THE PUNISHMENT OF BREAKING FAST AND
THE FIDYA (EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE FAST
ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
https://web.facebook.com/abba.abana
emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com
SATURDAY 9th RAJAB 1440 AH- 16th MARCH
2019 CE
(Part 7 of 11: THE PUNISHMENT OF BREAKING FAST
AND THE FIDYA (EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE FAST)
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu
Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can
guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.
PREAMBLE
The Punishment
of Breaking Fast and the Fidya (Expiation) For Breaking the Fast
1 THE FIDYA (EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE FAST IS FOR THE OLD
AND THE AILING
Al-Bukhari
reported that; Ata heard Ibn Abbas recite: وَعَلَى
الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ (And as for
those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man), they have (a choice
either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) (for every day). Ibn Abbas
then commented, "(This Ayah) was not abrogated, it is for the old
man and the old woman who are able to fast with difficulty, but choose instead
to feed a poor person for every day (they do not fast).''
Others
reported that Sa`id bin Jubayr mentioned this from Ibn Abbas. So the abrogation
here applies to the healthy person, who is not traveling and who has to fast,
as Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said: فَمَن شَهِدَ
مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ (So whoever of you sights (the crescent on
the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he
must observe Sawm (fasting) that month. (holy Quran chapter 2:185)
As
for the old man (and woman) who cannot fast, he is allowed to abstain from
fasting and does not have to fast another day instead, because he is not likely
to improve and be able to fast other days. So he is required to pay a Fidyah
for every day missed.
This
is the opinion of Ibn Abbas and several others among the Salaf who read
the Ayah: (And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old
man)), to mean those who find it difficult to fast as Ibn Mas`ud stated.
This
is also the opinion of Al-Bukhari who said, "As for the old man (person)
who cannot fast, (he should do like) Anas who, for one or two years after he
became old fed some bread and meat to a poor person for each day he did not
fast.''
"Anas
could no longer fast. So he made a plate of Tharid (broth, bread and
meat) and invited thirty poor persons and fed them.''
The
same ruling applies for the pregnant and breast-feeding women if they fear for
themselves or their children or fetuses. In this case, they pay the Fidyah
and do not have to fast other days in place of the days that they missed.
شَهْرُ
رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـتٍ مِّنَ
الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
Holy Quran chapter 2:185 The month of Ramadan in
which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the
guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).
فَمَن
شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ
فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first
night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe
Sawm (fasting) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number
(of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other
days.
يُرِيدُ
اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
Allaah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things
difficult for you.
وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ
الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ
تَشْكُرُونَ
(He wants that you) must complete the same number
(of days), and that you must magnify
Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) (i.e., to say Takbir ( Allaahu Akbar: Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is the Most
Great)) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.
2
THE AMOUNT OF FIDYAH[1].
If Ramadaan comes and a person is
unable to fast because he is elderly or sick with no hope of recovery, then he
is not obliged to fast because he is unable to do so. So he should not fast and
he should feed one poor person for each day.
Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious). 184. [Observing Sawm (fasts)] for a fixed
number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number
(should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with
difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a
Miskeen (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord,
it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you
know”[Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:183-184].
al-Bukhaari (4505) narrated that
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: This has not been abrogated. It refers to old men and old
women who are not able to fast, so they should feed a poor person for each
day.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni
(4/396): If fasting is too difficult for an old man or an old woman, and
will cause them intense hardship, then they are allowed not to fast, and they
should feed one poor person for each day. If they are also unable to feed a
poor person, then they do not have to do anything, for “Allaah burdens not a
person beyond his scope” [al-Baqarah 2:286]. If a sick person has no hope of
recovery, he is allowed not to fast, and he should feed one poor person for
each day, because he comes under the same ruling as an old man. End
quote.
In al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah
(5/117) it says: The Hanafis, Shaafa’is and Hanbalis are agreed that the
fidyah for not fasting should be paid when there is no hope of making up the
missed fasts because of old age which makes a person unable to fast, or
sickness from which there is no hope of recovery, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “And as for those who can fast with
difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a
Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184]. What is meant is
those for whom it is too difficult to fast. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Fataawa
al-Siyaam (p.111): It is essential to note that the sick may be
divided into two categories:
1 – Those for whom there is the
hope of recovery, such as those with temporary sickness from which there is the
hope of recovery. In this case the ruling is as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning): “but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number
(should be made up) from other days” [al-Baqarah 2:184]. All they have to
do is wait until they are better, then fast. If it so happens that the sickness
continues and the person dies before recovering, then there is no sin on him,
because Allaah has only enjoined him to make it up from other days, but he died
before those other days came. This is like a person who dies in Sha’baan before
Ramadaan begins – so it should not be made up on his behalf.
2 – Cases where sickness is
ongoing, such as cancer – Allaah forbid – kidney disease, diabetes and similar
chronic diseases where there is no hope of recovery. These people are allowed not
to fast in Ramadaan, but they have to feed one poor person for each day, like
old men and women who are unable to fast, so they may not fast and should feed
one poor person for each day. The evidence for that in the Qur’aan is the verse
in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And as for those who
can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast
or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184].
5.2 With regard to the manner of
feeding, one has the choice between giving each poor person half a saa’ of food
such as rice and the like (i.e., approximately one and a half kilograms) or
making food and inviting the poor to eat.
Al-Bukhaari said: As for an old
man who is unable to fast, after Anas grew old, for one or two years he fed a
poor person with bread and meat and he did not fast. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked about an
elderly woman who was unable to fast – what should she do?
He replied: She should feed
one poor person for each day, giving half a saa’ of the local staple food, such
as dates, rice, etc, which is equivalent to approximately one and a half
kilograms. This was stated by a number of the companions of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him), such as Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be
pleased with him). If she is poor and is unable to feed a poor person, then she
does not have to do anything. This expiation may be given to one or more people
at the beginning of the month or in the middle or at the end. And Allaah is the
Source of strength. End quote. Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz
(15/203).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Fataawa
al-Siyaam (p. 111): The sick person who has an ongoing sickness, and
elderly people, both male and female, who are unable to fast, must feed one
poor person for each day, whether that is by giving this food to the poor or by
inviting the same number of poor people as days in the month to a meal, as Anas
ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to do when he grew old. He
would gather together thirty poor people and that was instead of fasting for a
month.
The Standing Committee (11/164)
was asked about the giving of food by one who is unable to fast in Ramadaan
such as old men, old women and the incurably sick.
They replied: If a person is
unable to fast in Ramadaan because of old age, such as elderly men and women,
or it is very difficult for them to fast, then they are allowed not to fast,
but they have to feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa’ of
wheat, dates or rice etc, the same as he gives to his own family. The same
applies to a sick person who is unable to fast or for whom it is very difficult
to fast, and there is no hope of recovery for him, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Allaah burdens not a person
beyond his scope” [Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:286]
“and [Allaah] has not laid upon
you in religion any hardship”[ Holy Quran chapter al-Hajj 22:78]
““And as for those who can fast
with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to
feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)””[ Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah
2:184]
3
THE PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING THE FAST IN RAMADAAN WITH NO EXCUSE[2]
Fasting in Ramadaan is one of the
pillars on which Islam is built. Allaah tells us that He has prescribed it for
the believers of this ummah [nation], as He prescribed it for those who came
before them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who
believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed
for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious”[Holy Quran
Chapter al-Baqarah 2:183].
Al-Bukhaari (8) and Muslim (16)
narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on
five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god but Allaah and Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allaah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; Hajj; and fasting
Ramadaan.”
Whoever does not fast has
abandoned one of the pillars of Islam, and is committing a grave major sin.
Indeed some of the salaf were of the view that he is a kaafir [disbeliever] and
apostate – we seek refuge with Allaah from that.
Abu Ya’la narrated in his Musnad
from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The bonds of Islam and the bases of
religion are three, on which Islam was founded. Whoever gives up one of
them becomes a kaafir thereby and it is permissible to shed his blood: the
testimony that there is no god but Allaah, the prescribed prayers and fasting
Ramadaan.”
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh
by al-Dhahabi, and as hasan by al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 1/48,
and by al-Mundhiri in al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, no. 805, 1486. Classed
as da’eef by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah, no. 94.
Al-Dhahabi said in al-Kabaa’ir, p. 64.
Whoever does not fast in Ramadaan
without being sick or having any other excuse that allows him not to fast is
more evil than the adulterer or drunkard, indeed they doubted his Islam and
thought that this was heresy.
A saheeh report which warns
against not fasting was narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah (1986) and Ibn Hibbaan (7491)
from Abu Umaamah al-Baahili who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whilst I was sleeping two men came
to me and took my by the arm and brought me to a cragged mountain. They said,
‘Climb up.’ I said, ‘I cannot.’ They said, ‘We will make it easy for you.’ So I
climbed up until I was at the top of the mountain. Then I heard loud voices. I
said, ‘What are these voices?’ They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of
Hell.” Then I was taken until I saw people hanging by their hamstrings, with
the sides of their mouths torn and blood pouring from their mouths.’ I said,
‘Who are these?’ He said, ‘These are people who broke their fast before it was
time.’” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid al-Zam’aan,
no. 1509.
Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: This is the punishment of those who fasted then broke the fast
deliberately before the time for breaking the fast came, so who about those who
do not fast at all? We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound in this world and
in the Hereafter.
One should hasten to repent to
Allaah before the destroyer of pleasures that splits people apart [i.e., death]
takes him unawares. Today there is action and no reckoning, but tomorrow there
will be the reckoning and no action. Note that whoever repents, Allaah will accept
his repentance, and whoever draws closer to Allaah one hand span, Allaah will
draw closer to him one cubit. For Allaah is Most Generous, Forbearing and Most
Merciful, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Know they not
that Allaah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqaat (alms,
charity), and that Allaah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance,
Most Merciful?”[ Holy Quran chapter al-Tawbah 9:104].
If you try fasting and find out
how easy it is and what comfort it brings and how close it brings you to
Allaah, you will never give it up.
Think about what Allaah says at
the end of the verses on fasting (interpretation of the meaning): “Allaah
intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”[
Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:185].
The phrase, “so that you may be
grateful to Him” shows that fasting is a blessing for which we must give
thanks. Hence some of the salaf used to wish that the whole year was
Ramadaan.
We ask Allaah to help you and guide
you, and to open your heart to that which will bring you happiness in this
world and in the Hereafter.
4 IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR ONE WHO
IS FASTING TO INSULT ANYONE[3]
Committing sins during the day in
Ramadaan, such as swearing or insulting others, does not invalidate the fast as
such, but it detracts from the reward for fasting. These sins may take away all
of the reward, and the fasting person is left with nothing as a result of his
fast apart from hunger and thirst.
The fasting person is enjoined to
guard all his faculties against disobeying Allaah. The purpose behind fasting
is not simply to refrain from eating and drinking, rather the purpose is to
refrain from disobeying Allaah and to achieve piety or fear of Allaah. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Observing
As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those
before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious.)”[ Holy Quran chapter
al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting
upon it, Allaah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 1903, 6075.
False speech includes all kinds of
speech that are haraam, such as lying, backbiting, slandering, insulting and
cursing.
And the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If any one of you is fasting, let him
not utter obscenities or act in an ignorant manner, and if anyone insults him
or wants to fight him, let him say, I am fasting.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
1894; Muslim 1151.
Al-Haafiz said: “Let him not
utter obscene speech” means let him not say any foul words.
“Let him not act in an ignorant
manner” means let him not do any of the actions done by ignorant people such as
yelling, being foolish, etc. What is meant by this hadeeth is that he
should not react in kind, rather he should limit himself to saying, “I am
fasting.”
If the fasting person is commanded
not to react to one who insults him, how can it be appropriate for him to
mistreat people or be the first to insult them?
Al-Nawawi said: Note that the
prohibition against obscene speech, ignorant action, argument and insults on
the part of one who is fasting is not restricted only to him, rather each of
these things is forbidden in general, but the prohibition is stronger in the
case of one who is fasting.
Al-Haakim narrated that Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting does not just mean
abstaining from food and drink, rather fasting means abstaining from idle and
obscene speech. If someone curses you or treats you in an ignorant manner, then
say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’”
Ibn Maajah (1690) said: Abu Hurayrah
said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“It may be that the fasting person gets nothing from his fast apart from
hunger, and it may be that the one who prays qiyaam at night may get nothing
from his qiyaam but a sleepless night.”
5
DELAYING MAKING UP RAMADAAN FASTS UNTIL THE NEXT RAMADAAN BEGINS[4]
The imams are agreed that whoever
does not fast some days of Ramadaan has to make up those days before the next
Ramadaan comes.
They quoted as evidence for that
the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (1950) and Muslim (1146) from ‘Aa’ishah
(may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: “I used to have fasts that I still
owed from Ramadaan, and I could not make them up until Sha’baan, and that was
because of the position of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) [as a husband].”
Al-Haafiz said: It may be
understood from her keenness to fast them in Sha’baan that it is not
permissible to delay making up fasts until the next Ramadaan begins.
If a person delays making up fasts
until Ramadaan begins, one of the following two scenarios must apply.
1 – The delay is for a reason,
such as being sick and the sickness lasting until the following Ramadaan
begins. There is no sin on a person for delaying in this case, because he has
an excuse, and he only has to make up the days missed. So he should make up the
number of days that he did not fast.
2 – There is no reason for the
delay, such as when a person was able to make up the fasts but he did not do so
before the following Ramadaan began.
This person is sinning by failing
to make up the fasts with no excuse. The imams are agreed that he must make up
the fasts, but they differed as to whether along with making up the fasts he
must also feed one poor person for each day or not.
Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad said
that he must feed a poor person, and they quoted as evidence for that the
reports narrated from some of the Sahaabah such as Abu Hurayrah and Ibn ‘Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with them).
Imam Abu Haneefah (may Allaah have
mercy on him) was of the view that he does not have to feed a poor person as
well as making up the fasts.
He quoted as evidence the fact
that Allaah commands the one who does not fast in Ramadaan only to make up the
missed fasts, and He did not mention feeding a poor person. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “and whoever is ill or on a journey, the
same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up]
from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185]. See al-Majmoo’, 6/366; al-Mughni,
4/400
This second view was also favoured
by Imam al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him). He said in his Saheeh: Ibraaheem
(i.e., al-Nakha’i) said: If a person neglects (to make up missed fasts) until
the next Ramadaan comes, he should fast the missed days of both months. But he
did not think that he has to feed a poor person. There was also a mursal report
from Abu Hurayrah and Ibn ‘Abbaas which says that he should also feed a poor
person. Then al-Bukhaari said: But Allaah does not mention feeding a poor
person, rather He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…the same number [of days which
one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah
2:185]. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, when
noting that it is not obligatory to feed a poor person:
With regard to the words of the
Sahaabah, their use as evidence is subject to further discussion if it goes
against the apparent meaning of the Qur’aan. In this case, saying that it is obligatory
to feed a poor person goes against the apparent meaning of the Qur’aan, because
Allaah only enjoined making up the same number from other days, and He did not
mention more than that. Based on this, we should not oblige the slaves of
Allaah to do any more than they need to fulfil their duty. But what was
narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas and Abu Hurayrah may be interpreted as referring to
what is mustahabb, not what is obligatory. The correct view with regard to this
issue is that a person does not have to do anything more than making up the
missed fasts, but he is sinning if he delays doing so. Al-Sharh
al-Mumti’, 6/451.
Based on this, then what is
obligatory is to make up the fasts only, but if a person wants to be on the
safe side and feed one poor person for each day missed, then that is
good.
The woman who asked this question
– if she delayed making up the fasts with no excuse, has to repent to Allaah
and resolve not to repeat this mistake in the future.
And Allaah is the One Whom we ask
to help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
6
HOW CAN HE MAKE UP MISSED FASTS[5]?
If he did not fast for a reason,
such as sickness or travelling, or menstruation in the case of women, then he
must make it up after Ramadaan, and he must make up the number of days that he
did not fast, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and
whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not
observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185].
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased
with her) said: That (i.e., menstruation) would happen to us and we would be
told to make up the fasts, but we were not told to make up the prayers.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (321) and Muslim (335).
The time for making up the fasts
lasts until the next Ramadaan begins; he can make them up at any time during
this period, on consecutive days or separately.
It is not permissible for him to
delay making them up after the following Ramadaan, unless he has an
excuse.
But if he did not fast deliberately,
with no excuse, then one of two scenarios must apply:
1 – He did not decide not to fast
from the night before, and he did not intend to fast. In this case making up
the fast is not valid, because fasting is an act of worship that is linked to a
specific time, and if a person fails to do it, it is not valid after that time,
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever
does an action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it
rejected. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2697) and Muslim (1718).
2 – He did intend to fast from the
night before, and he started the day fasting, then he broke his fast during the
day with no excuse. He has to make up this day, because he started to do it,
which makes it like a vow that he must fulfil. Hence the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded the one who had intercourse during
the day in Ramadaan to make up that day, and he said to him: “Fast one day in
its place.” Narrated by Ibn Majaah (1671), classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
Sunan Ibn Majaah.
In addition to that, if he broke
the fast during the day without any excuse by having intercourse, he must make
it up and also offer expiation. For information on this expiation and the
rulings thereon,
The one who breaks his fast with
no excuse also has to repent to Allaah, regret what he has done, resolve never
to do it again, and do a lot of righteous deeds such as observing naafil fasts
and so on. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And verily, I am
indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates
none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains
constant in doing them (till his death)”[Ta-Ha 20:82].
7
WHEN MAKING UP MISSED RAMADAAN FASTS, THEY NEED NOT BE DONE CONSECUTIVELY[6]
The imams are agreed that in order
to make up missed Ramadaan fasts, one must fast a number of days equal to the
number of days when you did not fast, because Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“and whoever is ill or on a
journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must
be made up] from other days”[ Holy
Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:185].
It is not essential that these
days be consecutive; you may fast them one after the other, or you may fast
them separately, whether you fast one day each week or each month, or whatever
is easy for you. The evidence for that is the verse quoted above, because it
does not specify that the days fasted to make up missed Ramadaan fasts should
be consecutive, rather it only stipulates that the number of days fasted be
equal to the number of days missed. Refer to al-Majmoo’, 6/167; al-Mughni,
4/408.
The Standing Committee was asked:
is it permissible to make up missed Ramadaan fasts on separate days?
They replied: Yes, it is
permissible to make up missed fasts on separate days, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“and whoever is ill or on a
journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must
be made up] from other days”[ Holy
Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:185]. And Allaah did not stipulate that these
days must be consecutive. Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah,
10/346.
In Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz
(15/352) it says: If a person did not fast for two or three or more days, he
must make up those fasts but they do not have to be on consecutive days. If he
does that, it is better, but if he does not there is nothing wrong with
that. And Allaah knows best.
8 OTHER CASES CONCERNING THE FAST
The
authentic Sunnah states that; Allah’s Messenger traveled during the
month of Ramadan for the battle for Makkah. The Prophet marched until he
reached the area of Kadid and then broke his fast and ordered those who were
with him to do likewise. Breaking the fast mentioned in this Hadith was
not required, for the Companions used to go out with Allaah's Messenger during
the month of Ramadan, then, some of them would fast while some of them
would not fast and neither category would criticize the others. If the command
mentioned in the Hadith required breaking the fast, the Prophet would
have criticized those who fasted.
Allaah's Messenger himself sometimes fasted while traveling.
For
instance, it is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Ad-Darda said,
"We once went with Allaah's Messenger
during Ramadan while the heat was intense. One of us would place his
hand on his head because of the intense heat. Only Allah’s Messenger and
Abdullah bin Rawahah were fasting at that time.''
We
should state that observing the permission to break the fast while traveling is
better, as Allaah's Messenger said about
fasting while traveling: ‘’Those who did not fast have done good, and there is
no harm for those who fasted’’. In
another Hadith, the Prophet said: ‘’Hold to Allaah's permission that He has granted
you.’’
Some
scholars say that the two actions are the same, as Aishah narrated that; Hamzah
bin Amr Al-Aslami said, "O Messenger of Allaah! I fast a lot, should I
fast while traveling?''
The
Prophet said: ‘’Fast
if you wish or do not fast if you wish’’.
It
was reported that; if the fast becomes difficult (while traveling), then
breaking the fast is better.
Jabir
said that; Allaah's Messenger saw a man who was being shaded (by other people
while traveling). The Prophet asked about him and he was told that man was
fasting.
The
Prophet said: ‘’It is not a part of Birr (piety) to fast while
traveling’’. This was recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. As for those who
ignore the Sunnah and believe in their hearts that breaking the fast
while traveling is disliked, they are required to break the fast and are not
allowed to fast. As for making up for missed fasting days, it is not required
to be consecutive. One may do so consecutively or not consecutively. There are
ample proofs to this fact. We should mention that fasting consecutive days is
only required exclusively during Ramadan. After the month of Ramadan,
what is required then is to merely make up for missed days. This is why Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said: ‘’the same
number (should be made up) from other day’’.
To be continued Part 8 of 11:
Night
Prayer During Ramadan (Al-Qiyaam Or Taraweeh), Virtues And Benefits
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