Virtues of Fasting During Hot Days

Ibn Rajab has a section in ‘Lata’if al-Ma’arif’ (p. 272-273) about the virtues of fasting during hot days. Good encouragement Inshaa Allaah:

“…And from the acts of worship whose reward is multiplied during the heat is fasting, and this is because of the thirst that one experiences in the mid-day heat.

This is why Mu’adh bin Jabal expressed regret on his deathbed that he would no longer experience this mid-day thirst, as did other early Muslims.

And it was related that Abu Bakr would fast in the summer and not fast in the winter, and ‘Umar advised his son ‘Abdullah on his deathbed: “Try to obtain the characteristics of faith,” and the first one he mentioned was fasting in the intense summer heat.

And al-Qasim bin Muhammad said that ‘A’ishah would fast in the intense heat, and he was asked: “What drove her to do this?” He replied: “She would take advantage of the days before death.” And some of the righteous women would choose the hottest days and fast them, saying: “If the price is low, everyone will buy,” meaning that she wanted to do those actions that only a few were capable of due to how hard it was to do them, and this is indicative of the high aspirations these women had.

And Abu Musa al-Ash’ari was on a boat, and he heard someone calling out: “O passengers, stand up!” And he said this three times. So, Abu Musa told him: “How can we stand up? Don’t you see where we are? How can we stand up?” So, the caller said: “Let me tell you of a rule that Allah made upon Himself: whoever makes himself thirsty for Allah’s sake on a hot day has the right upon Allah to have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection.” So, Abu Musa would search out the days that were so hot that one would feel he was being cooked, and he would fast those days.

Ka’b said that Allah Said to Musa: “I made it incumbent upon Myself that whoever is thirsty for My sake will have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection,” and others said that it’s written in the Torah: “Glad tidings for whoever makes himself hungry in anticipation of the Great Day where he will have his hunger satisfied, and glad tidings for whoever makes himself thirsty in anticipation of the Great Day where he will have his thirst quenched.”

al-Hasan said: “A maiden of Paradise will speak to the wali of Allah while he is laying with her on the shore of a river of honey in Paradise while she hands him a glass of the sweetest drink, and she will ask him: “Do you know what day Allah married me to you? He Saw you on a long summer day while you were thirsty in the mid-day heat, and He called the Angels and Said: “Look at My slave. He has left his wife and pleasure and food and drink for Me out of his desire for what I have for him. Bear witness that I have Forgiven him,” and He Forgave you on that day and married you to me.”"

And when ‘Amir bin ‘Abd Qays went from Basrah to Sham, Mu’awiyah would ask him to tell him what he needed. He refused to ask of him, and eventually said: “All I need is for you to return the heat of Basrah to me to make the fasting a bit harder, as it is too easy in your lands.”

And al-Hajjaj was on a journey between Makkah and Madinah. He pulled out his dinner and invited a bedouin to eat with him, and the bedouin said: “I have been invited by One who is better than you and I have accepted the invitation.” He asked: “And who is this?” The man replied: “Allah invited me to fast, and I fasted.” al-Hajjaj asked: “On this very hot day?” The man replied: “Yes. I am fasting it in anticipation of a much hotter day.” al-Hajjaj said: “So, eat today and fast tomorrow.” The man replied: “Only if you can guarantee that I will live until tomorrow.” al-Hajjaj said: “This isn’t in my hands.” The man said: “How can you ask me to do something now when there is something of the future that isn’t in your hands?”

And Ibn ‘Umar went on a trip once with some companions, and they saw a sheep-herder who they invited to eat with them. He said: “I am fasting,” and Ibn ‘Umar said: “You are fasting in heat like this, and while you are between all these plants and sheep?” The herder replied: “I’m taking advantage of my remaining days.” Ibn ‘Umar was impressed by this reply and said: “Can you sell one of your sheep to us? We’ll feed you from its meat when you break your fast, and we’ll also pay you for it.” The herder said: “It doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to my master.” Ibn ‘Umar said: “What would your master say if you told him that it was eaten by a wolf?” The herder raised his finger to the sky and said: “What about Allah?” Ibn ‘Umar kept repeating this phrase that the herder was saying, and when he got to the city, he went to the herder’s owner and bought him and his sheep from him. He then freed the herder and gave him his sheep as a gift.

And Ruh bin Zinba’ was traveling between Makkah and Madinah on a very hot day. A herder living on a mountain approached him, and he said to him: “O herder, come eat with me.” The herder said: “I’m fasting.” Ruh said: “You’re fasting in this heat?” The herder replied: “Should I let my days pass by in vain?” ٍSo, Ruh said: “You have used your days wisely, O herder, while Ruh bin Zinba’ has wasted his.”

And Ibn ‘Umar used to fast extra days until he would almost faint, and this wouldn’t cause him to break his fast. And al-Imam Ahmad would fast until he was about to pass out, and would wipe water over his face. He was asked about fasting very hot days, and he replied: “There is nothing wrong with wetting a towel to squeeze the water on himself to cool down with.” And the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would pour water over his head while fasting.

ِAnd Abu ad-Darda’ would say: “Fast the very hot days in anticipation of the Day of Resurrection, and pray two rak’at in the darkness of night in anticipation of the darkness of the grave.” And it’s reported in the two ‘Sahih’s that he said: “You have seen us with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) on some of his journeys on very hot days, and a man would hold his hand against his head due to the intensity of the heat, and none of them would be fasting except the Messenger of Allah and ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah.” And the narration of Muslim states that Abu ad-Darda’ said: “This was during the month of Ramadan.”

When those who fast for Allah in the heat are patient despite their intense thirst, He will set aside a specific gate of the gates of Paradise for them. This is the gate called Rayyan, and whoever enters through it will drink, and whoever drinks after entering it will never be thirsty again. When they enter through it, it will be locked for those after them, and none will enter through it except them…”

Bad speech during the month of Ramadhaan

*Please appropriately reference this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*

Question: Does impermissible (Haraam) speech during the day in Ramadhaan nullify the fast?

Response: If we read the saying of Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala), {O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-Muttaqoon (the pious)} [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 183], we find the wisdom behind the obligation to fast is attaining fear of Allaah (Taqwah) and worshipping Allaah. Taqwah is to abandon all that is haraam and incorporating all that is commanded, avoiding all that is warned against. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa-sallaam) said: ((One who does not abandon evil talk and actions, then Allaah is not in need of him abandoning his food and drink (i.e. his fasting)). Based upon this, it is confirmation (for the one who is fasting) to abandon all that is haraam from speech and actions so as not to backbite, lie, slander or trade in haraam.

So, keep away from haraam, and if a person were to do this throughout the entire month (of Ramadhaan), he would find himself upright for the rest of the year. Sadly, however, many people who fast do not differentiate between the time in which they fast and when they aren't It has became a norm whereby they indulge in haraam speech, lying, cheating and so on. They don't feel upon the peace and tranquility of the fast. These actions (of bad speech etc.) do not nullify the fast but do reduce the reward and, possibly, deflects the reward for the fast completely and Allaah's Assistance is sought.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Faatwa Ramadhaan, Volume 2, Page 520, Fatwa No. 485;
Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad as-Saalih al-'Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Page 501-502

The Merits for fasting for Allah’s Pleasure

Siyam (fasting) : Linguistically means to refrain. Allah says,

إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنْسِيًّا

Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today.

[ Maryam 26] refrain from speaking

Siyam in Islamic terms means: An intentional act of refraining from all things which breakfast from Fajr until Maghrib .

Virtues of Fasting:

· Fasting sincerely distant one from Hell

أَبِى سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِىِّ - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said ,” Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “ Any servant who fasts one day in the path of Allah , Allah will keep his face away from the fire for 70 years.”

[Collected by Bukhari 2840 and Muslim 2767]



· Fasting enters a person into Jannah

أَبِى أُمَامَةَ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقُلْتُ مُرْنِى بِعَمَلٍ يُدْخِلُنِى الْجَنَّةَ. قَالَ « عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مِثْلَ لَهُ

Abu Ummamah said, “I went to the Allah’s messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Command me with an action that will cause me to enter Jannah.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fast, there isn’t anything like it.”



[Collected by An-Nisa’ 2232 ]





· Whoever dies while fasting Allah will place him in Jannah



قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا حُذَيفَة مّنْ خَتَمَ لَه بِصِيامٍ يَومٍ يَرِيدُ بِهِ وجه الله أَدْخَلَهُ الجنة

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘ Oh Huthayfah whoever dies while fasting sincerely for Allah’s pleasure will enter Jannah.”



[Collected by Ibn Shaheen 2/23 in Afrad , Akabr Al-Asbaahaan 1/218-219] Graded as being Saheeh by Shaykh Al-Albani in Silsilatu Saheehah #1643]





· Fasting intercedes for the Slave on the Last Day



عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ أَىْ رَبِّ مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِى فِيهِ.

وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ مَنَعْتُهُ النَّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِى فِيهِ. قَالَ فَيُشَفَّعَانِ »



Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that Allah’s messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant of the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say “My Lord because of me he was prohibited from food and satisfying his desires throughout the day, so let me intercede for him. The Quran will say “I prevented him from sleep at night, so let me intercede for him.” They will both be allowed to intercede.

· There is a special reward unknown to man from Allah for fasting

أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - عَنِ النَّبِىِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ « كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِى ، وَأَنَا أَجْزِى بِهِ ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ



Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah‘s messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “Allah says every deed is for the son of Adam except Fasting. Fasting is for Me and I will give the reward for it. The unpleasant smell coming out of the mouth of a fasting person is better than the smell of misk in the sight of Allah.”

[Collected Bukhari 5927 / Muslim 2760]





· There is a special door in Jannah for a fasting person to enter



عَنْ سَهْلٍ - رضى الله عنه - عَنِ النَّبِىِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ « إِنَّ فِى الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَقُومُونَ ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ »



Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him )narrated that Allah’s Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan and those who observe fasting will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection. And only the people who fasted will enter it. It will be said, “Where are those who used to fast?” They will stand up and enter the gate and once they have entered it will be closed. No one else will be allowed to enter.”

[Collected by Bukhari 1896/ Muslim 2766]

· Sincerely Fasting in Ramadan earns expiation from past sins



أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ



Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “ Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeks Allah’s reward will have his past sins forgiven.”

[Collected by Bukhari 38 / Muslim 1817]



· Fasting suppresses desires



النَّبِىِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فَقَالَ « مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ ، فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ



The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,” Whoever has the ability to marry then let him. Marriage helps one to lower his gaze and protect his private part. And whoever doesn’t have the ability to get married should fast. Fasting is a shield of protection.



[Collected by Bukhari 1905/ Muslim 3466]



Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar.

Breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets [Sunnah of Fasting]

'Aqîdah 'Eid Advice from the Salaf Affairs of the Ummah Allah's mercy Announcements Attire Backbiting Bid'ah Biographical Brotherhood Character charity Coming to Islam da'wah death dunyâ family fasting fear fiqh fitnah Good deeds Gratitude hadîth Hajj Hajj and Umrah historical hypocrisy iman intentions Introduction knowledge Law love Manners and Conduct Paradise patience prayer Quran Ramadan remembering Allah repentance reward Shaytân sins Sunnah supplication tafsir taqwâ The Companions The Fire the heart the hereafter usury worship zinâ zuhd
Breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets [Sunnah of Fasting]

Sa’îd b. Al-Musayyib reports from his father, “I was once sitting with ‘Umar when a group of people arrived from Al-Shâm. ‘Umar enquired about them and how they were; he asked, ‘Do the people of Al-Shâm hasten to break the fast.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ [‘Umar] said, ‘They will not cease to remain upon good as long as they do this, and do not wait for the stars [to come out] as the people of Irâq do.’”

‘Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San’ânî, Al-Musannaf 4:225.

‘Amr b. Maymûn Al-Awdî reports, “The Companions of Muhammad – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to be the quickest to break the fast and the slowest in taking the pre-dawn meal.”

Ibid. p226.

Ibn Al-Musayyib also reports that ‘Umar wrote to the commanders of the various regions, ‘Do not be of the procrastinators when breaking the fast, and nor of those who wait for the stars before they start praying [al-maghrib].’

Ibid. p225.

Mûsâ b. Anas reports that Anas [ibn Mâlik] used to have his slave-girl go to the top of his house, instructing her, ‘When the horizon becomes even (evenly lit, marking sunset), tell me.’

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf 2:430.

Abû Al-Tiyâh Al-Daba’î reports that “he used to break fast with Ibn ‘Abbâs during Ramadân. When evening approached he would send a girl from his household to the roof [to look out], and when the sun set he would make the call to prayer (adhân). He would eat with us, and when he had finished, the call for the commencement of prayer {iqâmah) would be given, and he would pray, and we would pray with him.”

Ibid. p429.

The least form of fasting is leaving off food and drink

The least form of Fasting is leaving off Food and Drink
from The Way of the Salaf us-Saalih by Ibn Shahid


What is Prohibited and Disliked for the one Fasting – by Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan [Ittihaaf Ahlil-Eemaan bi-Duroos Shahri Ramadaan ,Al-Ibaanah.com]

Know that there are certain manners to fasting that must be abided by and adhered to so that the fast could proceed in the way it was prescribed so that one could achieve its benefits, fulfill its objective and not find it discomforting and without benefit. This is as the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Perhaps all a person fasting derives from his fast is hunger and thirst.”

So fasting is not just the abandonment of food and drink only. Rather, it also entails abandoning improper statements and actions that are forbidden or disliked.

One of the Salaf once said: “The least form of fasting is leaving off food and drink.” This is since drawing near to Allaah by abandoning allowable things cannot be complete unless after drawing nearer to Him by abandoning what Allaah has prohibited under every circumstance. Even though a Muslim is obligated to abandon the unlawful at all times, it is even more binding upon him while he is fasting.

If one commits the unlawful in times other than when he is fasting, he is sinning and worthy of being punished. But if he commits it while fasting, then on top of being sinful and deserving of punishment, this affects his fast by it being either deficient or nullified.

So the person who truly observes the fast is he who withholds his stomach from food and drink, refrains his limbs from sins, restricts his tongue from vile and evil speech, restrains his ears from listening to songs, musical instruments, backbiting and gossip, and holds back his eyes from looking at the forbidden.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, then Allaah is not in need of him abandoning his food and drink.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree]

The person who is fasting must avoid backbiting, gossip and insulting others, based on what the two Shaikhs (Al-Bulkhaaree and Muslim) reported from Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) that he said, and it was raised as being a saying of the Prophet: “Fasting is armor. So if it is a day in which one of you is fasting, then he should not be vile in speech nor should he be sinful nor should he be ignorant. And if someone reviles him, then he should say: ‘I am a person that is fasting.’”

The word junnah (armor) is that which protects the one who wears it from the weapon of his opponent causing harm to him.

So fasting protects a person from falling into sins whose consequences are punishment in this world and the next. The word rafath in the hadeeth refers to lewd and immoral speech. Imaam Ahmad reported in marfoo’ form that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily, fasting is armor so long as it is not pierced.” It was said: “What causes it to be pierced?” He (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Lying and Backbiting.”

This is proof that backbiting pierces the fast or makes a dent in it. When armor is pierced it is of no more use to the one wearing it. So in the same manner, when one’s fast is pierced, it is no longer any benefit to the one performing it.

Backbiting is as the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained it, and that is mentioning about your brother what he hates. It has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that this breaks the fast:

“Two women were once fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger and they almost died of thirst. This was mentioned to the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) but he turned away from (allowing) them (to break the fast). Then they were mentioned to him again, so he called for them and ordered them to vomit, i.e. throw up, what was in their stomachs. So they both vomited and filled up a bowl with puss, blood and pieces of flesh. Then the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘These two fasted by refraining from what Allaah made lawful for them. but they broke their fast by doing what Allaah made unlawful for them. One of them sat with the other and they began to eat from the flesh of people.’”

What transpired with these two women in the presence of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from their vomiting vile and disgusting things – this was from the miracles that Allaah allowed to occur at the hand of His Messenger so that he could show the evil effects of backbiting to the people. Allaah says: “And do not backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother?” [Surah Al-Hujuraat: 12]

This hadeeth shows that backbiting breaks the fast. This is in the figurative sense, meaning it nullifies the reward of fasting.
May Allaah send His peace and blessings on our prophet, Muhammad, his family and Companions

The obligation of fasting even when work circumstances are not conducive to fasting

Question:

I am a soldier, and the month of Ramadaan came upon me, so is it permissible to not fast knowing that the circumstances (at work) do not help/aid me upon fasting?
Answer:

It is not permissible for you to not fast in Ramadaan if you are a person who is required to fast, unless you are a traveller or are suffering from an illness with which you do not have the strength to fast – according to His Statement, the Exalted:

So whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days of missed fasting) must be (made up) from other days. Soorah al Baqarah (2) aayah 185

And He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship. Soorah al Hajj (22) aayah 78

Allaah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity Soorah al Baqarah (2) aayah 286

And according to the statement of the Prophet sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam:

If I command you with a matter, then do as much of it as you can.

And with Allaah is the tawfeeq. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan
Shaykh `Abdullaah bin Qu`ood
Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee
Question 3 from fatwa 3924 P232 Volume 10 Fataawaa of the Permanent Committee
Translated by Abu Abdir Rahmaan Nasser ibn Najam

That Which Nullifies the Fast

That which nullifies the fast is divided into 2 categories:

1) That which nullifies the fast and (as a result) obligates the making up of the fast only:
a) Eating and drinking intentionally;
b) Intentionally vomitting.
The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Whoever intentionally vomits, then he has to make up the fast)),
[Saheeh, transmitted by al-Haakim and others];
c) Menses and post-partum bleeding – even if it occurred just moments before sunset;
d) Excreting semen – whether it is as a result of a man kissing his wife, hugging her or masturbating. Then this nullifies the fast and obligates the making up of the fast (of Ramadhaan) for that day.

2) That which nullifies the fast and (as a result) obligates the making up of the fast in addition to paying a penalty.
According to the majority of the scholars this only applies to sexual intercourse. The penalty is either freeing a slave or fasting continuously for 2 months or feeding 60 poor and needy people. Both the men and women are regarded equal in this ruling.

www.madeenah.com

Fasting; The Great Act Of Worship (Part1)

By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen

Translated by ‘Abdullaah Al- Faarisi May Allah preserve and reward them both

This revised edition, produced with the permission of the author and the translator, includes some corrections to the original translation, changes to the English, the addition of the Qur’aanic text, changes to the translations of the meanings of the Qur’an and hadeeths, changes in the system of transliteration of Arabic terms, and the addition of references and some explanatory notes.

In response to our request to publish this revised edition, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen wrote : “ Wa- alaykum us – salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. As Dr. Saleh As – Saleh As- Saleh has authenticated the translation of the booklet, I have no objection for you to print it on the condition that it will not have any copyright if we want to print it again. Written by Muhammad ibn Saalih Al – Uthaymeen, dated 1/9/1418 hijri. The booklet mentioned is the booklet on fasting.” /s/ Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al- ‘Uthaymeen.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be on his messenger Muhammad.

THE VIRTUES OF RAMADHAN

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah’s Apostle صلي الله عليه وسلم said, “ When the month of Ramadhaan starts, the gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and satans are chained.”(1) The gates of Jannah are opened in this month because a great deat of righteous deeds are performed, and as an encouragement for those who seek Allah’s reward. The gates of Hell are closed because few sins are committed by believers. The Satans will be chained so that they may noy have the chance they have in other months to whisper into the hearts of the believers and misguide them.

Allah has prescribed fasting and it obligatory upon all nations. He said :

)يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ) (البقرة:183)

O you who believe ! fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al – Muttaqoon (the pious). [Al-Baqarah (2) : 183]

If fasting were not a great act of worship, and the reward thereof were not so great, Allah would not have Presceibed it on all nations.

Among the virtues of fasting is that it is a means for atonement of sins. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said : “ He who observes the fast of the month of Ramadhaan out of sincerity and hope for the reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.”(2) That is, when fasting is observed out of belief and without resentment to it as an act of worship or doubt in its reward, Allah will forgive the past sins of the one who observes it.

1. Saheeh Al- Bukhaari (Arabic/English), vol. 3, # 123, and Saheeh Muslim (English trans.) # 2361 & 2362. one wording of Muslim is “ the gates of mercy are opened.”

2. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (Arabic/English), vol. 3, # 125.

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم as saying : “ Allah said: All the deeds of Adam’s children belong to them, except fasting, which belongs to me and I will reward it. Fasting is a shield (against the Hell and against the commission of sins). If one of you happens to be fasting he should avoid sexual relations with his wife, and should avoid quarrelling. Should someone fight or quarrel with him let him say, ‘ I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose hand my soul is, the smell of the month of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than that of the musk.”(3) It is a shield because it safeguards the believer from vain talk and wrongdoing, and hence protects him from Hell.

Of all the good deeds, Allah has favored fasting to be greatly rewarded by Him and distinguished it with prestige when it is observed with the pure intention to please Him alone.

Fasting is so meritorious for a believer that he will have two occasions of joy. The first is at the time of breaking his fast, when he enjoys the bounties of Allah because he has been favored with Allah’s mercy to observe the fast while many others have been deprived of this great blessing. He will rejoice in the second occasion when he meets his Lord and enjoys the abundant reward for having observed fasting (4). In addition to this, fasting intercedes with Allah on behalf of the believer on the Day of Judgment.(5)

WHEN DOES FASTING BEGIN AND END ?

Fasting begins upon sighing the new moon. Allah said:

( فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ) (البقرة: من الآية185)

So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhaan), he must fast that month. [Al- Baqarah (2) : 185]

3. Saheeh Al – Bukhaari (Arabic/ English), vol.3, # 118 and #128, and Saheeh Muslim (English trans) # 2567.

4. Saheeh Al Bukhaari (Arabic/English), vol. 3, # 128, and Saheeh Muslim (English trans). # 2567.

5. The Porphet صلي الله عليه وسلم said, “ Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say : O my Lord ! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him ; and the Qur’an will say : I prevented him from sleep at night, so accept my intercession for him. So their intercession will be accepted.” Reported by Ahmad, Al Haakim, Abu Nu’aym and others from ‘ Abdullaah ibn ‘ Amr. Its chain of narrators is hasan. [Fasting in Ramadaan by Shaykhs saleem Al- Hilaalee and ‘ Alee Hasan ‘ Alee ‘ Abdul – Hameed, p. 5]

However, it is not incumbent on everyone to sight the new moon. Rather, if a trustworthy Muslim testifies that he has sighted it, then everyone must observe fasting. Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated : “ A Bedouin came to the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم and reported, ‘ O Prophet, I have seen the new moon of Ramadhaan.’ Thereupon the prophe صلي الله عليه وسلم asked the man, ‘Do you bear witness that “ Laa ilaaha illaaah”. ( i.e. there is no god worthy of being worshipped beside Allah) ?’ ‘ I do,’ said the bedouin. The Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم further asked him whether he testifies that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The Bedouin affirmed that, too. Thereupon, the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم asked Bilaalرضي الله عنه to announce to the people to begin their fast the next day.”(6)

Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه also confirmed the practice of sighting the new moon in his report : “ The People were seeking the new moon. Having sighted it myself, reported it to the prophet. صلي الله عليه وسلم He began his fast and ordered the people to begin theirs, too.”(7)

He who sights the new moon of Ramadhan must inform those in authority in the Muslim government or community. Once the Muslim government announces the beginning of Ramadhan upon the sighting the new moon it becomes binding on the rest of Muslims to begin their fast.(8)

It should be borne in mind, however, that astronomical calculations must be ruled out from the sharee’ah and must not be relied on for sighting the moon, as the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم has ruled that Muslims must begin their fast upon seeing the new moon, not upon calculating the month astronomically. It is only when it becomes hard to see the new moon due to weather conditions when Muslims may complete the month of Sha’baan, which precedes Ramadhan,

6. Sunan Abee Dawoud (English trans), # 2333 and # 2334. It is weak according to Al-Albanni.

7. Sunan Abee Dawoud (English trans), # 2335. Its chain of narration is Saheeh.

8. “Some scholars take into account the divisions amongst the Muslim countries related to the beginning and end of fasting. They advise that in the absence of one Khilaafah governing all Muslims, It is incumbent upon Muslims to follow their respective countries as to when to fast and when to break the fast. This minimizes the divisions occurring within the same country where people fast according to different rulings.” (See Shaykh Al–‘Uthaymeen’s Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti” ‘alaa zaadil- Mustaqni,” vol.6, p. 322 and Shaykh Al – Albaani’s Itmaa’tul- Minnah fee at- Ta’leeq ‘alaa fiqhis-sunnah, p. 398). According to Shaykhul- Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, “ The criteria upon which fasting becomes bound upon Muslims is that the information regarding the moon sighting reaches them in a reasonable amount of time to be able to act upon it.”

( Jaami lilikhtiaaraat Al-Fiqhiyah li-Shaykhul–Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah by Dr. Ahmad Muwafi [ Dammam, Saudi Arabia: Daar Ibn Jawzi, 1413/1993], pp. 438-444.) And Allah knows best.

Thirty days.(9) The lunar month is either 29 or 30 days. It has neither fewer nor more days.(10)

WHO SHOULD FAST AND WHO SHOULD NOT ?

Fasting is obligatory on the mature sane and healthy Muslim. Those who are immature (i.e. young children) are encouraged to fast. Exempted are those who suffer terminal illness, or are too old to fast. Allah does not overburden His slaves.

Permission to abstain from fasting is granted to the travelers who do not travel for the purpose of breaking their fast. Even though it is permissible to break fast during travel, it is praiseworthy to fast while traveling if no hardship imposed. In any case, travelers should make up the days they missed fasting in Ramadhan once Ramadhan is over and they are back home.

As for those whose sickness does not allow them to fast, they fall into three categories:

1. If it is neither hard nor harmful for them, they must observe fasting.

2. If it is hard, but not harmful for them, they are permitted to break their fast.

3. If it is harmful for them, then they must abstain from fasting. It is stated in the Qur’an:

)يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْكُمْ وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيماً) (النساء:29)

9. Saheeh Al-Bakhaari (Arabic/English), vol. 3, # 130,133, and Saheeh Muslim (English trans.), # 2363-2381. It should also be noted that it is not permissible to fast a day or two before Ramadhan thinking that it might be Ramadhan. Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said, “ None of you should pre-empt Ramadhan by fasting a day or two before it, except for a man fasting his usual fast, then let him fast that day.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (Arabic/English), vol. 3, # 138).

10. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (Arabic/ English), vol. 3, # 132, 134-135, and 137, and Saheeh Muslim (English trans) # 2384-2390.

11. Saheeh Al- Bukhaari (Arabic/English, vol. 3. # 181.

12. The Prophet # was asked about fasting on a journey and he said , “ Fast if you wish and break it if you wish “ . Saleh Al – Bukhaari (Arabic / English ) Vol . 3 # 164 and Saheeh Muslim ( English Tans. ) # 2487 ] Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه said , “ Do not condemn one who obsess fast’ or one who does not observe it (in a journey ), for the messenger of Allah observed it (in a journey), for the messenger of Allah Observed fast in a journey or he did not observe it (too). [ Saheeh Muslim (English Trans.) # 2471 ]

) وَلا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ)(البقرة: من الآية195)

Do not kill yourselves. [An-Nisaa’ (4) : 29] – Baqarah (2) : 195]

The prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم was reported to have said, “ There is (to be) no harm or reciprocating harm.”(13)

The days that are missed in Ramadhan must be made up once Ramadhan is over.

During the monthly period or period of post-natal bleeding, women are to abstain from fasting,(14) but must make up the days they missed after the fasting month is over. The Pregnant or breastfeeding woman whose health or the health of the suckling baby might be affected by fasting should break her fast and make up the missed days after Ramadhan.

It is also recommended for those who engage in combat in the way of Allah to break their fast. The Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم told his companions in one of the battles, “ You are going to meet your enemy in the morning, abstaining from fasting is better for your strength, so break your fast.” (15)

THE WISDOM BEHIND FASTING

Fasting is a great act of worship the Muslim performs by turning away from his own desires in order to please his Lord, hoping for His reward. Common sense dictates that one would not give up desired things except for the sake of more desirable ones, in this case the pleasure of Allah, which is the most sought after desire.

It is also a means if achieving piety and righteousness. The Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said, “ He who does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah needs not his refraining from eating or drinking.”(16) In other words, Allah does not accept his fast.

13. Ahmad, ibn Maajah; Saheeh [ Saheeh Al- Jaami. As sagheer, # 7517]

14. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (Arabic/English), vol, 3. # 172. for more information on this subject, refer to The Natural Blood of Women by Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen, translated by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh [Buraidah, Saudi Arabia ; Dar Al-Bukhari, 1994].

15. Saheeh Muslim (English trans), # 2486.

16. Saheeh Muslim (English trans), # 2486. In a fatwa (religious ruling), the Shaykh further explained that the fasting of a person who engages in forbidden speech is not invalidated, but its reward is diminished. The gravity of his sin may be such that it outstrips any reward for his fasting. [Fatawa As–Siyaam (Riyadh: Maktabt Al-Furqaan, n.d.)].

The heart, through fasting, is inclined to maintain its tenderness since the desires are not sought, but rather shunned, and thus the heart tends to be more receptive to the words of Allah.

The rich person will, through fasting, be more appreciative of Allah’s graces and bounties. He also will suffer the deprivation the poor and needy experience under normal circumstances. Thus he will be motivated to help them. Fasting helps depress pride or egoism and maintains humbleness. Moreover, fasting has health advantages by means of decreasing the intake of food and relaxing the digestive system. Great is the wisdom of Allah, and great are His Graces !