Written by: Hafiz Nadeem Zaheer
الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلوة والسلام على رسول الامين، اما بعد :
❀ Ramadan is a month of mercy, blessings, felicity, and forgiveness. As soon as this month begins, فتحت ابواب الجنة "the gates of Paradise are opened," and غلقت ابواب جهنم "the gates of Hell are closed," and the rebellious سلسلت الشياطين "devils are chained." [Bukhari: 1898, 1899]
❀ And whoever fasts in this month (Ramadan) with faith and the intention of reward will have all their past minor sins forgiven. [Bukhari: 1901]
❀ The fasting person is the fortunate one for whom a special door named الريان is reserved among the eight doors of Paradise. [Bukhari: 1896]
❀ On the contrary, the person who finds the month of Ramadan (during his life) but remains deprived of forgiveness is considered extremely unfortunate. [Sunan Tirmidhi: 3545, its chain is Hasan]
↰ Highly blessed is the person who truly embraces all the virtues of the month of Ramadan. اللهم اجعلنا منه
Rulings:
Fasting by Sighting the Moon
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Start fasting upon seeing the moon and end the fast upon seeing it. If the sky is cloudy, then complete thirty days of Sha'ban." [Bukhari: 1909, Muslim: 1081]Intention of Fasting
There is no doubt that the validity of actions depends on intentions. However, intention is the determination and purpose of the heart, not the utterance of self-made phrases like وبصوم غد نويت من شهر رمضان which are commonly known among people. This is baseless and holds no authenticity.Issues of Suhoor (Pre-Dawn Meal)
The Importance of Suhoor
❀ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is the eating of Suhoor." [Muslim: 2096]❀ He also said: "Eat Suhoor, for there is a blessing in Suhoor." [Bukhari: 1923, Muslim: 1095]
Until When Can Suhoor Be Eaten?
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When any of you hears the Adhan and the vessel is in his hand, he should not put it down until he fulfills his need from it." [Abu Dawood: 2350, its chain is Hasan]◈ Mufti Azam Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) writes regarding the time of Suhoor:"When a person hears the Adhan and knows that this is the Fajr Adhan, it is obligatory for him to stop eating and drinking. If the Muadhin gives the Adhan before the actual dawn, then it is not obligatory to stop, and it is permissible to eat and drink." [Fatawa Islamiyyah, 2/173, Darussalam edition]
↰ The above Hadith pertains to those who wake up late, while Sheikh Ibn Baz's fatwa applies to those who continue to eat until the Adhan ends despite being full. والله اعلم بالصواب (And Allah knows best what is correct).
Eating Suhoor in a State of Janabah (Major Ritual Impurity)
It is permissible to eat Suhoor in a state of Janabah and perform Ghusl (ritual purification) later. See: [Sahih Muslim: 1109/80]The Requirements of Fasting
Fasting requires abstaining from lying, slander, backbiting, and disputes, and adopting piety. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are many who fast, and get nothing from their fast except thirst, and there are many who pray at night and get nothing from their prayer except wakefulness." [Darimi: 2722, its chain is Hasan, Darul Ma'arifah edition]↰ This means that if one does not avoid such evils, their fast will not benefit them. Additionally
:
❀ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink." [Bukhari: 1903]
Actions That Do Not Break the Fast
The permissible actions during fasting include taking a bath, using a miswak (tooth-stick), eating or drinking forgetfully, cupping, applying kohl, combing hair, and applying oil, etc. See: [Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting]Breaking the Fast Quickly
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "People will continue to be in goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast." [Bukhari: 1957, Muslim: 1098]↰ This indicates that those who intentionally delay breaking their fast, considering it as a precaution, are in error.
Dua for Iftar
ذهب الظما ء وابتلت العروق وثبت الاجر ان شاءالله [Abu Dawood: 2357, its chain is Hasan]↰ Other commonly known duas among the public are not authentically supported by chain of transmission.
Qiyam al-Layl (Taraweeh)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his past [minor] sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari: 37]↰ Qiyam al-Layl, Tahajjud, and Taraweeh are names of the same prayer, but the prayer performed in the nights of Ramadan is generally known as Taraweeh. The number of its rak'ahs is eleven (3 + 8) (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1).
❀ Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would offer eleven rak'ahs after the Isha prayer until dawn, and this prayer was also called 'Atamah. He would greet after every two rak'ahs and offer one witr. [Muslim: 736]
❀ Ummul Mu'mineen (may Allah be pleased with her) further states that: Whether in Ramadan or other than Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs. [Bukhari: 2013]
❀ Similarly, Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) instructed Sayyiduna Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Sayyiduna Tamim al-Dari (may Allah be pleased with them) to lead the people in eleven rak'ahs of prayer during Ramadan nights. [Muwatta Imam Malik 1/114 Hadith 229, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi 1/293, and An-Nimawi Al-Hanafi said: "Its chain is authentic."] [Athar al-Sunan p. 350]
↰ It is evident that the number of Taraweeh rak'ahs is eleven (3 + 8). Furthermore, it is Sunnah and preferable to perform Taraweeh with the Imam throughout the month of Ramadan. See Sunan Tirmidhi [806]. Those who call it an innovation are baseless and their statement is rejected.
Non-Ahl-e-Hadith and Eight Rak'ahs of Taraweeh
The non-Ahl-e-Hadith scholars have also acknowledged the eight rak'ahs of Taraweeh.◈ Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri Deobandi writes: "It is unanimously agreed that the confirmed Sunnah of Taraweeh is eight rak'ahs, and if there is any disagreement, it is about the additional twelve." [Barahin Qati'a p. 95]
◈ Abdul Shakoor Lakhnowi Deobandi: Abdul Shakoor Lakhnowi Deobandi declared eight rak'ahs as Sunnah in his book 'Ilm al-Fiqh' [p. 198].
Consensus Issues on Fasting and I'tikaf
Fasting
◈ There is consensus that anyone who fasts with the intention every night of Ramadan and keeps the fast, his fast is complete.◈ There is consensus that eating Suhoor is recommended.
◈ There is consensus that if a fasting person vomits involuntarily, there is no harm.
◈ There is consensus that if a fasting person vomits intentionally, his fast is invalidated.
◈ There is consensus that if a fasting person swallows his own saliva, there is no harm.
◈ There is consensus that if a woman needs to fast for two consecutive months and her menstrual period starts in between, she will continue her fast after becoming pure, resuming from where she left off.
◈ There is consensus that elderly people who are unable to fast are not required to fast (but they should offer fidya).
I'tikaf
◈ There is consensus that I'tikaf is not obligatory on people; however, if someone vows to perform it, it becomes obligatory for him.◈ There is consensus that I'tikaf is valid in Masjid al-Haram, the Prophet's Mosque, and Masjid al-Aqsa. [1]
◈ There is consensus that a person observing I'tikaf can leave the place of I'tikaf to relieve himself (urinate or defecate).
◈ There is consensus that intimate relations (kissing or touching) are prohibited for a person observing I'tikaf.
◈ There is consensus that if a person intentionally engages in sexual intercourse with his wife during I'tikaf, he invalidates his I'tikaf. [Al-Ijma by Ibn al-Mundhir, p. 47, 48]
وما علينا الا البلاغ (Our duty is only to convey)