Ramadan in Focus Part 4

Fasting (siyaam)  in Arabic linguistically means to restrain or abstain from. According to the Sharee‘ah it means “abstaining from food, drink, marital relations, and other acts mentioned in the divine law during the day in the prescribed way. (IOU)

The quran has given three reasons for the great merits and excellence of the month of Ramadan:

1.     The quran was sent down in Ramadan: mentioned in Quran; Chapter 2:185.
2.     There is a night called Lailat-ul-Qadr which is better than a thousand months
3.    Fasting has been made compulsory for the Muslims. “… therefore whosoever witnesses it, it is   obligatory on him to fast for the whole month (Quran 2:185).

The month of Ramadan, begins after the moon has been sighted. It is Wajib Kifayah (collective duty ie if no one makes an effort in a locality, the whole population becomes involved in sin) to make an effort to sight the moon of Ramadan on the 29:^th of Shaban. .The Holy Prophet has instructed:

“Begin fasting after the sighting of the moon and break the fast after the sighting of the moon; if the new moon is not sighted on the 29^th of Shaban, then complete 30 days of Shaban” (Bukhari and Muslim).

It is not lawful to calculate the appearance of the moon because Sharee‘ah has forbidden delving into astrology because it is guesswork and approximation, devoid of certainty.

Fard Parts in the fast

It is imperative for the one who is observing fast to abstain from the following three things from the appearance of dawn till sunset

1. All kinds of food
2. All kinds of drinks
3. And marital relations

Sunnat and desirable parts in the fast

1. It is sunnat to eat or drink something before dawn, or to have Sehri meal, even if it consists of a few dates or some water
2. It is desirable to have the intentions of observing the fast (the next day) before going to bed at night: If a person forgets to make the intention of the fast during the night, and remembers this during the day, he is allowed to express his intention of the fast before noon, for his fast to be valid
3. It is commendable to break the fast with dates or water
4. It is Sunnat to abstain from backbiting, lying , slander, losing temper, raising voice unnecessary etc.

Basic Principles concerning Expiation of Fast

• If something is made to enter the stomach deliberately, and it is meant to be useful, whether it is food or medicine, or an act that gives sexual pleasure, the fast in each case will be rendered void, and the observer will have to redeem it later and also expiate it.
• If something enters the stomach without one’s will or intention, or it is not meant to be useful or one indulges in act which does not give sexual pleasure, the Fast only will have to be redeemed and no expiation will be necessary.
• If Ramadan fast is being observed later on another day, and is rendered void, die to some reason, there is no expiation

Some cases in which the fast has to be Redeemed

• If a person rises late and takes the Sahri mean on the presumption that there is still time for it, but later come to know that the Sahri time has elapsed, he will have to observe the fast again
• If a person breaks his fast before sunset by mistake, he will have to redeem it by observing a fast later on another day.
• If a person deliberately vomits at least a mouthful of stomach content, the fast will be rendered void
• If a person swallows tears or drops of sweat, and he feels their taste in the mouth, the fast will be rendered void and will have to be recompensated

Reference:

1. IOU course material: Prophetic Reflections on Ramadan

2. Muhammad Y. Islahi Everyday Fiqh Vol II. Islamic Publications (PVT.) LTD

All notes provided were extracted from the above two mentioned sources. NB: Everyday Fiqh follows in the main Hanafi viewpoint.