The Mu’adhdhin’s Mistake and the Islamic Ruling on Making Up the Fast
Question:
In our mosque, during Ramadan, one day the mu’adhdhin made a mistake in the Maghrib adhan. On normal days, this is not noticeable, but in Ramadan everyone carefully watches the time. The mu’adhdhin gave the adhan at 30 minutes instead of the usual 35 minutes, that is, 5 minutes early. Because of this, people broke their fast before sunset.
When the mu’adhdhin was informed of this mistake, he became very distressed. To resolve this issue, several scholars were consulted, including Dr. Fazl Ilahi Sahib, but he did not give any response. Afterwards, Abdul Sattar Bhatti Sahib contacted Abdul Mannan Noorpuri Sahib, who issued a fatwa that those who broke their fast must fast again.
Some scholars said that it was the Mu’adhin’s mistake, so only the Mu’adhin should make up the fast. However, Abdul Sattar Bhatti Sahib and the Mu’adhin accepted the fatwa of Abdul Mannan Noor Puri Sahib and announced in the mosque that all people must fast again.
But some people believe that it was not only those who broke their fast, but also individuals who do not pray congregational prayers in this mosque, but rather pray in other mosques near their homes, who also broke their fast.
Therefore, the question is:
In this case, is it obligatory for all people to make up the fast, or due to the Mu’adhin’s mistake, is only he required to make up the fast? Please provide the answer to this issue in the light of the Quran and Hadith and publish it in Al-Hadith, because this issue has caused a lot of confusion.
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Incident from the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Narrated Asma bint Abi Bakr رضي الله عنها:
افطرنا علی عهد النبی صلی الله علیه وسلم یوم غیم ثم طلعت الشمس
During the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, one day we broke our fast (because there were clouds in the sky), then the sun appeared.
Hisham bin Urwah says:
Qadha (making up the fast) is necessary.
Incident of Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه:
Aslam al-Adawi, the freed slave of Umar, narrates:
One day there were clouds, Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه broke his fast because he thought the sun had set, then the sun appeared again, so he said:
الخطب یسیرو قد اجتهدنا
Meaning “The matter is easy, we have exercised Ijtihad.”
Explanation by Imam Malik رحمه الله:
یرید بذلک عمر بن الخطاب القضاء و یسارة موونته وخلفته فیما یری والله أعلم
Meaning Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه intended that the fast should be made up, because it is an easy and minor matter.
Support for this incident from other sources:
◈ Muwatta Imam Malik
◈ Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah
◈ Musannaf Abdul Razzaq
◈ Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi
A Weak Narration:
There is a narration from Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
واللہ لا نقضیہ
“By Allah, we will not make up this fast.”
This narration is weak due to the tadlees (concealment) of Salman bin Mihran Al-A’mash.
Allama Nawawi states:
والاعمش مدلس، لا یحتج بعنعنته الا اذا صح سماعه الذی عنعنہ من جهة اخری
Imam Bayhaqi has also declared this narration as faulty.
Other Opinions:
◈ According to Ata bin Abi Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him), in such a case, making up the fast is obligatory, not expiation.
◈ Ziyad bin Al-Nadr (may Allah have mercy on him) also held the view that making up the fast is necessary.
Position of the Majority of Scholars:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
اس مسئلے میں اختلاف ہے اور جمہور اس کے قائل ہیں کہ قضا واجب ہے۔
The same opinion is found in ‘Awn al-Ma’bud’:
Qastalani, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
وهذا مذهب الشافعیه و الحنفیة و المالکیة و الحنابلة
Meaning, Shafi’i, Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali all say the same.
Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, holds a different position:
اجزامنه
Meaning, this fasting is sufficient.
The fundamental ruling of the Quran:
﴿ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ﴾
Then complete the fast until the night (at the time of Maghrib).
Therefore, if someone breaks the fast before sunset and later the sun is seen, making up the fast is obligatory.
The Shariah ruling on the current issue:
In this case, the Mu’adhin gave the call to prayer 5 minutes earlier and people broke their fast, but the sun was not yet visible. This issue is of the nature of error and forgetfulness.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
«ان الله تجاروزلي عن امتي الخطا و النسيان و ما استكرهوا عليه»
“Indeed, Allah has forgiven my Ummah for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do.”
The generality of the Quran also supports this:
﴿وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِ﴾
Conclusion:
In this case, the fast broken prematurely due to the Mu’adhin’s error falls under the category of error. Therefore:
◈ Qadha is not obligatory on common people.
◈ Even if the Mu’adhdhin makes a mistake despite intention and caution, he is excused.
◈ The correct research, which is also that of Maulana Hafiz Abdul Hamid Azhar Hafizahullah, is that in such a condition qadha is not obligatory.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
