In this part, we will look at the basis of excuses from fasting in Ramadhan.
Allah SWT says, “ Whoever from among you is sick or on a journey, then these numbers of days should be made on other day. As for those who find it difficult, they should feed a poor person for each day". (2:184)
There are two types of excuse:-
1. Those who have temporary excuse
2. And those who have permanent excuse to not to fast in Ramadhan
1. Temporary Excuse –
I. The person is sick temporarily. There are 3 categories:
i. A person who is sick and fasting does not affect his illness at all.
For example, he got a small cut on his finger.In this scenario, it is not allowed to break one’s fast. It has no effects on the fasting. Other examples include a person having a light cold, sneeze a couple of time. Hence, it is not a valid reason of not fasting for them. They are not allowed to break the fast or refrain themselves from fasting.
ii. When the fasting will affect the illness and it will make the fasting difficult.
It doesn’t harm the person. It is allowed for him to break the fast and also it is better for him not to fast as it is difficult but it doesn’t harm him. Make it up when he’s better.
iii. An illness whereby the fasting will actually harms the person, such as severe diabetes. In this scenario, such that level diabetes could affect the person and harm him if he fasts. Hence in this scenario, it is haram for him to fast. Prophet SAW said, “There should be no harm(darar) nor reciprocating harm (dirar).” (Hadith An-Nawawi, no.32)
II. A traveler. There are 3 categories:-
i. A traveler has no effect on his fast. It is not difficult for him.
It is allowed to break his fast but it is better to fast. Why?
a. Prophet SAW did it. It was narrated that Abu’l-Darda’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [on a journey] during the month of Ramadaan when it was intensely hot, until one of us would put his hand on his head because of the intense heat, and no one among us was fasting apart from the Messenger of Allaah SAW and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1945; Muslim, no. 1122). They were fasting because it was easy for them.
b. Because he would have completed his obligation quicker. And he has no contract with Allah to say that he will live to be able to make up those fast. It is better for him to fast.
c.. He ends up fasting in the month of Ramadhan.
ii. If fasting will be difficult for him but it would not harm him on his journey.
For example when travelling in a desert and he’s feeling a bit of hot, or travelling from UK and USA and the time of fasting is elongated, in this scenario it’s better not to fast and make up your fast later.
Aisyah RA said, “The Prophet SAW was never given a choice between two matters except that he took the easier of the two as long as it is not a sin.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3560)
iii. It is extremely difficult for him and may harm him.
Hence it is haram for him to fast and he should break the fast immediately. For example when he is about to pass out when fasting.
There is one report narrated by Muslim from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with them), that the Prophet SAW went out to Makkah in the year of the Conquest in Ramadaan, and fasted until he reached Kuraa’ al-Ghameem. The people were fasting, but he called for a cup of water and lifted it up so that the people could see it, then he drank it. After that, he was told that some of the people had continued to fast. He said, “Those are the disobedient, those are the disobedient.”
When does a person become traveler?
Scholar differed in this issue as there is no scriptural evidence of where the Prophet SAW said to become a traveller. They differ in the technical definition (Shari'ah) of travelling. They would look at a particular journey that Prophet SAW have made, some people said it was 48 miles (75 km), other scholars said 3 miles (5-7 km). They used the hadith where the Prophet SAW was going from Madinah to Mekah and he stopped at Dzuhulaifah which is about 3 miles from Madinah and then he shortened his prayers.
Also, they differed about how long is a person a traveler. The stronger view seems to be that whenever the Quran and Sunnah use a word and then don’t define it, then we understand it according to the custom of the people. Why? Allah says in the Quran, وأمربٳلعرف ”and command them with the custom of the people.” (7:199) If everything has been defined in the Quran and the Sunnah then take it as precedence, but if it has not been defined in the Quran and Sunnah, then it goes back to what the people understand that was to mean. Meaning, to how the Arabs understood it and then according to the various customs of the people. The word journey (safar) was not defined specifically in the Quran and Sunnah, then Allah commands it to be according to the custom of the people as a whole as long it is not against the Shariah. For example, the Bedoin never had an odometer (to measure the distance) that he can determine whether he is a traveller or not.
What the Scholars say (Ibn Taymiyyah, etc) is that you know when you are a traveler, you don’t live at the place where you travel. Hence, you are a traveler. As long as a person is a traveler, he’s a traveler. Ibn Taymiyyah gave a guideline of how do you know when you are a traveller, i.e the journeys are four types: 1)A long distance and a long time. (From Malaysia to UK and stay there for a night at least). 2) A long distance and short time. (From KL to Melaka and then spend for 10 minutes there and comes back to KL). 3) A short distance for a long time (eg: 20 minutes drive (a different town/city) and stay there for a period of time). 4) A short distance, short time is not travelling. You have to pass the last house in the city to become a traveller.
The conditions that make one a traveler for him to be able to break his fast:
- A legal journey that follows the Shariah that is called Safar (in a journey).
- The traveler must not intend to settle there.
- The journey must not be for a simple purpose.
Other issues
- Ruling for somebody who travels primarily to break his fast? It is an unlawful journey.
- You are only allowed to break your fast after you leave the last house in that city.
- The reason for that ruling of you being able to break your fast is that you are a traveler.
- The fast is from beginning to the end.
- Women whose menstruating and she becomes pure in the middle of the day, she has to make up of that fasting.
- Modern jobs that requires travelling e.g pilots, drivers - then you can apply the concession everytime everyday as long as you leave the last house of your city. But if it is easier for you to fast, then you should fast.
- A person who breaks the fast for other people - will have to make up for the fast and feed a poor person.
- A person who breaks his fast for himself - will only have to make up for the fast.
- The pregnant and breastfeeding woman, if she fears that if she fast, it will harm the baby, then she can break her fast, she has to make up the fast and she also has to pay by feeding one poor person per day. Same goes to mother who breastfeeds.
- It is haram to fast for women who have menstruation and post natal bleeding.
- It is better to make up the fast of Ramadhan before making any voluntarily fasting as the obligation take precedence over voluntarily deeds and its quicker to fill the obligations.
- Menstruation.
> If she has an irregular cycle, she would fast during that day, but she make up the fast.
> She should remain from fasting from the normal cycle, but if she has irregular cycle, she should see the characteristic of the blood.
> Defective bleeding – when they bleed for longer period than the actual period itself. She should look at the actual blood. If it’s like the menstrual blood, then don’t fast. But if its thin blood, then this is defective bleeding, hence you should still fast and pray.
> Menstrual blood- it’s thicker, dark coloured and specific distinct and smell.
- Should women take tablets to stop period cycle for fasting or hajj. No. Why?
> It is a Sunnah of the Sahabiah and Mothers of the Believers that they also went through this as it is how Allah has decreed it.
> It is harmful to women, as it has long term side effects. It is allowed but it is dislike.
- Childbirth or miscarriage. For miscarriage, if it’s before 14 days, then it is defective bleeding, if after 14 days, it’s post natal bleeding, then don’t fast.
2. Permanent excuse -
Example of this is the old and fragile or terminally sick person who will never recovers from his sickness. The Scholars say, somebody who has an illness that doesn't recover, hence, he doesn’t need to fast. But he would feed for a person for every day that he misses. You can do it in one go. Anas bin Malik RA, he was over 100 years old, and he didn't fast; On the first night of Ramadhan, he fed 30 poor ppl and fed them dinner. Hence, you can do it in one go.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Month of Mercy (Part 2) by Abu Abdissalam
The next question is raised: How do we prepare for this month, in order to get these virtues?
Whenever you want to gain something, you need to make preparation for that. Below are some of the points for us to make preparation before we start our fasting in Ramadhan:-
1. To repent to Allah SWT -
No one has a contract that says when he/she will die. Of course, everyone is expecting to live until they meet the month of Ramadhan again. Hence, it is OBLIGATORY to repent to Allah at all time, whether during Ramadhan or outside of Ramadhan.
Allah says in Quran, "O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!..." (66:8) or " Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him..." (11:3).
This indicates that it is an obligation for us to repent to Allah when we commit sins.
Prophet (ﷺ) repents to Allah more than 70 times a day. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307).
Hence, if the Prophet (ﷺ), the best human of all mankind repents to Allah more than 70 times a day, what about us?
It is an important point to remember that if a person commits a sin, and he didn’t repent to Allah, he is liable to punishment for the sin itself and for not repenting to that sin. This means that he is liable to extra punishment.
Every son of Adam sins but the best of sinners are those who repent. Allah forgives all sins as He is Forgiving and Merciful. Allah forgives all sins at any time. Hence, we shouldn’t wait until Ramadhan to repent to Allah. Start Ramadhan with a clean heart and mind.
2. Make Doa to Allah SWT
Six months before Ramadhan, the early Scholars will make Doa, “Oh Allah, allow us to see the Ramadhan.“ The month comes and goes quickly. The early Scholars actually beg to Allah for them to see the Ramadhan again. During Ramadhan they would make Doa, “Oh Allah, accept our worship in Ramadhan. “ and they will make this doa for five months after Ramadhan. The whole year revolves around Ramadhan.
Narrated Abu Huraira, Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fast in Ramadhan in Iman and to seek reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven”. (Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 37).
Other doa that we can make is that Allah will make fasting easy and beloved to us, Allah will allow us to do good deeds and a lot of it and make it as habits part and parcel of our lives such that we continue to do it after Ramadhan.
3. Try to complete any obligatory fast that we need to make up from previous years.
Aishah RA said, “I will owe fast from the previous Ramadhan and I will not be able to make up except in Shaaban." Shaaban (the 8th month) is the month before Ramadhan (the 9th month) in Islamic calender. Some scholars say it is obligatory to make up fast before the next Ramadhan.
4. To get things that will distract you out of the way before Ramadhan
For example, if there is any project milestone or course datelines that might occur in Ramadhan, try to complete them before Ramadhan so that you can concentrate on your worship in Ramadhan.
5. To learn the rulings about fasting
So you can worship Allah with knowledge. Allah says, ”Know (have knowledge), know that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins (47:19). Allah began with knowledge before action. Worshipping Allah with knowledge is completely different to worshipping Allah without knowledge as you do something based on the Ayat or Hadith or scholarly opinion, etc.
There are two types of knowledge:
i. Fardhu Ain which is obligatory for every individual to learn.
ii. Obligatory on people as a group. If some people seek that knowledge then it is sufficient for everyone else, but if no none learn, then it’s sinful for everyone.
Knowledge for fasting is Fardhu Ain. Why?
i. It is a pillar of Islam.
ii. It is an individual Fard itself, something that is obligatory upon you in Islam, hence it is obligatory for you to learn about the ruling of that obligation. Eg: a person who wants to start a business, he needs to learn the rulings of trading and doing business in Islam.
Hence, as fasting is obligatory on each person, then we need to learn the ruling regarding fasting.
We should fast some in the month of Shaaban if we can.
Aisyah RA said, "Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast until we thought that he would always fast, then he would not fast until we thought that he would always not fast, but I never saw him fast in any month more than he fasted in Sha’baan. He used to fast all of Sha’baan, and he used to fast all of Sha’baan apart from a few days” (Muslim, 1156).
A few points to note for fasting in Sha'baan:
i. If a person begins to fast in Shaaban then he can do all the way up until the end of Shaaban, but not necessarily everyday.
ii. If he didn’t start fasting in the first two weeks of Sha’ban, then he shouldn’t start to fast in the last two weeks of Shaaban.
iii. He shouldn’t fast on the day before Ramadhan or the day before that, unless it falls on his regular routines (such that he always fast on Monday and Thursday).
6. Reading a lot of Quran
Start earlier before Ramadhan. Also, regarding Ramadhan it is about increasing your sanction with Allah SWT. Make taubat, make doa, increase your worship from there. E.g. read more Quran, give more charity. Be regular, never go less than the day before whatever happens. If you are not praying the Sunnah prayers, start to pray your Sunnah prayers, then increase it by doing more other Sunnah prayers.
7. Try to set a timetable and resolutions
This means to finish something, not to start something. To start something is to start straight away. Whenever you want to do good deed, start from today. Say, I will finish the Quran by Eid. Or try to finish the Quran 3 times. Always have a higher aspiration and goal. Eg, every Friday in Mekah, there is a group of people will finish the whole 30 juzuk of the Quran by the next Friday. Hence, everyone can do it, it's all about putting your mind into it.
8. Prepare your house with beneficial books and lectures so that u can read and listen to
If something is a fitnah for you, get rid of it. Things that are gonna distract you from worshipping of Allah SWT, chuck them out of the house. So, that you can start with an environment that can help you, aid you and work with you towards your goal to Jannah. There's no such thing as boredom as when we have a purpose, we don’t have a reason to create boredom. In the ancient times, they dont have any technology or gadgets that can occupy their time, and still they didn't complaint of being bored. It doesn't make sense when you say that you are bored because you don't have a TV when there is so many things you can do which is Halal. Hence, one should make an environment that will make them close to Allah.
Legal ruling about Ramadhan (Fiqh)
When we have condition for something, we have conditions which need to be fulfilled for the act of worship to be accepted and we have conditions which need to be fulfilled before it becomes obligatory.
1. Islam
i. A Muslim is the only person in this life that is obliged to fast. It is not a secular religion, it is a complete way of life. Hence, in an Islamic state, not only criminal activities are part of Islam which constitutes in the Islamic law, but also the acts of worship are part of the Islamic law. Hence, in an Islamic state, if a Muslim does not fast, he should be punished in this world. It’s a condition for the obligation of fasting in this world.
ii. Islam is also a condition for the acceptance of fasting. If a Non-Muslim fasts, it will not be accepted by Allah SWT. Muslims who do not fast in this world will be punished but the Non-Muslim who do not fast, he will not be punished in this world. However, in the Hereafter, a Non-Muslim will not only be punished for not accepting Islam but he will also be punished for not praying, fasting, and doing things which are Haram for us.
Proof?
Allah SWT says, “The Muslims are asking some of the people from the Hellfire, What cause you to go to Hellfire? The first thing they say that we never used to pray (a proof that the person who doesn’t pray is a Non-Muslim), nor did we used to feed the poor person, and we used to engage in useless talk, and we used to deny the last day, the Day of Judgement." (74:40-46)
People who deny the Day of Judgement, they are in the Hellfire for all these things which include “We used to deny hellfire, never pray,etc” and this ayat proves that the Non-Muslim is not only punished for not accepting Islam, but also for not praying, fasting, etc.
But, if he does pray, fast as a Non-Muslim, it is still not accepted. This is like the one who prays without wudu’. If a Muslim prays without wudu', it is invalid. Why? He did not fulfill the condition of prayer which is wudu’. We only enforce the conditions on Muslim. Hence, being a Muslim is a condition for the Ibadah to be accepted.
2. Puberty
For anyone who is under the age of puberty, it is not obligatory for them to fast. Also, it is not for mercy, like saying they are only kids, so they don’t have to fast.
Prophet SAW said, “Order your children to pray at the age of 7, and smack them if they don’t pray at the age of 10." (Narrated by Abu Dawood (495) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)
This shows us a few things:
i. . Don’t order them to pray before age 7. At the age of 7, order them to pray.
ii. At the age of 10, smack the child if they don’t pray. This means that you don't smack them up until the age 10. And it should be a light smack which doesn't hurt them.
3. Sanity
If a person is not sane, then it’s not obligatory upon him to fast.
However, there is something that is obligatory upon a child and an insane person.
The insane person and a child are obligatory to pay Zakat even that a child has just been born. Zakat is obligatory upon them. It is upon the guardian of the child to give that Zakat. And if you haven’t done that for 10 years for example, you must calculate it.
4. Residency
If you are a resident and you fulfill other conditions, then you are obliged to fast. For non-residents, the obligation is there when you return and then you have to make up for it.
5. Ability
Those who are unable to fast whether it’s temporary or permanent, then they have an excuse for that.
Also, for those who don’t have any impendent such as menstruation, natal bleeding, etc then they are obliged to fast.
Whenever you want to gain something, you need to make preparation for that. Below are some of the points for us to make preparation before we start our fasting in Ramadhan:-
1. To repent to Allah SWT -
No one has a contract that says when he/she will die. Of course, everyone is expecting to live until they meet the month of Ramadhan again. Hence, it is OBLIGATORY to repent to Allah at all time, whether during Ramadhan or outside of Ramadhan.
Allah says in Quran, "O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!..." (66:8) or " Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him..." (11:3).
This indicates that it is an obligation for us to repent to Allah when we commit sins.
Prophet (ﷺ) repents to Allah more than 70 times a day. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307).
Hence, if the Prophet (ﷺ), the best human of all mankind repents to Allah more than 70 times a day, what about us?
It is an important point to remember that if a person commits a sin, and he didn’t repent to Allah, he is liable to punishment for the sin itself and for not repenting to that sin. This means that he is liable to extra punishment.
Every son of Adam sins but the best of sinners are those who repent. Allah forgives all sins as He is Forgiving and Merciful. Allah forgives all sins at any time. Hence, we shouldn’t wait until Ramadhan to repent to Allah. Start Ramadhan with a clean heart and mind.
2. Make Doa to Allah SWT
Six months before Ramadhan, the early Scholars will make Doa, “Oh Allah, allow us to see the Ramadhan.“ The month comes and goes quickly. The early Scholars actually beg to Allah for them to see the Ramadhan again. During Ramadhan they would make Doa, “Oh Allah, accept our worship in Ramadhan. “ and they will make this doa for five months after Ramadhan. The whole year revolves around Ramadhan.
Narrated Abu Huraira, Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fast in Ramadhan in Iman and to seek reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven”. (Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 37).
Other doa that we can make is that Allah will make fasting easy and beloved to us, Allah will allow us to do good deeds and a lot of it and make it as habits part and parcel of our lives such that we continue to do it after Ramadhan.
3. Try to complete any obligatory fast that we need to make up from previous years.
Aishah RA said, “I will owe fast from the previous Ramadhan and I will not be able to make up except in Shaaban." Shaaban (the 8th month) is the month before Ramadhan (the 9th month) in Islamic calender. Some scholars say it is obligatory to make up fast before the next Ramadhan.
4. To get things that will distract you out of the way before Ramadhan
For example, if there is any project milestone or course datelines that might occur in Ramadhan, try to complete them before Ramadhan so that you can concentrate on your worship in Ramadhan.
5. To learn the rulings about fasting
So you can worship Allah with knowledge. Allah says, ”Know (have knowledge), know that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins (47:19). Allah began with knowledge before action. Worshipping Allah with knowledge is completely different to worshipping Allah without knowledge as you do something based on the Ayat or Hadith or scholarly opinion, etc.
There are two types of knowledge:
i. Fardhu Ain which is obligatory for every individual to learn.
ii. Obligatory on people as a group. If some people seek that knowledge then it is sufficient for everyone else, but if no none learn, then it’s sinful for everyone.
Knowledge for fasting is Fardhu Ain. Why?
i. It is a pillar of Islam.
ii. It is an individual Fard itself, something that is obligatory upon you in Islam, hence it is obligatory for you to learn about the ruling of that obligation. Eg: a person who wants to start a business, he needs to learn the rulings of trading and doing business in Islam.
Hence, as fasting is obligatory on each person, then we need to learn the ruling regarding fasting.
We should fast some in the month of Shaaban if we can.
Aisyah RA said, "Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast until we thought that he would always fast, then he would not fast until we thought that he would always not fast, but I never saw him fast in any month more than he fasted in Sha’baan. He used to fast all of Sha’baan, and he used to fast all of Sha’baan apart from a few days” (Muslim, 1156).
A few points to note for fasting in Sha'baan:
i. If a person begins to fast in Shaaban then he can do all the way up until the end of Shaaban, but not necessarily everyday.
ii. If he didn’t start fasting in the first two weeks of Sha’ban, then he shouldn’t start to fast in the last two weeks of Shaaban.
iii. He shouldn’t fast on the day before Ramadhan or the day before that, unless it falls on his regular routines (such that he always fast on Monday and Thursday).
6. Reading a lot of Quran
Start earlier before Ramadhan. Also, regarding Ramadhan it is about increasing your sanction with Allah SWT. Make taubat, make doa, increase your worship from there. E.g. read more Quran, give more charity. Be regular, never go less than the day before whatever happens. If you are not praying the Sunnah prayers, start to pray your Sunnah prayers, then increase it by doing more other Sunnah prayers.
7. Try to set a timetable and resolutions
This means to finish something, not to start something. To start something is to start straight away. Whenever you want to do good deed, start from today. Say, I will finish the Quran by Eid. Or try to finish the Quran 3 times. Always have a higher aspiration and goal. Eg, every Friday in Mekah, there is a group of people will finish the whole 30 juzuk of the Quran by the next Friday. Hence, everyone can do it, it's all about putting your mind into it.
8. Prepare your house with beneficial books and lectures so that u can read and listen to
If something is a fitnah for you, get rid of it. Things that are gonna distract you from worshipping of Allah SWT, chuck them out of the house. So, that you can start with an environment that can help you, aid you and work with you towards your goal to Jannah. There's no such thing as boredom as when we have a purpose, we don’t have a reason to create boredom. In the ancient times, they dont have any technology or gadgets that can occupy their time, and still they didn't complaint of being bored. It doesn't make sense when you say that you are bored because you don't have a TV when there is so many things you can do which is Halal. Hence, one should make an environment that will make them close to Allah.
Legal ruling about Ramadhan (Fiqh)
When we have condition for something, we have conditions which need to be fulfilled for the act of worship to be accepted and we have conditions which need to be fulfilled before it becomes obligatory.
1. Islam
i. A Muslim is the only person in this life that is obliged to fast. It is not a secular religion, it is a complete way of life. Hence, in an Islamic state, not only criminal activities are part of Islam which constitutes in the Islamic law, but also the acts of worship are part of the Islamic law. Hence, in an Islamic state, if a Muslim does not fast, he should be punished in this world. It’s a condition for the obligation of fasting in this world.
ii. Islam is also a condition for the acceptance of fasting. If a Non-Muslim fasts, it will not be accepted by Allah SWT. Muslims who do not fast in this world will be punished but the Non-Muslim who do not fast, he will not be punished in this world. However, in the Hereafter, a Non-Muslim will not only be punished for not accepting Islam but he will also be punished for not praying, fasting, and doing things which are Haram for us.
Proof?
Allah SWT says, “The Muslims are asking some of the people from the Hellfire, What cause you to go to Hellfire? The first thing they say that we never used to pray (a proof that the person who doesn’t pray is a Non-Muslim), nor did we used to feed the poor person, and we used to engage in useless talk, and we used to deny the last day, the Day of Judgement." (74:40-46)
People who deny the Day of Judgement, they are in the Hellfire for all these things which include “We used to deny hellfire, never pray,etc” and this ayat proves that the Non-Muslim is not only punished for not accepting Islam, but also for not praying, fasting, etc.
But, if he does pray, fast as a Non-Muslim, it is still not accepted. This is like the one who prays without wudu’. If a Muslim prays without wudu', it is invalid. Why? He did not fulfill the condition of prayer which is wudu’. We only enforce the conditions on Muslim. Hence, being a Muslim is a condition for the Ibadah to be accepted.
2. Puberty
For anyone who is under the age of puberty, it is not obligatory for them to fast. Also, it is not for mercy, like saying they are only kids, so they don’t have to fast.
Prophet SAW said, “Order your children to pray at the age of 7, and smack them if they don’t pray at the age of 10." (Narrated by Abu Dawood (495) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)
This shows us a few things:
i. . Don’t order them to pray before age 7. At the age of 7, order them to pray.
ii. At the age of 10, smack the child if they don’t pray. This means that you don't smack them up until the age 10. And it should be a light smack which doesn't hurt them.
3. Sanity
If a person is not sane, then it’s not obligatory upon him to fast.
However, there is something that is obligatory upon a child and an insane person.
The insane person and a child are obligatory to pay Zakat even that a child has just been born. Zakat is obligatory upon them. It is upon the guardian of the child to give that Zakat. And if you haven’t done that for 10 years for example, you must calculate it.
4. Residency
If you are a resident and you fulfill other conditions, then you are obliged to fast. For non-residents, the obligation is there when you return and then you have to make up for it.
5. Ability
Those who are unable to fast whether it’s temporary or permanent, then they have an excuse for that.
Also, for those who don’t have any impendent such as menstruation, natal bleeding, etc then they are obliged to fast.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Month of Mercy (Part 1) by Abu Abdissalam
Definition of Siyam or Saum -
Linguistically: to abstain from something, for example talking; prove: Allah SWT talks about Maryam AS saying that, "She had made an oath to Ar-Rahman to do Saum" and she says," So, therefore I would not speak to any Insan."(Maryam:26). This means that she has abstained herself from speaking to anyone. If the second ayat is not there, then Saum would means fasting (the technically meaning).
Technically: Withholding from something specific (food, drink, marriage relation), during a specific time which is from the Fajr until the sunset with a specified intention (to please Allah SWT and the type of Ibaadah which is obligatory fast/voluntarily fast, etc). Prove: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun" (Al-Baqarah:183)
Whenever the word kutiba 'alaykum (prescribed upon you) this means obligation upon you.
The true purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. This is the most important thing that we need to focus ourselves on. What is Taqwa? it means to do acts of worship, out of obedience to Allah SWT upon light of Allah (Imaan), seeking the pleasure of Allah and the reward form Allah SWT and to avoid disobedience of Allah upon light of Allah (Imaan) and fearing the punishment of Allah SWT. Hence, the primary goal of fasting is to gain Taqwa, anything else gives extra benefits.
But people would ask, how could you gain Taqwa by abstaining yourself from food, drink, sexual intercourse and so on? The reality of the matter is that abstaining yourself from food, drink and sexual intercourse does not increase your Taqwa but yet Saum increase your Taqwa because you are abstaining yourself from something which are normally Halal. Because how could you abstain yourself from something which is normally halal but not from things which are always harm. Besides, you are expecting reward from Allah SWT, hence your consciousness of Allah SWT makes you abstain yourself from things which are normally Halal and that are always Harm.
Rasulullah SAW mentioned that those who did not receive the forgiveness and mercy of Allah SWT in Ramadhan is cursed because it's so easy to get forgiven in Ramadhan. Hence, a person is stupid to not getting something which is so easy to get like the forgiveness of Allah in the month of Ramadhan.
The virtues of Ramadhan:-
"Whoever fast in Ramadhan out of Imaan, seeking the reward, then his previous sins will be forgiven." (al-Bukhari, Fath, no.37) There are two conditions to this - fasting out of your Imaan and to seek reward from Allah SWT. Allah loves that we make du'a to Allah. "Your Lord said, make D'ua to Me and I will respond" (Ghafir, 40:60)
Non-Muslim who is fasting will not be accepted because it is done without Imaan.
Also, Rasulullah SAW said in a Hadith Qudsi, "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting as it is for Me and I shall reward for it" (al-Bukhari, al-Fath, no.1904)
Fasting is a shield. When somebody is fasting, he should avoid from having sexual relationship with his spouse and quarreling. When somebody wants to quarrel with him, he should say, "I am fasting". This shows the consciousness of that person of the rewards of fasting. It doesn't necessarily makes the person looks like he was giving up in the argument because he knows he's doing it for the sake of Allah. By saying that makes one calm down and after 1 month, it will become a habit to not argue for the sake of Allah. It's a shield against the Shaytaan, sins and hence, Hellfire. It would be pointless to abstain yourself from something you normally do, and then not gaining something for the Akhirat.
"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a person who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah than the musk." (Muslim, 2/807)
There are two joys for fasting people, which are
1. When breaking his fast - it is natural to feel this joy at this moment.
2. When he meets his Lord, and then he will be pleased because he was fasting (Muslim, 2/807). - When the scale of weighing between your good deeds and bad deeds, and because of one fast that you did will take the whole balance out. It's like you expected a reward but you forget about it, but then it comes back to you because Allah does not forget your good deeds, no matter how minor or major they are. On the Day of Judgement, fasting will give a huge reward to the one who fast. Also, you should always think of why you are fasting or praying. If you fast simply to please other people like your parents or just because that everyone else is fasting, then you are just making yourself hungry for the rest of the day. But if you are fasting sincerely to please Allah, Insya Allah, your fasting will be accepted and you will get a huge reward for it.
Fasting is the most sincere deed if he keeps it to himself and do it for the sake of Allah. One way to gauge the sincerity is by judging yourself when you are in private. For eg, you recite longer recitation when you are doing Solat in private rather than in public. Then you'll know whether you are doing it for the sake of Allah by increasing your Ibaadah when you are in private. Hide your good deeds the way you hide your sins.
Al-Bukhaari (1899) and Muslim (1079) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that Rasulullah SAW said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up."
In Ramadhan, it is easy to enter Paradise and it is hard to enter Hell as your environment is so close to Allah SWT and Allah's Mercy is continuously descending. There are many things that can be done to get closer to Allah, such as reading more Quran, doing more Nafl Solat, doing more night prayers, giving out more charity to the needy, etc.
However, there is a question of, "If the Devils are locked up, how come there is still evil in Ramadhan?"
There are two opinions from the scholars.
1. Only the major devils, namely the Maarids (strong ones), are locked up.
2. For eleven months of the year, Shaytan has been training you to do evil things. Then in the month of Ramadhan, it is out of your habit that you do sinful acts without the Shaytan's external help but from the 11 months training by the Shaytan.
To summarize, the primary purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. Aside from the primary reason, the other reasons can be to emphatize to the poor (it is hard for them to get food) , to emphatize to those who can’t get married (marital intercourse is not allowed during fasting although it is Halal) and by overcoming the influence of Shaytan.
Linguistically: to abstain from something, for example talking; prove: Allah SWT talks about Maryam AS saying that, "She had made an oath to Ar-Rahman to do Saum" and she says," So, therefore I would not speak to any Insan."(Maryam:26). This means that she has abstained herself from speaking to anyone. If the second ayat is not there, then Saum would means fasting (the technically meaning).
Technically: Withholding from something specific (food, drink, marriage relation), during a specific time which is from the Fajr until the sunset with a specified intention (to please Allah SWT and the type of Ibaadah which is obligatory fast/voluntarily fast, etc). Prove: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun" (Al-Baqarah:183)
Whenever the word kutiba 'alaykum (prescribed upon you) this means obligation upon you.
The true purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. This is the most important thing that we need to focus ourselves on. What is Taqwa? it means to do acts of worship, out of obedience to Allah SWT upon light of Allah (Imaan), seeking the pleasure of Allah and the reward form Allah SWT and to avoid disobedience of Allah upon light of Allah (Imaan) and fearing the punishment of Allah SWT. Hence, the primary goal of fasting is to gain Taqwa, anything else gives extra benefits.
But people would ask, how could you gain Taqwa by abstaining yourself from food, drink, sexual intercourse and so on? The reality of the matter is that abstaining yourself from food, drink and sexual intercourse does not increase your Taqwa but yet Saum increase your Taqwa because you are abstaining yourself from something which are normally Halal. Because how could you abstain yourself from something which is normally halal but not from things which are always harm. Besides, you are expecting reward from Allah SWT, hence your consciousness of Allah SWT makes you abstain yourself from things which are normally Halal and that are always Harm.
Rasulullah SAW mentioned that those who did not receive the forgiveness and mercy of Allah SWT in Ramadhan is cursed because it's so easy to get forgiven in Ramadhan. Hence, a person is stupid to not getting something which is so easy to get like the forgiveness of Allah in the month of Ramadhan.
The virtues of Ramadhan:-
"Whoever fast in Ramadhan out of Imaan, seeking the reward, then his previous sins will be forgiven." (al-Bukhari, Fath, no.37) There are two conditions to this - fasting out of your Imaan and to seek reward from Allah SWT. Allah loves that we make du'a to Allah. "Your Lord said, make D'ua to Me and I will respond" (Ghafir, 40:60)
Non-Muslim who is fasting will not be accepted because it is done without Imaan.
Also, Rasulullah SAW said in a Hadith Qudsi, "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting as it is for Me and I shall reward for it" (al-Bukhari, al-Fath, no.1904)
Fasting is a shield. When somebody is fasting, he should avoid from having sexual relationship with his spouse and quarreling. When somebody wants to quarrel with him, he should say, "I am fasting". This shows the consciousness of that person of the rewards of fasting. It doesn't necessarily makes the person looks like he was giving up in the argument because he knows he's doing it for the sake of Allah. By saying that makes one calm down and after 1 month, it will become a habit to not argue for the sake of Allah. It's a shield against the Shaytaan, sins and hence, Hellfire. It would be pointless to abstain yourself from something you normally do, and then not gaining something for the Akhirat.
"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a person who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah than the musk." (Muslim, 2/807)
There are two joys for fasting people, which are
1. When breaking his fast - it is natural to feel this joy at this moment.
2. When he meets his Lord, and then he will be pleased because he was fasting (Muslim, 2/807). - When the scale of weighing between your good deeds and bad deeds, and because of one fast that you did will take the whole balance out. It's like you expected a reward but you forget about it, but then it comes back to you because Allah does not forget your good deeds, no matter how minor or major they are. On the Day of Judgement, fasting will give a huge reward to the one who fast. Also, you should always think of why you are fasting or praying. If you fast simply to please other people like your parents or just because that everyone else is fasting, then you are just making yourself hungry for the rest of the day. But if you are fasting sincerely to please Allah, Insya Allah, your fasting will be accepted and you will get a huge reward for it.
Fasting is the most sincere deed if he keeps it to himself and do it for the sake of Allah. One way to gauge the sincerity is by judging yourself when you are in private. For eg, you recite longer recitation when you are doing Solat in private rather than in public. Then you'll know whether you are doing it for the sake of Allah by increasing your Ibaadah when you are in private. Hide your good deeds the way you hide your sins.
Al-Bukhaari (1899) and Muslim (1079) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that Rasulullah SAW said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up."
In Ramadhan, it is easy to enter Paradise and it is hard to enter Hell as your environment is so close to Allah SWT and Allah's Mercy is continuously descending. There are many things that can be done to get closer to Allah, such as reading more Quran, doing more Nafl Solat, doing more night prayers, giving out more charity to the needy, etc.
However, there is a question of, "If the Devils are locked up, how come there is still evil in Ramadhan?"
There are two opinions from the scholars.
1. Only the major devils, namely the Maarids (strong ones), are locked up.
2. For eleven months of the year, Shaytan has been training you to do evil things. Then in the month of Ramadhan, it is out of your habit that you do sinful acts without the Shaytan's external help but from the 11 months training by the Shaytan.
To summarize, the primary purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. Aside from the primary reason, the other reasons can be to emphatize to the poor (it is hard for them to get food) , to emphatize to those who can’t get married (marital intercourse is not allowed during fasting although it is Halal) and by overcoming the influence of Shaytan.
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