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Fasting 1/4 - Muslimah - 10-06-2003
Praise be to Allah and prayer and peace be upon his Messenger Mohamed.
As I came across this research prepared on Fasting in response to inquiries from a lady who was going to have her first Ramadan.
I saw to post it here in this section in order to spread the benefit and of course you are encouraged to even circulate it more for one who guides for good deeds receives equal reward as one who did it.
.
Fasting 1/3
Fasting means taking the intention to refrain, between dawn until sunset, from the prohibited items (food, drinks and sexual intercourse) which break the fast.
Fasting of Ramadan:
It is compulsory as in “O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self restraint,” Quran 2: 183 and “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). so every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any is ill, or on a journey, thee prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. God intends every facility for you; he does not want to but you to difficulties. (he wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify him in that he has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” Quran 2:185.
Fasting Ramadan is also the fourth pillar of Islam according to the Prophet’s (Prayer and peace be upon him) hadeeth saying” Islam is based on five: the testimony of faith I testify that there is no other God but Allah and that Mohamed is the Prophet and Messenger of Allah, perform prayer, payment of Zakah, fasting Ramadan and Haj”. While in another hadeeth narrated by Talha Ibn Obaiyd Allah: “A man came asking the Prophet (PAPBUH): Oh Messenger of Allah tell me about what Allah enjoined on me in terms of fasting? The Prophet (PAPBUH) answered the month of Ramadan. The man further inquired am I obliged for any more? the Prophet (PAPBUH) said no unless you volunteer”. Scholars are accordingly consensus on the necessity to fast Ramadan which is one of the pillars of Islam. Also that one who denies its position as obligatory and claims other wise puts him / her in the position of denouncing the religion.
The month of Ramadan enjoys a remarkable position in the eyes of Allah explained in a hadeeth as follows. Under the authority of Abou Horaira, it was narrated that the Prophet (PAPBUH) at the beginning of Ramadan said “Here is a blessed month, of which fasting is compulsory, has come to you. During this month gates of heavens are opened while those of hell are closed, and devils are chained down. There is one specific night of that month that outweighs thousand months whoever is deprived of its goodness suffers a major loss” reported by Ahmed, Alnesa`y and Bayhaqy.
Also another hadeeth that clearly manifests the advantage one retains through fasting Ramadan is as follows: Under the authority of Abou Horaira that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said “The five prayers, from Friday prayer to Friday prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan eliminate sins committed in between as long as major sins are avoided” reported by Muslim.
Now let us shed light on how grave it is not to fast Ramadan without a valid reason or legitimate permission (we will include the legitimate permissions in the following section). It was narrated under the authority of Abou Horaira that the Prophet (PAPBUH) said:” One who does not fast one day of Ramadan without a legitimate permission from Allah will not be able to make it up through fasting the whole life even if he/ she fasted it” reported by Abou Daoud, Ibn Mageh and Termidhi.
As for aspects of fasting, there are two factors:
1. Refrain from fast breaking items (food, drinks and sexual intercourse) between dawn and sunset according to the verse “Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. they are your garments and ye are their garments. God knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but he turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what God hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. those are limits (set by) God: approach not nigh thereto. thus doth God make clear his signs to men: that they may learn self restraint.” Quran 2:187
2. Intention as in “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship God, offering Him sincere devotion, being True (in faith); to establish regular Prayer; and to practice regular Charity; and that is the Religion right and straight.” Quran 98:5. This verse is further explained through a Prophet’s (PAPBUH) hadeeth saying: “Deeds are dependent on intention and each will be rewarded according to the respective intention”. However, taking the intention should be performed during each night of Ramadan according to the hadeeth saying: “Whoever does not take the intention for fasting will not be accounted as fasting” reported by Ahmed. It could also be taken during any part of the night. The intention could be taken just by heart; in other words it does not have to be pronounced out loud.
Permission for not fasting:
This part consists of two sections:
The category who are allowed not to fast and are obliged for financial compensation:
1. Old male or female.
2. A sick person who suffers a chronic disease, which according to doctors will never be healed.
3. Individuals whose profession is associated with serious hardship due to which fasting could be jeopardizing (this should be evaluated by the given person according to one’s conscience).
4. A pregnant or breast feeding woman when she or the baby could be endangered by fasting.
The previously mentioned conditions stand as legitimate causes not to fast with no obligation for making up the fasting in another time. But instead financial compensation is permitted (to feed a poor person in return for each day). The amount of money to be given out is not determined. One could estimate the proper amount sufficient for his/ her meal and give it out. Or even could give the food itself. This is described in “for those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom,” Quran 2:184.
As for pregnant or breast feeding women, there is another religious opinion which states to make up the fasting once their status ends and no ransom is required. Or in case she is concerned about herself and the fetus she has to do both (make up the days as well as ransom). While if she is concerned only about her health, she is allowed to make the days up after her condition changes.
The category who are allowed not to fast Ramadan but compelled to make the days up once their condition changes:
1. An ill person (on a temporary basis in other words healing is expected). However, only severe illness which would be further complicated or when healing would be delayed due to fasting stand as a cause not to fast. (This could be judged through experience or according to medical opinion through a trustworthy Muslim doctor). While another ruling states the generalization of the permission on any given illness even tooth or finger ache based on the generalization of permission for a traveler. But if the ill person decided to fast regardless of the effort, the fasting will be valid, though it is not recommended since he/she decided not to benefit of Allah’s license.
2. A traveler. Those two conditions are stated in Quran as follows: ” but if any is ill, or on a journey, thee prescribed period (should be made up) by days later.” Quran 2:185.
The category who are compelled not to fast and has to make up the days:
Women are not allowed to fast during menstruation or postpartum period, actually they are compelled not to fast to the extend that a woman would be sinful if she does. Moreover, her fast will not be valid or accepted by Allah. As soon as the condition ends (menstruation or postpartum) she could resume fasting and then make up for the number of days she missed after Ramadan. It was narrated under the authority of Bokhary and Muslim that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said “ We were instructed during the time of the Prophet (PAPBUH) to make up for days we missed of fasting due to menstruation while we were not instructed to make up for missed prayer for the same purpose.”