All you need to know about Ramadan

A very comprehensive explanation on various aspect of fasting by Rukaiah

1. What are the preconditions to Fasting?

1. Islam - One must be a Muslim for the Fast to be accepted by Allah. This condition applies to all acts of worship.

2. Mental Competence (Al-'Aql)- The insane person or one who is not mentally competent is not obligated to fast at all. It is important that one knows what the Fast is, why he is Fasting, and how.

3. Sexual Maturity - Young children should however be trained to Fast before reaching maturity. The companions [ra] used to preoccupy their young children by giving them something to play with during the day so they would forget their hunger.

4. Ability to Fast- There are several types of people unable to Fast.

a. One who has a chronic condition preventing them from Fasting i.e. old age , terminal illness . Such people are not obliged to Fast or to make up the Fast. They should instead feed a single needy person each day. Even this is dropped in cases of those who have no means to do so i.e. due to extreme poverty.

b. The one who is temporarily or suddenly ill but whom Fasting may harm. If a sick person Fasts and there is a danger that the Fast may aggravate his sickness, such a person is excused from Fasting, especially if he is in need of medication, which will provide nutrition to his body. They have to make up for the missed Fasts later.

Allah says, ‘… and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, [let him Fast the same] number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you.' [baqarah 2: 185]

c. A pregnant woman or a nursing mother, if they fear harm to themselves or the baby. They are not obliged to Fast but should instead make up the days at a later time.

Allah says, ‘For those who can Fast [with hardship] is a ransom, the feeding of one who is indigent.' [baqarah 2: 184]

Ibn Abbas [ra] commented on the above verse saying, ‘This is a concession granted to the aged, who were able to Fast [with difficulty]. They were allowed to leave the Fast and instead feed an indigent person for each Fast [and a concession] to pregnant and suckling women when they apprehend harm [to themselves or to their little ones]. [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2311]

5. Residence- The traveler is not obliged to Fast but should make up the missed days. To purposely travel in order to avoid Fasting is haram (forbidden).

Narrated Aisha [ra], ‘Hamza bin Amr al-Aslami asked the Prophet [s], ‘Should I Fast while traveling?' The Prophet [s] replied, ‘You may Fast if you wish, and you may not Fast if you wish.' [bukhari vol. 3 h # 1943]

6. Freedom From "Obstructions " - Namely, menstruation ( haidh ) and post-natal bleeding ( nifas ). Such women should not Fast but rather make up the missed days later.

‘The menstruating women should leave the Sawm [Fast] and Salah [the prayers].' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 41]

2. What nullifies the Fast?

1. Sexual intercourse during the daytime . This constitutes a major sin while observing the Fast of Ramadan and the person is required to pay the most strict and severe atonement ( kaffarah ) for this sin.

Abu Hurayrah [ra] said that a person came to the Prophet [s] and said, ‘O Prophet [s]… I have had intercourse with my wife during the month of Ramadan.' Upon this the Prophet [s] said, ‘Can you find a slave to free for the cause of Allah?' The man said, ‘no'. The Prophet [s] said, ‘Can you Fast for two consecutive months without a break?' The man said, ‘no'. The Prophet [s], ‘Can you provide food to 60 poor or needy people (one meal)?' The man said, ‘no'. The Prophet [s] then sat down. Meanwhile a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet [s]. He [s] said to the man [who had had intercourse], ‘Give these in charity.' The man said, ‘Am I to give it to the one who is poorer than I am? There is no family poorer than mine between the two lava tracts of Madinah.' At this the Prophet [s] laughed so that his molars showed and said, ‘Go and give it to your family to eat.' [muslim vol. 2 h # 2457]

From the above hadith it is clear that the punishment for sex during the day in Ramadan is very severe. However, about the night Allah says,

‘It is made lawful for you to have sexual intercourse with your wives in the nights of the Fasts. They are your libas .' [araf 7: 189]

2. Ejaculation- due to the direct touch of the spouse's private parts, or due to kissing, hugging, flirting, or masturbating. In this case the Fast becomes void but he should still continue the Fast, but he should make up for it too. However, if one kisses but does not ejaculate, then he is not required to pay a penalty in terms of atonement. However if one cannot control his passionate desires, one must not approach his spouse by touching or flirting.

Abu Hurayrah [ra] said, ‘A man asked the Prophet [s] whether one who was Fasting could embrace [his wife] and he [s] gave him permission; but when another man and asked him, he [s] forbade him. The one to whom he [s] gave permission was an old man and the one to whom he [s] forbade was a youth.' [abu dawud vol. 2 chap. 801 h # 2381]

3. Eating or drinking purposely and intentionally to render Fasting null and void regardless of the food or drink and regardless of the means used to intake the food. Smoking or chewing gum will break the Fast. Additionally, though many scholars opine that a Fasting person must not inhale burnt wood incense smoke (al-bukhoor) , as it has a certain body that you burn and can be then ingested through the nose. It seems however upon investigation that there is no direct proof for this and that the general rule that perfumes or sweet odors from burning incense or wood does not break the Fast. Of course one should not sniff powder or ground incense into the nose. As for just perfume, it is acceptable while one is Fasting.

4. Using any item that gives nutrition such as intravenous fluids, injections in the muscle, the nose or elsewhere.

5. C upping - .

Narrated Ibn Abbas [ra], ‘The Prophet [s] was cupped while he [s] was Fasting.' [bukhari vol. 3 h # 1939]

Abu Dawud [the collector of ahadith] said, ‘It is better not to get cupped because it makes the Faster [the cupped person] weak. As regards the man who cups, there is an apprehension of swallowing the blood as he sucks it with his mouth.'

6. Intentional vomiting to empty the stomach.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah [ra], ‘If a Fasting person vomits [unintentionally], it does not break his Fast, for while he vomits he expels something and does not swallow anything.' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. # 32]

'But if it is intentional, he should make up for it.' [Abu Dawud]

7. Menstruation- if a woman begins to menstruate or bleed during the day then she must make up the Fast. If a woman however completes her period or bleeding stops before Fajr and she has not yet taken a bath (ghusl) until after Fajr, her Fast is sound and should be continued. She should take a bath and offer salat al-Fajr.

A isha [ra] said, 'One of the wives of the Prophet [s] observed I'tikaf along with him [in the mosque]. She could see yellowness and redness [of the blood from her vein. This is the opposite of menstruation. A woman is allowed to Fast when she is having bleeding in between the menses, whish is known as istihadah]. Sometimes he would place a washbasin while she prayed.' [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2470]

None of the above matters will break the Fast of a person unless the following three prerequisites are met.

1. The person must be aware that these matters nullify the Fast.

2. The person must be sane, mentally fit and aware or alert of what he is doing.

3. The person must have a free will to nullify his Fasting. That is he undergoes something, which breaks the Fast through being forced.

If a person is forced to eat, or if he rinsed his mouth or gargled and a small amount of water entered his stomach, or he put an eye drop in his eyes, but felt the taste in his mouth, or had a wet dream, he may continue his Fast.

3. What are some permitted things during the Fast that do not nullify it?

Using the tooth-stick (siwak or miswak) does not nullify the Fast and it is indeed a sunnah to do so at all times and not merely before noon. Amr bin Rabiah [ra] said, ‘I have seen the Prophet [s] using a tooth-stick [miswak] while he [s] was Fasting. Musaddad added in his version, ‘More often than I could count.' [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2357]

One may pour water on one's head in order to cool off. Abu Bakr [ra] said, ‘A man who narrated this tradition said to me, ‘I have seen the Prophet [s] in Al-Arj pouring water over his head while he [s] was Fasting, either because of thirst or because of heat.' [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2359]

A Fasting person may intend to observe the fast while still in a state of Janabah [sexual impurity] , after sexual intercourse and before taking a complete ablution (ghusl). He should do ghusl and offer salat al-Fajr.

A menstruating woman who is certain of complete stoppage of the bleeding before dawn must intend to observe the Fast for the same day regardless of whether she takes a complete ablution or bath before dawn or not.

Eye drops , ear drops, Kohl for the eyes will not break the Fast.

Wearing perfume on either the clothes or the body while Fasting is permissible. This includes anti-perspirants and the like.

Smelling incense or perfumes whether burned woods (al-bukhoor) or otherwise.

Puffers . A Fasting person may spray in his mouth what asthmatic people use as treatment to reduce the suffering of asthma.

A Fasting person may wet his lips with water if they are so dry. One may even rinse his mouth with water provided that he does not swallow any water.

Your own saliva will not break your Fast. It's repelling to see people spitting every two minutes because they don't know the rules of Fasting. Please avoid this disgusting practice, dear Muslims.

Getting an injection that is not nutritious. If however, it is a food substitute the Fast is invalidated.

4. Must we eat something before the dawn?

It is encouraged to delay the suhur (light meal before starting the Fast) as much as possible before the dawn comes. Similarly, it is sunnah to hasten breaking one's Fast when the sun sets. A Fasting person is encouraged to break the Fast with fresh dates, and if not available with dried dates and if not available to drink water or eat any other lawful food. If one could not find anything to break his Fast, one must declare the intention of breaking the Fast and intend to eat something as soon lawful food or drink becomes available.

The suhur is a blessing but not compulsory.

Narrated Anas bin Malik [ra], ‘The Prophet [s] said, ‘Take suhur as there is a blessing in it.' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 20 h # 1923]

5. If someone is eating or drinking and hears the azan for Fajr, should he stop eating or drinking immediately?

According to the authentic statement of the Prophet [s] one may finish what is in his hand or if he is drinking to finish swallowing what is in his cup if he is in the process of drinking. They should not finish what is on the plate in front of them or go back to their cup to finish the contents if they were not drinking.

Narrated Aisha [ra], ‘Bilal used to pronounce the Azan at night [tahajjud], so the Prophet [s] said, ‘Carry on taking your meals [eat and drink] till Ibn Maktum pronounces the Azan, for he does not pronounce it till it is dawn.' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 17 h # 1918, 1919]

6. Is it permissible to use a toothbrush with toothpaste after the dawn?

It is permissible to rinse the mouth and use siwak or other brushes. Some scholars disliked using siwak in the afternoon due to the fact that using it will refresh the mouth. Thus using the toothpaste and toothbrush becomes more disliked on this analogy. Moreover, toothpaste has a flavoring taste that will be felt during brushing. Similarly, any food eaten before dawn or even water afterward, since it may indeed have or leave a taste, a refreshing effect and may be accidentally swallowed; yet it is permitted to taste food without swallowing on the tip of the tongue and rinse the mouth with water while Fasting.

The user of toothpaste might swallow a very little amount during the brushing process or may not. Therefore, it is highly recommended to use toothpaste and toothbrush after the suhur meal, before declaring the beginning of the Fast. Careful use of toothpaste and brush is permissible during the Fasting hours of the day. Minor gum bleeding does not render Fasting null. Allah, the Almighty knows best.

Amr bin Rabiah [ra] said, ‘I have seen the Prophet [s] using a tooth-stick [miswak] while he [s] was Fasting. Musaddad added in his version, ‘More often than I could count.' [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2357]

7. Does donating blood render the Fast null?

Donating a generous amount of blood during the Fasting hours of the day renders Fasting null, as it weakens the Faster. This is treated the same as cupping. However, if the amount of blood extracted is insignificant such as for testing purposes it will not nullify the Fast.

8. Is it permissible for the cooks to taste the food to insure its satisfactory taste while Fasting?

Tasting the food by the tip of the tongue to ensure its satisfactory taste is permissible provided that the tasting person does not swallow any of the food.

9. I had sex with my wife on two separate days after Fajr after making intention to Fast and my wife knowingly and willingly went along with it. What is the ruling in my case?

You and your wife must make up the two days and in addition you must offer atonement [see Q2 point 1] for this act.

10. Should a couple stop intercourse immediately if they hear the azan for Fajr?

Yes. If they do not, they will be considered as purposely breaking the Fast and must make up the day and offer atonement for it.

11. If a man and wife engage in sexual foreplay and some fluid other than semen is excreted is the Fast null and void?

The Fast for that day or any other days missed for this reason must be made up if no penetration occurred. Atonement (kaffarah) becomes due only if one actually engages in intercourse [penetration], irrespective of whether the man ejaculates.

Jabir bin Zaid said, ‘If a man gets a sexual discharge as a result of casting a look [at his wife] should complete his sawm [Fast]. [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 23 h # 1927]

12. I was traveling and had sex with my wife who was unwilling. Must I make atonement along with my wife?

No. The person who is traveling is entitled to break the Fast and consequently allowed to have intercourse during the day. If a woman is travelling along with her husband she is also permitted to break her Fast and offer herself to her husband.

Narrated Tawus, ‘Ibn Abbas [ra] set out from Madinah to Makkah and he asked for water and raised his hand to let the people see him, and then broke the Fast, and did not observe Fast after that till he reached Makkah, and that happened in Ramadan.' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 38 h # 1948]

13. What is the ruling on Fasting six days in Shawwal after Ramadan?

The majority of Muslim scholars liked this sunnah and encouraged it. However, none of those scholars claimed that his practice is obligatory. It is a recommended act of the Prophet [s].

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari [ra] reported the Prophet [s] as saying, ‘He who observed the Fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six [Fasts] of Shawwal, it would be as if he Fasted perpetually.' [muslim vol. 2 h # 2614]

14. What if someone eats and drinks or has sex while forgetting about his Fast?

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet [s] said, ‘If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully, then he should complete his Fast, for what he has eaten or drank, has been given to him by Allah.' [bukhari vol. 3 h # 1933]

Al-Hasan said, ‘If one has sexual intercourse forgetfully [with one's wife] then no penalty will be imposed on him.' [bukhari vol. 3 chap. 26]

Abu Hurayrah [ra] reported the Prophet [s] as saying, ‘If any one breaks his Fast one day in Ramadan without a concession granted to him by Allah, a perpetual Fast will not atone for it.' [abu dawud vol. 2 h # 2390]

15. There are some who under-emphasize the importance of the Tarawih Prayers and Al-Qiyam (standing for late night prayers - tahajjud). Some of the companions [ra] did not do it for fear of it being considered as obligatory (fard). It has now become practically obligatory. For this reason some people argue for the permissibility to leave off these prayers. What is your opinion?

The Tarawih Prayers are a confirmed and regular sunnah (sunnah-mu'akkadah) which should not be left off due to the great benefits of performing them as the Prophet [s] stated, Whosoever stands in Ramadan with full faith and reliance all his previous sins will be forgiven. [ bukhari vol. 3 h # 2008 ] The Prophet [s] also said: Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he completes the Witr will have an entire night of prayer written to his credit . The Prophet [s] set the model for that because he singled out Ramadan especially as a time of extra effort and he urged his Ummah to do so. People realize that Tarawih is not an obligatory prayer, however this does not cause them to neglect it and the consistent practice of making it is one of the signs of a believer while neglecting it issa sign of laziness and the bereft.

16. Is it allowed to pray some of the Tarawih Prayer with the congregation in the masjid (mosque) and then pray some of it at home particularly when my circumstances do not always permit me to complete it in the masjid?

Continuing in the prayer with the imam is better then delaying some of it until going home. The evidence for this is the statement of the Prophet [s], Whoever stands in prayer with the imam until he completes the Witr will have an entire night of prayer written to his credit. If a Muslim is unable to continue with the imam due to certain circumstances then there is no harm in leaving the congregation and completing the prayer in any place that is easy to do so, and the home is best. Allah knows best.

17. Some Muslims habitually single out the 27th night of Ramadan as Lailat al-Qadr . Is it right?

No, it is not right . Allah says , ‘ We have sent it in a blessed night and We have informed you of it. Also: We have sent it down in Lailat al-Qadr. And what will explain to you Lailatul-Qadr? Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months!' [qadr 97]

Narrated Ibn Abbas [ra], ‘The Prophet [s] said, ‘Look for the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan; on the nights when 9, 7, or 5 nights remain out of the last 10 nights of Ramadan [i.e. 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 irrespectively] [bukhari vol 3 h # 2021]

Salim [ra] reported on the authority of his father that a person saw Lailat al-Qadr on the 27th of Ramadan. Thereupon the Prophet [s] said, ‘I see that your dreams agree regarding the last ten [nights of Ramadan]. So seek it on an odd number [of those ten nights].' [muslim vol. 2 h # 2619]

18. Which is better, to Fast or not to Fast while traveling?

It is equally permissible to Fast or not to Fast while traveling. Those who Fast while traveling must not criticize those who do not Fast and vice versa. If the Fast causes hardship, fatigue and trouble, it is better to break the Fast while traveling.

Narrated Jabir bin Abdallah [ra], ‘The Prophet [s] was on a journey and saw a crowd of people, and a man was being shaded [by them]. He [s] asked, ‘What is the matter?' They said, ‘He [the man] is Fasting.' The Prophet [s] said, ‘It is not righteousness to Fast while traveling.' [bukhari vol. 3 h # 1946]

19. Is it permissible for a woman to take pills that postpone the occurrence of her menstruation toward the end of the month of Ramadan in order to complete the Fasting of the month?

It is permissible to take such pills for the purpose of doing righteous deeds. If a woman intends to complete the Fasting of Ramadan, offering the prayers in congregation and reciting the Qur'an, then taking the pills is permissible. Fasting all the month while taking the pills is an acceptable practice. Also, the woman who takes pills and Fasts the whole month need not make up any days later.

20. Must the Fasting person pay Zakat al-Fitr?

A financially capable Muslim is required to offer Zakat al-Fitr. It is obligatory regardless of status, free, slave, male, female, young, or old. The responsibility falls upon the head of the household to give it out and he should give it on behalf of himself and those under his care. The amount of this charity is a Sa' of dry food which is equivalent to 3.4 kg per person (It is actually a measure of capacity or volume, therefore the weight is approximate). It should be given during the last days of Ramadan or on the morning of 'Eid prior to the prayer. Food should be given and not other items as substitutes and one should stick to giving of grains and other types of food that can be measured in a container, i.e. not meat or butter. However, one may determine the monetary value of the goods to be given and give it to an individual or organization he trusts to buy the correct types and insure that it reaches the recipients in the form permitted by the sunnah.

Abdullah ibn Abbas [ra] reported that the Prophet [s] prescribed the sadaqah [charity] related to the breaking of the Fast as a purification of the Fasting from empty and obscene talk, and as food for the poor. For the one who pays it before the [eid] prayer, it will be accepted as zakah [al-Fitr], but for the one who pays it after the prayer, it will be a sadaqah like other sadaqahs.' [abu dawud]

Rukaiah (Posted to YahooGroups on Nov 19, 2000)

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments