1. Al-Fiqh Al-Muyassar Fasting Ramadhan

2. 01-Ramadhan Meaning of Fasting Saum: Desisting from eat, drink and other things which break fast from the true appearance of dawn until sunset. Pillars of fasting – Abstaining { أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ فَالْآَنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ...} البقرة 188

3. 02-Ramadhan Abstaining (Relations with your spouse has been made lawful for you in the nights of fasting. They are clothing for you and you for them. Allah knows that you had been betraying yourselves and He has forgiven you so now go to them and seek whatever Allah has decreed for you and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn is distinct from the black thread and then complete the fast until the night.) 188

4. 03-Ramadhan Niya (Intention) – Entire day for fardh fast – At least last part of day for voluntary fast Ramadhan – fasting this month is a fardh and one of the five pillars of Islam. – Hadith Ibn Umar: Islam is built on five pillars… – Hadith of the beduoin who asked about duties – Ijmaa’ (unanimity) of the Muslim Ummah

5. 04-Ramadhan Obligatory Pillar شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآَنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ... (185) {The month of Ramadhan in which the Qur’an was sent down, a guidance for the people and clear explanations of guidance and the Criterion. So whoever witnesses (is present) for the month, let him fast it and for the one who is ill or travelling an equal number of other days.}

6. 05-Ramadhan Types of Fasting Fasting which is wajib (obligatory) – Days of Ramadhan – Fast of expiation – Fast because of an oath Fasting which is tatawwu’ (voluntary) Greatness of fasting Ramadhan – Forgiveness and expiation

7. 06-Ramadhan High Status of Fasting Ramadhan ( من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ومن صام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ) البخاري Whoever stood in prayer on the Night of Decree out of faith and self-accounting will have his preceding sins forgiven and whoever fasted Ramadhan out of faith and self-accounting will have his preceding sins forgiven.

8. 07-Ramadhan Expiation « الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ » مسلم The five prayers, Jumu’a to Jumu’a and Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiations for what is between them as long as major sins are avoided. Wisdoms in its ordination – Cleansing the heart of bad characters and habits – Shifting focus from this world to bigger matters – Instilling sympathy in the well-off for the less fortunate.

9. 08-Ramadhan Shuroot (Conditions) of Obligation Fasting of Ramadhan is obligatory on anyone meeting the following requirements: – Islam (Hadith: “The pen has been lifted…”) – Puberty (valid from the age of tamyeez) – Sanity (same hadith as above) – Health (days are paid after sickness goes) – Residency – Absence of menses or post-partum ” كَانَ يُصِيبُنَا ذَلِكَ فَنُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّوْمِ وَلاَ نُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّلاَةِ “ مسلم “We used to encounter that and we were ordered to pay back fasting but were not ordered to pay back prayers.”

10. 09-Ramadhan What Determines Beginning/End of Ramadhan? Determining the beginning and end of Ramadhan is by the visual sighting of the moon by one or more just witnesses. « الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَهُ ثَلاَثِينَ » ابو داود The month is 29 days so do not fast until you see it and do not break fast until you see it and if you are clouded over, complete it as 30 days.

11. 10-Ramadhan Starting/Ending on Other Basis is Haraam It is not lawful to begin or end the month without either a) visual sighting of the crescent or b) completing the prior month 30 days: ( لا تصوموا حتى تروا الهلال ولا تفطروا حتى تروه فإن غم عليكم فاقدروا له ) البخاري “Do not fast until you see the crescent and do not break fast until you see it. If you are clouded over, complete the month.”

12. 11-Ramadhan Failure to Follow Sighting of Just Witness Haraam It is not lawful to refrain from fasting or from breaking fast if a just witness has seen the crescent (some require 2 witnesses for ending). « إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلاَلَ فَصُومُوا وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَصُومُوا ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْمًا » مسلم “When you see the crescent begin fasting and when you [again] see it end your fast and if you are clouded over, fast for 30 days.” Muslim

13. 12-Ramadhan Intention Time of required intention: Obligatory fasting (all three categories) – From the night (before fajr) ” مَنْ لَمْ يُبَيِّتْ الصِّيَامَ قَبْلَ الْفَجْرِ فَلَا صِيَامَ لَهُ “ ترمذي صحيح Voluntary fast – It is allowed to make intention partway through the day if one has not eaten, etc. to that point. A single intention at the beginning or Ramadhan is sufficient for the entire month.

14. 13-Ramadhan What makes breaking the fast allowed? Illness or old age – One who recovers repays the days missed – One who doesn’t have hope of recovery (e.g., elderly) doesn’t pay the days but pays fidya instead. – Ibn Abbas: “The elderly man or woman who are unable to fast, let them feed in place of each day one needy person.” (Narrated in Al-Bukhari)

15. 14-Ramadhan What makes breaking the fast allowed? Travelling (a lawful trip, over 48 miles or “out of town” – and there are other opinions) « إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِرْ » مسلم و التخاري “If you wish, fast and if you wish, break your fast.” (When he (sas) was asked about fasting while travelling.

16. 15-Ramadhan What makes breaking the fast allowed? Menses and post-partum (previous hadith of Aisha Haraam to fast in these conditions and would not be valid if done. Days are to be repaid.

17. 16-Ramadhan What makes breaking the fast allowed? Pregnancy and nursing. If she fears for herself, she is allowed to break fast and only repay the days. ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَضَعَ عَنْ الْمُسَافِرِ شَطْرَ الصَّلَاةِ وَالصِّيَامَ وَعَنْ الْحَامِلِ وَالْمُرْضِعِ “ ( حديث حسن ) “Allah has lifted from the traveler half the prayer and fasting from the pregnant and the nursing.”

18. 17-Ramadhan What makes breaking the fast allowed? If a pregnant or nursing mother fears for her child or fetus, she is allowed to break her fast and must repay the day and feed one needy person for each day missed. ”... وَالْحُبْلَى وَالْمُرْضِعُ إِذَا خَافَتَا - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ يَعْنِى عَلَى أَوْلاَدِهِمَا - أَفْطَرَتَا وَأَطْعَمَتَا “ ( صحيح الى ابن عباس ) “... And the pregnant or nursing if they fear (Abu Daud said, meaning for their children) they may break their fast and feed.” (meaning one needy person in place of each day).

19. 18-Ramadhan عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ( وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ) قَالَ كَانَتْ رُخْصَةً لِلشَّيْخِ الْكَبِيرِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ وَهُمَا يُطِيقَانِ الصِّيَامَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَا وَيُطْعِمَا مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِسْكِينًا وَالْحُبْلَى وَالْمُرْضِعُ إِذَا خَافَتَا - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ يَعْنِى عَلَى أَوْلاَدِهِمَا - أَفْطَرَتَا وَأَطْعَمَتَا Ibn Abbas (ra), the foremost interpreter of Allah’s Book said this verse was abrogated for those able to fast and remained for the elderly, terminally ill or the nursing or pregnant who feared for their child.