Ramadan, Its Virtues & Rulings
By Br. Isa
Al-Bosnee
© Published in the 11th issue of Nida'ul Islam magazine, January-February
1996
r.a.a. said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action
by which I may enter Paradise'. He said: 'Take to Fasting, there
is nothing like it.' " [An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim,
Saheeh]
In this hadeeth,
the Prophet (s.a.w.) singled out fasting when asked about a deed
that leads its doer to the best of rewards, Paradise. This fact
alone is sufficient for us to understand the greatness of fasting.
Mere knowledge
of the importance and superiority of fasting, however, is not enough
for a Muslim to attain Allah's pleasure and then, in shaa' Allah,
His great reward.
Indeed, the Prophet
(s.a.w.) has said: "Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing
from his fasting except hunger and thirst." [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee,
Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh] This hadeeth should raise our concern
about fasting and increase our desire to perform this act of worship
with the best intention and in accordance with the Sunnah of the
Prophet (s.a.w.).
The first step
for a Muslim to realise is the fact that fasting the month of Ramadhan
is obligatory and that Allah has prescribed it for us in His Book:
"Fasting
is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you,
that you may attain taqwaa." [2:183]
Thus Allah Ta`aalaa
teaches us that Fasting is an obligation and a means to attain taqwaa,
that which increases believers in their ranks with Allah swt:
"The
most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa."
[49:13]
Furthermore,
we should realise the words of the Prophet (s.a.w.) in which he
tells us that Allah the Exalted said: "The most beloved deeds
with which my slave comes closer to Me are the obligatory deeds."
[Saheeh al-Jami']
Virtues
of Fasting as menti-oned in the Qur'an and Sunnah
- The reward
for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadeeth:
"Every
action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed
receiving then times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah
the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I
will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food
for Me.' for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time
when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord,
and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better
with Allah than the smell of musk." [al-Bukhaaree]
Also, Sahl ibn
Sa`d said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "Indeed there is a
gate of Paradise called ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those
who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them,
and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it,
so when the last of them enters it, it is closed, and whoever enters
it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty." [Ibn
Khuzaimah, Saheeh].
- Fasting is
a shield against the Fire:
"Fasting
is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire."
[Ahmad, Saheeh]
- On the Day
of Judgement, "Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from
food an desires so accept my intercession for him." [Ahmad,
al-Haakim and Abu Nu'aim, Hasan]
- Fasting is
a means for one's sins to be forgiven. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"He who fasts Ramadhan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from
Allah) then his past sins are forgiven." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
- The supplication
of the fasting person is answered: "There are in the month of
Ramadhan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom
from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim an supplication which
he can make and will be granted." [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh]
- Fasting is
an expiation for various sins, as mentioned in the Qur'aan, in verses:
2:196, 4:92, 5:89, 5:95 and 58:3-4.
- The fasting
person will be among the true followers of the prophets and the
martyrs: `Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee r.a.a. said: "A man came to
the Prophet (s.a.w.) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what if I
testify that none has the right to worshipped but Allah and that
you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers,
and I pay the zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhan,
then amongst whom shall I be?' He said: 'Amongst the true followers
of the prophets and the martyrs.' " [Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]
- Fasting is
a shield against one's base desires, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told
the youth: "O youths, whoever amongst you is able to marry then
let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private
parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield
for him." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Once we realise
the greatness of fasting and what achievement it leads to, we must
put all our efforts in performing fasting in the best manner possible.
And since fasting is worship, it must be done solely for Allah's
sake, and no intention is accepted, other than pleasing Allah and
seeking His Face with all one's sincerity. Without a correct intention,
no deed is of any value in the Hereafter. We Muslims must constantly
verify our intentions and consider why we perform fasting. Do we
do so merely because it is the practice of our parents and friends,
or do we do so because it is part of our tradition, or perhaps because
we simply want to conform to our environment in order to avoid any
problems? A Muslim who realises that only that which is with Allah
remains, and that He (Swt) is the only One who grants and withholds,
would not be of those to which the Prophet (s.a.w.) alluded in the
Hadeeth: "On the Day of Judgement, a caller will cry out, 'Whoever
performed a deed for someone other than Allah may seek his reward
from that for which he performed the deed' " [Saheeh al-Jami].
Certain
Aspects and Rulings related to fasting
- For the obligatory
fast in the month of Ramadhan, it is incumbent on everyone to have
intention before the appearance of Fajr.
- Fast is performed
between the time of True Fajr (that which makes food forbidden for
the fasting person, and makes Fajr prayer lawful, as explained by
Ibn `Abbaas r.a.a.) and the time as soon it is seen that the sun
has set.
- The interval
between the end of suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and the start of the
obligatory prayer is the interval sufficient to recite fifty Aayaat,
as indicated by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and related by al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim.
- Eating the
pre-dawn meal (suhoor) contains many blessings and the Prophet (s.a.w.)
ordered us to do take it, forbade us from leaving it and told us
to take suhoor to make a distinction between our fast and the fast
of the People of the Book. In spite of this, Ibn Hajar reports in
Fathul-Baaree that there is Ijmaa` that it is mustahabb (recomm-endation).
Allah knows best.
- Falsehood,
ignorant and indecent speech are to be avoided as they may render
one's fasting futile.
- A fasting person
can begin fasting while in the state of Janaabah (major state of
impurity that requires bath due to a sexual intercourse), as explained
in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
- Use of Siwaak
(tooth-stick) is permitted. Likewise, washing the mouth and nose
is permitted, but it should not be done strongly.
- The Prophet
forbade a youth to kiss while fasting, while he allowed an old man
since he is able to control himself.
- Giving blood
and injections which do not provide nourishment does not break the
fast. Also, there is no harm in tasting food, provided it does not
reach the throat.
- Pouring cold
water over one's head and taking a bath contain no harm to a fasting
person.
- It is Sunnah
of the Prophet and the practice of his companions to break the fast
as soon as the Sun sets even if some bright redness remains upon
the horizon. Muslims are strongly encouraged to hasten breaking
the fast. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "The Deen will not cease
to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast,
since the Jews and the Christians delay it." [Abu Daawood,
Ibn Hibbaan, Hasan]
- The Prophet
(s.a.w.) used to break his fast before praying and he used to break
it with fresh dates, if not then with older dates. And if not with
dates, than with some mouthfuls of water.
- The supplication
of the fasting person when he breaks his fast is not rejected. The
best du`aa' (supplication) is that reported from Allah's Messenger,
pbuh. He used to say when breaking the fast: "Dhahaba-DH-DHama'u
wabtallatil-`urooqu, wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah." (The thirst
has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if
Allah wills.) [Abu Daawood, al-Baihaqee, al-Haakim and others,
Hasan]
- The Prophet
said: "He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast,
he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will
be reduced from the fasting persons reward." [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee,
Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]. Also, a fasting Muslim should
not reject invitation of another Muslim to break fast.
- Deliberate
eating and drinking, making oneself vomit, menstruation, after-birth
bleeding, injection containing nourishment and sexual intercourse
all nullify the fast.
- As for Lailatul-Qadr,
the Night of Decree, that is better than a thousand months (see
Soorah Qadr (97)), the Prophet (s.a.w.) told us: "Seek it in
the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him
not allow that to make him miss the final seven." [al-Bukhaaree,
Muslim]. That which is the most specific states, "seek it on
the (twenty) ninth and the (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth."
[al-Bukhaaree]
- The Prophet
(s.a.w.) used to exert himself greatly during Lailatul-Qadr. He
would spend the nights in worship, detaching himself from women
and ordering his family with this. So every Muslim should be eager
to stand in prayer during Lailatul Qadr out of Iman and hoping for
the great reward.
The Prophet (s.a.w.)
said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) in Lailatul Qadr out of Iman
and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven." [al-Bukhaaree,
Muslim]
- The supplication
that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) taught `Aa'isha, radiyallaahu
`anhaa, to say when seeking the Night of Decree is:
"O
Allah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon,
so pardon me." [at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Saheeh]
- It is Sunnah
to pray Taraweeh in congregation and the one who knew the best the
practice of the Prophet (s.a.w.) at night, `Aa'isha, radiyallaahu
`anhaa, said: "Allah's Messenger did not increase upon eleven
rak`ahs in Ramadhan, or outside it." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
- All who are
capable should take advantage of the month of Ramadhan and perform
I`tikaaf, i.e. fully attach oneself to worshipping in the mosque.
One should inquire how the Prophet (s.a.w.) performed I`tikaaf.
- Zakaatul Fitr
is prescribed by Allah as a purification for those who fasted from
loose and indecent talk, and to feed the poor Muslims as a provision
for `Eidul Fitr. One should inquire further about rulings related
to it, especially upon whom it is obligatory and what is its quantity.
- The last but
not the least, we should strive to constantly improve our worship
and obedience of Allah the Most High, including once the month of
Ramadhan is over, inshaa' Allah.
By Br. Isa al-Bosnee
[This article was published in the 11th issue of Nida'ul Islam magazine
(http://www.islam.org.au), January-February 1996]
No comments:
Post a Comment