OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 3 OF 5]

 

OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 3 OF 5]

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

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emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

SUNDAY 24th RAJAB 1442 AH- 8th MARCH 2021 CE

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 (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

THOSE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING

1. THE TRAVELER

Allaah the Almighty said:

“And whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days.” [69]

From this aayah (verse) we know that it is permissible for the traveler to leave the fast.

Anas Ibn Maalik [Ra] said:

“I traveled along with Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in Ramadhaan, and the fasting person would not criticize the one not fasting, nor the one not fasting criticize the fasting person.” [70]

These Ahaadeeth [71] show that one has a choice to either fast while travelling or leave the fast. However, it is better that one leaves it due to the hadeeth where the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Indeed Allaah loves to give allowances, just as He loves to give His obligations.” [72]

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree [Ra] said:

“And (the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)) used to hold that one who had the strength and fasted - then that was good, and that he who was weak and refrained from fasting - then that was good.” [73]

Thus, if fasting on a journey produces hardship for the believer, then it is not from righteousness, rather it is better and more beloved to Allaah that he breaks his fast. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“It is not righteousness that you fast on a journey.”[74]

And this ease that has been granted to the traveler is applicable till the Day of Judgment irrespective of how comfortable one’s journey is nowadays. The person who criticizes the one who leaves the fast while on journey is in fact criticizing the allowance given by Allaah Himself.

The missed fasts should be made up later.

2. THE ILL

Allaah has allowed the sick person to refrain from fasting as a mercy from Him, and a convenience. The illness which allows a person to break his fast is that which will, if he fasts, cause harm to him, increase in severity, or be prolonged by it - and Allaah knows best. See Al-Qur’aan 2:185.

The missed fasts should be made up later.

3. MENSTRUATING WOMEN AND WOMEN HAVING POST-NATAL BLEEDING

Menstruating women and women having post-natal bleeding are not allowed to fast and it is obligatory to compensate by making up for the days later on. [75]

4. THE FRAIL ELDERLY MAN AND WOMAN

Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] recited the verse:

“And as for those who can fast (with difficulty) they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day).” [76] and said: ‘It is the old man who is unable to fast, so he refrains from fasting and instead feeds a poor person with half a Saa’ [77] of wheat.’” [78]

Anas Ibn Maalik [Ra] became too weak one particular year, so he prepared a large dish of Sareed [79] and invited thirty poor people who came and ate their fill. [80]

5. THE PREGNANT AND THE BREAST-FEEDING WOMAN

If such women fear for their or their child’s life and health, then they can leave the fast and for every missed fast, they should feed one poor person and they are not required to compensate for the missed fasts by fasting later on. Once Ibn ‘Umar’s wife asked him about this, so he replied:

‘You leave the fast, and for every day missed feed one poor person and there is no recompense due on you.’ [81[

BREAKING THE FAST (IFTAAR)

THE TIME OF IFTAAR: is as soon as the sun sets.

HASTENING TO BREAK THE FAST

Hastening in breaking the fast was one of the most beloved things to Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and it was from his practice that he would instruct someone to go up to a high place and as soon as he announced that the sun had set, he (ﷺ) would break his fast. [82]

“Once Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), soon after the sunset, said to one of his companions: ‘Come on, get down and present the Iftaar.’ The companion said: ‘O Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ), let the daylight end!’ Then he (ﷺ) said again: ‘Come on, get down and bring the Iftaar.’ Once again the companion said: ‘daytime is not yet over!’ Yet again the Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Bring the Iftaar.’ Then he brought the Iftaar before him and the Prophet (ﷺ) did his Iftaar. He then pointed in the direction of the West and said: ‘When you see that the night has started from here, the fasting person should do his Iftaar.’” [83]

EXCELLENCE OF HASTENING IN BREAKING THE FAST

Hastening in Iftaar brings about good

Sahl Ibn Sa’d [Ra] narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast.” [84]

Hastening in Iftaar is the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger

Sahl Ibn Sa’d [Ra] narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“My Ummah will not cease to be upon my Sunnah as long as they do not await the stars in breaking the fast.” [85]

Hastening in Iftaar is from the manners of the Prophets

Abud-Dardaa’ [Ra] said that Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:

“Three things are from the manners of the Prophets: hastening to break the fast, delaying the suhoor, and placing the right arm over the left in prayer.” [86]

Hastening in Iftaar is in opposition to the Jews and Christians and a cause for the dominance of Islaam

Abu Hurairah [Ra] said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The religion of Islaam will not cease to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and the Christians delay it.” [87]

There is a great lesson in this hadeeth for the people who, in the name of precaution, oppose the Sunnah by delaying the Iftaar. They need to take a second look into their dubious precaution!!!

WITH WHAT SHOULD ONE BREAK THE FAST?

Anas Ibn Maalik [Ra] said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to break the fast with fresh dates before praying (the Maghrib Salaah), and if not with fresh dates then with older dates, and if not with dates then with some mouthfuls of water.” [88]

Thus every Muslim should try to follow this same order of preference.

WHAT SHOULD A PERSON SAY UPON BREAKING THE FAST?

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected.” [89]

It is upon every Muslim to seize this opportunity and call upon Allaah being sure that he will be answered, and know that Allaah does not respond to an inattentive heart.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to make the following Du’aa upon breaking the fast:

ذَهَـبَ الظَّمَـأُ وَابْتَلَّـتِ الْعُـرُوْقُ ، وَثَبَـتَ الْأَجْـرُ إِنْ شَـآءَ اللّه -

Zahabazzama`u wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa sabatal-ajru in shaa' Allaah.

{The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills.} [90]

Note: The hadeeth which mentions the Du’aa “Allaahumma laka Sumtu wa bika aamantu.....” is Dha’eef (weak and therefore unauthentic).

PROVIDING FOOD FOR A FASTING PERSON TO BREAK HIS FAST

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “He, who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting person’s reward.” [91]

ACTIONS WHICH NULLIFY THE FAST

1. EATING AND DRINKING DELIBERATELY

This applies only to the one who does so consciously, and not one who does it forgetfully or accidentally, or is forced to do it.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“If one of you eats and drinks out of forgetfulness, then let him complete his fast, for it was indeed Allaah who gave him food and drink.” [92]

And he also said: “Allaah has excused for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are forced to do.” [93]

2. MAKING ONESELF VOMIT

One who has an attack of vomiting there is nothing upon him, for the Prophet said:

“Whoever has an attack of vomiting, no atonement is required of him, but whoever vomits intentionally then let him make atonement [94] for it.” [95]

3. MENSTRUATION AND AFTER-BIRTH BLEEDING

If menstruation or after-birth bleeding take place during the day time of fasting, then the fast breaks and the atonement of that fast becomes obligatory. [96]

4. INJECTIONS CONTAINING NOURISHMENT

Giving nourishment intravenously in the form of glucose or saline solution so that it reaches the intestines breaks the fast. [97] Also if the injection does not reach the intestines but reaches the blood-stream then it likewise breaks the fast. This is since it is being used in place of food and drink.

5. SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IN THE DAY

Allaah [SWT] said about the night of fasting:

“So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allaah has ordained for you (i.e. offspring).”  [98]

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaadul Ma’aad (2/60):

“The Qur’aan shows that sexual intercourse breaks the fast, just like eating and drinking - no disagreement is known concerning this.”

 

ATONEMENT (AL-QADAA) -MAKING UP FOR THE MISSED FAST

WHEN THE ATONEMENT SHOULD BE DONE

It is not obligatory to make up the missed days from Ramadhaan immediately afterwards, rather it is an obligation which may be delayed, due to what is reported from ‘A`ishah radhiallaahu ‘anhaa:

“It used to be that I had days to make up for Ramadhaan and I would not be able to do so except in Sha’baan. [99]”

Nevertheless it is better to hasten in making up the fasts, since this falls under the general proofs of hastening to do good deeds and not delaying them. Allaah [SWT] said:

“And be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord". [100]

SHOULD THE DAYS BE MADE UP TOGETHER IN A SEQUENCE?

It is not obligatory to make up the days together (i.e. in succession). Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] said: “There is no harm if he fasts them separately [101].”

ATONEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE DEAD PERSON

One who dies and had to make up for missed fasts, then for every day that he had missed, a poor person will be fed.

However, if he had not kept a fast which he vowed (nazr) to keep, then in this case his heir should fast it on his behalf due to the hadeeth:

“Whoever dies and there is a fast remaining obligatory upon him - then his heir should fast for him [102].”

This atonement is due only on those fasts which had been vowed by the deceased and who did not keep them.

Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] said: “If a man becomes ill in Ramadhaan and dies having refrained from fasting, then food should be given on his behalf and no making up of the days is due, and if a fast due to a vow was obligatory upon him, then his heir should fast on his behalf [103].”

And this is the view of ‘A`ishah radhiallaahu ‘anhaa also [104].

Foot Notes

69 Al-Qur’aan 2:185

70 Bukhaaree # 1947

71 Plural of hadeeth

72 Ibn Hibbaan # 354

73 Tirmizee # 713

74 Bukhaaree # 1946

75 Muslim # 79, 80

76 Al-Qur’aan 2:185

77 A Saa’ is a measure equal to four times the quantity held by the two outstretched hands which is equivalent to 2 kg 40 gm.

78 Bukhaaree # 4505

79 A broth of crumbled meat and bread

80 Daaraqutnee # 2/207

81 Daaraqutnee # 1/207
82 Ibn Khuzaimah # 2061

83 Muslim # 1151

84 Bukhaaree # 1957

85 Ibn Hibbaan # 891

86 Majmu’ az-Zawaa`id # 2/105

87 Abu Daawood # 2353

88 Abu Daawood # 2356

89 Tirmizee # 804

90 Abu Daawood # 2357

91 Tirmizee # 804

92 Bukhaaree # 1933

93 Al-haakim # 2/198

94 i.e. to fast another day in its place

95 Abu Daawood # 2380

96 Muslim # 79, 80

97 See haqeeqatus-Siyaam of Ibn Taimiyyah

98 Al-Qur’aan 2:187
99 Bukhaaree # 1950

100 Al-Qur’aan 3:133

101 Bukhaaree # 1950

102 Bukhaaree # 1952

103 Muhallaa of Ibn Hazm # 7/7

104 At-Tahaawee in Mushkil-ul-aathaar # 3/142