Fasting and Zakaah

All praise is due to Allaah alone; may He exalt the mention of the last of all
Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his
companions.

This is a booklet that briefly addresses the rulings of Fasting, including a

clarification of the categories of people relative to the obligation of fasting, the
immeasurable benefits of fasting, and things that nullify fasting. We will also
address the benefits and rulings pertaining to Zakaah.

Fasting

• Fasting is an act of worship during which the slave of Allaah

refrains from all those things that nullify fasting from dawn until sunset.

• Fasting during Ramadhaan is one of the pillars of Islaam, as the Prophet

sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Islaam was established on five pillars;
the two testimonies (of faith), the establishment of prayer, fasting,
obligatory charity and the pilgrimage." (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).

The Categories of People with regard to Fasting

• Any Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, who is capable of fasting
and is not a traveller, must observe fasting.
• A disbeliever does not have to fast, nor does he have to make up for what he
missed before becoming a Muslim.
• Children who have not yet reached the age of puberty should be commanded
to fast in order to get accustomed to it.
• An insane person or an elderly one who does not possess the faculty of being
able to distinguish between matters does not have to fast nor feed people as
expiation.
• People with chronic diseases do not have to fast or make up for missed fasts,
but must feed a needy person for every missed day of fasting.
• A temporarily sick person, a pregnant or breast-feeding woman who fears
harm for herself or her baby, a woman in her menstrual period or post partum
bleeding, or a person who must break his fast for an important cause, such as
to rescue a drowning person, may break his or her fast and make it up after
Ramadhaan.
• A traveller has the option to observe fasting or to break his fast and make up
for it later.

Nullifiers of Fasting

Committing or consuming any of the nullifications of fasting due to

forgetfulness, ignorance or coercion does not nullify the fast, for Allaah says
what means, "Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have
strength to bear" (Al-Baqarah: 286) also, "Except him who is forced thereto
and whose heart is at rest with Faith" (An-Nahl: 106) and "And there is no sin
on you concerning that in which you made a mistake except in regard to what
your hearts deliberately intend." (Al-Ahzaab: 5). Ones fasting is not nullified if
he eats or drinks thinking that the sun has set or that dawn has not yet arrived,
nor if he swallows water by mistake during Wudhoo', or has wet dreams or eats
or drinks forgetfully.

There are seven things that nullify Fasting:

1. Having sexual intercourse during the daytime. If one does this, he should
make up for that day and also pay for the expiation of freeing a slave if one
is available. Otherwise, one should fast for two consecutive months or feed
sixty needy people.
2. Deliberate discharge of sperm by kissing, hugging, touching, or by
masturbating.
3. Deliberately eating or drinking anything, whether beneficial or harmful,
including smoking cigarettes.
4. Anything having the same effect as eating and/or drinking. This can be by
means of needles, drops or supplements - as long as it has any nutritional
value, and this includes a blood transfusion for those who need it. On the
other hand, if these things do not have any nutritional value then using them
would not affect one's fast in any way.
5. Drawing out blood and Hijaamah (cupping). Hijaamah is something that is
done by means of needles or razors to make holes in the skin in order to
draw bad blood out of the body. However, if one has a nosebleed or bleeding
due to extracting a tooth, then this will not affect the fast, as this is
unintentional and beyond ones control.
6. Intentionally vomiting, but if one were to vomit unintentionally, this would
not nullify the fast.
7. Menstrual or post-natal bleeding.

Some points

• It is permissible to intend fasting without having bathed after having sexual

intercourse, then bathe after dawn.
• A woman whose menstrual or post-natal bleeding ceases before dawn must
observe fasting, even if she has not yet had a bath when the time for fasting
begins.
• It is permissible to extract teeth while fasting, and to treat the resulting
bleeding, or use eye or ear drops, even if the taste of the drops reaches ones
mouth.
• The use of a Siwaak (a special wooden toothbrush) is allowed any time
during the day whilst fasting.
• It is permissible to cool oneself by pouring cold water on one's head or to sit
in front of an air conditioner whilst fasting.
• It is permissible to use a treatment spray for hard breathing or asthma whilst
fasting.
• It is permissible to wet one's lips or rinse one's mouth whilst fasting.
• It is recommended to delay Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) until very close to
dawn.
• It is recommended to hasten in breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets and
eat ripe dates to do so, and if these are unavailable then dry dates; if these
are unavailable then one should drink water, and if even this is unavailable
then any other type of permissible food or drink is fine. If the fasting person
cannot find anything then he should intend to break his fast in his heart and
that will suffice.
• It is recommended to increase acts of obedience and refrain from the
disobedience of Allaah during one's fast.
• It is mandatory to adhere to all obligations such as the five daily prayers at
their due time with the congregation, and to refrain from prohibitions like
lying, backbiting, dealing with interest and any other action or speech which
is prohibited. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "The one who
does not refrain from falsehood in action, speech and insulting others,
then Allaah has no need for him to abstain from his food and drink." (Al-
Bukhaari).

Zakaah

Although it holds a great rank in Islaam, being one of the pillars without
which no one's Islaam is complete, as in the Hadeeth previously mentioned,
many people have neglected this obligation.

Zakaah is one of the most obvious merits of Islaam, because it reflects the
extent to which Islaam takes care of those who accept and practice it; it is vital
due to the great benefits it contains and the dire need of the poor for it.

The benefits of Zakaah are many. The following are some of them:
• Assuring the feeling of harmony between the rich and the poor in the
community, since man by nature becomes inclined towards those who are
kind to him.
• Purifying the soul, elevating its rank, and thwarting stinginess from the soul.
This is indicated by the saying of Allaah what means, "Take Sadaqah
(alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with
it." (At-Tawbah: 103).
• Getting the Muslim accustomed to generosity and mercy towards the needy.
• Causing one to become worthy of the blessings of Allaah, Who increases
one's provision and replaces what one spends. Allaah says what means,
"And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allaah's Cause), He will
replace it. And He is the Best of providers." (Saba': 39). The Prophet
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said that Allaah said, "O son of Aadam!
Spend (in charity) and I will provide for you." (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).

Allaah gave a severe warning to those who become stingy and refrain from
paying out their due Zakaah. Allaah says what means, "And those who hoard
up gold and silver (Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakaat of which has not been
paid) and spend them not in the way of Allaah, announce unto them a painful
torment. On the Day when that (Al-Kanz: money, gold and silver, the Zakaat
of which has not been paid) will be heated in the fire of Hell and with it will
be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said
unto them): `This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste
of what you used to hoard.'" (At-Tawbah: 34-35).

Any person who amasses wealth and does not pay its due Zakaah, will be
punished by his wealth on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam said, "No owner of a treasure (of gold or silver) who does
not pay Zakaah will be spared, for his treasure will be heated in the Fires of
Hell and then made into plates. His flanks and his forehead will be branded
with them until Allaah pronounces judgment on His servants during a day
lasting fifty thousand years." (Muslim).
 The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also mentioned the owner of
cattle who does not pay its due Zakaah, "Whoever is made wealthy by Allaah
and does not pay the Zakaah of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection
his wealth will be made into a bald-headed, poisonous, male snake with two
black spots over his eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks
and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'" Then he sallallaahu 'alayhi
wa sallam recited the saying of Allaah which means, "And let not those who
covetously withhold of that which Allaah has bestowed on them of His Bounty
(wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory
Zakaat). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously
withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection."
(Aal 'Imraan: 180) (Al-Bukhaari).

Zakaah is due on four things: produce, cattle, gold and silver, and trade
merchandise. These things have a specific Nisaab (a minimum amount which
requires Zakaah) below which payment of Zakaah is not required.

• Nisaab on produce is three hundred Saa' of dates, raisons, rice or wheat,

where each Saa' is four times all what one can hold in two handfuls. When
this amount is reached, one should pay ten percent (10%) of that in Zakaah if
the trees which produce these foodstuffs were watered naturally, by the water
of rain, rivers or springs. However, if one had to personally water these trees
himself, then the Zakaah due on their produce is only five-percent (5%), as
the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has informed us.

• Nisaab on cattle is a very detailed and lengthy issue, which is available in

any book on Zakaah, but since we intended this booklet to be brief we will
not mention these details here.
• The Nisaab on silver and gold is approximately US$900 (which is the
equivalent of 92 grams of gold depending on the price of gold), and the
amount of Zakaah due is two and a half (2.5%) after a full lunar year of
possessing it. Another item which is related to this type is gold and silver
ornaments that women wear; Zakaah applies to these ornaments whether they
were in their possession all that time or lent to others, because the Prophet
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "No owner of a treasure (of gold or
silver) who does not pay Zakaah will be spared, for his treasure will be
heated in the Fires of Hell and then made into plates." (Muslim). This is a
ruling which is general and applies to gold and silver used for trade or
anything else as he, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also said to a woman who
had two golden bracelets, "Do you pay Zakaah on them?" She replied,
"No." So he then said: "Are you pleased that Allaah may put two bangles of
fire on your arms?" Thereupon she took them off and placed them before
the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying: "They are for Allaah and
His Apostle." (Abu Daawood & An-Nasaa'i(.
• Merchandise used for trade must be evaluated at the end of the year, and two
and a half percent (2.5%) of its value must be paid out as Zakaah. Samurah,
may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam used to command us to pay Zakaah on anything which we used in
trade." (Abu Daawood). Land used for trade is also included, as well as cars
and machinery. As for buildings which are rented out and not being sold,
Zakaah only applies on its rent after the full lunar year has finished. Likewise
is the case of personal cars and taxis which are not used for trade, but if a taxi
owner collects money which reaches the Nisaab and this remains unused for
a full lunar year, then he should pay its Zakaah, regardless of the reason why
he saved this money.

Zakaah is also applicable on money saved for orphans or the insane

whenever it reaches the Nisaab and has been saved for a full lunar year;
guardians of this money should pay out the due Zakaah on their behalf.
 Zakaah is the right of Allaah which should not be taken lightly; it should not
be given to those who are not eligible; a person should not pay it in order to
bring benefit unto himself or to prevent harm from befalling him, rather it
should be paid to a deserving category of people regardless of whether or not it
brings benefit to him. It should be paid willingly and with sincerity to Allaah in
order to receive the reward from Allaah and fulfil one's obligation concerning
this pillar.

Allaah explained in His book the categories of people who are deserving of
Zakaah; Allaah says what means, "As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaat) are
only for the Fuqaraa' (poor), and Al-Masaakeen (the poor) and those
employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have
been inclined (towards Islaam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt;
and for Allaah's Cause (i.e. for Mujaahidoon ‫ ـ‬those fighting in a holy battle
for the sake of Allaah), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from
everything); a duty imposed by Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise"
(At-Tawbah: 60). Allaah concluded this verse with two of His Great Names to
bring to the attention of his slaves that He is All-Knowing of the affairs and
dealings of His slaves, and of who is worthy of taking Zakaah and who is not;
and that He is All-Wise in what He legislates and what He decrees, and that he
would not prescribe anything unless it is suitable, even if people do not fully
realize the benefit and wisdom behind the legislation.