10-06-2003, 07:35 AM
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. *