Fasting & Ramadan 

     
        May Allah accept from me and from you.......

Free E-Cards for Ramadan

Last updated on November 28, 2005

Important Articles and Fatwas about Ramadan & Fasting


"Sawm (fasting): to restrain oneself from something. 

“Surely I have vowed to ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful, Allah) to fast (sawm).”

Quran 19:26

The term fast here in this verse means to be silent; to abstain from speaking.  Islamically we abstain from food, drink, and sexual relations between dawn and sunset.

Classification of Sawm (fasting)

Sawm (fasting) is wajib (compulsory) on Muslims.

Allah says in the Quran:

“The month of Ramadan: in it was sent down the Quran, a guidance to mankind and a self evident proof of that guidance and the standard for distinguishing between right and wrong.  Whosoever of you witness the month should fast it….”

Quran 2:185

Vol 1, p.17 no7

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“Islam is built on five (pillars):…fasting in Ramadan.”

Al-Bukhari

                                       


The Merits of Ramadan

a. Vol 3, p.68

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened.”

Al-Bukhari

b. Fasting during Ramadan is an awesome opportunity to atone for your sins.

Vol 3, pp69-70 no.125

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”

Al-Bukhari

c. Fasting also provides protection from evil for those who sincerely fast.

Vol.2 p.554no.2565

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“Fasting is a shield.”

d. Allah bestows a special reward for those who fast faithfully.

Vol. 2 p.559,no. 2566

Prophet Muhammad pbuh quoted Allah as saying:

“Every act of Adam’s descendents is for themselves, except fasting.  It is meant for Me alone, and I alone will give the reward for it.”

e. The greatest of all these merits is that this is the month in which the last and only unchanged, protected book of divine guidance remaining in the world, was revealed in the month of Ramadan. 

“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quraan was sent down as a (pure source of) guidance for mankind.  In it are clear teachings showing the Right Way and the criterion (for judging truth and falsehood).”

Quran 2:185

This revelation represents one of the greatest blessings from Allah to mankind; who had been lost in darkness and ignorance since the time of the previous revelation.  Through this excellent act of mercy from Allah the ever shrinking glimmer of guidance would have gone out all together and oppression would have reigned throughout the entire world.
                                               

The Purpose of Sawm (Fasting)

“…..So that it may produce taqwaa (to avoid what one dislikes) in you.”

Taqwa is among the highest moral qualities that a Muslim can attain.  This is produced by placing a shield between one’s self and Allah’s wrath.

 

Vol.2 p.554no.2565

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“Fasting is a shield.”

The root meaning of the word taqwa comes from the verb waqaa which means “to safeguard”

Taqwaa is achieved by being conscious of Allah and all of his commandments at all times; which means that you will avoid the harram (forbidden) and the Makrooh (undesireable-disliked) and even certain halaal (permissible) whenever a doubt arises.

Conditions for being Required to sawm (fast)

 

a.       You must be Muslim

b.      You need to have reached puberty

However it was the practice of the Prophets companions to encourage their children to fast in order for them to get used to it at an early age.

Sahih Muslim vol.2, pp.552-3, no 2531-2

c.       You need to be sane

Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

“The pen is raised from (the book) for three (individuals): the sleeper until he awakes, the child until he reaches puberty, and the insane until he regains sanity.”

Abu Dawud vol.3, pp.1226-7, no.4384 and 4389

d.      You need to be physically able

e.       You need to be a resident, not a traveler

A women whom is menstruating does not pray or fast.  She needs to make up the fasting she misses during Ramadan but not the prayers when she is finished menstruating.

Allah says in the Quran:

“….and whoever is ill or journeying, for him is the like number of other days.  Allah desires for you ease and does not desire for you hardship; so you should complete the number and magnify Allah for his having guided you, that perhaps you may give thanks.”

Quran Sura 2:185

                                        


The Benefits of Sawm (Fasting)

1. observing sawm (fasting) allows the you to really experience hunger and thirst; this ensbles you to feel compassion for the poor and thus encourages you to reach out to them and offer help.

2. When fasting you are abstaining from food, drink, sexual relations and also carefully guarding your tongue (i.e. lying, slandering, backbiting and ect..)

Prophet Muhammad pbuh says:

“Allah has no need for the hunger and the thirst of the person who does not restrain from telling lies and acting on them even while observing fast.”

Al- Bukhari

Vol.3, pp70-1, no.127

He pbuh  also said:

“When one of you is fasting, He should abstain from indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an argument, he should simply tell him, ‘I am fasting.’”

Al-Bukhari

Vol.3,p.71,128

3. It has also been noted by medical experts that fasting helps the body to use up stored cholesterol (fats) as well as in other fatty areas of the body; thus observing sawm (fasting) helps the body keep firm and also reduces danger of heart attacks.

Sighting of the Moon

It is fard kifaayah (a collective duty) on the Muslim to make an effort to sight the moon of Ramadan on the 29^th of Sha’baan.  It is wrong to depend solely on the on the calendar and on any other astronomical type of device to begin the fast.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh says:

Begin the fast on the sighting of the moon and break fast likewise, but if the sky is cloudy (on the 29^th of Sha’baan), then estimate it (by completing) 30 days of Sha’baan. 

Al-Bukhari vol.3, p.69 no124

Remember Brothers and Sisters the moon is always there it did not go anywhere, the object is can you see it?

                                   
Types of Fast

 

a. Ramadan:

There are twenty-nine or thirty days of the blessed month of Ramadan every year.  Anyone who denies that this fast is waajib falls out of the fold of Islam.  Any days that you miss of fasting must be made up later.

 

b. Nathr (Vow):

If you have made a vow to Allah to observe a valid fast, you must complete this fast.

3. Kaffaarah (Atonement)

If you have to fast for the atonement of sin (s) which you have commited, you are obliged to observe this fast.

4. Making Up

If you need to make up another obligatory deed which you are unable to do i.e. ten days of fasting in place of the sacrifice in Hajj, you must observe this fast.

                                        

Mustahabb (Recommended Fasts)

1. Aashooraa’ (the tenth of Muharram), along with the ninth or the eleventh day of Muharram.

Muslim vol.2, p.552, no. 2528

2. The fasts of the day of Arafah (the ninth of Thul- Hijjah).
3. The 13^th,14^th,and 15^th or any three days of every lunar month.

Al-Bukhari vol.3, p.115, no 202

4. Any six days in Shawwal (the 10^th lunar month).

Muslim vol.2, p.570, no.2614

5. Mondays and Thursdays of any/every week in the year.
6. The month of Sha’baan (the 8^th lunar month).

Al-Bukhari vol.3,pp.108-9, no.191

7. The fast of the Prophet Daawuud (David) fasting every other day.

Al-Bukhari vol.3,pp.111-2,no.197

Mubaah (Allowable Fasts)

To fast for health reasons (i.e. lose weight) would get you your health benefits however as Allah judges on intention you would not get the reward from Allah since you are not fasting with the intention of pleasing Allah.

Makrooh (Undesirable Fasts)

1. Wisaal (Continous fast without Suhoor (breakfast) or Iftar (dinner)

Al-Bukhari vol.3, p.80, no.145

2. Fasting on the 10^th of Muharram without fasting on the ninth or eleventh

Muslim vol.2, p.552,no.2528

3. A womans fast without her husband’s permission  with the exception of Ramadan   Al-Bukhari vol 7, pp.92-3, no.120
4. Fasting one or two days before the beginning of Ramadan if one does so “just to be safe” in case it may be Ramadan.  Al-Bukhari vol.3, pp.75-6,no.138
5. Fasting every day continuously
6. Fasting on a Saturday by itself Abu-Dawuud vol.2, p665, nos 2415 & 2416

                                          

Muharram (Forbidden Fasts)

1. Fasting on Jumu’ah (Friday) without fasting on Thursday or Saturday.

Al-Bukhari vol.3,p.117, nos 205-7

2. Fasting on the day of Eed al-Fitr or Eed al-Ad haa

Al-Bukhari vol.3,pp.119-20, nos. 211-2

3. Fasting on the days of Tashreeq (the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth of Thul-Hijja.)

Al-Bukhari vol.3 p.122, no. 216

Exemption from fasting in Ramadan

Journey (Safar)

It is allowable for the traveler to break fast whether they suffer rigors and hardship during their travels or not.

Quran al-Baqarah 2:185

Sickness (Murad)

If you have an illness that would be worsened by fasting, or fasting would delay the cure you may abandon the fast.

Quran al-Baqarah 2:185

Pregnancy (Haml)

If a woman feels that if she fasts, the fetus will be harmed or she will be weakened dangerously, she is permitted to leave the fast.

Abu-Dawud vol.2, p.441, no.2032

Breast-feeding (Ridaa’ah):

A nursing mother or wet nurse may leave the fast if they feel that the fasting would harm the baby.

Weakness (Da’f) or Old Age (Kibar as-Sinn):

1. A person who is regaining their strength after an illness and fear that fasting would make them sick again, they may leave the fast.

2. A person who is extremely weak due to old age, he is allowed to abandon the fast.

Quran al-Baqarah 2:184

Jihaad (War)

1. If a person is about to participate in Jihaad and fear that it may weaken him, he may defer the fast.

2. If jihad is in progress, participants are allowed to postpone the fast.

                                            

Kaffaarah (Atonement)

Kaffaarah is the punishment as a compensation of commiting a sinor for an obligatory deed that one was unable to do or the intentional breaking of fast in Ramadan. 

1. If the fast of Ramadan is invalidated intentionally by intercourse the expiation is fasting for sixty days consecutively.  If you are unable to fast for sixty days, you must feed sixty poor persons or one person for sixty days.

Al-Bukhari vol.3,pp.87-8,ch.29

b. A person whom is of old age, extreme weakness or diseased and is unable to fast with no hope of early recovery must feed an indigent person for every missed day.

c. A Woman who breaks her fast due to menses (hayd), bleeding after child birth (nifaas), pregnancy, suckling (ridaa’ah) or the like is only required to make up the days she missed before the next Ramadan.

Abu Dawuud vol.2, p633,no. 2310-1

Permissible acts while Fasting

1. Cleaning the tooth with siwaak
2. Donating blood or unintentional vomiting does not break fast
3. Taking medicine by injection, nasal spray, or eye drops
4. Eating or drinking out of forgetfulness does not break the fast
5. Bathing, swimming, or sitting in water to cool off
6. Rinse out your mouth or to tast food than spitting it back out  with out swallowing
7. Swallow your own saliva
8. Kissing your spouse as long as moderation is observed

Fundamentals of Sawm (Fasting)

 

Niyyah (intention)

 

Prophet Muhammad pbuh says:

 

“Whoever does not intend to fast before Fajr (early morning prayer) will have no fast.”

 

Aboo Daawood vol.2, p.675, no.2448

 

If you make up your mind before going to sleep this is sufficient for you.

                                   

Suhoor (Pre-Dawn Meal)

 

The fast should begin with a pre- dawn light meal known as Suhoor. 

 

Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h.says:

 

“Take Suhoor for surely there is a barakah (blessing) in it.”

 

Al- Bukhari vol.3, p.80, no.146

 

 When athaan is sounded as the beginning of Fajr prayer this signals that it is time to begin the fast.

 

Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. says:

“If one hears the athaan and a vessel remains in his hand, he should not put it down unit he has had what he desires from it.”

Aboo Daawood vol.2, p. 645, no 2343

                                           

Iftaar (Breaking Fast)

It is highly recommended that the fast be broken as soon as Maghrib (setting of the sun) occurs.

Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. says:

“People will remain happy and prosperous as long as they hasten to break fast.”

Al-Bukhari, vol.3, p.102, no.178

Anas ibn Malik recorded:

Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. used to break his fast with a few dates just before the beginning of Maghrib prayer.  If fresh dates were not available he would use dried dates and if dried dates were not available he would break his fast by drinking a little water.”

Aboo Daawood vol.2, p.646-7, no.2349

Du’aa for Breaking the Fast

“The thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward set God willing.”

Aboo Daawood vol.2, p.647, no.2350

Salaah at-Taraaweeh (the Night Prayer)

 

Taraweeh literally means: rest pauses

The night prayer is a wonderful way of gaining Allah’s forgiveness for sins done in the past, if the prayers are sincerely prayed.

The Prophet pbuh says:

“Whoever prayed at night throughout the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah (swt) will have all of his sins forgiven.”

Al-Bukhari vol.3, p.126 no.227

“Whoever faithfully establishes prayers on the night of power (Laylatul-Qadr), seeking his reward only from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”

Al-Bukhari vol.3, p.69-70, no.125

                                        

“The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.”

 

Quran 97:3

This special night is a great mercy Allah has blessed this Muslim Ummah with.  Worshipping Allah (swt) during Laylatul-Qadr equals about eighty three years (1,000 months).

It is also recommended to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in seclusion at the Masjid (i’tikaaf).

Aa’ishah stated:

“The Prophet pbuh used to seclude himself in the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadan until he died, and his wives continued this practice after him.”

Al-Bukhari vol.3,pp.135-6, no.243

 QURAN

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed with clear guidance and differentiation (Between Good and Bad) Whoever of you is a witness of this month, should fast. But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you in any difficulties.

Quran Sura 2:185

And eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from it’s black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears.

Quran Surah 2:187"

RAMADAN

The month of Ramadan comes once each year giving every fasting Muslim a spiritual and physical improvement which lasts until the following year.

CHARITY

To be homeless without a place to live and to loose your family or the home you were born in or to loose your spouse or children is a terrible thought. Yet this is what many Muslim brothers and sisters face each winter. We see this happening daily on TV or in the newspapers. "Every little bit helps", whatever you donate this Ramadan, it will give someone a chance to live or hope for a better future.

ZAKAT-A-FITR

This is a charity that must be paid at the end of Ramadan and only then is your fasts accepted

Abu Hurairah RAA reported that the Messenger of Allaah SAWS said: "Every deed of the Son of Aadam will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times its worth. Allaah, Mighty and Sublime, said: 'Except for the fast, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it. He leaves off his desires and his food for My sake. There are two times of joy for the one fasting. The time of joy when he breaks his fast and the time of joy when he meets His lord. And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk.'"

Al-Bukhaaree (4/103) and Muslim (1151)

"Verily, the patient ones will be given their reward in full without any reckoning."

Surat-uz-Zumar: 15

Ibn Hibbaan (rah) said: "The sign that will mark the believer on the Day of Judgement is the brightness (of their faces) due to their ablution (wudoo') in this world, causing a distinction between them and the rest of the nations. And their mark on the Day of Judgement due to their fasting will be pleasant smelling breath, more pleasant in the sight of Allaah than the scent of musk. This is in order that they may be known amidst that group for that deed. We ask Allaah to grant us blessing on that day."

See Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (8/211)

"Verily, there is a door in Paradise, which is known as Ar-Rayyaan. On the Day of Judgement, the ones who fasted will enter in through it, no one other than them will enter in through it. And when they have entered, it will close, so no one will enter through it (after them)."

Al-Bukhaaree (4/111) and Muslim (1152)

"And whosoever enters will be given to drink. And whosoever drinks will never feel thirsty again."

This increase to the hadeeth is found in the Saheeh of Ibn Khuzaimah (no. 1903)

"Whosoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, then Allaah has no need for him to abandon his food and drink."

Al-Bukhaaree (10/473)

"Perhaps, all that one who fasts will get from his fast is hunger and thirst. And perhaps all that one who stands at night in prayer will get from his standing is sleeplessness."

Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Hibbaan and others with an authentic chain of narration.