OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 5 OF5 ]
ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
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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.
ZAKAATUL FITR
IT’S RULING: The Prophet (ﷺ) made it obligatory upon every Muslim, the young and the old, the male and the female, and the free and the slave [141]. However, it is not obligatory upon the child in the mother’s womb.
WHAT SHOULD BE GIVEN AS ZAKAATUL-FITR?
Anything which a person uses as his food - one Saa’ [142] of it should be given, such as barley, dates, dried curds, raisins or rye [143]. If wheat is being given, then only half a Saa’ due to the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ):
“Give a Saa’ of wheat or wheat grain for two people.[144]”
ON WHOSE BEHALF SHOULD A MAN GIVE? The Muslim gives it for himself and for those whom he takes care of, young or old, male or female, free or slave.
Ibn ‘Umar [Ra] said: “Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered sadaqatul-Fitr on behalf of the young and the old, and the free and the slave – whom you provide for.[145]”
TO WHOM SHOULD IT BE GIVEN? The poor and the needy are the people entitled to it. The Prophet (ﷺ) allocated this as food for the needy [146]. There are some people who think that Zakaatul-Fitr can be given to all eight categories who can receive Zakaah, but this has no proof.
HOW IT SHOULD BE GIVEN:
It is from the Sunnah that there should be a person with whom it is gathered just as the Prophet (ﷺ) entrusted Abu Hurairah [Ra] who said: “Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) entrusted me to look after the Zakaah of Ramadhaan.[147]”
WHEN IT IS TO BE GIVEN: It is to be given before the people go out for the ‘Eid prayer. It is not permissible to delay it until after the prayer, nor to give it in advance, except by a day or two as is reported from the practice of Ibn ‘Umar [Ra] [148]. Also whoever gives it after the prayer, it is merely a sadaqah. [149]
TO GIVE MONEY INSTEAD OF ZAKAATUL-FITR Zakaatul-Fitr is legislated to be given only in the form of food grains. To give money instead of food grains is a clear opposition of the Sunnah. However, a person may give the amount of money required to procure the grains to a person who will purchase it on his behalf and is in-charge of distributing it. [150]
ITS WISDOM AND BENEFITS
1. It is a means of purification for those who fasted, from mistakes and indecent talk.
2. It makes for an excellent provision for the needy.
3. The poor are saved from begging on the blessed day of ‘Eid [151].
SOME WEAK AHAADEETH QUOTED OFTEN IN THE MONTH OF RAMADHAAN
1. “If the servants knew how great Ramadhaan was, then they would wish that Ramadhaan lasted all year. Indeed paradise is decorated for Ramadhaan from the start of the year till the next year. [152]”
This hadeeth is mawdhoo’ (fabricated).
2. “O people, a very great month has come upon you...whoever seeks nearness to Him with a good deed in it will be like performing an obligatory action in other months...it is a month the beginning of which is a mercy, the middle is forgiveness and its end is granting of freedom from the Fire.[153]”
This hadeeth is Dha’eef (weak). [4].
3. “Fast and you will be healthy.[154]”
This hadeeth is Dha’eef and Munkar (weak and rejected) [6].
4. “He who abandons fasting during a day of Ramadhaan without a valid excuse, or illness – then even if he were to fast forever it would not make up for it. [155]”
This hadeeth is also Dha’eef.
VOLUNTARY FASTS
The Messenger of Allaah encouraged the fasting of the following days:
1. FASTING THE SIX DAYS OF SHAWWAAL [156]
The Prophet said: “Whoever fasts Ramadhaan and then follows it up with six (days of fasting) Shawwaal, then it would be as if he has fasted perpetually.” [157]
2. FASTING THE 9TH DAY OF ZUL-HIJJAH [158], I.E. THE DAY OF ‘Arafah [159]- FOR THOSE NOT PERFORMING THE HAJJ
Abu Qataadah Al-Ansaaree [Ra] said that the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) was asked about fasting the day of ‘Arafah, whereupon he (ﷺ) said:
“It is an expiation for (the sins of) the previous (year) and the following (year).[160]”
3. THE FAST OF THE DAY OF ‘AASHOORAA INCLUDING THE DAY BEFORE
Abu Qataadah Al-Ansaari [Ra] said that the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘AAshooraa [161], whereupon he (ﷺ) said:
“It expiates the sins of the preceding year.”
Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] narrated: “That the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘aashooraa. He asked them about that. They replied, ‘This is a good day, the day on which Allaah rescued the Children of Israel from their enemy. So Moosaa [AS] fasted this day.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘We have more claim over Moosaa [AS] than you.’ So, the Prophet (ﷺ) fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day).[163]”
And ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Abbaas [Ra] also reported that the Messenger of Allaah [SWT] had said:
“If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th (along with the 10th of Muharram).[164]”
4. FASTING MOST OF SHA’BAAN
‘A`ishah radhiallaahu ‘anhaa said: “I never saw him observing (voluntary fasts) more in any other month than that of Sha’baan. He observed fast throughout the month of Sha’baan except a few (days).[165]”
5. THE FAST OF (EVERY) MONDAY AND THURSDAY.
The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: “The deeds (of the son of Aadam) are presented (before Allaah) (every) Monday and Thursday, and I like it that my actions are presented whilst I am fasting.[166]”
And when he (ﷺ) was asked about fasting (every) Monday, he (ﷺ) said:
“That is the day on which I was born, and (the day) on which revelation was sent down upon me.[167]”
6. FASTING THE 13TH, 14TH & 15TH OF EVERY (LUNAR) MONTH
Abu Hurairah [Ra] said:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) advised me about three things - to offer Salaat-ud-Duhaa (forenoon prayer), to pray Witr before sleeping and to fast three days in a month.[168]”
Also the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“The fast of three days every month, from one Ramadhaan to another are equivalent to fasting perpetually.[169]”
7. THE FAST OF PROPHET DAAWOOD [AS], I.E. FASTING ALTERNATE DAYS.
The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said:
“The most beloved fast to Allaah is the fast of Daawood [AS], and the most beloved prayer to Allaah is the prayer of Daawood [AS]. He used to sleep half the night and stand for prayer for a third of the night and used to sleep a sixth of the night, and he used to fast every other day.[170]”
THE ‘EID PRAYER
There are two annual ‘Eids (festivals) which Allaah has granted the Muslims: ‘Eid ul Fitr and ‘Eid ul Adhaa.[171]
‘Eid ul Fitr is the 1st day of the Islaamic month of Shawwaal and it marks the end of Ramadhaan. ‘Eid ul Adhaais the 10th day of the Islaamic month of Zul-Hijjah and it marks the end of the major rites of hajj.
The ‘Eid prayer is offered on both the ‘Eids and is obligatory upon every Muslim who is capable of performing it.
Women are not exempted from the obligation of attending the ‘Eid prayer since the Prophet (ﷺ) commanded them to attend the ‘Eid prayer and even the menstruating women were instructed to go to the ‘Eid prayer to be a part of the believers’ supplications even though they do not pray.[172]
It is recommended to take a bath and adorn oneself for the occasion of ‘Eid.[173]
It is recommended to eat something especially dates before the ‘Eid prayer on the morning of ‘Eid ul Fitr. As for ‘Eid ul Adhaa, it is recommended to eat from the meat of sacrifice after the ‘Eid prayer.[174]
The Sunnah is to pray the ‘Eid prayer in the Musallaa [175] (open field) and not in a Masjid. [176]
One should pronounce the takbeer in an audible manner on the way to the Musallaa up until the Imaam stands up to lead the people in the ‘Eid prayer.[177]
It is from Sunnah to take one path for going to the ‘Eid prayer and another path while returning.[178]
It is also from the Sunnah to walk to the Musallaa [179] unless the place is too far to be reached in reasonable time on foot.
The ‘Eid prayer should be held in the morning and the best time to pray it is shortly after sunrise.[180]
There is no prayer before or after the ‘Eid prayer.[181]
The ‘Eid prayer is not preceded by the Adhaan or the Iqaamah. [182]
In the ‘Eid prayer the Imaam leads the people in praying two rak’ahs.[183]
The ‘Eid prayer consists of two rak’ahs and it has additional takbeers as described:
The takbeers should be made before the recitation. There should be 7 takbeers in the first rak’ah and 5 in the second rak’ah.[184]
After the prayer, the Imaam delivers a Khutbah (sermon) in which he exhorts the people to fear Allaah and to give sadaqah [185] (charity). A Muslim has the choice either to sit for the Khutbah or to leave. [186]
If one misses the ‘Eid prayer, then let him pray 2 rak’ahs as qadaa (atonement)[187].
Foot
Notes Part 5 of 5
141Muslim # 984
142 One Saa’ is equal to 2 kg and 40 gm
143 Ibn Khuzaimah # 4/80
144 Musnad Ahmad # 5/432
145 Daaraqutnee # 2/141
146 Ibn Maajah # 1827
147 Bukhaaree # 2311
148 Ibn Maajah # 1827
149 Abu Daawood # 1622
150 Majmoo’ Fataawaa Ibn Baaz # 14/208
151Ibn Maajah # 1872
152 Al-Mawdhoo’aat # 4/188-189
153Ilalul-hadeeth of Ibn Abee haatim # 1/249
154 Al-Kaamil # 7/2521
155 Fath ul-Baaree # 4/121
156 The month that follows Ramadhaan in the Islaamic Calendar.
157 Muslim # 2750. One may fast any 6 days of Shawwaal.
158 The last month of the Islaamic Calendar
159 The ninth of Dhul-Hijjah
160 Muslim # 2739161 The 10th of Muharram which is the 1st month of the Islaamic Calendar
162 Muslim # 2739
163 Bukhaaree # 2004
164 Muslim # 2661-2
165 Bukhaaree # 1969-70
166 Saheeh al-Jaami’ # 2956
167 Muslim # 2742
168 Nasaa`i # 2408
169 Muslim # 2739
170 Muslim # 2731
171 Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood # 1134
172Bukhaaree # 974, As-Saheehah # 2408 &2115
173Irwaa ul Ghaleel Ar. 146, Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Ar. 5753, As-Saheehah Ar. 1279
174 Saheeh Ibn Maajah # 1756, Tirmizee
175 Also known as ‘Eidgaah in Urdu
176 Bukhaaree # 956
177Irwaa ul Ghaleel # 650
178Bukhaaree # 986
179 Ibn Maajah # 1295
180Ibn Maajah #1317
181Bukhaaree # 989
182Bukhaaree # 960
183Nasaa’i # 1420
184Irwaa ul Ghaleel # 639
185Fath ul Baaree # 978, Mishkaat # 1397
186Abu Daawood # 1155
187Bukhaaree, Chapter - If one misses the ‘Eid prayer then let him pray 2 rak’ahs.
References to Parts 1 to 5
Fasting in Ramadaan: As Observed by the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) [Hilaalee, Saleem, Shaykh, Ali Hasan Ali Abdul Hamid, Shaikh ... Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. ... Publisher : Al-Hidaayah Publishing & Distribution (February 1, 1994); Language : English; Paperback : 128 pages ...
https://www.amazon.com/Fasting-Ramadaan-Observed-Prophet-Peace/dp/1898649022
