Delivered at the Islamic Center of Naperville

 Linguistically  To restrain one self from something  Maryam عليها السلام was ordered to say فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنْسِيًّا  say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allâh) so I shall not speak to any human being This day.'“  According to the Shariah  Abstaining from food and drink,sexual desires, and anything else which breaks the fast with the intention of pleasing Allah from Fajr until Maghrib

 It is an order from Allah سبحانه و تعالى  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (183)  183. O You who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for You as it was prescribed for those before you, that You may become Al- Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2).  It purifies our soul and helps us set priorities in life  Helps us develop a sense of empathy  A means of having our sins forgiven

 There are conditions before fasting becomes mandatory on a person  A Muslim  Maturity  If a child fasts, he is rewarded for the fast  What are the signs of maturity according to the Shariah?  Reason  a mentally ill person is not required to fast  Health  A person must be physically able to endure the fast  Terminal illness- pay fidyah  Temporary illness- make up when illness is gone  Resident  A traveller does not have to fast but has to make it up  Free from menstruation and post-natal bleeding

 Either seeing the crescent moon or being informed that it has been seen - The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم said صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ Fast according to the seeing of the hilaal and break your fast according to the hilaal, if it is hidden then complete the number - The second way the month of Ramadan starts is by completing the month of Sha’ban 30 days

 If it’s a mandatory fast then the person needs to keep the niyyah at night or at least before Fajr  If it’s a nafl fast a person can keep the intention in the day  Incident when the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم visited Ayesha رضي الله عنها  No verbalization of intention

 Breaking the fast as soon as the time happens  “Goodness will remain in my ummah as long as they hasten to break the fast.” Al-Bukhari and Muslim  Delaying the Suhoor  Benefits of Suhoor  “Have Suhoor for indeed in the sahoor is barakah” Al- Bukhari and Muslim  “Allah and His Angels send prayer on the people who do suhoor” Ibn Majah  “How great of a sahoor are dates” Abu Dawud  Eating a little or at least drinking a little water Ahmad

 Increasing in good deeds  Most generous in the month of Ramadan  If anyone curses you or argues with you say I am fasting  Making Dua when breaking the fast  ذهب الظَّمأ، وابتلتِ العرُوقُ، وثبَتَ الأجر إن شاء الله  ‘The thirst has gone and the veins are quenched, and reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills  Breaking the fast with wet dates, if not dry dates, if not with water Abu Dawud

 Eating or drinking intentionally  “Whoever forgets while he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, it was Allah who fed him and gave him to drink” Al-Bukhari  Having sexual relations  The man who came and told the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم I have been destroyed  Penalties related to this action:  1. Tawbah 2. Ruining that days fast 3. making up the lost day 4. Kaffarah in order (freeing a slave, fasting 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 poor people)  Masturbation  Menstrual bleeding or post-partum bleeding  Intentionally vomiting

 Why do some pray 8 and some pray 20?  The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم prayed 8  Umar رضي الله عنه gathered the people and appointed them to pray 20 according to the majority of scholars  The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said follow my sunnah and the sunnah of my rightly guided companions  From the previous hadeeth both of these actions fall under the category of Sunnah  A companion came and asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم How should I pray the night prayer and Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said pray two by two without putting any limit

 Can a person brush their teeth?  Strongest opinion is yes, but precaution should be taken to make sure that toothpaste is not swallowed  Can a person use an inhaler?  Yes because the air reaches the lungs and not the stomach. Even if minute amounts reaches the stomach it is not nourishment  Can a person take injections while fasting?  As long as the injections are not for nourishment the strongest opinion is yes  Can a person use eye drops?  Strongest opinion is yes