بسم
الله الرحمن
الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Fasting
During Ramadaan
Islamic
legal rules of
fasting
11/13/2003
- Religious Education - Article Ref:
IC0311-2136
Number of comments: 1
By:
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
IslamiCity*
-
Duaa for keeping fast:
Wa bisawmi ghadeen nawaytu min shahri ramadaan
I intent to fast today for the month of Ramadaan
Duaa when breaking fast:
Allahumma Inni laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa ?la rizqika aftartu.
O Allah, I fasted for You and I believe in You and I break my fast with Your sustain
More Ramadaan Duaas:
The
Arabic word for fasting is called "sawm" in the Quraan. The word sawm
literally means "to abstain". Chapter Maryam of the Quraan says that
Mary the mother of Jesus said "I have vowed a "sawm" (fast) for
the sake of the Merciful, so today I shall not speak to anyone."
[Quraan
19:26]. According to Shariyah,
the word sawm means to abstain from all those things that are forbidden
during
fasting from the break of dawn to the sunset, and to do this with the
intention
of fasting.
In
chapter 2 verse 183 the Quraan says, "O you who believe, fasting is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you,
in order
that you may learn taqwa (piety)".
Taqwa
is a very important
spiritual and ethical term of the Quraan. It is the sum
total of all Islamic spirituality and ethics. It is a quality in a
believer's
life that keeps him or her aware of God all the time. A person who has
taqwa
loves to do good and avoid evil for the sake of God. Taqwa is piety,
righteousness and consciousness of God. Taqwa requires patience and
perseverance. Fasting teaches patience, and with patience one can rise
to the
high position of taqwa.
The
Prophet said
that fasting is a shield. It protects a person from sin and lustful
desires.
When the disciples of Jesus asked him how to cast the evil spirits
away, he is
reported to have said, "But this kind never comes out except by prayer
and
fasting." (Matthew 17:21).
According
to Imam Al Ghazali, fasting produces a
semblance of divine quality
of samadiyyah (freedom from want) in a human being. Imam
Ibn
Al Qayyim, viewed fasting as a means of releasing the human
spirit from the
clutches of desire, thus allowing moderation to prevail in the carnal
self.
Imam Shah Waliullah Dahlawi (d. 1762 C.E.) viewed fasting as a means of
weakening the bestial and reinforcing the angelic elements in human
beings.
Maulana Mawdudi (d. 1979 C.E.) emphasized that fasting for a full month
every
year trains a person individually, and the Muslim community as a whole,
in
piety and self restraint.
In
the second year of Hijrah,
Muslims were commanded to fast in the month of Ramadaan every year as
mentioned
in the verse above [Al-Baqarah
2:183]. The Quraan further says "The month of Ramadaan is
that in which
was revealed the Quraan, wherein is guidance for humankind and the
clear signs
of guidance and distinction. Thus whosoever among you witness the month
must
fast..." [Al-Baqarah 2:184].
Prophet
Muhammad (saw) explained
this further in a number of his statements reported in the books of Hadith.
It is reported by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim on the authority of
Ibn Umar
that the Messenger of God said, "Islam is built upon five pillars:
testifying that there is no god except God and that Muhammad (saw) is
the Messenger
of God, performing Prayer, paying the zakah,
making the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Hajj),
and fasting during the month of Ramadaan."
The
entire Muslim world is unanimous in the principal of fasting in the
month of
Ramadaan and considers it obligatory upon every person who is physicaly
capable
(mukallaf).
Muslims
all over the world wait eagerly for Ramadaan, as it is a time of
increased inner
peace and well-being.
Fasting
in the month of Ramadaan is obligatory upon every adult Muslim, male or
female,
who has reached puberty, is sane and who is not sick or traveling.
Sickness
could be a temporary sickness from which a person expects to be cured
soon.
Such a person should not fast during the days of his or her sickness,
but he or
she must fast later after Ramadaan to complete the missed days. Those
who are
sick with incurable illness and expect no better health are also
allowed not to
fast but they must pay the fidyah,
which is giving a day's meals for each fast missed to a needy person.
Instead
of food for one day one can also give equivalent amount of money to a
needy
person. Women in their menses and post-natal bleeding are not allowed
to fast,
but they must make up the fast later after Ramadaan. If pregnant women
and
mothers who are nursing babies can also postpone their fasting to a
later time
when they are able to do so.
A
travel according to the Shariah is any journey that takes you away from
your
city of residence, a minimum of 48 miles or 80 kilometers. The journey
must be
for a good cause. One must avoid frivolous travel during Ramadaan which
causes a
person to miss fasting. If possible one should try to change their
travel plans
during Ramadaan to be able to fast and should not travel unless it is
necessary.
The traveler who misses the fasts of Ramadaan must make up those missed
days
later as soon as possible after Ramadaan.
B) Fasting
According to the Sunnah
1
- Take sahur (pre-dawn meal). It is Sunnah
and there is a great reward and blessing in taking sahur. The best time
for
sahur is the last half hour before dawn or the time for Fajr prayer.
2
- Take iftar (break-fast) immediately afteer sunset. Shariah considers
sunset
when the disk of the sun goes below the horizon and disappears
completely.
3
- During the fast, abstain from all false talks and deeds. Do not
quarrel, have
disputes, indulge in arguments, use bad words, or do anything that is
forbidden. You should try to discipline yourself morally and ethically,
besides
gaining physical training and discipline. You should also not make a
show of
your fasting by talking too much about it, or by showing dry lips and a
hungry
stomach, or by showing a bad temper. The fasting person must be a
pleasant
person with good spirits and good cheer.
4
- During the fast, do acts of charity and goodness to others and
increase your
worship and reading of the Quraan. Every one should try to read the
whole Quraan
at least once during the month of Ramadaan.
C) Things That Invalidate FastingThings
You
must avoid doing anything that may render your fast invalid. Things
that
invalidate the fast and require qadaa' (making up for these days) are
the
following:
1
- Eating, drinking or smoking deliberatelyy, including taking any
non-nourishing
items by mouth or nose.
2
- Deliberately causing yourself to vomit.
3
- The beginning of menstrual or post-childdbirth bleeding even in the
last
moment before sunset.
4
- Sexual intercourse or other sexual contaact (or masturbation) that
results in
ejaculation (in men) or vaginal secretions (orgasm) in women.
5
- Eating, drinking, smoking or having sexuual intercourse after Fajr
(dawn) on
the mistaken assumption that it is not Fajr time yet. Similarly,
engaging in
these acts before Maghrib (sunset) on the mistaken assumption that it
is
already Maghrib time.
Sexual
intercourse during fasting is forbidden. Those who engage in it must
make both
qadaa' (make up the fasts) and kaffarah (expiation by fasting for 60
days after Ramadaan or by feeding 60 poor people for each day of fast
broken in this way).
According to Imam Abu Hanifah, eating and/or drinking deliberately
during fast
also entail the same qadaa' and kaffarah.
D) Things
That Do Not Invalidate Fasting
Using
a miswak to clean your teeth does not invalidate fasting
During
fast, the following things are permissible:
1
- Taking a bath or shower. If water is swaallowed involuntarily it will
not
invalidate the fast. According to most of the jurists, swimming is also
allowed
in fasting, but one should avoid diving, because that will cause the
water to
go from the mouth or nose into the stomach.
2
- Using perfumes, wearing contact lenses oor using eye drops.
3
- Taking injections or having a blood testt.
4
- Using miswak (tooth-stick) or toothbrushh (even with tooth paste) and
rinsing
the mouth or nostrils with water, provided it is not overdone (so as to
avoid
swallowing water).
5
- Eating, drinking or smoking unintentionaally, i.e., forgetting that
one was
fasting. But one must stop as soon as one remembers and should continue
one's
fast.
6
- Sleeping during the daytime and having aa wet-dream does not break
one's fast.
Also, if one has intercourse during the night and was not able to make
ghusl
(bathe) before dawn, he or she can begin fast and make ghusl later.
Women whose
menstruation stops during the night may begin fasting even if they have
not
made ghusl yet. In all these cases, bathing (ghusl) is necessary but
fast is
valid even without bathing.
7
- Light Kissing (NOT Sexual Kissing) betweeen husband and wife is
allowed in fasting, BUT
one
should try to AVOID
it so that one may not do anything further that is forbidden
during the
fast.
E) Requirements
for Fasting to Be Valid
There
are basically two main components of fasting:
1
- The intention (niyyah) for fasting. One should make a sincere
intention to
fast for the sake of God every day before dawn. The intention need not
be in
words, but must be with the sincerity of the heart and mind. Some
jurists are
of the opinion that the intention can be made once only for the whole
month and
does not have to be repeated every day. It is, however, better to make
intention every day to take full benefit of fasting.
2
- Abstaining from dawn to dusk from everytthing that invalidates fasting
as
mentioned above.
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the imam
and director of the Islamic
Society of Orange County, California, USA and former president of the
Islamic
Society of North America.
Fasting during Journey or illness in the month of Ramadaan:
(Fasting) 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), 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 ye fast, if ye only knew. (Al_Quraan_002-184)
It is suggested that if you are on a Journey which is upto two hours, i.e. 200-KM (in old time around 48-miles) for one way from door to door, you should continue fasting, BUT if your travell time is more than two hours, you should skip the fast and make it up at a later date. Remember, for air travel, even for an hour of air time could be much more than that, usually more than five hours due to the travel time to the airport and the wait at the airport. So most of the air travel you must skip fasting during Ramadaan and make it up at a later date. If one can go for work and come back on the same day and that can be on a regular schedule, he/she should continue fasting, otherwise he/she must skip it and make up for it later.
Delaying Periods (Menstruation) in the Month of Ramadaan:
Be Careful in playing against the laws of Allah. Allah created women with this thing. Don't ever think to do against the will of Allah, otherwise Allah may punish you. Don't trust the scientists, one day they say it is ok and then 20 - 30 years later they say this is the cause of the thing you tried 20-30 years a go. Don't think that your reward will be less because of this, unless you don't makeup the counting of fasting later.
Reciting the Quraan during the Menstruation (Periods):
There is NO harm in a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman reading the books of supplications that are written for the rites of the pilgrimage. In fact, there is nothing wrong with her reciting the Quraan according to the correct opinion. There is no authentic, clear text prohibiting a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman from reciting the Quraan. The thing that is narrated is concerned with the sexually defiled person only, as such should not recite the Quraan while he is sexually defiled. This is based on the Hadeeth of 'Alee. (Reference: http://www.fatwa-online.com)
Fasting during Ramadaan on the North or South Poles during their Summer:
Reference: http://www.islamicity.com
Topic : Fasting: Two Poles
First and foremost, we’d like to make it clear that the religion of Islam seeks not to cause any hardship to its adherents or burden them beyond their capabilities. Easiness and facilitation are of the main characteristics of Islam. Almighty Allah says: (Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks.) (Al-Ma’idah: 6)
When a person lives in such an area (i.e. near the two poles), he/she should follow the prayer timing and fasting of the nearest country that has a regular schedule or he can pray and fast according to the timings of the cities that are nearest to them in the normal time zone, i.e. below 64 degrees north or above 64 degrees south.
In his well-known book, Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq states:
Scholars differ about what the Muslims who are in areas where the day is extremely long and the night is short should do. What timings should they follow? Some say they should follow the norms of the areas where the Islamic legislation took place (i.e. Makkah or Madinah). Others say that they should follow the timings of the area that is closest to them which has normal days and nights.
Elaborating more on the issue, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America, adds:
At the poles, that is at 90 N and 90 S the sun does not set for six months continuously, with the exception of one day of the first equinox and then remains risen above the horizon for the other six months continuously with the exception of one day of the second equinox.
Even below 90 N down to 60 N and above 90 S up to 60 S the days and nights are abnormally long or short during the summer and winter seasons respectively. At one time, this was a theoretical issue, but now, Alhamdulillah, Islam has reached to these regions and many Muslims are living there.
Muslim jurists considered this situation long time ago. They based their Ijtihad on the verse of the Quraan that says, (Allah does not burden a person beyond his/her capacity.) (Al-Baqarah :286)
There is also a Hadith, reported in the books of Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, described the situation at the time of the appearance of Dajjal. He said, “When the Dajjal will come to deceive the people, he will remain on the earth for forty days, one of which will be as long as a year, the second as long as a month, the third as long as a week and the remaining days as your normal days.” One of the Companions stood and asked the Messenger of Allah, 'On the day which will be as long as a year, would it be sufficient to offer only five prayers of the day?' The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “No, but calculate.”
The aforementioned Hadith gives a principle of determining the times of prayers and fasts in abnormal situations. Thus, according to the Ijtihad based on the above verse of the Qur'an and the Hadith, Muslim jurists have given the name 'abnormal zones' to the areas where the days and nights are unusually long or short.
A conference of Muslims jurists and astronomers was held in Istanbul about 35 years ago. All the jurists gathered there agreed that the areas above 64 degrees latitude in the north and below 64 degrees latitude in the south should be considered 'abnormal zones' whereby people should not follow the movement of the sun, BUT they should follow the movement of the clock for their five daily prayers and fasting. They can pray and fast according to the timings of the cities that are nearest to them in the normal time zone, i.e. below 64 degrees north or above 64 degrees south.
If
you are still in need of more information, don't hesitate to contact
us. Do keep in touch. May Allah guide us all to the straight
path!
Wassalam and Allah Almighty knows best.
Reference:
Islam Online
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