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Fasting
By
Jabeen
Zain
October 16, 2001 (Ramadan 1, 1422), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Author Sister Jabeen had studied Arabic, Qur'an and Islamic Studies at Daar Ad-Dhikr, Riyadh Saudi Arabia. She has actively participated in various Islamic lectures and seminars in Riyadh. At present, she is teaching Islamic Studies in the Middle East International School (Asian Section), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The article entitled "Fasting" is one of the requirements that she submitted as a participant in the World Islamic Service for Developing Outstanding Muslims (WISDOM) International Islamic (Distance) Learning Program. We, the organizers of the Wisdom Enrichment Foundation (WEFOUND) pray to Allah the Almighty to accept her effort as a good deed, worthy of His Rewards in Paradise. May Allah accept this also as a service from us and bless it as a source of enlightenment for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Ameen.
* * * * *
Praise
be to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in
Him from the evils of our own souls and deeds. Whosoever Allaah (subhanahu
wa ta'ala)
guides no one can lead him astray, and whosoever He leaves astray non can guide
him. I
bear witness that there is no god but Allaah alone who has no partner, and I
bear witness that Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
is his slave and Messenger. The best speech is that embodied in the Book of
Allaah and the best guidance is the guidance given by Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam).
Fasting
(Sawm) in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of
Islam. Prophet
Muhammad (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
said, “Islaam is based upon five pillars: The declaration that there is no God
but Allaah and that Muhammad is his
Prophet; the establishment of salaah; the payment of zakaah
hajj and the sawm of Ramadaan.” (Bukhari,
Vol. 1, Hadith 7 and Muslim).
“O you who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.” (Qur’an, 2:184)
"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 everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should
spend it in fasting... and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and
perchance you shall be grateful."
(Qur’an, 2:185)
Fasting is a kind of worship devoted to Allaah (subhanahu
wata'ala)
that
brings great benefits to all those who practice it sincerely. Allaah
(subhanahu
wata'ala)
says,
Excellence
of Fasting
1. The gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. Abu Huraira (radi allaahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When Ramadan starts, the doors of Heaven are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up.” (In another narration it says:) “When Ramadan starts, the doors of mercy are opened.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
2. The breath of the person fasting is sweeter to Allaah than the smell of musk. Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Sawm (fasting) is a shield (or a screen or a shelter from the Hell-fire). So, the person observing sawm (fast) should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should say to him twice, “I am observing sawm (fast).” The Prophet added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a person observing sawm (fast) is better with Allah than the smell of musk.” (Allah says about the fasting person,) “He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The sawm (fast) is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.” (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadith 118)
3.
The reward for the performance of Umra in the month of Ramadaan is
equivalent to the performance of Hajj along with the Prophet (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam). Ataa
narrated that he heard from Ibn Abbas (radi
allaahu anhu)
that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
asked a women of Ansar (radi
allaahu anha), "What has prevented you that you do not perform Hajj along with us?" She said:
"We
have only two camels for carrying water. One of the camels has been taken by my
husband and my son for performing Hajj and one has been left for us for carrying
water, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: "So when the month of Ramadan comes, perform Umra, for
Umra in this (month) is equal to
Hajj (in reward).
4. The one who fasts has two occasions of happiness
and joy.
5. One night in the month of Ramadan is better in reward than one thousand months. Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “One night in this month (Ramadan) which has commenced is (from the point of dignity and honor) superior to one thousand months. Whoever deprives himself from attaining its auspiciousness is deprived of every felicity. He further stated: Only an unfortunate being is deprived of its felicity.” (Ibn Majah)
6.
Our
sins will be forgiven.
7.
The observer of the fast would be admitted through a special door in
Jannah. Sahl b. Sad (radi
allaahu anhu)
reported Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
as saying: "In Paradise there is a gate which is called Rayyan through which only
the observers of fast would enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else would
enter along with them. It would be proclaimed: Where are the observers of fast
that they should be admitted into it? And when the last of them would enter, it
would be closed and no one would enter it.” (Muslim
2569
Who
must fast?
Fasting is required on every sane Muslim who has reached puberty. The evidence of this is as follows:
“The Pen does not record (the deeds of) three persons: whoever is sleeping until waking up; the child until the age of adolescence; and the insane until he is cured.” (Abu Dawud)
Who
are Exempted?
1. Non-Muslims
2. Children are not required to fast until they reach the age of puberty. However, parents may encourage their young children to fast if there is no fear of harm to their health as this will train and accustom them to fasting.
3.
Aged incapable persons but they have to pay Fidyah -- feeding of one
poor person everyday all through the days of Ramadan.
4. Persons who are mentally
ill are not required to fast. Nor is there any compensation
required of them.
5. Sick
people, if it will cause them harm or difficulty. Those who
have no hope of recovery are to compensate by paying Fidyah -- the feeding of
needy persons as compensations for the number of fasting days they missed.
But those who are sick and able to fast must
do so.
6. Those
who have menstruation and postpartum bleeding are forbidden to fast and are to
make up the missed days later.
7. Pregnant
or nursing women who fear for themselves or for their child may leave the fast
and compensate by making it up another time.
8. Travelers who face difficulty in fasting but they have to make up or fast for the number of days they missed in Ramadan.
Intention
1. Intention is the basis of the reward for all
forms of worship, including fasting.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (radi allaahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Actions are but by intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.” (Bukhari 1/1, 3/706 and Muslim 3/4692)
2.
Fasting for show is an act of polytheism. Allah
says: “So, call you (O Muhammad
and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him
(Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for
Allah's sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in
worship).” (Qur’an, 39: 14; 40:14) In an
authentic Hadith, Shaddad bin Awas (radi
allaahu anhu)
reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
said: "Whoever prays for show commits polytheism. Whoever fasts for show
commits polytheism, and whoever gives charity for show commits polytheism.” (Ahmed
3. The intention to fast
(just like praying) is formed in the mind (or
heart) and not by the tongue.
4.
The intention for obligatory fast should be formed before dawn.
Hafsa (radi
allaahu anha)
narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
said: "Whoever does not form the intention before dawn his fast is null and
void.
Regarding
taking meal before dawn
There
is a blessing in taking meal before dawn. One should not intentionally avoid
taking meal before dawn when one wakes from sleep. Anas (radi
allaahu anhu)
narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam)
said: "Take your meal before dawn as there is a blessing in it.”
(Bukhari
and Muslim)
It
is Sunnah to proclaim the call for taking meal before dawn, before the call to
Fajr Prayer is proclaimed.
If
during meal Fajr (dawn) prayer is
proclaimed one should not immediately stop eating the food but should finish it
quickly.
One
should hasten in breaking the fast as it is the Prophet's sunnah.
It
is Sunnah to break the fast by eating fresh or dried dates or by drinking water
Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam)
said:
“When
one of you breaks the fast, he should do so with dates, because it is blessed.
If he couldn’t get dates, then (break your fast with) water, because it
purifies.” (Tirmidhi)
It
is Sunnah to recite either or both supplications before breaking the fast.
"Dahab
thama'u wabtallati al-'arooqu wa thabatal-ajru insha Allah.
Meaning
"Allahuma
inniy as-aluka bi-Rahmatika alatiy waasi'at
Meaning
Things
which Break the Fast
1.
Sexual intercourse while fasting breaks the fast. The atonement for it is
to make up for the fast and also free a slave. If this is not possible, he has to
fast two months consecutively. If this is not possible then, he has to feed 60 needy
persons.
2. Intentional seminal emission
3. Eating, drinking or smoking
4.
Taking any product that could be classified as a nourishment
such as intravenous
feedings
5. Intentional vomiting
6. Menstrual or postpartum
bleeding
Even if few minutes before the end of
the fast
Things
which Do Not Break the Fast
1. Eating or drinking by mistake, forgetting that one is fasting
The
Prophet said,
“When
one of you breaks the fast, he should do so with dates, because it is blessed.
If he couldn’t get dates, then (break your fast with) water, because it
purifies.”
(Tirmidhi)
2. Eating or drinking assuming that dawn has not yet broken or that the sun has set
3. Discharge of semen or whitish fluid while sleeping
4. Using the tooth stick
(siwaak) -- This is a Sunnah act while fasting.
5. Bathing, swimming, showering, rinsing the mouth, wetting one’s lips, and similar acts which may make the fast easier
6. Swallowing
one's spit or a fly entering the mouth.
7. Oiling the hair or applying
Surma (colyrium) to the eyelids.
8.
Tasting the food
Ibn
Abbas
9.
Involuntary vomiting does not invalidate fasting.
Unlawful
Acts While Fasting
1.
Backbiting,
telling lies, using abusive language, quarrelling and fighting. Abu Huraira (radi
allaahu anhu)
transmits that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
Alaihi wasallam)
said: "Any person (while fasting) speaks lies and does not desist from them,
then Allaah is not in need of that person not eating or drinking." (Bukhari
2. It is not lawful for a person who is fasting and who has no control over his passions to embrace his wife or kiss her. Ayesha (radi allaahu anha) said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) used to embrace and kiss (her or his wives) in the state of fasting; but he could control his passions more than anyone. (Bukhari)
3. It is prohibited to speak obscene language or act immorally or in an absurd manner in the state of fasting. Abu Huraira (radi allaahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu Alaihi wasallam) said: "Do not use abusive language while fasting. If another person abuses you, then say: I am fasting. If you are standing, sit down."
Taraawih Prayer
Taraawih or evening prayer during Ramadan is a sunnah that is recommended for Muslims to perform. It is a means of forgiveness of past minor sins. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) used to pray not more than eleven rak'aats (including the three rak'aats for the witr prayer). 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) was asked about how he prayed in Ramadhaan. She said, "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never prayed more than eleven rak'aats (of qiyaam), whether during Ramadhaan or any other time. He would pray four, and don't ask me how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray four, and don't ask me how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray three." (Bukhaari, Muslim and others). The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) performed the taraawih prayers in congregation for three days and left it fearing that it might be made obligatory, and his Ummaah would not be able to perform it. During the period of Umar bin Khattab (radi allaahu anhu) people prayed 23 rakaats. It is Sunnah to pray eight rakaat; but there is no limit as to the number of rakaats. 'Aa'ishah (radi allaahu anha) was asked how many rak'aats the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to pray in witr? She said, "He used to pray four and three, or six and three, or ten and three. He never used to pray less than seven, or more than thirteen.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, Ahmad and others). The number of rak'aats that one may pray depends on the person's ability to extend the length of his prayer. One may recite long suraahs if he is able to stand or recite short suraahs and exceed the number of rak'aats. As Ramadan comes once in a year one should try to pray as much as possible. The time of taraawih prayer is after Ishaa up to before dawn. Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allaah has added one more prayer for you, which is witr, so pray it between Salaat al-'Isha' and Salaat al-Fajr.”
It is excellent to
perform Taraawih prayers in two rakaats consecutively. It is Sunnaah to complete the entire
prayer by performing one witr.
When the Imam is reciting/reading the Qur'an, one must not recite or open the Qur'aan to read along with him unless the Imam asks him to do so in order to assist him, incase he forgets. If a person is praying alone during the night prayer, he/she can read the mushaf or copy of the Qur'an but not if he/she is with an Imam. As Allah says: “When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that you may receive Mercy.” (Qur'an, 7:204) Another reason is to prevent him/her from doing unnecessary movements (like turning the pages of the Qur'an, trying to find which surah and ayah the Imam is reciting). By listening to the Imam's recitation of the Qur'an one attains khusoo and tama’neenah (reverence or humility and tranquility while praying). Let us refrain from doing acts that may destruct our khusoo and tama’neenah during prayers as Allah and His Messenger enjoin us to have solemnity and calmness during salaah:
"...those who offer their salaah with all solemnity and full submissiveness." (Al-Qur’aan 23:2)
“Be calm (i.e., pay attention) while praying.” (Muslim)
Praying
in the house is best for woman than going to the mosque. A woman in her house
can pray, rest then pray again and vice versa. In a mosque it is only for an
hour or so but in the house a woman can pray according to her ability. No
mosque is better than the Prophet's mosque apart
from the Kaaba and no Imaam is better than the Prophet (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam) still
he said, "It is more excellent to pray in
If
a woman goes out to pray she should observe the hijaab strictly
and she should not perfume herself or do anything which might attract the
attention of men.
“Do not prevent Allâh’s female slaves from going to Allâh’s mosques. Yet, they should go out without wearing perfume.” (Ahmad and Abu Dâwűd)
“Any
woman who used bakhur (something which has a good scent) should not attend
‘Isha prayer with us.” (Muslim)
“Any
woman who wears perfume and then goes to the
mosque, will not have her prayer accepted until she takes a bath.”
(Ibn Mâjah)
Furthermore,
during witr prayer, it
is Sunnah to recite Sura Al Aa’la in the first rakaah, Sura Al Kafiroon
in the
second rakaah and Sura Al- Ikhlaas in the third rakaah.
In the last rakaah, it is lawful to recite
the Qunoot either before or after the ruku position. The supplication
for qunoot
which was taught by the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam) to
Hasan bin Ali (radi
allaahu anhum)
to be recited in the witr prayer are as follows: 
"Allaahumma'hdinee
fiman hadayta wa 'aafinee fiman 'aafayta wa tawallanee fiman tawallayta wa
baarik lee fimaa a'tayta wa qinee sharra maa qadayt, fa innaka taqdee wa laa
yuqdaa 'alayk. Wa innahu laa yadhillu man waalayta wa laa ya'izzu man 'aadayt.
Tabaarakta Rabbanaa wa ta'aalayt. Laa majaa minka illa ilayk wa ssalaa Allahu 'alaa
sayidina Muhammad."
There is nothing wrong with adding other du'aas (supplications) that are known from the Sunnah. We can also supplicate to Allah to punish those who disbelieve in Him and those who prevent Muslims from practicing Islam as shown in the Hadith narrated by 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn 'Ubayd al-Qaari that… They used to curse the kuffaar in the middle, saying, 'Allaahumma qaatil al- kafarata alladheena yasuddoona 'an sabeelik wa yukadhdhiboona rusulak wa laa yu'minoona bi wa'dik. Wa khaalif bayna kalimatihim wa alqi fi quloobihim al-ru'b wa alqi 'alayhim rijzaka wa 'adhaabak ilaah al-haqq (O Allaah, destroy the kuffaar who are trying to prevent people from following Your path, who deny Your Messengers and who do not believe in Your promise (the Day of Judgment). Make them disunited, fill their hearts with terror and send Your wrath and punishment against them, O God of Truth )."
Excellence
of ‘Lailath-Ul-Qadr’
Ibaadah
(worship) in Lailath ul Qadr is a means of forgiveness of past sins.
The word lail means night and the word qadr means measure.
It is so called because it is in this very night that the destiny is determined.
It also means the night of Grandeur and Majesty. It is mentioned thrice in the
Quraan.
Verily
! We have sent this Qur'aan down in the night of Al-Qadr And what will make
you know what the Night of Decree is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a
thousand months (Worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a
thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Abu
Huraira (radi
allaahu anhu) narrated
that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever with faith and intention to earn the reward
worshipped in the Night
of Qadr, all his previous sins are
forgiven." (Bukhari
and Muslim
One
should search for it in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan.
It
is Sunnah to devote more time in praying and encourage
family members also to pray more during the last ten days of Ramadaan. One
should recite the following supplication in Lailath-ul-Qadr as to do so
is a sunnah:
"Allahuma
innaka 'afuwn tuhibol 'afwa faa 'afuaniy."
Some
Good Deeds During Ramadaan
1.
Showing
obedience to Allaah (subhanahu
wa taala)
2.
Giving
charity
Ibn Abbas (radi allaahu anhuma ) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) was always generous in doing favours to others, but in Ramadaan, his generosity was immense. During Ramadaan, Gabriel (alaihis salaam) visited the Messenger of Allaah (sallaallaahu alaihi wasallam) every night and the Messenger of Allaah (sallaallaahu alaihi wasallam)