RAMADAN:
Rules & Regulations
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory on every
Muslim adult. The Arabic word sawm is used for fasting. The
word sawm (plural siyam) literally means 'to refrain', but as
an Islamic term, it means refraining from food, drinks and
sexual activity from dawn to sunset. Allah says in the Quran,
in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183):
'O you who believe, siyam is prescribed on you
as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may
become self-restrained.'
The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly expressed in
several sayings of the Prophet(S.A.W.). It is reported by Abu
Hurairah that the Prophet said:
'He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and
seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven;
he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeks
his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he
who passes Lailat al- Qadr in prayer with faith and seeks his
reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.'
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Fasting in Ramadan is practiced by Muslims all over the
world. The most significant aspect of Siyam is the development
of Allah-consciousness (Taqwa) in the heart and the soul of a
fasting Muslim. One must abstain from immoral behavior and
attitude as well. Refraining from food and such is essential
during fast but it is not sufficient. The Prophet of Allah is
reported to have said:
'If one does not abandon falsehood in words
and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food
and drink.'
(Al-Bukhari)
WHO IS EXEMPT FROM SAWM?
Fasting is mandatory on every Muslim who
is sane, adult, able and resident. The following exemptions
apply:
- the insane;
- children who are not
adolescent yet;
- the elderly and chronically
ill for whom fasting is unreasonably strenuous; Such
persons are required to feed at least one poor person
every day in Ramadan for which he or she has missed
fasting.
- pregnant women and nursing may
postpone the fasting at a later time;
- the ill and the travellers can
also defer their fasting.
Allah says in the Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara:
'But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the
prescribed period should be made up by days later. Allah
intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to
difficulties.'
- Women during the period of
menstruation or of postchildbirth confinement. Fasting
during these periods is forbidden and should be made up
later, a day for a day.
DURATION OF SAWM:
Fasting starts everyday in Ramadan at the
break of dawn, which is also the start of the Salatul Fajr
time. Fasting ends at sunset or with the call of Salatul
Maghrib.
VALIDITY OF FASTING:
The validity of fasting depends on the
following:
- Abstaining from food, liquids
and sexual activity from dawn to sunset.
- The intention to fast must be
made every day before dawn. The intention(niyyah) may be
made during night before going to sleep or it can also be
made at the time of Suhoor before dawn. Suhoor is eating
before fasting. It should be as close to Fajr time as
possible. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says:
'Partake Suhoor, for there is blessing in
Suhoor.'(Bukhari, Muslim)
It is desirable to break the fast as soon as possible after
sunset. Breaking the fast with dates or water is a tradition
of the Prophet. Following is one of the Du'a for breaking
fast:
Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala ridhqika aftartu
(O Allah! For You did I fast and with Your bounties did I
break the fast.)
The things which invalidate fast are of
two kinds. The first one requires Qada (only making up missed
days), the other one not only requires Qada but also
Kaffarah(a penalty).
The following are the things that require Qada only:
- Eating or drinking
intentionally. This includes non-nourishing items taken by
mouth.
- Deliberately causing oneself
to throw up.
- The beginning of menstruation
or post-childbirth bleeding even in the last moment before
sunset.
- Ejaculation for reasons other
than sexual intercourse.
- Intending to break the fast
before sunset even if one changes his mind, since
intention is one of the pre-requisites of the validity of
fasting.
- Eating, drinking or having
intercourse after dawn on the mistaken assumption that it
is not dawn yet. Similarly, engaging in these acts before
Maghrib on the mistaken assumption that it is already
sunset.
Things that not only require Qada but
also Kaffarah are the following:
Sexual intercourse during fasting(dawn to dusk). The penalty
is to fast an additional period of 60 continuous days. If one
is not able to do so then he must feed sixty poor people-one
average meal each.
Before the days of the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.), slavery
was a common practice in the Arab world. Islam eliminated
slavery from the society in a very short period of time. A
useful approach was to allow people free a slave as a charity
or as a penalty for a sin. Thus during the time of the
Prophet(S.A.W.), setting a slave free was the penalty one must
pay as a kaffarah, if he or she had a slave.
What does not break the fast:
- If anyone forgets that he is
fasting and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast,
for it is only Allah who has fed him and given him
drink.(A Hadith from Muslim).
- Unintentional vomiting.
- Swallowing things which are
not possible to avoid, such as one's saliva, street dust,
smoke, etc.
- Brushing the teeth.
- Injection or intra-venous
which is solely medical and not nutritional.
Breaking of fast under exceptional conditions:
Muslims are permitted to break the ordained fast of Ramadan
when there is danger to their health. In this situation a
Muslim should make up his fast later at any other time of the
year.
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