OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 4 OF 5]

 

OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 4 OF 5]

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

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.

EXPIATION (AL-KAFFAARAH)

Whoever nullifies his fast with sexual intercourse is required to make up the fast with another day (qadaa) and also to expiate as follows:

1. Free a slave if he is able, if not,

2. Fast for two months continuously; if he is not able to do this then,

3. Feed 60 poor people

If he is not capable of doing any of the above three things, then the obligation of expiation is removed from him.  [105]

RECOMPENSE (AL-FIDYAH)

Fidyah is obligatory on the following people:

1. The old man or woman who does not have the ability to fast.

2. An ill person who has no hope of regaining health or recovering from his illness.

3. A pregnant or breast-feeding woman who fears for herself or her child.

These three kinds of people can leave the fast and shall be required to give Fidyah which is that one poor person is given half a Saa’ of grains (one Saa’ is equivalent to 2 kg and 40 gm). [106].

LAILATUL-QADR (THE NIGHT OF DECREE)

IT’S EXCELLENCE

Allaah [SWT] says: “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. [107]”

And it is on this night that all the wise decrees of Allaah are made:

“Therein is decreed every matter of ordainment, as a command from us.[108]”

Note: Some people say that the decree of matters happens on the 15th of Sha’baan. This is an erroneous and baseless claim.

WHEN IS IT?

The most correct saying, and Allaah knows best, is that it occurs in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan.

Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) while doing I’tikaaf [109] in the last ten days of Ramadhaan used to say:

“Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten of Ramadhaan.”

That is, the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and the 29th night. And the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“And if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.[111]”

That is the 25th, 27th and the 29th night.

 

 

 

HOW SHOULD A MUSLIM SEEK LAILATUL-QADR?

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever stands (in Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan (correct belief) and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.[112]”

It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it with the Du’aa:

اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فاْعْفُ عَنِّي

“Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.”

{O Allaah, You are the One who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.} [113]

During these nights, to stay awake in prayer, to instruct one’s family the same and to stay away from one’s wife is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) [114]. And the Prophet (ﷺ) used to exert himself more in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan than he would at other times.[115]

 

THE SIGNS OF LAILATUL-QADR

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“On the morning following Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up. [116]”

And he (ﷺ) said:

“Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun rises on its morning being feeble and red. [117]”

TARAAWEEH PRAYERS [118]

It is important first of all to know that Taraaweeh (resting), Tahajjud (from hajada: remained awake at night), Qiyaamul-Lail (standing at night) [119], {salaatul-Lail (the night prayer) and Witr (odd-numbered)}, all refer to the same prayer. [120] [121]

IT’S PRESCRIPTION IN CONGREGATION

According to the long hadeeth of ‘A`ishah radhiallaahu ‘anhaa, Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) led the congregation in Qiyaamul-lail for three nights and the people participated in it with a great amount of zeal and enthusiasm. Then he (ﷺ), due to the fear that this night prayer would be made obligatory upon the people stopped leading the people in the night prayers. [122]

It is from this hadeeth that we get the proof for performing the Taraaweeh prayer in congregation.

And based upon this action of the Prophet (ﷺ), ‘Umar [Ra] revived this Sunnah of praying the Taraaweeh prayer in congregation during his caliphate since the fear of the Prophet (ﷺ) that this prayer may become obligatory upon the people was removed with his passing away. [123]

THE NUMBER OF RAK'AHS [124]

‘A`ishah radhiallaahu ‘anhaa said: “Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not increase upon eleven rak’ahs in Ramadhaan, or outside of it.[125]”

And the righteous Caliph ‘Umar [Ra], when he revived the Sunnah of praying the Taraaweeh in congregation, he instructed ‘Ubay Ibn Ka’b [Ra] and Tameem ad-Daaree [Ra] to lead the people in 11 rak’ahs of Qiyaamul-lail. [126]

And the prayer of Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was well-spaced; meaning that his bowing, prostration and his standing would be of similar length and his prostration would be as long as it would take to recite 50 verses of the Qur’aan.[127] And his recitation of the Qur’aan would be with proper pronunciation and a slow pace. Those who hasten in their recitation, their bowing and prostration should learn a lesson from this.

 

THE WITR PRAYER128

Its maximum is eleven rak’ahs. [129]

As a minimum, it is one rak’ah.[130]

However, the Prophet (ﷺ) would generally pray three rak’ahs after praying eight rak’ahs. [131]

It is recommended to make Witr as the last prayer of the night. [132]

However, one is allowed to pray two rak’ahs after the Witr prayer sometimes.[133]

DESCRIPTION OF THE WITR PRAYER

If one is praying three rak’ahs, it may be prayed in any of the two fashions:

1. Praying all three rak’ahs together such that he sits for the Tashahhud only in the last rak’ah. [134]

2. Performing 2 rak’ahs individually with Salaams (salutations) & then 1 rak’ah with Salaams. [135]

Note: The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade praying a three-rak’ah Witr prayer like the Maghrib salaah which has two tashahhuds.[136]

If one is praying more than three,

He may perform every two rak’ahs individually with Salaams (salutations) and then pray one rak’ah with Salaams.[137]

Qunoot in Witr (Supplication during the prayer while in the standing posture)

After finishing the Qur’aanic recitation in the last rak’ah of Witr, before going to the rukoo’, one should sometimes supplicate with what the Prophet (ﷺ) taught his grandson hasan :

اَللّٰهُمَّ اهْدِنِيْ فِيْمَنْ هَدَيْتَ ، وَ عَا فِنِيْ فِيْمَنْ عَافَيْتَ ، وَتَوَ لَّنِيْ فِيْمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ ، وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْمَاۤ أَعْطَيْتَ ، وَ قِنِيْ شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِيْ وَلَا يُقْضٰى عَلَيْكَ ، إِنَّهٗ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَّالَيْتَ، [وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ]، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَ تَعَالَيْتَ -

Allaahum-Mahdini Feeman Hadayta, Wa ‘Aafini Feeman ‘Aafayta, Wa Tawallani Feeman Tawallayta, Wa Baarik Li Feemaa A’tayta, Wa Qini Sharra Maa Qadhayta, Fa Innaka Taqdhi Walaa Yuqdhaa ‘Alayka, Innahu Laa Yazillu Man Waalayta, [Walaa Ya’izzu Man ‘Aadayta], Tabaarakta Rabbanaa Wa Ta’aalayta.

{O Allaah, guide me with those whom You have guided, and protect me with those whom You have protected. Befriend me with those whom You have befriended. Bless me in what You have given me. Shelter me from the evil You have ordained. Surely, You command and are not commanded, and none whom You befriend shall be humiliated [and none whom You have taken as an enemy shall ever be honored]. You are Blessed, Our Lord, and Exalted.} [138]

For an in-depth understanding of the Night prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ) one should refer to the excellent book,“The Night Prayers, Qiyaam and Taraaweeh” by Shaikh Muhammad al Jibaaly.

GENEROSITY IN RAMADHAAN

To be very generous during the month of Ramadhaan is from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous of people, and in the month of Ramadhaan he would increase in his generosity as if it were a wave of a pleasant cool wind.” [139]

RECITATION OF THE QUR’AAN

The month of Ramadhaan is the month of the Qur’aan since this was the month in which the Qur’aan was revealed. Therefore, one should recite the Qur’aan (and ponder over its meaning) as much as possible.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’aan to Jibraeel [AS] once every Ramadhaan but in the last Ramadhaan of his life, he recited the Qur’aan twice before Jibraeel [AS]. [140]

Foot Notes

105 Muslim # 1111

106 Daaraqutnee # 1/17

107 Al-Qur’aan 97:3

108 Al-Qur’aan 44:4-5

109 Seclusion in the Masjid

110 Bukhaaree # 2017

111Bukhaaree # 2015

112 Bukhaaree # 1901

113 Tirmizee # 3760

114 Bukhaaree # 2024

115 Muslim # 1174

116 Muslim # 762

117I bn Khuzaimah # 3/23

118 It was the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ) to pray an odd number of rak’ahs after the ‘Ishaa prayer in the last third part of the night. Nevertheless it may be prayed anytime from after the ‘Ishaa prayer until before the dawn of Fajr. See also the next chapter on Witr. See ‘Irwaa ul Ghaleel # 2/158 and Bukhaaree # 996.

119 Some people think that Tahajjud is a night prayer different from Qiyaamul-lail or Taraaweeh. Others think that Nafl (supererogatory) prayers at night are only recommended during Ramadhaan. Thus, it is important to clarify these misunderstandings, and emphasize what was mentioned above, i.e. that there is only one Nafl prayer at night, with different names used to describe it. Even though Taraaweeh is most commonly used to describe it in Ramadhaan, this does not make it a different prayer. (The Night Prayer, Jibaaly Pg. 7-8). Witr has two meanings in the Sunnah. It usually refers to the last one or three rak’ahs of the night prayer. But it sometimes means all of the night prayers because, collectively, they are odd-numbered. Words in flower brackets added by the Publisher

120 Witr has two meanings in the Sunnah. It usually refers to the last one or three rak’ahs of the night prayer. But it sometimes means all of the night prayers because, collectively, they are odd-numbered.

121 Words in flower brackets added by the Publisher

122 Bukhaaree # 1129

123 Bukhaaree # 2010

124 Plural of Rak’ah - unit of prayer

125 Bukhaaree # 2010

126 Muwattaa Imaam Maalik # 1/115

127 Bukhaaree # 1123

128 This chapter has been added by the Publisher

129 Bukhaaree # 994

130 Muslim # 1754

131 Nasaa`i # 1700

132 Bukhaaree # 998

133 Abu Daawood # 1340

134 The Night Prayer, Jibaaly Pg. 101

135 The Night Prayer, Jibaaly Pg. 101

136 Tahaawee and Daaraqutnee; cf. The Night Prayer, Jibaaly Pg. 107

137 The Night Prayer, Jibaaly Pg. 101

138 Abu Daawood # 1425-6

139 Bukhaaree # 6

140 Bukhaaree # 4998