Once again the month of Ramadan is drawing nearer. It is a month of activity that comes with a lot rewards and benefits. The month in itself is filled with a lot of things that are not contained in any other month. So as Muslims it is a month we should always be looking forward to and more importantly prepare for. The benefits and rewards that are in this month are so immense that we cannot afford to miss out. The most important preparation for the month of Ramadan is that of knowledge. Islam is a religion that cannot be practiced with ignorance therefore a Muslim seeks knowledge about whatever he wants to do, especially when it comes to the practice of his religion. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is not an exception. So, in other to get the full reward and benefits that are inherent in this great month there is need for us to know the facts and beware of the fallacies that are attached to the month of Ramadan and fasting in it. Here are some facts of them;
Facts about Ramadan
Compulsory: The fast of Ramadan is compulsory on ever Muslim that has reached the age of puberty, sane, healthy, and resident. Allaah says; "0you who believe! Fasting [in the month of Ramadan] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon [the pious]". [Q 2:183]. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said; "Islam is built upon five pillars ... fasting in the month of Ramadan…. " [Bukhari]
Sight the Moon: The fast of Ramadan starts with the sighting of the moon. If the moon cannot be seen due to cloud-cover, then we should count Sha'ban to be thirty. Abdullah bn Abbas [RA] related that the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] once mentioned Ramadan and said, "Do not start the fast or break it until you see the new moon. If the new moon is obscured from you, tn en complete a full thirty days. "[Muwwata]
Do not preempt it: It is not permissible to fast on the Yaomu-us-Shaq [day of doubt 30th of Shaban]. But if we hear the news that the moon has been sighted before the sun sets we should stop eating and drinking. We do not have to pay back this day later. 'Am mar bn Yasir [RA] said: "Whoever fasts the 'day of doubt has disobeyed Abu al-Qasim [the Prophet]." [An-Nasa’i]
Intention: It is obligatory to have an intention to fast in the month of Ramadan. We do not need to pronounce it with our tongue. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: "There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast from the night before.”[Abu Dawud]
Dawn to dusk: The fast for each day begins when the fajr[dawn] appears and it ends immediately the sun sets. Allaah says: And eat and drink until the white thread [light] of dawn appears to you distinct from black thread [darkness of night, then complete your saum [fast] till the nightfall. "[Q2: 187]
Exemptions: Allaah has exempted the old, sick person, traveler, pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, menstruating woman and the old person from fasting in this month. As for the old person, pregnant woman and the breastfeeding woman, they should feed a poor person for each day. Allaah says; "And as for those who can fast with difficulty, e.g. [old man], they have [a choice either to fast or to feed miskin [poor person [for every day]]." [Q 2: 184]. The sick, the traveler and the menstruating woman, must pay back as soon as they can. Allaah says:”…..And whosoever is ill or on journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum [fasts must be made up] from other days." [Q 2: 185]. .
Your choice: As for the one who is on a journey, he has the option of fasting or not. Narrated Anas: "We were with the Prophet (on a journey) and the only shade one could have was the shade made by one's own garment. Those who fasted did not do any work and those who did not fast served the camels and brought the water on them and treated the sick and (wounded). So, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "Today, those who were not fasting took (all) the reward." [Bukhari]
Delay, then timing: It is better to delay our sahur [pre-dawn meal] and hurry to terminate our fast as soon as the sun sets. 'Amr ibn Maimun [RAH] said: "The Companions of Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], would be the first to break the fast and the last to eat their predawn meals." [Baihaqi]
Stay without: Eating, drinking and sexual intercourse in the day of Ramadan vitiate the fast. Eating and drinking deliberately without a valid excuse in the day of Ramadan is major sin. Allaah says;”…. And eat and drink until the white thread [light] of dawn appears to you distinct from black thread [darkness of night], then complete your saum [fast] till the nightfall. "[Q 2:187]. Abu Hurayrah [RA] narrates: 'Whilst we were sitting with Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] a man came and said to him: '0 Messenger of Allaah, I am doomed!' He said, "What is the matter with you?" He said, 'I had intercourse with my wife while I am fasting ... ' [Bukhari].
Huge sin: The person who deliberately breaks his fast in the day of Ramadan has committed a major sin. According to scholars the person will have to make a sincere repentance with a resolve never to go back to such a sin again. He will have to repay the fast after the month while seeking forgiveness. This is the opinion of most of the scholars including Shaykh ai-AI bani, Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bn Baz among others.
Expiation: The person who has sexual intercourse with his wife will have to fast the rest of the day but has to make up for the fast later on and offer kafaarah [expiation]. This is based on the hadith of Abu Hurayrah [RA]: 'Whilst we were sitting with Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] a man came and said to him: '0 Messenger of Allaah, I am doomed!' He said, 'What is the matter with you?" He said, 'I had intercourse with my wife while I am fasting. 'The Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, 'Do you have a slave whom you could set free? He said, 'No.' The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, 'can you fast for two consecutive months? He said 'No.' The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, 'Do you have the wherewithal to feed sixty poor people? He said, 'No'. Then a basket-full of dates was brought to the Prophet and he asked, "Where is the burnt (ruined) man?" He replied, "I am present." The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] told him to give that basket in charity (as expiation).'" [Bukhari].
Fast breakers: Anything that serves as nourishment or takes the place of food or drink also breaks the fast just like the food and drink. If a woman is fasting and she sees her menstrual period before the sun sets then, she must break her fast and pay back later. If someone forgetfully eats or drinks in the day of Ramadan he should continue his fast and he does not need to pay back. Narrated Abu Huraira [RA], 'The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allaah has made him eat and drink". [Bukhari]
Start them young: Though the young are not required to fast, it is proper for their guardians to encourage them to fast so they will become accustomed to it at an early age. They may fast as long as they are able to and then may break it. Ar-Rabi'a bint Mu'awiyyah [RA] reported: "The Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him] sent a man, on the morning of the day of 'Ashurah, to the residences of the Ansar, saying: 'Whoever has spent the morning fasting is to complete his fast. Whoever has not spent this morning fasting should fast for the remainder of the day' We fasted after that announcement, as did our young children. We would go to the mosque and make toys stuffed with cotton for them to play with. If one of them started crying due to hunger, we would give them a toy to play with until it was time to eat." [Bukhari]
Fallacies: There are several things that people say about the fast of Ramadan that are however incorrect. They either say those things vitiate the fast or are disliked. However, there is no evidence for these things in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
1. Having a bath while fasting in Ramadan. Narrated Aisha [RA]: "(At times) in Ramadan the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to take a bath in the morning not because of a wet dream and would continue his fast." [Bukhari]
2. Swallowing saliva, phlegm or tears.
3. Sleeping in the afternoon of Ramadan.
4. Not praying Taraweeh the previous night. Though it is encouraged to do this nafl, there is no evidence to show that the person who does not pray taraweeh does not have the fasting of the next day.
5. Kissing one's spouse [of course for the married only]. Narrated Aisha [RA]: The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you. Sai'd bn Jubair [RAH], "The person who gets discharge after casting a look (on his wife) should complete his fast." [Bukhari] If a person fears he might fall into having sexual intercourse with his wife, then he should avoid it completely.
6. Brushing the teeth or using siwaak [without swallowing the water] in the afternoon of Ramadan.
7. Using puffers, inhalers, ointment [on the body].
8. Having dental fillings or tooth extractions.
9. Having a wet dream in the afternoon of Ramadan. All the person needs to do is to have the ritual bath and continue with his fasting.
10. Tasting food for salt in the afternoon of Ramadan. This is permissible in as much as the person does not swallow; since the taste is on the tongue.
11. Vomiting unintentionally does not nullify a person's fast. The fast only becomes vitiated for the one who deliberately induce vomiting. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said; "Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later on, but whoever vomits on purpose have to make up the fast. "[Tirmidhi]
12. Eating and drinking or having intercourse while thinking the dawn has not appeared. The person does not have to make up for his fast. These are some pieces of information that we need to equip ourselves with before of this glorious beneficial month arrives. May Allaah make us one of those that will be witnesses of this month and make us get all the benefits in it [Aameen].
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited