd al-Qurtubii, Imaam Maalik disapproved of this fast either because
people might associate Romadaan with what is not a part of it or because
the Hadiith had not reached him, and if it did, he left it as
unauthentic which more likely explains his decision.
Ibn Khuzaymah has also narrated that
fasting for the month of Romadaan brings the reward of ten like it, and
fasting for six days brings the reward of two months, and that is the fasting
of the whole year. Others have explained that fasting six days of Shawwaal
after fasting Romadaan is like one who has fasted for an entire year of
obligatory fasts. Since the multiplication of the reward applies even to Nafl
fasts, each Hasanah brings the reward of ten like it. Another important
benefit for fasting the six days of Shawwaal is that, as none can claim to be
free of any shortcomings, it makes up for any shortfall that had a negative
effect on one’s fasting during the obligatory Romadaan fasts.
It
is therefore not Waajib but Sunnah Mustahabbah for a Muslim to fast the
six days of Shawwaal because of its great virtue and immense reward. Though
continuity might be the preferred method, it is also proper to fast on Mondays
and Thursdays, or if it is easier for one to fast over weekends, to do so on
Saturdays and Sundays, which at other times will show consistency with the
Sunnah. However, it is Makruuh to observe these fast as a Sunnah should one
have dues for Romadaan. The best would be to observe the Qodaa_,
and so doing the reward for having fasted during the days of Shawwaal will be
incorporated along with it.
It
might be appropriate at this stage to provide a very brief overview on the much
debated “moon issue” and the report of Ibn ‘Umar(R.A.) wherein the
Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) said:
Innamash
Shahru Tis’un wa ‘Ishruuna fa-laa Tasuumuu hattaa Tarowhuu wa laa
Tuftiruu hattaa Tarowhuu, fa-in Ghumma ‘alaykum faqe-Duruu lahuu
“Indeed,
the month of Romadaan has 29 days, so do not fast till you have sighted it, and
do not break fast until you have sighted it, and when overcast, establish it by
assessment (i.e. count 30 days like Sha’baan)”.
In
addition to the many Ahaadiith on this issue, it is Fard Kifaayah
on the Muslimuun to go out and search the skies for the new moon at sunset
three times a year and Sunnah for all the other months. The three occasions are
on the 29th of Sha’baan, Romadaan, and Thul Qo’dah
(and observing the crescent for Hajj is Fard Kifaayah only on the
Meccans and Sunnah Kifaayah for others). As the sighting concerns the start and
end of the “Fasting month”, the Maalikiyyah and Hanaabilah hold that if
the moon was sighted in one place, it becomes Waajib in other cities and
countries whether they are near or distant. According to the Shaafi’iyyah, if
the moon was sighted in a city, then the decree applies to those cities that
are situated very near to it or on the same longitude west of the city as well,
provided they are not more than about 89km away. Other than this, the various
risings of the moon should be taken into account. The Hanafiyyah state
that no consideration should be given to the different risings and sightings,
but if the moon was sighted in the East, then it will also apply to those in
the West.
Thus,
with the exception of the Shaafi’iyyah, as long as one country has seen the
crescent, the other countries may accept the sighting if they share the same
night or part of it. All hold that the calculations of astronomer’s are not to
be taken into consideration, except the Shaafi’iyyah who goes on nonetheless to
say that it is not Waajib on the masses. However, one has to abide by the
Haakim’s decree in order to prevent the holding of 3 separate ‘Iids at
different times in one city or country, irrespective if he has officially
obtained his information from various sources. And even though he is appointed
through necessity by the majority in non-Islamic countries (which has become
quite a challenge). But it is agreed that he does not take from countries that
are very far apart from each other, for it is related by Kuroyb(R.A.) that
Ummul Fodl bint al-Haarith(R.A.H.) sent him to Mu’aawiyah(R.A.)
in Damascus(Shaam), and Kuroyb said:
I
arrived at Shaam and completed her needs and the start of Romadaan was
upon me while I was in Shaam. I saw the crescent on the night of Jumu’ah. I
then arrived in Madiinah at the end of the month. ‘Abedul LAAH bin ‘Abbaas
questioned me, and then he mentioned the crescent. He then asked: When did you
see the crescent? I replied: We saw it on Thursday night. He asked: Did you see
it? I said: Yes, and the people also saw it, and they observed the fast and
Mu’aawiyah also fasted. He (ibn ‘Abbaas) said: But we saw it on Friday night,
so we will continue to fast until we have either completed 30 days or until we
see the new moon. I asked: Is it not sufficient for us to act upon the sighting
of the crescent of Mu’aawiyah and his fasting? He replied: Thus did the Messenger
of ALLAAH(S.A.W.S.) command us!
Wal
Hamdu lil-LAAHI Robbil ‘Aalamiin.
NB: Please forward a message to the above email address
if you are interested in receiving a copy of the following:
1. The Sacred Month
of Rajab.
2. The Israa_ wal
Mi’raaj.
3.
The Month of Sha’baan and its Auspicious Night.
4.
A Romadaan Mubaarok Message and Du’aa_.
5.
The Fiqh of Fasting, according to the four Mathaahib (Part 1) – a
quick guide.
6.
The Blessed Month of Romadaan.
7.
Thikr and Du’aa_ during the last days of
Romadaan.
8.
A Friend! Is he a good or bad friend?
9.
The Month of Shawwaal.
A 70 page booklet,
Hajj and
‘Umroh - the Spiritual journey is now available for
postage!