thanks

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/...5292478048.html

Quote:The parents of a Palestinian suicide bomber who killed 19 people at a restaurant in northern Israel have spoken of their pride in their daughter, and said she had avenged the death of her brother at the hands of the Israeli army.Hanadi Tayssir Jaradat, 29, who worked as a lawyer in the centre of the West Bank town of Jenin, was a devout Muslim who would assiduously pray and read the Koran, her parents said.  

The unmarried woman had witnessed the death of her brother, Fadi Jaradat, and cousin, Saleh Jaradat, during an Israeli army operation in Jenin on June 12. Both were members of the radical Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.  

\"She saw the killing in the house of her brother and cousin three months ago,\" her mother, Umm Fadi, said. \"She was deeply upset, as she was very close to her brother.  

<b>\"I am happy with her because she has killed those who have killed my son. They kill us every day, and demolish our homes every day.\" </b>

Speaking in a neighbour's house, after the family home was destroyed by the Israeli army early today, Umm Fadi said that she had had no idea what her daughter was about to do.  

She said her daughter had left home as usual at 7.30 am on Saturday (1530 AEST), as she headed off for the market.  

But instead of travelling to her office in Jenin, Jaradat headed for the northern city of Haifa with an explosive device that she detonated in the Maxim restaurant, a business co-owned by Jewish and Arab families, about seven hours later.  

\"She was very normal,\" said Umm Fadi. \"But when I heard that there was an explosion in Haifa, I tried to call her. As a mother, I felt something might have happened.  

\"Then the television said it was Hanadi. I was very shocked.\"

Her father also spoke of his pride, as the Al-Jazeera Arab satellite channel played a video of his daughter shortly before she embarked on her suicide mission.  

\"I am very proud of what she has done,\" Tayssir Jaradat said.  

\"She is a very strong person. She would pray and read the Koran every day.\"  

In a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, Islamic Jihad said that it had been a response \"to the Israeli crimes which continue against our people and our fighters\".  

Israeli government spokesman Jonathan Peled said that there had now been 121 suicide bombings against Israeli targets since the start of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, just over three years ago.  

\"There is no way of profiling a suicide bomber,\" he said. \"Whoever resorts to a suicide bombing has no respect for human life.\"  

For the First Time in My life, I knew the Truth

Scott Lynch

1007 Boltz Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 USA 970-206-8458 day/office scott.lynch@centerpartners.com

12/12/2002

I converted to Islam about 21 months ago. My journey to Islam was a long one that spanned over more than 2 decades.

ALL-AMERICAN BOY

Allah is a permanent reality that works in the lives of those who hear His message. Not having a personal relationship with my Creator tugged at my heart and mind for nearly two decades. Then, I discovered Islam. I would not be considered in the West as a stereotypical Muslim. I believe the popular Western stereotype of a Muslim male is something like the following: dark skin, dark hair, bearded, Middle-Eastern or Asian descent, dressed in modest clothing and possibly a head covering. No, I’m the complete opposite of this. I am in many ways the epitome of the “all-American boy”: blond-hair, blue-eyed, corn-fed Protestant/Christian background. However, Islam and Muslims take on many faces, many backgrounds, many cultures, many nationalities and many tongues. Our family moved a few times in my youth, but my world was limited to the heart of the “Bible-belt” in Augusta, GA, and Spartanburg and Greenville, SC—all fairly large communities, but all offered little in religious diversity. I had normal, loving, God-fearing parents—they are still happily married today after more than 30 years—and one younger brother. I grew up as a “PK” (for those of you outside of Protestant Christianity, I was a “preacher’s kid”). My father was a Southern Baptist minister for more than 25 years. As you can imagine, for the first 18 years of my life, I attended church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and any number of other nights that the church lights were on. I grew up believing in God and Jesus, or, should I say, fearing God and Jesus. Like most adolescents, I was afraid not to believe in the religion of my parents. However, something was wrong. I can recall thinking, even at age 10, “this Jesus’ story just doesn’t make sense to me.” Even at this young age, I didn’t accept the divinity of Jesus and the notion of Christian salvation (i.e., Jesus dying for my sins). As all my church friends were getting saved, baptized and confirmed during their pre-teen and teenage years (this all seemed like more of a rite of passage than a sincere decision for most, or just the popular thing to do), I quietly sat in the church pews questioning the fundamentals of Christian theology. My parents, my church-friends and the various churches my father pastored throughout my childhood all prayed for my salvation.

Then, one Sunday night, I sub-came to the pressure. I was 12 years old and my family was at the First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg (in Spartanburg, South Carolina). After a fiery sermon, which obviously moved a lot of people, my father came to me and said, “Son, do you want to ask Jesus into your heart? It’s about time you do so.” Tired of all the solicitations, tired of all the “Scott, we’re praying for you,” tired of always feeling like the one who didn’t belong, I lied to my father and said, “Yes POPS.” That night, I repeated after my father and supposedly accepted Jesus into my heart. I was presented to the church as a new Christian, baptized and immediately became part of the Christian community; although, I was very empty inside. For the next 5 years, I put on the charade of a good preacher’s kid. I attended Bible studies, went on summer mission trips and even had a couple “saves” (individuals becoming Christian) contributed to me. This was all under the veil of a big lie—that night when I was 12 years old, the night that I supposedly became a Christian myself—I never asked Jesus in my heart. True, I went through the motions, but it meant nothing to me.

When I graduated high school and it was time to go off to college, I only thought of one thing: religious freedom. I viewed the opportunity as the chance to move away from my parents and explore the religions of the world. I moved about 70 miles away from my parents to Rock Hill, SC, enrolled in Winthrop College and majored in religion. However, moving from one part of the “Bible-belt” to another part of the “Bible-belt” didn’t help my search. Rock Hill was a smaller town than I grew up in and there were even more churches per capita. Once again, the only religious diversity was in the form of what favor of Christianity you wanted for the week. I did manage to run across a couple freethinking religion professors that mentored me in exploring religion. If anything, they pointed me to many different sources to satisfy my quest. I rarely pushed the envelope of my comfort level and only ended up exploring different forms of Christianity. During the two years I spent in little Rock Hill, SC, I attended Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal and many non-affiliated/community churches. It would not be until another couple years before I would experience non-Christian religious expression.

Beyond the “Chosen People” Vision

Unsatisfied with the lack of religious diversity, I left Rock Hill, SC for the University of South Carolina in the state’s capital of Columbia (metro population: half-million). I thought, “Surely I can find other religions in city this size.” Once again, I majored in religion. While in Columbia for the remainder of my undergraduate degree, I became extremely interested in Judaism, but not on a spiritual level, but rather, on an academic level. I was attracted to the Hebrew language. I took more than 4 years of a combined Bible and Modern Hebrew and excelled at reading the original scriptures and reading Jewish prayers. In fact, because one of my professors was a local rabbi, I even taught 6-grade Hebrew school for a term (to this day, a decade later, I can still read the Hebrew texts). I was very involved with Judaism in Columbia, SC, but much like Christianity, it’s fundamental beliefs seemed empty to me. Inside, I asked questions like, “If the Jews are considered God’s ‘chosen people’—where does that leave me? While at the University of South Carolina, I was exposed to a glimpse of Islam. I took a class entitled “Islamic Institutions and Traditions.” It was taught by a non-Muslim who had taught university in Egypt, so he seemed to be an authority on Islam but the class did little for me other than provide a good textbook background for me. Half the class consisted of Muslims, so I think the class’ integrity was kept in check. Half way through the class, I did visit the local mosque and witnessed salah (prayer) for the first time. Although I didn’t understand—what seemed like an impersonal approach to prayer and worship—I was impressed by Islam’s simplicity and humbleness (e.g.: prostrating before almighty Allah) in prayer and worship. My brief encounter with Islam, both in a college class and my visit to a mosque, planted a seed that would grow for the next ten years. After my undergraduate studies, I went out into the workforce. For the next 5 years, I withdrew from religion and became what I considered to be agnostic. I knew there was a one God, however, I didn’t know a lot about Him. For me, Christianity and Judaism did not address the issue of the proper worship of one God. My professional positions took me all across the United States where I finally settled in Fort Collins, Colorado. After waking up day after day to the beautiful mountains, prairies and expanses of Colorado, I began to question the concept of “God” again. How could there be so much beauty and order in the world and God not intimately reveal Himself to mankind? I began to recall the religious experience I’d had over the past 10-15 years. I looked at Christianity and said “No.” I still could accept the Jesus theology. I looked at Judaism. Again, “No.” I couldn’t live with the Jewish customs and belief in a “chosen people.” Finally, I began to look at Islam. My impression of Islam was a combination of several things. It consisted of the one class I took in university, my one visit to the mosque in Columbia, SC, and then the media (I’ve now discovered that the U.S. media does not accurately display Islam). I began researching the fundamental beliefs of Islam. I decided to strip away the stereotypes and examine exactly what Islam is all about. After some study, I found the following:

1-Islam has the strongest declaration of monotheistic faith of any religion (I said to myself, “check, I agree”),

2-the belief that God has no partners (again, “big check”),

3-the belief that God has revealed Himself many times through prophets and messengers and His message has been confused and distorted by man (I always had a hard time believing parts of the Bible and its interpretation, so “check for now”),

4-that Islam is not just a religion, but an entire way of life (very appealing, “check”).

Reading the Qur’an

After reading about Islam, I set out to inquire a little deeper. I set out to find a Muslim. At the time of my inquiry into Islam, I was working in a very large company with more than 1000 employees. I thought, “Surely there’s a Muslim or two that would be willing to answer my questions.”

My search did not take long. I met a kind, quiet Muslim man named “Hani.” I approached the man and told him that I wanted to learn more about his religion. The first thing Hani recommended was reading the Qur’an, the revelation of Allah to His Prophet Muhammad. Hani even gave me a Qur’an (In fact, the small Arabic-English Qur’an that Brother Hani gave me is still one of my prized possessions. Hani inscribed in it the following words that continue to touch my heart: “May Allah guide us to the right path.” I began reading the Qur’an and to my surprise, it made sense to me. Coming from a Christian background with a good understanding of Jewish history/theology, the Qur’an connected all the dots for me. It confirmed so many doubts I had about Judaism and Christianity, and provided the roadmap that I was looking for. After reading only part of the Qur’an, I said to myself, “I believe in this. I should be a Muslim.” But what would my family say? What would my friends say? What would my coworkers think? So, for months, I kept my feelings quiet and continued to study Islam silently. I began to read more books, subscribed to Muslim email lists, purchased Islamic videos and even began memorizing the prayers. Out of all the aspects of Islam that I observed, the prayer impacted me the most. Like the worshipers I saw in the videos, I too wanted to bow down and prostrate myself before my Holy Creator. Finally, after more than eight months of inquiry with my friend Hani, he must have sensed I was ready to take the next step.

In early January 2001, he invited me to the Islamic Center of Fort Collins (Colorado). It is where more than 1000 Muslims in Northern Colorado go to pray and worship. He invited me the Fajr prayer (before sunrise). At that time, it was around 6:15 a.m. You can imagine what I was thinking: “God, you want me to get up before 6:00 on a cold Colorado winter morning and go worship you?” I recall not sleeping too well the night before. I felt like I was being called to do something. I made it down to Islamic Center and met up with Hani. When I went in, I was instructed to take off my shoes in the vestibule. I walked through a large communal area and Hani showed me the area that Muslims perform wudu, the washing and purifying of one’s body before going before Allah. Hani and I then went into the prayer area. The prayer area was a large, simple, quiet room. There were many books, mostly in Arabic, on several of the walls, and the room seemed to point in one direction (the direction to the Ka`bah in Makkah, or the first house of worship to Allah). When we walked in, there were 6-7 Muslim men praying. For the second time, I saw again in-person what I had seen only in videos—worshipers bowing before their Creator—but with anew understanding after all the careful reading I did. It sent chills down my spine. I too wanted to worship as the men before me. The familiar call to prayer, the Adhan, was called and Hani asked me if I wanted to pray. I nervously said, “Yes!” Hani said, “Just do as the rest of us do.” And for the first time, I prayed and worshiped Allah as He commands. I didn’t know all the words or their meanings, but it had a powerful impact. After the prayer, Hani asked me if I would like to become a Muslim. Again, I said, “Yes!” I had already practiced and said the Shahadah dozens of times, and on that cold morning on January 3, 2001, at around 6:30 a.m., I said it in front of those Muslim men. Al-Hamdulilah (Glory be to Allah), I became a Muslim.

The moment I said “La ilaha illaAllah Muhammad Rasooul Allah” (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah) in front of those men, I felt a huge burden lifted from my heart. I felt liberated from my search. For the first time in my life, I knew the Truth—the Truth of Allah. It’s now been over a year since I became a Muslim. Has it been easy? Not always. Have I had struggles, setbacks and doubts? Absolutely, I’m human. However, the past year has been the best of my life. Allah has blessed me beyond belief. I’ve had a peace about me that is indescribable. And although I can’t really describe how it feels, I know where it comes from—it comes minute-after-minute, hour-after-hour, day-after-day, trying my best to follow Allah’s true Deen (religion, way of life). My peace is knowing that Allah has revealed the Truth to me. To my Muslims brothers and sisters and all non-Muslims, may Allah guide us all to the right path.

For feedback contact: MyjourneytoIslam@islam-online.net

السلام عليكم

لقد ارسلت لي احده الاخوات هذه القصه الظريفه ارجوا ان نستفيد منها

قصه الصفعه

كان هناك غلام أرسل الى بلاد بعيده للدراسة وظل هناك بضعا من الزمن ثم ذهب بعد عودته الى أهله ليطلب منهم ان يحضروا له معلم ديني ليجيب على أسئلته الثلاثة ، ثم أخيراً وجدوا له معلماً دينياً مسلماً ودار بينهما الحوار التالي :

الغلام: من أنت ؟ وهل تستطيع الاجابه على أسئلتي الثلاث ؟

المعلم: أنا عبد من عباد الله.. وسأجيب على أسئلتك بإذن الله تعالى ..

الغلام: هل أنت متأكد؟ الكثير من الأطباء والعلماء قبلك لم يستطيعوا الإجابة على أسئلتي !

المعلم: سأحاول جهدي .. وبعون من الله ..................

الغلام: لدي 3 أسئلة :

السؤال الأول : هل الله موجود فعلاً ؟ واذا كان كذلك أرني شكله ؟

السؤال الثاني : ماهو القضاء والقدر؟

السؤال الثالث : إذا كان الشيطان مخلوقاً من نار ..فلماذا يلقى فيها بعد ذلك وهي لن تؤثر فيه؟

صفع المعلم الغلام صفعة قوية على وجهه !!

فقال الغلام وهو يتألم: لماذا صفعتني؟ وما الذي جعلك تغضب مني؟

أجاب المعلم: لست غاضباً وإنما الصفعة هي الإجابة على أسئلتك الثلاث ..

الغلام: ولكنني لم أفهم شيئاً !!

المعلم: ماذا تشعر بعد ان صفعتك؟

الغلام: بالطبع أشعر بالألم !!

المعلم: إذاً هل تعتقد أن هذا الألم موجود؟

الغلام: نعم !

المعلم: أرني شكله؟

الغلام: لا أستطيع !

المعلم: هذا هو جوابي الاول .. كلنا نشعر بوجود الله ولكن لا نستطيع رؤيته !

ثم أضاف: هل حلمت البارحة بأني سوف أصفعك؟

الغلام: لا

المعلم: هل خطر ببالك أني سأصفعك اليوم؟

الغلام: لا ..

المعلم: هذا هو القضاء والقدر ..................!

ثم أضاف: يدي التي صفعتك بها .. مما خلقت؟

الغلام: من طين !

المعلم: وماذا عن وجهك؟

الغلام: من طين

المعلم: ماذا تشعر بعد ان صفعتك؟

الغلام: أشعر بالالم !

المعلم: تماماً .. فبالرغم من أن الشيطان مخلوق من نار .. ولكن إذا شاء الله فستكون النار مكاناً أليماً للشيطان !

كتبها : bibo19@hotmail.com

Ramadan: How to Make the Most of it (Urdu)

What should be done during Ramadan?

By: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

-Preparing oneself and one’s environment for worship.

-Hastening to repent and turn back to Allaah.

-Rejoicing at the onset of the month.

-Fasting properly.

-Having the right frame of mind and fearing Allaah when praying Taraaweeh.

-Not feeling tired during the middle ten days of the month.

-Seeking Laylat al-Qadr.

-Reading the entire Qur’aan time after time, trying to weep and trying to understand what you are reading.

-Umrah during Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.

-Charity given during this virtuous time is multiplied.

-I’tikaaf (retreat in the mosque for worship) is confirmed (as part of the Sunnah).

There is nothing wrong with congratulating one another at the beginning of the month. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell his Companions the good news of the onset of Ramadaan, and urge them to make the most of it. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.’” (Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490)

Niyyah (intention) in fasting

Niyyah (intention) is a required condition in fard (obligatory) fasts, and in other obligatory fasts such as making up missed fasts or fasts done as an act of expiation (kafaarah), because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast from the night before.”

(Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 2454. A number of the scholars, such as al-Bukhaari, al-Nisaa'i, al-Tirmidhi and others thought it was likely to be mawqoof. See Talkhees al-Hubayr, 2/188)

The intention may be made at any point during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajr. Niyyah means the resolution in the heart to do something; speaking it aloud is bid’ah (a reprehensible innovation), and anyone who knows that tomorrow is one of the days of Ramadaan and wants to fast has made the intention. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/215). If a person intends to break his fast during the day but does not do so, then according to the most correct opinion, his fast is not adversely affected by this; he is like a person who wants to speak during the prayer but does not speak. Some of the scholars think that he is not fasting as soon as he stops intending to fast, so to be on the safe side, he should make up that fast later on. Apostasy, however, invalidates the intention; there is no dispute on this matter.

The person who is fasting Ramadaan does not need to repeat the intention every night during Ramadaan; it is sufficient to have the intention at the beginning of the month. If the intention is interrupted by breaking the fast due to travel or sickness – for example – he has to renew the intention to fast when the reason for breaking the fast is no longer present.

Making the intention the night before is not a condition of general nafl (supererogatory) fasts, because of the hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon me one day and said, ‘Do you have anything [food]?’ We said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘In that case I am fasting.’” (Reported by Muslim, 2/809, ‘Abd al-Baaqi). But in the case of specific nafl fasts such as ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’, it is better to be on the safe side and make the intention the night before.

If a person embarks on an obligatory fast, such as making up for a day missed in Ramadaan, or fulfilling a vow, or fasting as an act of expiation (kafaarah), he must complete the fast, and he is not permitted to break it unless he has a valid excuse for doing so. In the case of a naafil fast, “the person who is observing a voluntary fast has the choice either to complete the fast or to break it” (reported by Ahmad, 6/342) – even if there is no reason to break it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got up fasting one morning, then he ate. (As reported in Saheeh Muslim, in the story of the al-hais (a type of food) that was given to him as a gift when he was in ‘Aa’ishah’s house; no. 1154, ‘Abd al-Baaqi). But will the person who breaks his fast for no reason be rewarded for the fasting that he has already done? Some of the scholars say that he will not be rewarded (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 28/13), so it is better for the person who is observing a voluntary fast to complete it, unless there is a valid, pressing reason for him to stop fasting.

If a person does not know that Ramadaan has started until after dawn, he has to stop eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and he has to make that day up later on, according to the majority of scholars, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no fasting for the one who does not have the intention to fast from the night before.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 2454).

If a prisoner or captive knows that Ramadaan has begun by sighting the moon himself or by being told by a trustworthy person, he has to fast. If he does not know when the month is beginning, he must try to work it out for himself (ijtihaad) and act according what he thinks is most likely. If he later finds out that his fasting coincided with Ramadaan, this is fine according to the majority of scholars, and if his fasting came after Ramadaan, this is fine according to the majority of fuqahaa’, but if his fasting came before Ramadaan, this is not acceptable, and he has to make up the fast. If part of his fasting coincided with Ramadaan and part of it did not, what coincided with it or came after it is fine, but what came before is not OK. If the matter never becomes clear to him, then his fasting is fine because he did the best he could, and Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope. (Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 28/84).

By: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Dates - Rich in Proteins, Vitamins

Muslims generally break their fast by eating dates. Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said, "If anyone of you is fasting, let him break his fast with dates. In case he does not have them, then with water. Verily water is a purifier."

The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to break his fast by eating some dates before offering Maghrib Salaat, and if ripe dates were not available, he used to substitute them with some dried grapes. When they too were not available, he used to have a few sips of water, according to some reports. Modern science has proved that dates are part of a healthy diet. They contain sugar, fat and proteins, as well as important vitamins. Hence, the great importance attached to them by the Prophet.

Dates are also rich in natural fibres. Modern medicine has shown that they are effective in preventing abdominal cancer. They also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their constituents. They contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. In other words, one date satisfies the minimum requirements of a balanced and healthy diet. Arabs usually combine dates with milk and yoghurt or bread, butter and fish. This combination indeed makes a self-sufficient and tasty diet for both mind and body.

Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the Noble Qur'aan twenty times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet likened a good Muslim to the date palm, saying, "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall."

Dates are rich in several vitamins and minerals. When the level of trace elements falls in the body, the health of the blood vessels is affected leading to an increased heart-rate and a consequent inability to perform its function with normal efficiency. As dates are also rich in calcium, they help to strengthen the bones. When the calcium content in the body decreases, children are affected with rickets and the bones of adults become brittle and weak.

Dates are also important in keeping up the health of eyes. It is quite effective in guarding against night-blindness. In the early years of Islam, dates served as food for Muslim warriors. They used to carry them in special bags hung at their sides. They are the best stimulant for muscles and so the best food for a warrior about to engage in battle.

The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to combine dates with bread sometimes. At other times he mixed ripe dates with cucumber, or dates combined with ghee. He used to take all varieties of dates, but he preferred the variety called Ajwah.

Question: Does using a puffer for asthma in the mouth during the day in Ramadaan invalidate the fast for one who is suffering difficulty in breathing?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Using a puffer for asthma during the day in Ramadaan does not invalidate the fast.

The puffer used for asthma does not invalidate the fast because it is a pressurized gas that goes to the lungs, and is not food, and it is something that is always needed, in Ramadaan and at other times.

Fataawa al-Da’wah, Ibn Baaz, no. 979.

See the booklet Sab’oon Mas’alah fi’l-Siyaam (Seventy issues related to fasting).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

This puffer evaporates and does not reach the stomach, so in this case we say that there is nothing wrong with using this puffer when you are fasting, and you do not break your fast by doing that.

Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam, p. 475

The scholars of the Standing Committee said: ,br> The asthma medication that the patient uses by inhaling it reaches the lungs via the trachea and does not reach the stomach, so it is not food or drink or anything of the sort… So it seems that the fast is not broken by using this medicine.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/130

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

Virtues and General Rules of Fasting

Praise be to Allah and prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed, his family members and companions.

A fasting person is encouraged to observe the following rules:

1. Late evening meal (Sohour): Scholars are consensus that the late evening meal is highly recommended, while no sin is associated for one who does not take it. As in “and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread;” Quran 2: 187. It was narrated under the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said “Take late evening meal it carries blessing” reported by Bokhari and Muslim.

Quantity of food is not essential in taking Sohour since even a sip of water is sufficient for one to fulfill this Sunnah. It was narrated under the authority of Abi Said Alkhodry (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said” Late evening meal is blessed so do not miss it even taking a sip of water for Allah and His angels Pray on those who take Sohour” reported by Ahmed.

Proper time for taking late evening meal:

Time span stretches between mid night until dawn with a recommendation to delay the meal as much as possible. It was narrated under the authority of Amr Ibn Maymoun (may Allah be pleased with him) that “Prophet Mohamed’s (PAPBUH) companions were the most people to accelerate fast breaking and delay their Sohour” reported by Bayhaqi. Doubting the due time of dawn:

One is allowed to continue eating and drinking until dawn due time is confirmed. Doubting the due time does not stand as an evidence to stop eating and drinking since Allah may He be Exalted made the confirmation by oneself a criterion to cease eating and drinking as in the same verse mentioned on the first paragraph.

2. Acceleration of fast breaking:

As soon as sunset is confirmed one is encouraged to immediately break the fast according to a hadeeth narrated by Sahl Ibn Said: That Prophet Mohamed (PAPBUH) said “People will continue enjoy well being as long as they accelerate fast breaking” reported by Bokhary and Muslim. Furthermore, it is recommended to break the fast by eating some soft dates (odd number: 1, 3, 5) or water if dates were unavailable. This takes place before Maghreb prayer, and then one may pray and resume eating a regular meal.

3. Supplication at the fast breaking time as well as during fasting hours:

It was narrated under the authority of Ibn Mageh according to Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Ala`as that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said: “A fasting person enjoys the advantage of accepting (will not be refused) a supplication at the time of fast breaking”. When the Messenger of Allah would break his fast he would say: Dhahaba 'adh-ama'u wabtallatil-`urooqu wa thabuta 'al-'ajru 'in shم'a 'allمhu. It means “The thirst is gone, the blood vessels have become moist, and the reward has been established with the Will of Allah. He also used to say:” Alahum laka somt wa a`al rizqeka aftart: it means Oh Allah I fasted to You and broke my fast on your provision” reported by Termidhi.

4. Avoid deeds, which contradict fasting: Fasting is a worship that is considered one of the best channels to secure nearness to Allah Who enjoined it in order to tame the human ego putting it in the correct direction. A fasting person, therefore, should strictly avoid all kinds of deeds which may negatively affect fasting in order to attain the desired benefit and piety as mentioned in “O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self restraint (achieve piety)” Quran 2:183. Fasting in not merely to cease eating and drinking, it entails more than this as in the hadeeth narrated by Abi Horaira that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said” Fasting is not to cease eating and drinking but to fast of unnecessary talking (pointless), vulgarity so when you encounter a situation when someone insult or misbehave with you just say: I’m fasting I’m fasting” reported by Ibn Khozaima, Ibn Habban. And in another hadeeth narrated by Abi Horaira and reported by consensus that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said “Allah Is not in need for one who does not stop false talking to stop eating and drinking”. This reveals the importance of observing proper ethics, especially during fasting hours, which acts as a condition for acceptance of fasting.

5. Using Sewak (a plant in a stick form used for teeth cleansing):

t is recommended for a fasting person to use Sewak either at the beginning or end of the day.

6. Generosity (provide financial assistance for others) and learning Quran:

Both deeds are highly recommended in general and during Ramadan in particular.

7. Multiply the amount of worship during the last ten days of Ramadan:

It was narrated under the authority of Aysha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (PAPBUH) “Upon the commencement of the last ten days of Ramadan, he stays up during night praying and reading Quran, wakes up his family members to join and tightens his underwear (in an indication that he ceased copulation).” Reported by Bokhary and Muslim. This reveals that it is highly recommended to exert extraordinary effort during the last ten days of Ramadan in terms of worship. As for the virtues of fasting in general (virtues of Ramadan were included in the first message):

1. It was narrated under the authority of Abi Horaira that the Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) said: Allah may He be Exalted said “All the deeds of children of Adam are for him/her except fasting it is for Me and I reward for it. Fasting acts as a shield against sins, so during fasting hours avoid vulgarity, shouting and bad behavior. In case someone insulted or fought with a fasting person, one should say I’m fasting twice. I swear in the name of Who holds the soul of Mohamed in His hand the breath smell of a fasting person is better in the eyes of Allah in the day of judgment than the smell of musk. A fasting person enjoys two joyful moments, one upon fast breaking while the other upon meeting Allah. In the first joy happens due to eating and drinking and the latter due to fasting” reported by Ahmed, Muslim and Alnesa`y.*

2. It was narrated under the authority of Abdullah Ibn Amr that Prophet Mohamed (PAPBUH) said “Fasting and Quran will act as means of intercession to Allah on the day of judgement. Fasting will say to Allah Oh my Lord I prevented the person from food and other desires during day time so allow me to mediate, while Quran will say: I prevented the person from sleeping at night so allow me to mediate. So Allah allows them to mediate” reported by Ahmed.

3. It was narrated under the authority of Abi Omama that he said: I came to see Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) and I told him” instruct me for a deed, which will make me, destined to heavens. He said” fasting because there is nothing that is equal to it. I came to him on another time and he said: fast” reported by Ahmed and Alnesa`y.

4. It was narrated under the authority of Sahl Ibn Saad that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said: “ One of the doors of heavens is called Alrayan. On the day of resurrection it will be said where are the fasting people? As soon as the last one of them enters from the door it will be closed” reported by Bokhary. We hope that we were able to cover the subject of fasting as much as possible and we seek Allah’s forgiveness for any failure in explanation or missing items. We also pray to Allah to assist those who are having their first Ramadan, which is according to the hadeeth “Allah grants Mercy at its beginning, forgiveness is in the middle days while at the end complete rescue of hell”. May Allah grant us all freedom of hell. *