Chapter Five: Pillars of Islam 5 Fasting [Audio # 20]

It is the fourth pillar of Islam. Fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligation based on the Book of Allah, and in the authentic sunnah of Messenger sallallahu alayhe wa sallam and by the Muslims agreement. Allah says, [Soorah al-Baqarah 002.183 - 185] O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqn (the pious).[Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskn (needy person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know. The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'n, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong). So, whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum must be made up] from other days. Allh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allh [i.e. to say Takbr (Allhu Akbar: Allh is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. Before reading the translation of verse 2:185, shaykh said, So now it becomes an obligation. This is from the Quranic text and from the Sunnah, the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said Islam is built upon five pillars, testifying that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and establishment of prayer, giving the annual due charity, visiting the house, the kaba and fasting the month of Ramadan. [Agreed upon hadith] And all Muslims are on agreement that the fasting of the month of Ramadan is an obligation, so whoever denies that, he is apostate kafir, he is to be given respite to repent, if he repents and attests to its obligation then this is what is required, otherwise his punishment is to be (voice went blank). Fasting of Ramadan was obligated on the 2nd year of Hijrah, after the migration of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Fasting has conditions for its obligation: 1. Islam: so fasting is not an obligation on the kafir, the disbelievers and it is not accepted from him until he becomes a Muslim. 2. Reaching the age of puberty: Therefore, it is not an obligation on the child. However, the children maybe commanded and trained on the obedience so that they have familiarized themselves with the fasting and thus it would be easier for them later. And with respect to the attainment of the age of puberty, this is attained by: 1. Reaching the 15 years of age 2. Growth of hair 3. Ejaculation by way of wet dream or otherwise And this is common for males and females and there is an additional one for females and this is the occurrence of the menstruation. So if anyone of these matters are attained or occurred with respect to a growing child reaching the age of puberty then in this case it becomes an obligation. 3. Being sane: so fasting is not obligated upon the insane and also in situations where by the person reaches an age where he or she cannot discriminate things or cannot distinguish things. So there is no fasting upon them and there is no expiation upon them.

31

4. Ability to fast: all of these pertains to resident person, so the person who is unable to fast due to old age or due to an illness, incurable illness, then in this case he does not fast, then expiates by feeding for each day ! saa of food to poor, and a saa is 2400 grams, so half of that would be a kilo plus, 1200 grams of food. Certainly fasting has many wisdoms behind it, from the wisdoms is that it is a worship set as means of nearness to Allah, where the person abandons that which he naturally inclined to, like from food, drinks, sexual intercourse with the wife so that he attains the pleasure of Allah. So therefore, through this it becomes clear through the fasting that he abandons that which is beloved to him in this life and prefers over it and give precedence to that which is beloved to Allah and of great benefit in the hereafter. So therefore, he gives precedence to that which beloved by Allah over his own inclinations and desires. And from the wisdom of fasting that it is a cause for attainment of taqwah if the fasting person establishes what is obligated upon him. As Allah said in the previous verse in [Soorah al-Baqarah 002.183] O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become AlMuttaqn (the pious). So the fasting person is commanded to have taqwah so Question: What is Tawqa? Answer: Ascribing to the command of Allah and abstaining from His prohibition..

This is the greatest objective behind fasting. And the objective is not to make the self suffer by abandonment of food, drinks, and sexual relationship between the wife and the husband, and thats why the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, the one who doesnt abandon saying of falsehood and acting on it What does saying falsehood mean? It means everything, which is haram from lying, backbiting, insult, and acting on falsehood: doing things that are haram, cheating, treachery, confiscating peoples wealth unjustly, and the like. Also, including in this is listening to that which is unlawful from music and so forth. And also the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, wal jahl, and this is foolishness, which means not paying on soundness in saying and action. This is foolishness; this is which is referred in the hadith, al-jahl. Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam continued, the one who doesnt leave these things, then Allah is in no need for him to abandon his food and drink. So it is not a matter of making the self suffer, and therefore when the person acts according to what is truly the object of fasting as stated in the hadith and as stated earlier in the verse of suratul Baqarah then the fasting becomes a real educational and self discipline upon uprightness, such that the month of Ramadan would be a real turning point in ones life, affected by it himself, his manners, and in his character. And from the wisdoms of fasting is that the rich would know the favor of Allah upon him where Allah made it easy for him to attain what he likes from food and drinks and marriage etc.. Therefore, he gives thanks to Allah upon this favor and remembers the poor and thus would give from what Allah had bestowed upon him by way of charity and by way of goodness. And from the wisdom of fasting is the training upon self-discipline and control to lead ones life in a direction, which brings goodness and happiness for it in the life and in the hereafter. And therefore, distance himself from animalistic life whereby he cannot refrain himself from its enjoyment and desires. But rather he regulates this drive of the self, lest it gradually takes him to destruction. Therefore, he distance himself from an animalistic way animal like way of life, where by he cannot refrain himself from the enjoyment and self drives towards lust and desires.

32

Also from the wisdom of fasting is that the fasting leads to health benefit where the food intake is minimized and brings rest to the stomach and relieves the body from toxic waste and poisonous matters. These are few wisdoms from the many wisdoms of fasting. So, Fasting is worshiping Allah by refraining from eating and drinking and legal sexual intercourse and from all the invalidators of fasting from dawn until sunset. Fasting is two types: 1. Obligatory 2. Optional Fasting of Ramadan is an obligation (fard), the fasting person avoids all forms of invalidators of fasting and these include: 1. Legal sexual intercourse: this invalidates the fasting and it becomes an obligation on the person who indulges on this to make up the day and expiate and the expiation is a stringent one and it is freeing a believing slave, and if he does not find then fasting 2 consecutive months, and if he is unable, he feeds 60 poor people in addition to repentance. 2. Deliberate semen discharge: by self-stimulation or due to sexual advancement kissing, hugging that leads to ejaculation. Then one must make up for this day. Hugging and kissing without ejaculation does not invalidate the fasting. However, it is preferable for the fasting person to leave that because this is the means, which lead to occurrence of that which is forbidden, which may lead him to indulge in actual sexual intercourse or lead him to ejaculation. However, ejaculation by way of wet dream or mere thinking then this does not invalidate the fasting. 3. Eating and drinking: willful consumption of food and drinks, also that which is an alternative which takes the same effect through for example nutrient injection or intravenous feeding then these are also invalidators as to injections, which are meant as medication but not nutritional then these do not invalidate fasting. 4. Cupping: Releasing the blood through the mechanism of cupping. There is difference of opinion on this and the precautionary thing is to avoid it during the month of Ramadan and the strong opinion is that it does not invalidate fasting but it is precautionary not to do during the month of Ramadan. The release of blood from the nose or due to teeth removal or a wound, these do not invalidate the fasting and even if it comes in large quantity according to the correct opinion. With respect to blood donation, this would be a situation analogous to the difference of opinion concerning cupping. Shaykh Uthaymeen is with the opinion that if it necessitates the weakness of the body, then it is an invalidator because its effect in this case would be the same as that of cupping. Accordingly Shaykh rahimahu Allah went to opinion that it is not permissible for a fasting person making an obligatory fast to donate sizable amount of blood which would affect his body unless there is a necessity which cannot be warded off except by his donation. And in this case, he said that it is permissible under such a situation, therefore, he breaks his fast and makes up this day. 5. Deliberate self-induced vomiting: and therefore un-deliberate does not invalidate the fasting.

33

6. Menses and postnatal blood discharge. Some of the contemporary matters, which are related to the invalidation/validation of fasting, they are: 1. Medication for bronchial asthma the inhalers: there is a difference of opinion on this and the closest opinion: they dont invalidate the fasting. 2. Pills: which are placed under the tongue those who take them for cardiac problem like nitroglycerin pills, these are taken under the tongue so these dont invalidate the fasting. 3. Gastroscopy: Stomach examination by way of introducing fiber optic tube method known as gastroscopy by way of mouth, correct opinion is that it doesnt invalidate fasting unless a medication, which may have fat ingredient which they may put in the tube like nutritional type, if it is put on the tube and it reaches stomach then it invalidates the fasting because it is nutritional, it doesnt have anything to do with the tube itself. So its invalidation will be due to it having a nutritional aspect. 4. Endoscopy: does not invalidate the fasting, because it is not meant to be as nutrition nor strengthening of the body and it does not even reach the stomach. 5. Nose drops: the majority of the scholars are with opinion that it invalidates the fasting, Shaykh Uthaymeen rahimahu Allah is with opinion that that it invalidates the fasting if it reaches stomach. 6. Eardrop: it does not invalidate the fasting 7. Eye drop: The majority of the scholars are on the opinion that eye drops dont invalidate the fasting and this is the closest opinion. 8. Nasal spray: The preponderating opinion is that it does not invalidate the fasting 9. Medical injections: intervenes / muscular or subcutaneous according to the majority of the contemporary scholars they do not invalidate the fasting this is the correct opinion. 10. Intravenous nutritional injection: invalidates the fasting, this is the correct opinion and this is the majority opinion. *** Point of benefit: medical injection by of intravenous, muscular, or subcutaneous like pain medicine, insulin all of these they dont invalidate the fasting, but Intravenous Nutritional injections invalidate the fasting. 11. Medical creams, ointments, plastic medication put on joints and the like: they do not invalidate the fasting 12. Arterial catheterization: do not invalidate the fasting 13. Catheterization leading to the bladder: also, they do not invalidate the fasting. These are the urinary catheterizations 14. Kidney dialysis: if it is accompanied with nutritional additives, then it invalidates the fasting 15. The enema: if it contains water or nutritional additive absorbed by stomach, then it invalidates the fasting, because through this there would be strengthening of the body. 16. Suppositories: do not invalidate the fasting

34

17. Regular blood analysis: does not invalidate the fasting 18. Oxygen needed to be taken by an ill person: This is air so it has no effect, it dos not invalidate the fasting 19. Smelling the regular perfume: does not invalidate the fasting because the fragrance here does not have a mess. However, the burning the incense or Indian costs, then some of the scholars are with the opinion that this invalidates the fast because it has a mess that reaches the stomach 20. Taking shower: during hot time while fasting, does not invalidate the fasting 21. Using siwak: at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day is a sunnah, does not invalidate the fasting. Brushing the teeth with or without toothpaste does not invalidate the fasting as long as there is no food additive or the like in it, therefore in this case it is better to avoid lest it reaches the stomach. 22. Applying Kohl: to the eyebrow or eyelashes for medication or for beautification purposes does not invalidate the fasting With respect to the invalidators, if someone takes the invalidators due to forgetfulness or ignorance, or being forced, then this does not invalidate the fasting. If someone forgets to eat or drink then this does not invalidate the fasting, and if he eats or drinks thinking that the sun has already set or that dawn did not break yet, then this does not break the fasting because of ignorance. If he washes his mouth, then some of the water goes to his throat unintentionally then this does not invalidate the fasting, because this is not deliberate. And having a wet dream, this does not invalidate fasting because this is not under ones choice. It is permissible for the fasting person to intend the fasting even if he is in a state of sexual impurity, and then takes the bath after dawn break, before making the salatul fajr. Also, if a woman becomes pure in the month of Ramadan from menses or post-natal bleeding before fajr, then she fasts even though she takes the bath after daybreak, after dawn. It is permissible for the fasting person to wet the lips if they become too dry, and to wash his mouth without being extensive in that if his mouth is too dry without gurgling. From the sunnah of fasting is to: 1. Hasten breaking the fast when the sun sets. 2. And to delay the late meal suhur close to fajr. 3. It is also sunnah to break the fast on fresh dates, if the person does not find, then regular dates dry dates, if he doesnt find that then water because it is the sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 4. Also to make dua at iftaar. Rulings on Making up the missed fasting: 1. With respect to the old who reached an old age unable to distinguish matters then it is not an obligation upon him to fast nor to expiate by feeding the poor

35

2. The one who is continuously unable to fast like an elderly person or an ill person having an incurable disease, then in this case he feeds for each day a miskeen poor person half a saa of food. 3. Traveler: he makes up when he turns to residence all days he broke fasts in his travel 4. With respect to the ill person whose illness is hopeful to be cured, it is hoped that his illness is curable, then in the case when he is cured, he makes up all the days which he missed during his state of illness. 5. Menses and postnatal bleeding: makes up the days that they missed once they are ritually pure from the blood. 6. Pregnant women and breast-feeding women, if they fear for themselves or for their load or children then they break the fast and in accordance with one opinion they make the days, and the other opinion is that they feed instead of making up. 7. And whoever needs to break a fast to ward off a necessity, then he makes up that day. Fasting of a traveller has 3 [three] situations: 1. If it is hard upon him to make the fast, intense hardship upon, then it is forbidden upon him to fast. 2. If it is hard upon him but it is not intensely hard, then it is disliked for him to fast because he is not taking by the permit that Allah gave him while having hardship upon himself 3. If it is not hard upon him, then in this case he does that which is easier for him fasting or not fasting a. So if the situation is same, then fasting is better because this is the action of the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam in this case. Virtuous Acts: 1. Fasting in itself is a great merit 2. Night prayer: the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wasallam said whoever establishes the night prayer in Ramadan upon faith and seeking reward, then Allah will forgive his past sins. 3. Reciting Quraan: because it is the month of Quraan, Allah says, [Soorah al-Baqarah 002.185] The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'n, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong). 4. Charity: this is the month of spending in the way of Allah and doing good and the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam was most generous during the month of Ramadan. 5. Umrah: visiting the house of Allah in Makkah, the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, a umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj with me. 6. Ittikaf seclusion: in last the 10 nights of the month of Ramadan anticipating the night of decree Laylatul Qadr, seeking the night of Qadr in prayers at night because this is a great reward, the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said anyone who establishes the night prayers on the night of Qadr upon faith and seeking rewards, then his past sins will be forgiven. [Bukhari & Muslim]

36

7. Providing breakfast for those who are fasting: as in the hadith the person who does will receive the reward, same reward of the fasting person. Voluntary fasts: 1. Fasting the day of Monday and Thursday, this was the sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 2. Fasting three [3] days in each month: it is preferable that they are on the white days (13, 14, 15 of each month), if he spreads them, no harm. 3. Fasting on the day of Arafah and Ashura 4. Fasting on the month of Muharram and fasting in Shabaan 5. Fasting the 6 days of Shawwal 6. Fasting in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

~:~ End ~:~

37