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The
Book of Siyam (Fastings)
By
Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno
Teacher
at Dar-ul-Hadith Al-Khairiyah, Makkah
Al-Mukarramah
(Taken
from "The Pillars Of Islam And Iman And What Every Muslim Must Know
About His Religion”, Translated by: Research & Compilation Department
Dar-us-Salam Publications, Copyright and Published by Dar-us-Salam Publishers
& Distributors, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alhamdulillah, Brother
Abdul-Malik Mujahid, the General Manager of Dar-us-Salam Publications, has given
us permission to include this book together with other very useful books on
Islam according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah in the Islamic electronic books and CD-ROMs
WEFOUND is developing for the World Islamic Service for Developing Outstanding
Muslims (WISDOM) International Islamic Learning Program. May Allah reward the
author and the publisher for this service to Islam.)
Benfits
of Siyam (Fastings)
Allah
the Almighty said:
“O you who believe,
fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you
may achieve Taqwa.” (V. 2:183)
(Taqwa
is translated sometimes as piety, sometimes as consciousness of Allah, sometimes
as fear of Allah. It is derived from the word Wiqayah for “Shield”
and the connection is explained by scholars: To shield yourself from Allah’s
wrath by hurrying to do what He ordered you and by strictly avoiding what He has
prohibited).
And
the Prophet (pbuh, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said:
“Saum (fasting) is
a shield (or a screen or a shelter) from Hell-fire.” (Agreed upon)
1.
He (pbuh) also said:
“Whoever observed fasting
in Ramadan with perfect faith and seeking reward, he will have his previous sins
forgiven.” (Agreed upon)
2.
“Whoever stood to pray (Tarawîh) in Ramadan with perfect faith
and seeking reward, he will have his previous sins forgiven.” (Agreed upon)
You
should know, my fellow Muslims, that Allah has made fasting obligatory, and it
is an act of worship, and it has many benefits, among them:
1.
Fasting gives the digestive organs a rest, causes the body to get rid of
accumulated wastes which are detrimental to health. It strengthens the body and
is beneficial for the treatment of many diseases. It also presents an
opportunity for smokers to break their addiction since they cannot smoke during
the day.
2.
Fasting is a training for the self, getting it used to good deeds,
discipline, obedience, patience and sincerity.
3.
The fasting person feels his equality with all his fasting brethren; he
fasts with them and breaks fast with them, and he experiences the general
Islamic unity, and he experiences hunger which should make him sympathize with
his brethren who are hungry and needy.
What
You Are Required to do in Ramadan
We
should realize that Allah made Saum (fasting) obligatory on us as a way
for us to worship Him: and for the fasting to be acceptable and beneficial, we
should observe the following conditions:
1.
Guard the Salât;
unfortunately many fasting persons neglect Salât
which is a pillar of the religion
and abandoning it is an act of disbelief.
2.
Be well-mannered: beware
of disbelief and cursing the religion, and treating people badly, using the fast
as an excuse; fasting is to train the self not to ruin the manners, and
disbelief puts a Muslim outside of the religion.
3.
Do not use foul or harsh
language, even while joking, as it will spoil (the reward of) the fast. Listen
to the statement of the Prophet (pbuh):
“If
one of you is fasting, he should not use obscenity that day nor shout; and if
someone speaks abusively or wants to fight with him, he should say: ‘Verily
I’m fasting, verily I’m fasting’”.(Agreed upon)
4.
Take advantage of fasting
to give up smoking, which causes cancer, high blood pressure and other diseases;
try to make a firm conviction to leave it by night as you left it by day. Save
your health and your money.
5.
Do not overeat at the time
of breaking the fast, as the benefit of fasting is cancelled and it is not
healthy.
6.
Do not waste your time by
going to movies or watching television.
7.
Do not stay up so late at
night that you are not able to wake up for Sahűr
(the predawn meal) or Salât-ul-Fajr, and take your duty on early
morning. The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“O
Allah, bless my Ummah in their early mornings (acts).” (Ahmad
and Tirmidhi)
[Ummah
is sometimes translated as nation, or community of believers, or followers. Each
Prophet had an Ummah that he was sent to. The word Ummah is
usually used for the people who believed in the Prophet].
8.
Increase spending in
charity, on relatives and the needy, visit your relatives, and make peace with
those with whom you have had disputes.
9.
Increase your remembrance
of Allah, and recitation of Qur’ân and listening to it, and contemplation of
its meanings. Act on it and attend the beneficial discussions in the mosques,
and practise I'tikâf in the Masjid at the end of Ramadan (this is Sunnah).
10.
Read the pamphlets on
fasting to learn its rules, for instance, if you ate or drank, forgetting that
you were fasting, it doesn’t break the fast (but you have to stop immediately
as soon as you realize what you're doing); another example: A person who became Junub at night (because of intercourse, for example), and he
doesn’t get a chance to perform a Ghusl (bath)
before the appearance of dawn, that doesn’t prevent him from fasting; he just
has to perform the Ghusl and offer Salât
and go ahead and observe Saum (fast).
11.
Be mindful of the fast of
Ramadan, and get your children used to it when they are able to endure it, and
beware of breaking the fast without a valid excuse. Whoever does so must repent
for that and make up for that day, and whoever has intercourse with his wife
during the daytime of Ramadan he has
to expiate the sin. He must free a slave if he’s able to do so. If not, he
should fast two months continuously (60 days without missing a day); and if he
can’t do that, he should feed 60 poor persons one meal.
12.
Beware, my Muslim
brothers, from breaking the fast of Ramadan
without excuse. And beware of doing so openly in front of people. Because
breaking the fast is audacity with Allah, and disrespect for Islam, and
shamelessness among people. And you should realize that the one who doesn’t
fast, doesn’t really have an ‘Eid (festival)
because the ‘Eid is the
occasion of great happiness for those who completed the fasts and hope their
worship to be accepted.
Ahadith
on the Virtues of Fasting
Virtues
of Ramadan:
1.
The
Prophet (pbuh) said:
“When
Ramadan starts, the doors of heaven are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed
and the devils are chained up.” And in another version: “When Ramadan
starts, the doors of Paradise are opened.” And in another version: “The
doors of mercy are opened.” (Agreed upon)
2.
In a version reported by
Tirmidhi:
“And
a caller calls out: 'O you who crave the good, come on! And O you who crave
evil, abstain! And Allah has certain people whom he frees from the (Hell) Fire
every night until Ramadan ends.'” (Declared Hasan by Albâni in the Mishkât)
3.
Allah the Almighty says:
“Every
good deed of the son of Adam is multiplied in reward 10 to 700 times except for
fasting, for it is for Me and I will grant the reward for it, he leaves his
passion and his food for My sake. The fasting person has two moments of
happiness: One moment when he ends his fasting for the day (Iftâr)
and the other when he meets his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). And the smell
which issues from the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than
the smell of musk (fragrance).”
(Agreed upon)
Guarding
the tongue:
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh)
said:
“Whoever
do not abstain from deceitful speech and actions, Allah is not in need of him
leaving his food and drink.” (Bukhari)
Ending
the fast (Iftâr), supplication, and
the predawn meal (Sahűr):
1.
The Prophet (pbuh) 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.
The Prophet (pbuh) used to say at the time of Iftâr:
“O
Allah I kept the fast for You, and with Your sustenance I am breaking (my fast).
The thirst is gone, and the veins replenished, and the reward is confirmed, if
Allah wills,” (Abű Dâwűd)
3.
And the Prophet (pbuh)
said:
“The
people will continue to be in welfare as long as they hurry to Iftâr
(break fast after the sun sets).” (Agreed upon)
4.
And the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Take Sahűr before
dawn, for verily in the Sahűr there
is blessing”. (Agreed upon)
Voluntary
Fasting
The Prophet (pbuh)
used to encourage fasting in the following days:
1.
Six days in Shawwal (the month after Ramadan); the Prophet (pbuh)
said:
“Whoever fasts
Ramadan, then follows it up with six days in Shawwâl, it is as if he fasted the
whole (year).” (Muslim)
The scholars said
that the reward of the good deeds are multiplied by ten. 30 x 10 = 300 + [6 days
x 10] = 360 which is slightly longer than a lunar year, and next Ramadan he will fast again so it is as if he fasted his whole life.
2.
Fasting the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of
‘Arafah (the 9th day
of Dhul-Hijjah) (for those who are not performing Hajj);
the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Fasting on the day
of ‘Arafah expiates two years of
sins, last year’s and next year’s and fasting on the tenth of Muharram (‘Aashura) expiates the
previous year’s (of sins).” (Muslim and others)
“Milk was sent to
the Prophet (pbuh) while he was
giving his sermon on the day of Arafah and he drank from it.” (Agreed
upon)
3. Fasting on the day of ‘Aashűra,
along with one day before it, or one day after it. The Prophet (pbuh)
said:
“Today is the day
of ‘Aashűra, and its fasting is not
mandatory on you, and I am fasting, so whoever wants should fast, and whoever
wants should break his fast.” (Agreed upon)
And he (pbuh) said:
“If
I live till the next year, I will fast definitely on the 9th (the day before ‘Aashűrâ).”
(Muslim)
(This shows that it
is preferable to fast an extra day along with the tenth, preferably the ninth,
but, if not possible, then the 11th).
4.
Fasting most of the month of Sha‘bân.
“Allah’s
Messenger (pbuh) used to fast most of Sha‘ban.” (Agreed upon)
5.
Fasting Monday and Thursday. The Prophet (pbuh)
mentioned that:
“The deeds of the
worshippers are presented before Allah on Monday and Thursday, I like my deeds
to be presented while I am fasting.” (Nasa’i)
He (pbuh) was asked
about fasting on Monday, he said: “That is the day I was born and the day (the
first Revelation) was sent down on me.” (Muslim)
6.
Fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th of every lunar month. One of the Sahâb’ah
(may Allah be pleased with them)said:
“The Prophet (pbuh)
instructed us to fast three days of
every month, the 13th, 14th, and 15th.” (Nasa’i and others)
Things which Break the Fast
The things which break the
fast are of two categories:
A)
What breaks the fast and requires only to make up for it (Qadâ).
B)
What breaks it and requires to make up for it (Qadâ),
and also to perform an act of expiation (Kaffârah).
A)
What requires Qadâ only:
1.
To eat and drink, knowingly and intentionally.
2.
To induce vomiting intentionally, the Prophet (pbuh)
said:
“Whoever
induced vomiting must make up for (the fast).” (Hâkim and others)
3.
Menstruation and post-partum bleeding. Even if the bleeding starts just
before the sun sets, that day’s fasting must be repeated.
4.
Ejaculation, either by masturbation or any other method of ejaculating
short of intercourse, whether the cause was kissing the wife, or hugging her, or
by use of the hand, etc. This nullifies the fast but requires Qadâ
only.
B) What requires Qadá and Kaffarah
both:
As for that which requires
both Qadâ (repeating) and Kaffârah
(expiation), it is only sexual intercourse and nothing else, in the opinion
of a great number of scholars. The expiation is to free a slave, or to fast two
lunar months in succession without missing a day, or to feed sixty poor people.
Some scholars say the obligation is in that order, i.e. first one should free a
slave; then, if that’s not possible, to observe fast; then, if that’s not
possible, to feed the poor. (The man and the woman are both equal for their act
and both must make expiation).
Things
which do not Spoil the Fast
1.
To eat or drink forgetfullly or mistakenly, or due to another person’s
threats and compulsion. There is no necessity for Qadâ or Kaffârah.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Whoever
forgot while he was fasting and ate or drank he should complete his fast, for it
was Allah Who fed him and gave him to drink”. (Agreed upon)
And he (pbuh) said:
“Allah has laid off
for my Ummah (the burden of) mistakes and forgetfulness and what they are
forced to do against their wills”. (Tabarani).
2.
Unintentional vomiting. The Prophet (pbuh)
said:
“One who happened
to vomit while fasting, there is no Qadâ on
him.” (Hâkim).
I'tikaf
(Seclusion in the Masjid) is Part of the Religion
1.
According to Shari‘ah, I‘tikâf
means staying in the Masjid (mosque)
with the intention of drawing himself closer to Allah.
2.
All the scholars agree that it is Mashrű‘
(a legitimate part of Islâm) because:
“The
Prophet (pbuh) used to stay in the Masjid,
the last ten days of Ramadân until
he died, then his wives used to do the same after him.” (Agreed upon)
3.
I‘tikâf is of two kinds: Supererogatory (Masnűn) and Compulsory (Wâjib).
The Masnűn
kind is what a Muslim does voluntarily, in order to get closer to Allah and
to follow the Messenger (pbuh) and it is especially recommended during the last
ten days of Ramadân.
The Wajib
I‘tikâf is what a person makes compulsory upon himself by a vow (Nadhr).
4.
The time to begin I‘tikâf:
“The
Prophet (pbuh), if he intended to perform I‘tikâf,
used to pray Fajr, then enter the area he set aside for I‘tikâf
in the Masjid.” (Agreed upon)
5.
Necessary conditions for practising I‘tikâf:
The person should be Muslim, having reached the age of discernment, purified
from Janaba and menses and post-partum bleeding.
6.
The basic element of I‘tikâf:
Staying in the Masjid with the
intention of getting closer to Allah.
7.
What is permitted to do while in I‘tikâf:
a)
Going out from the place of I‘tikâf to bid farewell to his
family.
b)
Combing his hair, shaving his head, clipping his nails, cleaning his
body, perfuming, and wearing the best of clothing.
c)
To go out of the Masjid for
pressing necessities like using the toilet, or to eat and drink, if no one
brings him food.
d)
It is permitted to eat and drink and sleep in the Masjid
with the proper care taken to maintain its cleanliness.
8.
Etiquettes of I‘tikâf:
‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
The
Sunnah for one in I‘tikâf is not to leave the Masjid
to visit the sick, nor to attend a burial, nor to touch a woman nor to have
sex with her, and not to leave the Masjid except for unavoidable need; and there is no I‘tikâf without fasting; and there is no I‘tikâf except in a Masjid where Jumu‘ah (Friday prayer) is established.” (Baihaqi and Abű
Dâwűd)
9. Things which nullify I'tikâf:
a)
Leaving the Masjid without
need, intentionally.
b) Losing one's rationality through insanity or drunkenness.
c) Menstruation and post-partum bleeding.
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