As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!
I hope this finds you close to Allah & in the best of health and Iman, Ameen.
Rules of the
Fasting of Ramadan
(Prepared by Mohamed Baianonie, Imam of the
Islamic Center of Raleigh, NC)
The blessed
month of Ramadan is just around the corner. We should prepare ourselves
to receive this month with sincerity in our fasting and our nightly prayers, so
that we can receive the utmost reward of forgiveness and Paradise
from Allah .
Allah says
in the Qur'aan what may be interpreted as, “O’ you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you so that you may achieve Taqwaa (righteousness, God-fearing).” [Suratul-Baqarah, (verse 183)]
The Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said,
“Whoever observes the fast during the
month of Ramadan, (while) believing in Allah and seeking His rewards, will
have his past sins forgiven.” [Reported by Imaams Bukhaari, Muslim and
others]
Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the main pillars of
Islam. It is obligatory upon every
sane, healthy Muslim whose reached puberty and is not traveling during the time
of fasting. As for women, they must not
fast if they are menstruating or having post-childbirth bleeding.
The Essential Elements of the Fast
There are two essentials elements
for your fast to be valid and accepted. They are:
1. The Intention: You must
have the intention to fast before fajr
(dawn) every night during the month of Ramadan.
The intention does not need to be spoken, because in
reality it is an act of the heart, which does not involve the tongue. It will
be fulfilled by one's intention from the heart to fast out of obedience to
Allah , seeking His pleasure.
2. Abstaining from Acts that Nullify the Fast: The second essential
element for your fast to be accepted is that you abstain from the acts that nullify the fast from dawn
to sunset.
If you maintain these two essential elements during
fasting, then your fast will be valid and accepted.
The Six Actions that Invalidate or
Nullify the Fast
All
scholars have agreed that the following acts will invalidate the fast. They
are:
1-2.
Intentional
Eating or Drinking: If someone
eats or drinks due to forgetfulness, a mistake, or coercion, then his fast is
still valid and should continue to fast. If you choose to eat or drink, for any
reason, then your fast will become invalid.
3. Intentional Vomiting: If
one is overcome by the urge to vomit, and vomits unintentionally, then he
should continue to fast. If someone chooses to vomit,
for any reason, then his fast will become invalid.
4. Intentional
Sexual Intercourse: If one has sexual intercourse while fasting, then he must
perform kaffaarah, expiation (Fasting continuously for sixty days. If
unable, one should feed sixty poor people).
5-6.
Menstrual
& Childbirth Bleeding Invalidate the Fast: The fast becomes invalid
during menstrual or post-childbirth bleeding. Even if such bleeding begins just
before sunset, the fast of that day is invalid and the day must be made up at a
later time.
Note:
All the actions mentioned above are agreed upon by all scholars. However, there are some other actions that
are not mentioned above which are not agreed upon.
Action that are Permissible During
Fasting
There are some actions that are permissible to do
while fasting, which will not nullify the fast. For example:
1. Taking a
Shower: It is permissible to shower,
for any reason, even if you are showering due to thirst or being overheated.
2. Rinsing
the Mouth and Nose: It is permissible
to rinse the mouth and nose without exaggeration; using too much water may
cause you to swallow water, which may invalidate your fast.
3. Applying
Eyeliner or Eye Drops: It is
permissible to apply kohl (eyeliner) or eye drops or anything else to the
eyes, even if some taste from it finds its way to the throat.
4. Taking
Injections: It is also permissible to
take injections for nutritional or medical purposes; there is no text that
proves this invalidates the fast.
5. Taking
Suppositories: Similarly, it is
permissible to have an enema or douche. The injection of liquid into the rectum
through the anus for cleansing, as a laxative, or for other therapeutic
purposes, or the use of a suppository (a solid medication designed to melt
within a body cavity) or any other medicine that can be used in the private
parts, whether in the front or back is permissible. There is no text that
considers these acts to nullify the fast.
6. Accidental
Consumption: Your fast will not
become invalid if you consume something that you could not protect yourself
from. For example, swallowing your saliva or accidentally swallowing dust or
sifted flour that has accidentally entered your mouth.
7. Tasting
Food with the Tongue: Your fast will
be valid even if you taste food with your tongue or use toothpaste or mouthwash
as long as nothing is swallowed.
8. Breathing
in Different Scents: It is permissible to smell or breathe in any kind of
odors or scents including medicinal inhalers or vapor rubs that might enter the
lungs.
9. Kissing and Embracing One's Spouse: It is
permissible to kiss and embrace your spouse as long as one is able to control
oneself.
10.
Drawing
Blood: It is also permissible to draw blood in any amount for
any reason. If drawing blood weakens the person, it will be considered a
disliked action.
11.
Being in
a State of Janaabah: Your fast will still be valid even if you find
yourself in a state of janaabah (a major ritual impurity) after fajr (dawn) has arrived. Ghusl (a full bath) can still be performed
once the time of fajr has begun.
Who May Be Excluded From Fasting?
There are certain situations when it is optional to
fast during the month of Ramadan, however, the fast must be made up at
a later date. This is the rule for the sick or for the one who is traveling.
However, women who are experiencing post-childbirth
bleeding or are in their menses are not allowed to fast until their bleeding
ends. They must make up the days they missed fasting at a later date.
For those who cannot fast due to a permanent illness
or old age, they have to pay fidiya (feeding one poor person) for each
day that they have missed.
Pregnant and nursing women, who are afraid that
fasting may weaken them or the child, have the option of fasting or not. After Ramadan
ends, they have the choice of fasting or paying fidiyah (feeding one
poor person) for each day that they had missed during Ramadan. However,
according to the Hanafi
School of jurists, such
women are only to make up the missed days of fasting, and they are not supposed
to feed one poor person a day. On the other hand, Imams Ahmad and Ash-Shaaf'i,
hold the opinion that if such women fear only for the baby, they must pay the fidiyah
and make up the days later. If they fear only for themselves or for themselves
and the baby, then they are only to make up the missed days at a later date.
Recommended Acts During Ramadan
There are some acts that are recommended, and if you
practice them, you will gain more rewards from Allah such
as:
1. Having suhuur
(pre-dawn meal) and delaying it until just before fajr (dawn) time.
2. We should
also hurry to break the fast at sunset.
3. Another
recommended act is that we break the fast by eating an odd number of fresh or
dry dates, and if those are not available, then having a drink of water would
be sufficient.
4. Also we can
earn rewards by supplicating at the time of breaking the fast, as the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) used
to say,
Dhahabadh-dhama-oo wabtallatil-'urooqu, wa
thabatal-ajru inshaa'Allaah.
“The
thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and Allah willing, the reward is
confirmed.”
5.
Another
recommended act is that we pray Taraweeh
daily after 'ishaa’.
6.
To gain even
more rewards, it is recommended that during Ramadan we increase our
recitation and study of the Qur’aan. This is because the revelation of the Qur'aan began during this
time, and also Angel Gabriel used to review the Qur'aan with the Prophet
during this month.
7.
We can also
gain rewards by using Miswaak (a piece of root from the Araak tree found in the Hijaaz region of the Arabian Peninsula
used to clean the teeth), if not available, any other cleaning tool to clean
the mouth is sufficient.
We ask Allaah to
strengthen us in Ramadan, accept our fasts, and reward us with His
forgiveness and the highest place in Paradise.
Ameen.
