Fasting

Ordinances, Wisdoms & Merits

Researched and Compiled Researched and Compiled Researched and Compiled Researched and Compiled

By By By By
Dr. Saleh As Dr. Saleh As Dr. Saleh As Dr. Saleh As- -- -Saleh Saleh Saleh Saleh


1426 HJ 1426 HJ 1426 HJ 1426 HJ
2005 CE 2005 CE 2005 CE 2005 CE



Acknowledgment

Special thanks to sis Umm Ahmad Al-Kanadiyyah
for transcribing and editing the material.




















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- ' >- J-~ Q - J~ >- = . - 4,~ V - -= = V - V -)~ . -)~
- --- --= ;- -=~ -' _-- --- = _-~ -; .

All Praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, and seek His help and forgiveness.
We seek refuge in Allaah, Most High, from the evils of our own selves and
from our wicked deeds. Whomever Allaah guides cannot be misguided, and
whomever He leads astray cannot be guided. I testify that there is no true God
worthy of being worshipped except Allaah, alone, without partner or associate.
I further testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger ().
1
May
Allaahs salaah and salaam also be granted to the Prophets pure family and
to all of his noble companions.

] ;--~ ;-- V Q;- V '- _= = ;- ;-' Q -- ') ' ] .[

O you who believe! Fear Allaah by doing all that He ordered and
abstaining from all that He forbade] as He should be feared obey Him,
be thankful to Him, and remember Him always] and die not except in a
state of Islam. [Quraan, 3:102].

] ,-- V'= '-)- ~- ')= ')- _-= -= Q-- Q ;---= -- ;-- ;- '-- ') '
'~ -- = ;- '~- '--- ;---- ' = '=V - ;- ] .[

O mankind! Be dutiful to your Rabb
2
Allaah], Who created you from a
single person Adam] and from him Adam] He created his wife Eve],

1
(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam): The salaah and salaam of Allaah be upon His Prophet
Muhammad. The salaah of Allaah upon Prophet Muhammad is His Praise of the Prophet
before the angels who are close to (but below) Allaah, the Most High, who istawaa
(ascended) upon His 'Arsh (Throne), which is above the seven heavens, in a manner that suits
His Majesty. The angels also praise the Prophet (). The salaam is Allaahs safeguarding of
the Prophet () from deficiencies and any kind of evil, and the protection of the Message with
which he was entrusted. When the Muslim says (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), he invokes
Allaah to grant His Praise and Security to Prophet Muhammad and the protection of the
Message of Islam which was revealed to him (). [See Ibnul Qayyims Jalaaul Afhaam fee
Fadlis-Salaati-wa-Salaam alaa Muhammadin Khairil Anaam, [Damascus, Syria: Daar Ibn
Katheer, and Daar at-Turaath, Al-Madeenah, Saudi Arabia 1408/1988, p.128].
2
Rabb: Allaah is Ar-Rabb. He is the One Who gave all things the power to grow, to move
and to change, to Whom belongs the Creation and Commandment; the Master Who has no
equal in His Sovereignty, Predominance, and Highness, The One Who Provides for and
Sustains all that exists.
and from them both He created many men and women. And fear Allaah
through Whom you demand your mutual rights] and do not cut the
relations of] the wombs kinship]. Surely, Allaah is ever an All-Watcher
over you. [Quraan, 4:1].

] ;-;- = ;- ;-' Q -- ') ' - - V;- = Q ;--;- ;-- ,- ;--'-- ;-- _-~
'--=- ;- '- --- -; = ] - .[

O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak
always] the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will
forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger
has indeed achieved a great success. [Quraan, 33:70-71].

-- ' /
--= - -)- ,-= _-' = '- ~-=- -~ '- ;- -=~ -' _-- --- = _-~
'-- - -> J -> --- J --- -= J ')'-= ;V ,~ .

To proceed:

The most truthful speech is that of Allaah's Book [the Quraan] and that the
best of guidance is that of Muhammad (). The worst of evils are the
muhdathaat (newly invented matters [in the deen]
3
), and every innovated
matter (in the deen) is a bidah; every bidah is a dalaalah (misguidance), and
every dalaalah is in the Fire of Hell.




















3
Deen: The practical and doctrinal aspects of deen are more comprehensive than the Western
concept of religion. The deen of Islam is the way of life prescribed by Allaah.
Chapter One: The Blessed Month of Ramadhan
4



Islam is the deen of nourishment of faculties and every worship in Islam has a
wisdom (and/or wisdoms), some of it may be apparent by texts and/or by the
intellect.

On the other hand, some of these wisdoms may not be clear to some but may
be clear to others from the people of knowledge, and this is why we are
commanded to ask the people of knowledge in case we do not know.

The collective wisdoms in worship are all directed to the purification of the
soul from its defects. Every worship in Islam, done in the legal way, has its
influence on the self, the degree of which however differs in accordance with
the degree of attachment of the worshiper to Islam.

And when worship does not influence man's soul and actions then such
worship is like a body without a soul

Certainly fasting is one of the acts of worship in Islam and the month of
Ramadhan is the master of months. It is a school for the believers, nourishing
the heart as well as the tongue and the limbs.

Fasting this month in accordance with the way prescribed has many fruits to it.
This includes:

1-firmness on the truth
2-increase in faith
3-strength in certainty
4-establishment of good manners
5-the manifestation of the actions of the heart from fear, hope, love and
longing


The blessings of this month are diverse and reflect on the creed of the Muslim
and his manners, and it is a means of protection from deviation.

In it, the Muslim tries to fulfill the rights of Allaah upon him as well as the
rights of mankind in order to perfect his true slavery to His Creator, Allaah.



4
The name Ramadhan was given because it coincided with a time of the year
when the sun vehemently heated the ground and the stones (this is known as
ar ramdaa').
Meaning of Fasting

Linguistically fasting means al imsak, abstaining. Allaah, the Most High, says:

! !! ! | || | . .. . : :: : , ,, , 9 99 9 > >> > < << < ) )) ) | || | , ,, , - -- - = == = 9 99 9 ! !! ! . .. . = == = = == = 2 22 2 9 99 9 ! !! ! . .. . | || |

"...Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allaah) so I shall
not speak to any human being this day." [Qur'aan, 19:26]

The meaning of the fast here is that she (Mariam ) will abstain from
speaking to any human being, as explained in the verse itself.

The legal meaning of fasting is worshiping Allaah by complying to his
command to abstain from anything that constitutes a breach of fasting (such as
food, drink, legal sexual intercourse, etc.) from daybreak until sunset

Rulings on Fasting the Month of Ramadhan

Fasting of Ramadhan is obligatory as established by textual proofs from the
Qur'aan and the Sunnah, as well as by way of the general consensus of the
Muslims.


Proofs from the Qur'aan:
Verses 2:183-185

! !! ! ! !! ! % %% % ! !! ! ` `` ` . .. . . .. . ` `` ` 6 66 6 = == = . .. . ` `` ` ! !! ! . .. .9 99 9 ! !! ! . .. . . .. . . .. . ? ?? ? s ss s % %% % ! !! ! 6 66 6 = == = , ,, , % %% % 3 33 3 = == = - -- - 9 99 9
) )) ) . .. . . .. . ! !! ! ! !! ! , ,, , - -- - l ll l . .. . 3 33 3 ! !! ! . .. . ? ?? ? s ss s - -- - ! !! ! > >> >
? ?? ? s ss s % %% % ! !! ! ) )) ) L LL L` `` ` ` `` ` ! !! ! - -- - L LL L 3 33 3` `` `. .. . _ __ _ L LL L . .. . > >> > > >> > ` `` `& && & ! !! ! ` `` ` . .. . . .. .
> >> > 6 66 6 9 99 9 | || | ` `` ` . .. . . .. . = == = - -- - . .. . ` `` ` ! !! ! . .. . % %% % ! !! ! ` `` ` ) )) ) 9 99 9 _ __ _! !! ! = == = 9 99 9
, ,, , 9 99 9 ! !! ! % %% % 9 99 9 ` `` ` 3 33 3 : :: :9 99 9 . .. . = == = ! !! ! 2 22 2 ! !! ! . .. . ? ?? ? s ss s
- -- - ! !! ! > >> > ` `` ` < << < ` `` ` 6 66 6 , ,, , ` `` `. .. .` `` ` 9 99 9 ` `` ` ` `` ` 6 66 6 , ,, , . .. .` `` `- -- - 9 99 9 = == = 6 66 6 . .. . 9 99 9 - -- - 9 99 9
6 66 6 . .. . 9 99 9 < << < ? ?? ? s ss s ! !! ! 3 33 31 11 1 6 66 6 = == = - -- - 9 99 9 ` `` ` 3 33 3 : :: :

2:183 O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm fasting] is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-
Muttaqun (the pious).

2:184 Observing Sawm] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill
or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.
And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man, etc.), they
have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (for every day). But
whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you
fast, it is better for you if only you know.

2:185 The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a
guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion
(between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the
first night of) the month (of Ramadhan i.e. is present at his home), he
must observe Sawm that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the
same number of days which one did not observe Sawm must be made up]
from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to
make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same
number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah i.e. to say Takbeer
on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadhan and Shawwal] for
having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.


Proofs from the Sunnah:

The Prophet () said: "Islam is founded upon five (pillars): The testimony that
there is no true god worthy of worshiped except Allah and that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allaah, the establishment of salah (prayers), the payment of
Zakat (obligated charity), the fast of Ramadhan, and the Pilgrimage to the
House of Allaah." [Bukhari and Muslim]

"If you see it (the crescent of the new moon of Ramadhan) then fast." [Bukhari
and Muslim].


Proofs from the general consensus of the Muslims:

There is decisive consensus amongst the Muslims that fasting of the month of
Ramadhan is an obligatory worship the knowledge of which is inevitably
known to be of Islam.

Anyone who denies its obligation becomes a kaafir (disbeliever) unless he
lives in a remote place whereby he does not know anything about the rulings
of Islam, then he is to be taught and if then insists, after the proof is
established upon him, then he commits kufr (disbelief). Anyone who
abandons the fasting due to laziness while he testifies to its obligation then he
is in a grave danger since some scholars consider him as an apostate kaafir.

However the preponderating opinion is that he is not an apostate kafir but he is
a rebellious fasiq (sinner) and he is indeed in a grave danger.


When Was Ramadhan Ordained?


The command concerning the fasting of the month of Ramadhan was in the
second year after hijrah [the migration of the Prophet () from Makkah to
Madinah]. So the Prophet () fasted nine years.

Its ordainment was in two stages:


1
st
Giving a choice between fasting and feeding the poor, while giving
preference for fasting over feeding

2
nd
Decreeing fasting and abrogating the choice. Verse 2:184 was abrogated
by verse 2:185 [See above]:

"So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadhan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm that
month."




















Chapter Two: Wisdoms Behind the Fasting


Allaah says:

! !! ! ! !! ! % %% % ! !! ! ` `` ` . .. . . .. . ` `` ` 6 66 6 = == = . .. . ` `` ` ! !! ! . .. .9 99 9 ! !! ! . .. . . .. . . .. . ? ?? ? s ss s % %% % ! !! ! 6 66 6 = == = , ,, , % %% % 3 33 3 = == = - -- - 9 99 9
) )) ) . .. . . .. .

"O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the
pious)." [Qur'aan, 2: 183].

The main wisdom, therefore, is to achieve taqwa.

Taqwa means to abandon what is unlawful. In the general sense taqwa
encompasses the execution of what is commanded and the abandonment of
what is prohibited. Therefore this asserts that, upon fasting, the believer should
comply with the ordinances of Allaah : abandoning the unlawful of sayings
and actions (no backbiting, no lying, no spreading of mischief, no selling of
the unlawful), avoiding all prohibited matters.

And if the person does this for a period of one month then his self will become
upright and will train on uprightness for the rest of the year.

Unfortunately however, many of those who fast do not differentiate between
their days of fasting and their regular days of non fasting. They take it as a
habit and they don't feel the influence of fasting

Also there are those who fast the entire month with little benefit such that, by
the time the month is over, you see them returning to their "normal state" prior
to Ramadhan.

Allaah says:
` `` ` ! !! ! . .. . % %% % ! !! ! ` `` ` ) )) ) 9 99 9 " 7

The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'aan ..." [Qur'aan,
2: 185].

And this is far greater in its magnitude than the sending of rain, because the
ummah (the Muslim nation at large) cannot be upright and established on the
deen except with this type of worship in this specific month.

In this month there is a testing of the truth of intention and of compliance. Will
the person comply, or will he continue to follow that which agrees with the
temptations of his own self and desires? Or will he transcend that and comply
with what pleases Allaah ?

If one examines the five obligatory types of worship, then he will find that
some are purely physical and some are purely financial, distinguishing the
miser from the generous.

For some people, praying one thousand rakat (units in prayers) is easier than
spending a little money in charity. On the other hand, for others, it is easier to
spend thousands than praying one single raka. That is why the shari'ah
(revealed legislations) came in such diversity in order to distinguish those who
will comply to the worship of Allaah from those who will be enslaved to their
own desires.

Salah (prayers) is purely physical, saying and actions, there is no spending of
wealth in it.

The hajj is purely physical and this includes all that is related to it from
expenses, for example: cost of traveling, etc.

Jihad is a form of worship by striving through the physical as well as striving
in wealth. It may be done physically independent of wealth and it may be done
with wealth alone.
.
Zakah, on the other hand, is purely spending of wealth.

Wealth is beloved to man, and his attachment to it is part of his nature. Allaah
says:

| || | . .. . } }} } , ,, , 9 99 9 ` `` ` 3 33 3 9 99 9 | || | ? ?? ? s ss s 7 77 7 9 99 9 : :: : 9 99 9 | || | > >> > 9 99 9 : :: : : :: : 9 99 9

Verily! Man (disbeliever) is ungrateful to his Lord;
And to that fact he bears witness (by his deeds);
And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth. [Qur'an, 100: 6-8]

Man covets wealth intensely and the giving of what is beloved is a means to
attain that which is more beloved, the pleasure of Allaah and His Paradise.

Since Zakat is the giving of what is intensely beloved to man, Allaah lightens
its conditions by:

1. having the obligatory charity only once a year
2. it is limits to certain types of wealth
3. a specified amount is to be given depending upon the type of wealth.

In fasting there is testing and this is the refraining from seeking that which is
intensely beloved.

The believer restrains from the desire for food and drinks, the desire for legal
sexual intercourse. Fasting occurs during working hours and this is hard on the
self. So these are times of testing to the believer, he abandons his lust for the
sake of Allaah (). Even to the extent that if he is to be beaten so as to eat one
single date or to drink a glass of water, he would not do it. That is why the
learned scholars of Islam said: fasting is a secret between the slave and his
Rabb.

Allaah's Messenger () said:

"Allaah said: 'All the deeds of Adam's children are for them, except fasting
which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. Fasting is a shield or
protection from hell and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he
should avoid sexual relations with his wife and should avoid quarrelling, and
if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By
Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a
fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of
musk.""[Bukhari & Muslim].

"Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allaah is not in
need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allaah will not accept his
fasting.)." [Bukhari].

So there is a clear wisdom: achieving piety and righteousness through such
testing.

The more you comprehend the shari'ah, you will find it is most perfect in
wisdom and it is in total agreement with that which is beneficial to man.





To be continued ...in shaa' Allaah