Compiled by: Ubaidullah Tahir Hafizahullah
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ» [البقرة: 183]
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop taqwa."
«شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ... فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ» [البقرة: 185]
"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guidance for mankind... So whoever among you witnesses this month, let him fast it."
❀ Hadith Evidence:
"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Jahannam are closed, and the devils are chained."
[Sahih Bukhari 3277, Sahih Muslim 1079]
"Every day and night in Ramadan, Allah frees people from Hellfire, and every Muslim has a supplication that is accepted."
[Musnad Ahmad 7450, Sahih]
"Ramadan has come to you. In it, there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is truly deprived."
[Sunan Ibn Majah 1644, Hasan]
"Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven."
[Sahih Bukhari 38, Sahih Muslim 720]
"What deed will lead me to Jannah?" He replied:
"Worship Allah without associating partners, establish the obligatory prayers, give zakah, and fast during Ramadan."
[Sahih Bukhari 1397, Sahih Muslim 14]
"He lived an additional year, observed Ramadan, and prayed additional prayers, which elevated his rank."
[Sunan Ibn Majah 3925, Sahih]
"Three supplications are never rejected: the fasting person until he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the oppressed."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 3598, Hasan]
"Performing Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to performing Hajj with me."
[Sahih Bukhari 1782, Sahih Muslim 1256]
"Whoever does not make the intention to fast before dawn has no fast."
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2454, Sahih]
"Take suhoor, for in it there is blessing."
[Sahih Bukhari 1923, Sahih Muslim 1095]
"It is prohibited to fast on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha."
[Sahih Bukhari 1991, Sahih Muslim 1138]
[Sahih Bukhari 1950, Sahih Muslim 1146]
Obligation of Fasting in Ramadan
✿ Allah's Command in the Quran:«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ» [البقرة: 183]
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may develop taqwa."
«شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ... فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ» [البقرة: 185]
"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guidance for mankind... So whoever among you witnesses this month, let him fast it."
❀ Hadith Evidence:
- Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"Islam is built upon five pillars: Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakah, performing hajj, and fasting in Ramadan."
[Sahih Bukhari 8, Sahih Muslim 16] - Talhah bin Ubaidullah (RA) narrated that a man asked the Prophet (PBUH) about the obligations of Islam. He replied:
"Five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, and zakah." The man said: "I will not add to these nor subtract from them." The Prophet (PBUH) said: "He will succeed if he is truthful."
[Sahih Bukhari 46, Sahih Muslim 8]
Virtues of Ramadan and Its Fasts
1. Gates of Jannah Opened, Jahannam Closed, and Devils Chained
❀ Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Jahannam are closed, and the devils are chained."
[Sahih Bukhari 3277, Sahih Muslim 1079]
2. Every Night, Allah Frees People from Hellfire
❀ The Prophet (PBUH) said:"Every day and night in Ramadan, Allah frees people from Hellfire, and every Muslim has a supplication that is accepted."
[Musnad Ahmad 7450, Sahih]
3. Laylat al-Qadr is Better than a Thousand Months
❀ Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Ramadan has come to you. In it, there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is truly deprived."
[Sunan Ibn Majah 1644, Hasan]
4. Forgiveness of Sins
❀ The Prophet (PBUH) said:"Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven."
[Sahih Bukhari 38, Sahih Muslim 720]
5. Fasting Leads to Jannah
❀ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that a Bedouin asked the Prophet (PBUH):"What deed will lead me to Jannah?" He replied:
"Worship Allah without associating partners, establish the obligatory prayers, give zakah, and fast during Ramadan."
[Sahih Bukhari 1397, Sahih Muslim 14]
6. Fasting Elevates Ranks
❀ Talhah bin Ubaidullah (RA) narrated that two men embraced Islam together. One was martyred, while the other died a year later. The latter was admitted to Jannah first. The Prophet (PBUH) explained:"He lived an additional year, observed Ramadan, and prayed additional prayers, which elevated his rank."
[Sunan Ibn Majah 3925, Sahih]
7. Duas of a Fasting Person Are Not Rejected
❀ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Three supplications are never rejected: the fasting person until he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the oppressed."
[Sunan Tirmidhi 3598, Hasan]
8. Umrah During Ramadan Equals the Reward of Hajj
❀ Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Performing Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to performing Hajj with me."
[Sahih Bukhari 1782, Sahih Muslim 1256]
Key Rulings on Fasting in Ramadan
1. Intention for Obligatory Fasts
❀ Hafsah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Whoever does not make the intention to fast before dawn has no fast."
[Sunan Abu Dawood 2454, Sahih]
2. Permissibility of Eating Before Dawn (Suhoor)
❀ Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"Take suhoor, for in it there is blessing."
[Sahih Bukhari 1923, Sahih Muslim 1095]
3. Prohibition of Fasting on the Days of Eid
❀ Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:"It is prohibited to fast on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha."
[Sahih Bukhari 1991, Sahih Muslim 1138]
4. Delayed Qada for Missed Fasts
❀ Aisha (RA) mentioned that she would make up missed fasts from Ramadan only in Sha'ban due to her commitments with the Prophet (PBUH).[Sahih Bukhari 1950, Sahih Muslim 1146]