Question:
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
An explanation of the obligation and timing of Ramadan fasting.
Answer with the Help of the Bestower, Provided the Question is Correct
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The fasts of Ramadan are one of the great pillars of Islam. This is a definitive obligation prescribed by Allah, which is clearly and evidently known in the religion of Islam.
The obligation of fasting in Ramadan is supported by:
◈ The texts of the Book of Allah
◈ The Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ
◈ And the consensus of the Ummah
All indicate this.
Allah, the Exalted, has stated:
﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا كُتِبَ عَلَيكُمُ الصِّيامُ كَما كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تَتَّقونَ ﴿١٨٣﴾ أَيّامًا مَعدودٰتٍ فَمَن كانَ مِنكُم مَريضًا أَو عَلىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِن أَيّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذينَ يُطيقونَهُ فِديَةٌ طَعامُ مِسكينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيرًا فَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَهُ وَأَن تَصوموا خَيرٌ لَكُم إِن كُنتُم تَعلَمونَ ﴿١٨٤﴾ شَهرُ رَمَضانَ الَّذى أُنزِلَ فيهِ القُرءانُ هُدًى لِلنّاسِ وَبَيِّنـٰتٍ مِنَ الهُدىٰ وَالفُرقانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ وَمَن كانَ مَريضًا أَو عَلىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِن أَيّامٍ أُخَرَ يُريدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ اليُسرَ وَلا يُريدُ بِكُمُ العُسرَ وَلِتُكمِلُوا العِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلىٰ ما هَدىٰكُم وَلَعَلَّكُم تَشكُرونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾… سورة البقرة
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. [These are] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [of feeding a poor person]. But whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. And to fast is best for you, if you only knew. The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month – let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; perhaps you will be grateful.”
The meaning of the word (كُتِبَ) is “made obligatory.” Similarly, (فَلْيَصُمْهُ) contains a command form that indicates obligation.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Islam is built on five things…” and among them, he mentioned the fasting of Ramadan.
◈ Numerous authentic Hadiths have been reported regarding the obligation of fasting in Ramadan.
◈ There is consensus among all Muslims on this matter.
◈ One who denies it is a disbeliever.
The Wisdom Behind the Legitimacy of Fasting
Fasting is a means of purifying the soul and reforming morals. Through it, a person is cleansed of bad thoughts and weak morals. It reduces the effects of Satan, as the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
“إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ مَجْرَىَ الدَّم”
“Indeed, Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood.”
Excessive eating and drinking increase desires and lead to laziness in worship, whereas fasting creates the opposite condition.
✔ The desire for the world diminishes
✔ The inclination towards the Hereafter increases
✔ A sense of empathy for the suffering of the poor develops
In Arabic, fasting is called “صوم” (Sawm), which legally means to abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations with intention, while also avoiding indecency and acts of disobedience.
Time of Fasting
Fasting begins at the dawn of the true morning and ends at sunset.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَالـٔـٰنَ بـٰشِروهُنَّ وَابتَغوا ما كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُم وَكُلوا وَاشرَبوا حَتّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الخَيطُ الأَبيَضُ مِنَ الخَيطِ الأَسوَدِ مِنَ الفَجرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيامَ إِلَى الَّيلِ … ﴿١٨٧﴾… سورة البقرة
“So now you may have sexual relations with your wives and seek that which Allah has decreed for you, and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread. Then complete the fast until the night.”
Methods for the Commencement of Ramadan
① Sight of the Moon
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهرَ فَليَصُمهُ …﴿١٨٥﴾… سورة البقرة
“So whoever of you sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it.”
“صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ”
“Fast upon sighting the moon.”
② Testimony of a Reliable Person
“تَرَاءَى النَّاسُ الْهِلالَ , فَأَخْبَرْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، أَنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ , فَصَامَ وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِصِيَامِهِ “
“People tried to see the moon, I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I had seen the moon, so he observed the fast and commanded the people to observe the fast.”
③ Completion of Thirty Days of Sha’ban
“إِنَّمَا الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ ، فَلا تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ ، وَلا تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدِرُوا لَهُ “
“The month is twenty-nine days, so do not fast until you see the moon, and do not break your fast until you see the moon; if there are clouds, complete thirty days.”
Emphasis on Following the Sunnah
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿لَقَد كانَ لَكُم فى رَسولِ اللَّهِ أُسوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَن كانَ يَرجُوا اللَّهَ وَاليَومَ الءاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيرًا ﴿٢١﴾… سورةالاحزاب
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you have a good example for the one who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.”
It is obligatory for every Muslim to learn the rulings of fasting so that they may observe the fast in accordance with the Sunnah, ensuring their actions are correct and accepted by Allah the Exalted.
ھذا ما عندی والله اعلم بالصواب
