Ramadan: Simple Guide

Ruling of Fasting

Fasting of Ramadan is one of the obligations of Islâm. Allâh the Mighty said:

‘The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadân i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month...” [Al-Baqarah:185]

On the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allâh be pleased with him) the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) said:

‘Islam is built upon five pillars: The testimony that none is worthy of worship except Allâh and that Muhammad is His Mesnsger, observing Salâh, paying Zakâh, going on pilgrimage, and fasting in Ramadan.’

Excellence of Fasting:

On the authority of Abû Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) said:

‘Whoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and hope for reward, his past sins will be forgiven.’

Also on the authority of Abû Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) said Allâh the Mighty said:

‘Every deed of son of Adam is for him except fasting, it is for Me and I am the One to reward it. Fasting is a shield… ’ [Recorded by Al-Bukhârî and Muslim].

Obligation of Fasting in Ramadan with Sighting of the Hilâl

On the authority of Abû Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) said:

‘Begin fasting when you sight it and stop fasting when you sight it, if the sky is cloudy then make a count of thirty days of Sha’bân.’ [Recorded by Al-Bukhârî and Muslim].

So with the sighting of a trustworthy Muslim, the whole Muslim community in a region can begin the fasting. That is what is understood from the hadith of Abdullâh bn Umar (may Allâh be pleased with him) recorded in Sunan Abî Dâwud (2325).

Stopping the month of fasting is however upon the sighting of at least two trustworthy Muslims.

People Obliged to Fast

Scholars say the fasting in Ramadân is obligatory on every Muslim who is sound in mind, has come of age, healthy and not on a journey. Also the woman to observe fasting must not be in her menstrual period and must not be just delivered of a baby or what is similar. A woman with an irregular menstrual period, called al-Istihâdah, is not exempted from fasting.

Muslim Kids and Fasting

Even though kids are not obliged yet their guardians can allow them to fast some of the days as a matter of preparation for the role when they come of age. The Sahâbah used to train their kids as such. Ar-Rubayy bn Mu’awiidh (may Allâh be pleased with him) reported that they – the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) – used to make their kids fast in Ramadan, and that when the kids began to feel the pang of hunger, they would get them dolls to play with, so as to keep them busy. The report is there in Al-Bukhârî and Muslim.

The Sick and Travellers

A sick person can equally fast if his ailment is not such that would affect him adversely otherwise it is better he does not fast as he has the respite in the Book of Allâh the Mighty. The same thing applies to the traveler, he can fast if he has the strength thereof. If fasting will cause him a great hardship such as losing consciousness or what is similar, then such fasting is not of piety.

Old Man and Woman, A Person Permanently Sick

The categories of people mentioned here are also exempted from fasting, they will rather feed a poor person of each missed day, this is what is called al-fidyah which literally means ‘the substitute.’ That is by the virtue of the word of Allâh, ’…as for those who have difficulty thereof then they should feed a poor person (for each day)…’

Pregnant Woman and Nursing Mother

When each of them cannot fast and they fear lest harm should come upon their baby, they can stay off fasting and upon them is fidyah – feeding a poor person for each missed day.

Ibn Abbâs (may Allâh be pleased with him) passed a fatwa about: ‘When the pregnant woman fears she will harm herself (or the fetus), so also the nursing mother, her baby; both of them can leave fasting but feed a poor person for each missed day. They are not to pay it back.’ [The author of al-Wajîz [p.236] wrote that Ash-Shaykh al-Albânî referenced the narration to al-Imâm At-Tabarî (2758) and said, ‘Its chain is authentic upon the standard of Muslim’].

Also from Nâfi’ [the former slave of Ibn Umar], he said: ‘There was a daughter of Ibn Umar (may Allâh be pleased with him) who was a wife of a Qurayshi man, she was pregnant so it occurred that one day she became severely thirsty in Ramadan so her father (being a scholar) commanded her to break her fast and feed a poor person for each missed day.’ [al-Ir’wâ: 2/207].

The standard of the meal to give the poor is what is averagely sufficient. Anas bn Mâlik (may Allâh be pleased with him) became very weak from fasting one year so he prepared a bowl of tharîd, invited thirty poor persons and fed them until they all ate to their fill. [al-Ir’wâ: 2/207].

Some scholars opined that the fidyah is best paid as each day of Ramadan passes. It can be the morning meal or the night.

Pillars of Fasting

Intention: This must come before the appearance of Fajr (pre-sun light) of each day of Ramadan. Hafsah bint Umar (may Allâh be pleased with her), one of the mothers-of-the-believers, reported that the Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever has not made the intention for fasting before the Fajr has no fasting.’ [Sahîh: Ibn Mâjah, Abû Dâwud, At-Tir’midhî].

Refraining from Eating, Drinking and Sexual Intercourse: This abstinence is not total, it is just between the appearance of the True Fajr until the setting of the Sun. this is in accordance with the Word of Our Lord the Almighty:

“…and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall…” [al-Baqarah: 187].

What Can Nullify the Fasting

The following are what can nullify a Muslim fast: Intentional eating and drinking. If one were to forgetfully eat or drink, there is no problem with that. One should just refrain from the action the moment one remembers. There is no expiation or repayment for that. Abu Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him) Reported that the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully while fasting should carry on with his fasting, Allâh has fed and given him a drink.’

Another thing that nullifies the fasting is induced vomiting. This is also due to what was recorded on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever is pushed by vomiting has no repayment of fasting but whoever knowingly induces it must pay it back.’

A woman’s menstrual period or post-partum blood also nullifies the fasting. This can be in the very last minute of a day of fasting. The proof for that is the Consensus.

Sexual intercourse is another thing that nullifies the fasting. There seems no controversy about that. But there is a controversy as to the fact that it is the only the act that attracts kaffârah (expiation). Intentional breaking of fasting through other means apart from that has seen some difference of views between the people of knowledge. Meanwhile the best view, and only Allâh possesses the knowledge, is that only sexual intercourse calls for the expiation outlined in the hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him) whereby a man had sexual intercourse with his wife during the day of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) had asked the man chronologically if he could manumit a slave, when the man said he could not, he (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) asked him if he could fast for two lunar months consecutively, the man said he could not. Then the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) asked him if he could feed sixty poor persons, the man said he could not. Lastly, the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) asked the man to stay somewhere after which a basket of dates was brought and he (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) asked him to take the basket and give its content out as charity.

In another narration, the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said told the man, ‘Eat it, you and your wife but fast a day in lieu then ask Allâh for forgiveness.’

The people of knowledge have said that the last respite was for that man alone, that whoever has sexual intercourse with his wife in the day of Ramadan today must start the expiation from the options given by the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam).

As we said earlier, any other means of intentionally breaking the fast has no prescribed punishment. Whoever does that has come with a great sin which only sincere repentance to Allâh, then various voluntary acts of worship, can remove. Many scholars of the Deen have said that, Allâh the Mighty Lord knows best.

Etiquette of Fasting

Pre-Dawn Meal: This is popularly called suhûr [the time it is taken is called sahûr]. It is not obligatory must highly recommended. The Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Take the suhûr because there is blessing in it.’ [Hadith of Bukhârî and Muslim]. The suhûr can be as little as a gulp of water as indicated in the hadith of Abdullah bn Amr (may Allâh be pleased with him) recorded in Sahîh Ibn Hibbân (223). It is recommended that it is delayed, Zayd bn Thâbit (may Allâh be pleased with him) said they [the Companions] would take the suhûr with the Propeht (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) then the prayer would be commenced and the period between it and the Adhân of the prayer was a space for the recitation of fifty Verses of the Qur’aan. [Recorded in Bukhaari and Muslim].

And whoever is eating and the call to prayer is made is specifically allowed to finish upon his meal. Abu Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘When any of you hears the call to prayer and the dish is in his hand, he should not drop it until he finishes his matter from it.’ [Hadith recorded by Abu Dâwud (2333) Ash-Shaykh Al-Albânî (may Allâh bestow mercy on him) rendered it sahîh in Sahîh Jâmi’ (607)].

The general rule is that suhûr should go on until the appearance of the True Fajr. It was reported that the Sahâbah used to take the suhûr until the whiteness of the road could be seen.

Staying Away from Foolish Acts and Statements: That is another etiquette during fasting. The Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allâh be pleased with him) ‘Whoever does not abandon falsehood and acting by it, Allâh has no need of his abandoning his food and drinks.’ [Sahîh Hadith in Bukhârî and others].

A fasting person is specifically required not to enter into any brawl with anybody. He should not feel shy to say ‘I am fasting’ to whomever wants to drag him into any fighting.

It should be noted that engaging in foolish acts (such as spending the time watching obscenities on the TV, etc,) does not nullify one’s fasting but can reduce the reward from one’s fasting such that there may be no reward at all. Ash-Shaykh Fauzân (may Allâh preserve him) is of that view.

Generousness and Recitation of the Qur’ân: A fasting person should try to be extra generous in the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allâh (salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam) was a generous person but in Ramadan he was more generous even more than the breeze.

As for the recitation of the Qur’aan, the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said used to receive Jibrîl every night of Ramadan reciting the Qur’aan to him. So one of the meritorious acts in Ramadan is enormous recitation of the Qur’aan. Doing it enormously does not mean one should not ponder over what is being recited. Many people’s concern is to finish as many rounds as possible of the Qur’aan but when asked what they have gained, they have nothing to show. So ponder over whatever you recite even if it were a Juz’u you could read in the whole month.

Hastening the Breaking of Fasting: Sahl bn Sa’d (may Allâh be pleased with him) reported from the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said that he said: ‘People (Muslims) will not cease to be upon goodness so far they hasten their breaking of fast.’[Recorded by Bukhârî and Muslim].

The breaking of the fast could be before the Maghrib Prayer but after the sun has set. There should be no delay. It is the Shia that delay there breaking of fast until the appearance of stars in the night. We all know the deviation of the Shia, the enemies of Islam.

The breaking of fast should be upon fresh dates then dry dates then water, when the three cannot be got then any other eatable but it is advised it should be soft food as much as possible. Anas bn Mâlik (may Allâh be pleased with him) recorded that the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam) said used to break his fast upon fresh dates and if he could not get any he would do so on dry dates then water. [Sahîh Abî Dâwud (2065)] That is the order of precedence. It is however a recommended act yet there is a great reward in emulating the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam).

The recommended prayer at breaking the fast is: Dhahabadh-Dhama’u wab’tallatil-uruuq wa thabata al-ajru Insha Allâh [The thirst has gone, the veins are wet and the rewards are established by the Will of Allâh]. The other supplications specifically mentioned at breaking the fast are not authentic. Meanwhile, the time of breaking the fast is a time general supplications are granted, as that has come authentically from the Messenger of Allâh (salAllâhu alayhi wa sallam).

Permissible Acts While Fasting

The following acts are generally permissible during fasting even though many people see them as aberrations: Performing bath in order to cool oneself, rinsing the mouths and sniffing in water (but not going to the extreme when doing it), cupping, kissing and hugging one’s wife (especially if one is not a youth), waking up in a state of janâbah and not breaking the fast until sahûr of another day. The following things can be used during Ramadan: the tooth-stick, perfume, kohl, eye-drop, injection, etc. Ash-Shaykh Ibn Bâz (may Allâh bestow mercy on him) said tooth paste can also be used during the day of Ramadan. There is a fatwa of Ibn Abbâs (may Allâh be pleased with him) that food can be tasted. The basic rule is that all those acts are permissible, had they been forbidden, there would have been textual proofs for them.

Allâh knows best.