Thread: All u need to know about Ramadan,Fasts,Sehri,Aftari etc

Reality and Facts about Fasting


After Namaaz and Zakaat became obligatory, Fasting in the month of Ramadan became obligatory on the 10th of Sha'baan in the second year of Hijra. In accordance with Shariah (Islamic Law), fasting is abstention from eating, drinking and all forms of sensual pleasures from before true dawn until sunset with the sincere intention of doing it as an act of worship. For a woman it is a pre-requisite to be out of menstruation (Haiz) and bleeding after child birth (Nifaas). A woman will have to fast for the days she missed while in Haiz or Nifaas.


When fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan it is incumbent upon its observer that he should not merely abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations, but he must not indulge in any sinful activity through speech, action, trade and other daily routine. This is made clear by the Quranic injunction: " So that you may become pious " (2: v183). While in the state of fasting a person must not move his hands or feet towards any evil activity. He should not utter anything vulgar, back-bite, swear etc. nor should he allow his ears to hear such obscenities. His eyes too should not fall on anything which is religiously made unlawful. Instead, we must make every effort to become a practical example of piety. If one fasts strictly by observing the above restrictions and conditions, then only will he be able to inculate in himself piety at the end of Ramadan.

Sighting of the New Moon

Islam has given great credance for sighting of the new moon which should be proven without any shadow of a doubt, or related by witnesses satisfying religious conditions for it. The testimony of sighting the new moon should be presented to the Muslim Judge (Qadi) or if it is not a Muslim ruled country then to the authoritative Alim (learned person) of the town. If the moon is not sighted on the 29th of Sha'baan then 30 days of Sha'baan should be completed. Likewise, if the new moon is not visible on the 29th of Ramadan, and no religiously reliable news about it is obtained, 30 days of Ramadan should be completed and then Eid al-Fitr should be celebrated. However, it is sinful to fast when in doubt.

The Beloved Rasool Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa sallam said, "See the moon and commence fasting and see the moon and end fasting (make Eid) and if the skies are overcast, then complete the counting of thirty (days)."


Hadrat Ibn Umar Radi Allahu anhu reported, I heard the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa sallam saying, "When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days, in other words complete 30 days)". [Bukhari]


Hadrat Abdullah bin Umar Radi Allahu anhu reported that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa sallam said, "The month (can be) 29 nights (i.e. days), and do not fast till you see the moon, and if the sky is overcast, then complete Sha'ban as thirty days." [Bukhari]


Hadrat Abu Hurayrah Radi Allahu anhu reported tha the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa sallam said, "Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha'ban." [Bukhari]


Hadrat Huzayfah Radi Allahu anhu reported that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa sallam said, “Do not fast (for Ramadan) before the coming of the month until you sight the moon or complete the number (of thirty days); then fast until you sight the moon or complete the number (of thirty days). [Abu Dawood]

The Three Categories of Fast

Imam Ghazzali Rehmatullahi alaih has divided fasting into three categories : 1.) In the first group is the fast of those who merely abstain from food, drink and sensual activities from before true dawn (Fajar al-Sadiq) until after sunset, as is the case with the common people.

2.) In the second group is the fast of special people who protect their ears, eyes, tongue, hands, feet and other limbs from sin. This can be achieved by the following six things :

2.1 The person should protect his eyes from seeing all that is contemptible and undesirable as well as from anything that would distract him from the rememberance of Allah. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said :

" An evil gaze is a poisonous arrow from the poisonous arrow's of the devil. Thus he who abstains from an evil gaze due to the fear of Allah Almighty, will be granted Faith (Iman) by Allah Almighty, whose sweetness will be felt in every part of the heart. "

2.2 The tongue should be protected from uttering worthless abusive talk, lies, back-biting, etc. During the time of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam two women were observing fast. At the latter part of the day they were much troubled by hunger and thirst which threatened their lives. A message was sent to the Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam to seek permission for them to break their fast. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam sent a cup and asked them to spew out whatever they had eaten into it. When the first woman spewed, it contained half blood and half flesh. The second woman too spewed the same. On seeing the astonishment of the people, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said that although these two women fasted, they merely abstained from things which are made lawful by Allah Almighty but perpetrated that which was forbidden by Allah. They sat together and were back-biting about people. Back-biting about a person is like eating his flesh.

2.3 Ears should be protected from hearing every sound which is forbidden to hear. If back-biting takes place in any gathering one should walk out of it. It is reported in a Hadith that the one who back-bites and the one who listens to it are both sinners. One should save oneself from hearing this type of evil and listen to that which is good according to Shariah.
2.4 At the time of Iftaar do not over eat which would make a person indolent.
2.5 After Iftaar let your heart remain between fear and hope. We are not certain whether our fast has been accepted although we should not despair of the Mercy of Allah Almighty.

2.6 Refrain from walking to any place or gathering in which anything un-Islamic is said or done; e.g. cinema, dance hall, gambling places, etc.

3.) In the third category is the fast of those very special and selected persons who, in addition to, abstaining from the above keep their hearts aloof from all wordly thought's. They spend every moment of it in total meditation of Allah Almighty and do not think of anything besides Him. They spend every moment of the day and the night in the remembrance and contemplation of Allah Almighty. This type of fast is observed by the Prophet's of Allah, the Faithful servants of Allah and those who have obtained nearness to Him.

Niyyat : Intention for fasting The time for the intention (Niyyat) for fasting begins anytime after sunset until midday. Intention is obligatory and it is Sunnat to recite it verbally each day. Even if the intention is made before midday the fast will be valid. Recite Durood Shareef before and after making the intention.


Niyyat

" I have made the intention of obligatory fast for this day of Ramadan for the sole pleasure of Allah Almighty."

Wa-be Sawme Ghadin Nu-Wei Tu Min Shah re-Ramadan.

" I have intended the fast of the month of Ramadan for tomorrow."

Religious reasons for not obtaining the Fast


It is permissible for a person to avoid fasting if he is so ill that by fasting it will endanger his life, worsen his illness or there is a fear of becoming physically disabled. Such a person should keep the missed fast's after regaining his health. A person who becomes extremely weak due to old age and who has no strength to fast at that time, and who has no hope of gaining enough strength to fast in the future is required to give Fidya (atonement) for each fast, i.e. feed one person daily. However if such a person does gain strength to fast, his Fidya given would be regarded as voluntary, as it would be obligatory upon him to observe fasts for all the days he has missed.
Pregnant women or suckling mothers who run the risk of endangering their lives and the lives of their babies are also exempted by Shariah from fasting, but the Qaza of missed fasts would be obligatory upon them.

Laws pertaining to Sehri


To partake the Sehri meal is Sunnat. Our Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: " Do take your Sehri meal, because this meal has many blessings in it. Sehri should be taken even if it be one mouthful or a draught of water. " It is recommended to delay the Sehri, but not that late that one begins to doubt its time. If one is hard pressed for time one can have one's Sehri in an unclean state e.g. Janabat (after having sexual relation with one's wife) Ihtilaam (experiencing a wet dream). However, one should not delay the Janabat Ghusal unnecessarily.

Factors which render the Fast defective (Makrooh)

1. To taste or chew anything without a valid reason.
2. Telling lies, back-biting, tale-bearing, using obscene language, cursing someone, to cause harm or injury to anyone unjustly, to use worthless or abusive language, to scream, to quarrel or get into a fight.
3. To engage oneself in any irreligious work.
4. To accumulate saliva in the mouth which is then swallowed.
5. To gargle or rinse the nose excessively, etc.

To break the Fast is a sin

After beginning the fast and fasting for a portion of the day, if one breaks it without any religious reason, it is a severe sin. However while in a state of fasting if a person becomes so ill that continued fasting would endanger his life, or there is a possibilty of worsening his illness, or he becomes intensely thirsty through which there is a fear of death, then breaking the fast is not only permissable but obligatory, but such a person must re-observe the fast he/she has missed.