This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
Is it permissible to fast only one voluntary fast, or should it be combined with a second or third?
Answer:
It is permissible to fast only one voluntary fast; however, Friday should not be singled out for fasting alone, as it is prohibited. One should combine the fast of Friday with that of Thursday or Saturday.
Question:
A minor boy who is studying, is it better for him to fast or to spend time studying?
Answer:
One can study while fasting. Minors should also be accustomed to fasting; it is part of their training. The female companions used to have young children fast, and when they would start crying due to the intensity of fasting, they would entertain them with toys until the time of Maghrib arrived.
Reference: (Bukhari: 1960, Muslim: 1136)
Question:
How is the chain of narration of the following hadith?
❀ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him):
أوصاني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن أصبح يوم صومي دهينا مترجلا ولا تصبح يوم صومك عبوسا وأجب دعوة من دعاك من المسلمين ما لم يظهروا المعازف فإذا أظهروا المعازف فلا تجبهم وصل على من مات من قبلتنا وإن قتل مصلوبا أو مرجوما فلأن تلقى الله بمثل قراب الأرض ذنوبا خير لك من أن تبت الشهادة على أحد من أهل القبلة
"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to fast, so that I should apply oil in the morning and comb my hair. (He further advised me) not to fast in a state of sadness in the morning. Whoever, a Muslim, invites you, accept his invitation unless they use musical instruments in the invitation. If they use musical instruments, then do not accept their invitation. Perform the funeral prayer for the people of the Qiblah, even if they have been crucified or stoned, because if you come to Allah with sins as much as the earth is filled, it is better for you than to forbid testifying in favor of any of the people of the Qiblah."
Reference: (Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir al-Tabarani: 10/84)
Answer:
The chain of narration is invalid.
➊ Yaman bin Saeed Musaisi is weak.
Reference: (Lisan al-Mizan: 7/412)
➋ Maisarah bin Abdul Rabah is abandoned and a liar.
➌ Waleed bin Abdul Wahid Tamimi is unknown; he is only mentioned by Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him,
Reference: (Al-Thiqat: 9/224)
.➍ Ibrahim Nakha'i's narration is 'Ananah' (a type of weak narration).
➎ Mughirah bin Muqsim's narration is 'Ananah'.
Question:
Does playing chess affect the fast in any way?
Answer:
Playing chess is not correct; there is a warning against it.
❀ Allama Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy on him,
Reference: (463 AH)
states:"The consensus of the scholars is that playing chess is gambling, which is not permissible."
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 13/182, Al-Istidhkar: 8/462)
It does not break the fast, but it reduces the reward and blessings.
Question:
If one makes a combined intention for both voluntary and missed Ramadan fasts, will the reward for both be obtained?
Answer:
Making a combined intention for both is not correct.
Question:
How is fasting on the day of Eid?
Answer:
It is impermissible and forbidden.
Question:
If someone considers fasting on the day of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha as a vow, what is the ruling?
Answer:
Fasting on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is prohibited; it is not permissible to fast as a vow, obligatory, or voluntary fast on these days. Whoever fasts on these days will be sinful because this is a vow of disobedience, and fulfilling it is not permissible.
❀ Abu Umair bin Anas, may Allah have mercy on him, whose uncle was a companion of the Prophet, narrates:
غم علينا هلال شوال فأصبحنا صياما فجاء ركب من آخر النهار فشهدوا عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنهم رأوا الهلال بالأمس فأمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يفطروا من يومهم وأن يخرجوا لعيدهم من الغد
“When we did not see the moon of Shawwal, we fasted in the morning, then in the afternoon a caravan came and they testified before the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, that they had seen the moon the previous day. Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ordered them to break their fast that day and to go to the Eid prayer the next day.”
Reference: (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 5/86, Sunan Abi Dawood: 1157, Sunan an-Nasa’i: 1558, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1653, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (2/170)
, graded its chain as Hasan, Imam Ibn al-Jarood
Reference: (266)
, and Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra: 3/316)
, declared it authentic.This hadith was declared authentic by Allama Ibn Hazm, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Al-Muhalla: 3/307, Issue: 552)
, Hafiz Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Ma’alim al-Sunan: 1/218)
, Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Khulasat al-Ahkam: 2/838)
, and Hafiz Ibn Milqan, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Al-Badr al-Munir: 2/95)
, while Hafiz Ibn Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (Al-Awsat: 4/294)
, called it “Thabit” (established).❀ Ziyad bin Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
كنت مع ابن عمر فسأله رجل فقال نذرت أن أصوم كل يوم ثلاثاء أو أربعاء ما عشت فوافقت هذا اليوم يوم النحر فقال أمر الله بوفاء النذر ونهينا أن نصوم يوم النحر
“I was with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, when a man asked: I have vowed that as long as I live, I will fast every Tuesday or Wednesday. Now this day has come on Eid al-Adha (what should I do?). Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: Allah Almighty has commanded the fulfillment of vows, but we have been forbidden to fast on Eid al-Adha.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6706, Sahih Muslim: 1139)
❀ Allama Ibn al-Arabi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (543 AH)
, states:لا خلاف بين العلماء أنه لا يجوز صيامهما للناذر ولا للمتطوع ولا يقضى فيهما رمضان والذي يصومهما بعد علمه بالنهي فهو عاص عند جميع الأمة
“There is no disagreement among scholars that fasting on the days of the two Eids, whether as a vow or voluntary fast, is not permissible, nor can the fasts of Ramadan be made up on the days of the two Eids. Whoever fasts on these days after knowing the prohibition will be sinful in the sight of the entire Ummah.”
Reference: (Al-Masalik fi Sharh Muwatta Malik: 4/419)
❀ Allama Abu Mutrif Qanaza’i, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (413 AH)
, states:أجمع المسلمون على أنه لا يصام يوم الفطر والأضحى
“There is consensus among Muslims that fasting on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is not to be observed.”
Reference: (Tafsir al-Muwatta: 2/218)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (463 AH)
, states:صيام هذين اليومين لا خلاف بين العلماء أنه لا يجوز على حال من الأحوال لا لمتطوع ولا لناذر ولا لقاض فرضا ولا لمتمتع لا يجد هديا ولا لأحد من الناس كلهم أن يصومهما وهو إجماع لا تنازع فيه فارتفع القول في ذلك وهما يومان حرام صيامهما فمن نذر صيام واحد منهما فقد نذر معصية
“There is no difference of opinion among the scholars that fasting on the days of the two Eids is not permissible in any case, neither for voluntary fasting, nor for vows, nor for making up obligatory fasts, nor for the person performing Hajj Tamattu’ who does not have a sacrifice, nor for any other person. There is consensus on this, no disagreement. Therefore, there is no room for debate. These two days are such that fasting on them is forbidden; whoever vows to fast on any of these two days has certainly vowed to commit a sin.”
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 13/26)
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (597 AH)
, states:اتفق العلماء على أنه لا يجوز لأحد أن يتطوع بالصوم في يومي العيد
“There is consensus among scholars that it is not permissible for anyone to fast voluntary fasts on the days of the two Eids.”
Reference: (Kashf al-Mushkil: 3/128)
Vowing to commit a sin or forbidden act is also forbidden, and fulfilling such a vow is absolutely not permissible; rather, its expiation must be performed.
❀ Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه ومن نذر أن يعصيه فلا يعصه
“Whoever vows obedience to Allah, let him obey Him (i.e., fulfill the vow), and whoever vows disobedience to Allah, let him not disobey (i.e., do not fulfill the vow).”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6696, 6700, Muwatta Imam Malik: 2/476)
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
النذر نذران فما كان لله فكفارته الوفاء به وما كان للشيطان فلا وفاء فيه وعليه كفارة يمين
“Vows are of two types: the vow made for Allah must be fulfilled, and the vow made for Satan should not be fulfilled, and its expiation is the oath.”
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Bayhaqi: 10/72, and its chain is authentic)
This hadith was declared authentic by Imam Ibn al-Jarood, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (935)
.Question:
Will one receive reward for fasting on the day of Eid?
Answer:
No reward, rather one will incur sin for committing something forbidden.
Question:
Can a patient break the fast for medicine?
Answer:
He can, but it is better to eat or drink something first so that the medicine does not have a bad effect on the stomach. However, there is no harm in breaking the fast for medicines that are taken on an empty stomach.
Question:
If someone uses travel as an excuse to avoid fasting, what is the ruling?
Answer:
It is forbidden to use excuses or tricks to break the fast, but in such a case, the fast can be made up later.
Question:
How is it to fast one or two days in preparation for Ramadan?
Answer:
It is not correct; it is prohibited in the hadith.
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لا يتقدمن أحدكم رمضان بصوم يوم أو يومين إلا أن يكون رجل كان يصوم صومه فليصم ذلك اليوم
"None of you should fast one or two days before Ramadan, except for the person whose fasting routine includes those days."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1914, Sahih Muslim: 1082)
❀ Hafiz Ibn Daqiq al-Eid رحمه الله
Reference: (702 AH)
states:فيه صريح الرد على الروافض الذين يرون تقديم الصوم على الرؤية
"This hadith is a clear refutation of the Rawafid who consider it permissible to fast before the sighting of the crescent."
Reference: (Ihkam al-Ahkam Sharh Umdat al-Ahkam: 2/7, Al-Uddah by Ibn al-Attar: 2/840)
Question:
On which days is fasting prohibited throughout the year?
Answer:
Fasting is prohibited on five days in the year: one day of Eid al-Fitr, one day of Eid al-Adha, and the three days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah). Apart from these, voluntary fasting can be observed on any other day throughout the year.
