O you who believe! Observing Saum (fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious. (2:183)
Ramadaan (Laylatial Qadar)
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Fasting in Ramadaan is from the five pillars of Islam and it is a compulsory act of worship on every Muslim who is adult, sane, healthy and resident (those who are not in travel).
Allaah's Messenger saw said: " Islaam is built upon five pillar: To witness that there is none worthy of worship expect Allaah and Muhammed is the Messenger of Allaah ; to establish the prayer; to pay Zakaah; to fast in Ramadaan and to perform Hajj to the House (Ka'bah in Makkah) for those who can afford it."
[Bukhaaree & Muslim]
The whole Ummah has agreed that it is obligatory to fast in Ramadaan, as it is one of the pillars of Islaam and that whoever denies it is a Kaafir (i.e, a disbiliver), having turned away from Islaam.
WHY FASTING?
O you who believe! Observing Saum (fasting) is prescribed fro you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious (2:183)
Fasting is a means of attaining taqwa (piety), and taqwa means doing that which Allaah has enjoined avoiding that which He has forbidden. When a person refrains from halaal things hoping to earn the pleasure of Allaah and out of fear of His Punishment, it will be easier for him to refrain from ding haraam things. Fasting trains once will to avoid haraam desires and keep away from sins; it helps a person to overcome his own nature and to wean himself away from bad habits. So a fasting person must abstain from the following evil deeds and speech:
(i) False Speech : Allaah's Messenger saw said: "Whoever doesn't give up speaking falsely, and acting on those lies and evil action, Allaah does not care for his abstaining from eating and drinking (i.e., Allaah will not accept his fasting)."
[Bukhaaree]
(ii) Vain Speech and foul language: Allaah's Messenger saw said : "Fasting is not just (abstaining from) eating and drinking, but fasting is also (refraining) from Laghw (vain speech) and foul language. If one of you is being verbally abused or annoyed, he should say: 'I am fasting."
[Saheeh, Reported by Baihaqee, etc]
Laghw (vain speech) refers to anything that is irrational and unrealistic. Including (but not limited to) wasting time by listening Radio and viewing T.V programs. Playing games, reading romance novels, useless talking with friends backbiting and slander; mockeries and similar kinds of behavior. These all must be shunned.
WARNING : Fasting of those who abandoning the Prayer
Unfortunately, Muslims are heedless of the significance of the prayers and negligent towards fulfilling its obligations. This is one of the pillars that distinguish between Islaam and Kufur (desbelief)
Allaah's Messenger saw said: "Between disbelief and faith is abandoning Salaah."
[Saheeh: Reported by Tirmidhee]
Moreover, prayer is one of the pillare of Islam upone which the religion is founded. Many Muslims are unmindful of fulfilling such a tremendous obligation. Some of them fat but do not offer prayers five times a day. Beware! Of this warining from Allaah's Messenger saw.
VIRTUES
Allaah's Messenger saw said: "Whoever fast one day seeking the pleasure of Allaah, Allaah will remove hios face seventy years; distance from the Fire."
[Muslim]
Allaah's Messenger saw said: "In Paradise there is a gate called Ar-Rayyan, through it, those who fat will enter, and no one will enter it except them; when they have entered, it will be locked, and no-one else will enter through it"
[Bukhaaree]
Allaah's Messenger saw said: "Whoever fast in Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."
[Bukhaaree]
NIYYAH (INTENTION)
Allaah's Mesenger saw said: "Whoever does not determine to fast before the dawn, his fasting is null and void."
[Saheeh, Reported By Ahmed]
Niyyah means to have intention in the heart to do something. Even through our beloved Prophet, Muhammed saw never uttered aloud the niyyah of fasting, some textual wordings for the niyyah are printed in some of the calendars and cards. So uttering the niyyah aloud is an evil and sinful practice newly started in the pure Deen of Islam.
SUHOOR (PRE-DAWN MEAL)
Some people are not serious about the pre-dawn meal which is a highly recommended Sunnah and a blessed meal. Because they have an adequate dinner at night before going for a deep sleep, or they have a meal during the middle of the night. Either choice is wrong. Allaah's Messenger saw said: "The difference between our fasting and of the People of the Scriptures (i.e., Jews and Christians) is the suhoor."
[Muslim]
This is because the Jews and Christians do not eat the pre-dawn meal, while Muslims regularly take the pre-dawn meal. Therefore, taking the pre-dawn meal is essential. It is enough to eat even a piece of a date, or to drink a mouthful of water.
DELAYING THE SUHOOR
Allaah's Messenge saw used to postpone his suhoor untile just before dawn. Imitating the way of the Prophet saw and following his practices is meritorious and beneficial. So suhoor must be taken as close as possible to Fajr.
Narrated Sahl ibn Sa'd ra: I used to take my Suhoor meals with my family and then hurry up for presenting myself for the Fajr prayer with Allaah's Messenger(saw).
[Bukhaaree]
Narrated 'Aaishah: Bilaal used to prounce the Adhaan at night, so Allaah's Messenger saw said,
“Carry on taking your meals (eat and drink) till ibn Umm Maktoom pronounces the Adhaan, for he does not pronounce it till it is dawn.”
[Bukhaaree]
BREAKING THE FAST HASTILY
Hastening to breaking the fast, without delay is from the Sunnah of the Prophet saw. Hastening means to break the fast immediately after sunset without any further delay. Some people are hesitant to break the fast, even after the sunset is finished. However, this was the practise of the Jews and Christians during the prophet's saw era contradict the Jews and Christians and hasten to break the fast immediately after sunset.
Narrated Sahl ibn Sa'd ra: Allaah's Messenger saw said: “People will continue to be all right as long as they hasten in the breaking of the fast.”
[Bukhaare and Muslim]
IFTAAR
Narated Anas ra: The Messenger of Allaah saw used to break his fast before offering (Maghrib) Prayer with some fresh dated, but if there were no fresh dates, he would take a few dry dates and if there were no dry dates he would take a few drops of water. [Saheeh, Reported by Tirmidhee]
His saw fast-breaking meal was very light, not like ours taday where we try a host of different types of foods, fruits and desserts untile we suffer indigestion.
DU'AA After BREAKING THE FAST
Allaah's Messenger saw said: “The supplication of a fasting person upon breaking his fast, will not be rejected.”
[Saheeh, Reported by Ibn Maajah]
The Thirst is gone, and the vains are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills.
[Hasan, Reported by Abu Daawood]
Reward for helping others to break their fast: Allaah's Messenger saw said: "Whoever gives iftaar for the fasting person, he recieves a reward like his, without any decresae in the fasting person's reward.”
[Saheeh, Tirmidhee]
THINGS THAT BREAK THE FAST
- Intentional eating and drinking.
- Intentional vomiting
- Intentional ejaculation of semen; (If Fast is broken due to any of the above mentioned reason then he has to continue it till sunset and make up for the broken fast along with true repentance).
- Menstruation and post-childbirth bleeding: (She has to make up for the Fast's Left).
- Sexual intercourse [He or she has to make upthe fast and pay kaffarah (atonement) which is
- freeing a slave if it is possible, else
- fasting consecutively for two months, else
- feeding sixty poor people; along with true repentance]
THINGS THAT do not BREAK THE FAST
Un-intentional eating or drinking somethings unknowingly or being forced to do so. Allaah's Messenger saw said: “Whoever forgets while he was fasting and eats or drinks let him complete his fast because Allaah has fed him and complete his fast because Allaah has fed him and given him to drinks.”
[Bukharee and Muslim]
- Tasting food on the condition that it does not reach the throat. Ibn 'Abbaas ra said:“There is no harm for a person to taste vinegar or anything whilst he is fasting as long as it does not enter his throat.” [Bukahhree]
- Applying Kohl or eye-drops: Imaam Bukhaaree said: “Anas, al-Hasan and Ibraaheem did not see any harm in smearing one's eyes drops does not invalidate fasting according eye drops does not invalidate fasting according to scholarly opinion.
- Un-intentinal Vomiting.
- Taking injections containing no food.
- There is no harm for the person who observes fast to swallow his/her saliva.
- Bleeding by itself such as nose-bleeding or during extraction of tooth, etc.
- It is permissible to have teeth extraction during fasting, however, such a patient should avoid swallowing medicine or blood.
- It is permissible to have blood test or to donate blood if there is a genuine need but it should not cause any hardship to the fasting donor.
- There is no harm in washing the mouth (without gargling) or to take a bath in any part of the day.
- Discharge of semen as a result of wet-dream.
- It is permissible to take Suhoor while one is in a state of sexual impurity. Narrated 'Aaaishah: “Allaah's Messenger saw would wake up at Fajr in a state of sexual impurity after having intercourse with his wives. So, he would then take a bath and observw fasting.” [Bukhaaree and Mulim]
- Narrated 'Aaishah: “The prophet saw would kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting, for he had the most control of all of you over his desires.” [Bukhaaree and Muslim] It is learnt from this hadeeth that kissing and fondling one's wife is permissible even if one is fasting. However, this is exclusively limited to those who have self-control and restrain during such passionate momints
- It is permissible to brush the teeth particularly using Miswaak, which is even desirable during fasting. There is also no harm of applying perfumes on the head or the body during fasting.
EXCELLENT DEEDS OF RAMADAAN
Indeed, we have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what Lailat-ul-Qadr is? Lailat-ul-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibraaeel) by Allaahs Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is peace untile the appearance of dawn. (97:1-5)
The blessed month of Ramadaan is more special because Allaah distinguished it by revealing the Qur'aan during it. Aside from recitation of the Qur'aan, learning the translation of its meaning, and pondering over its Verse are alos recommended.
Taraaweeh: One of the good deeds is to perform the Night Prayer, with utmost humility and obvious reverence to Allaah.
One of the special deeds of Ramadaan is I'tikaaf in the last ten days. One can perform it even for a day or two.
May ahaadeeth state during the blessed month of Ramadaan is more virtuous than in other months.
Lailat-ul-Qadr: A single night of it is more virtuous and meritorious than a thousand months. This night is more likely to occur in one of the five odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadaan. The exact time of its occurrence is only know to Allaah.
Abu Huraira ra reported: Allaah's Messenger saw as saying: :Every (good) deed of the son of Aadam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allaah, the Exalted and Majestics, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for one who fast, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lard, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allaah than the fragrance of musk.”
[Muslim]
An-Naĥl (The Bee) - سورة النحل
