All the praises is for Allah the Lord of the Worlds and peace and blessings be upon His Chosen Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and his companions all of them.
To what follows, this is words of advice and reminders about Ramadan from our brother Student of knowledge , Shaykh Abdurrahman Murad.
The Entering of Ramadan:
We ask Allah to extend our lives so that we can witness the greatness of this blessed month…Ameen!
Brothers and sisters…I want to share a few guidelines that Sh. Walid bin Rashid as-Saeedan, may Allah preserve him, compiled…and I’m sure you will find them very practical:
First Rule: The beginning and ending of the month is to be determined by sighting the crescent.
Calculations are not a proper method to determine the beginning and ending of the month.
Now the issue of a local or a global sighting, is an issue of Khilaaf (variance among the scholars).
But…in my view, due to the fact that sighting the crescent is difficult in North America (for a number of reasons), and for the fact that we have advanced technology that links us with the rest of the globe, I’m in favor of global sightings. This in itself would demonstrate the strength of Muslims and their unity…and today, we are in a dire need to stand together as one Ummah.
We ask Allah to bless us all…Ameen!
Second Rule: Nullifiers of the fast are To-qe-fiyah (i.e. not subject to opinion).
Basically, this rule indicates that nothing can break the fast, save those things that are substantiated with clear-cut, authentic evidence from the Quran and Sunnah.
Upon scrutinizing the textual evidence…we find the following matters outlined as ‘nullifiers of the fast’:
a. Sexual intercourse with one’s wife during the day of Ramadhan.
b. Deliberately eating or drinking during the day of Ramadhan.
c. Deliberately vomiting during the day of Ramadhan.
d. Masturbation during the day of Ramadhan.
e. Menstrual or post-natal bleeding.
f. Apostasy.
In general, if someone claims that something breaks the fast, they must substantiate their claim with proof from the Quran and Sunnah…this is extremely important…I mean, I’ve heard on multiple occasions, where ‘false’ fatwa have been given…and have lead people to confusion.
Third Rule: The rule of ‘passageways’. The body has many passageways from the ‘outside’ to the ‘inside’. The eyes, ears, nose, mouth, anus and the skin itself (through a syringe or needle).
What breaks the fast and what doesn’t?
To clarify this rule…we will break it down into two segments:
a. What is deliberately introduced into the mouth and nose then swallowed/ingested would break the fast, in spite of its nutritional / nourishing content.
The Prophet, may Allah praise him, warned us: ‘Sniff water excessively (during wudhu) except if you are fasting.’ i.e. because the nose is linked with the mouth, and when one excessively sniffs water, it would enter one’s mouth and most likely swallowed!
b. What is deliberately introduced through other ‘passageways’ (eyes, ears, through the skin and anus).
With these, we look at the substance introduced…is it a source of nourishment? If it is, it would break the fast. So, eye drops, ear drops, anal suppositories…would not break the fast, as they do not take the place of food and drink. Insulin shots, administered through a needle, likewise would not break the fast, as it is not a source of nourishment.
But in relation to intravenous feeding, this would break the fast as it does take the place of food and drink…
This said, test yourself…with the following examples. If you have an answer write them in the comments section:
- Using toothpaste, and mouthwash during the day of Ramadhan.
- Use of an endoscope during the day of Ramadhan.
- Asthma puffer.
Fourth Rule: No nullifiers of fast would nullify one’s fast unless it is done while one is aware of what he is doing, has knowledge that the matter in question breaks the fast and is doing it of his own will and desire.
This is based upon evidence from the Quran and Sunnah…and it goes to show you how our Deen is a source of mercy and ease! Allah Akbar!
a. If a new Muslim is fasting, and doesn‘t realize that drinking water breaks the fast…the days he fasted prior to knowing this are accepted and he need NOT repeat them, as he genuinely did not know!
b. If someone eats or drinks forgetfully, his fast is not harmed by what he consumed…the Prophet, may Allah praise him, said: “Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully during Ramadhan, let him complete his fast, for indeed Allah has given him to eat and drink.”
c. If someone is forced to eat or drink…and they are held down and water is poured into their mouth (stretching this a bit to show you how the rule is used!) this person’s fast is still good…and he simply completes the day, and he need NOT repeat it.
This rule applies to ALL nullifiers of the fast!
Fifth Rule: By default, no KAFFARAH (atonement) is due upon you if you break the fast, and a proof must be provided when one indicates that KAFFARAH is due.
When looking in the Sunnah, we find:
a. KAFFARAH is due when a person deliberately approaches his wife during the day of Ramadhan for sexual intercourse, while he is aware of what he is doing. In this case, the following must be done:
1. Toba, sincere repentance to Allah for the sin.
2. The fasting for this day is broken.
3. He must remain fasting for the remainder of the day.
4. He must offer a Kaf’faarah (which today would be to fast two consecutive (lunar) months or if this is not doable [due to a valid/medical reason] then to feed 60 poor/needy).
5. He must fast a day in place of this day that he has broken in Ramadhan (this narration is in Abu Dawood – Authenticated by Imam al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him).
b. KAFFARAH is due when one has days remaining from a previous Ramadhan and has not made them up till the next Ramadhan comes in. In this case, when they do make them up afterwards, a KAFFARAH is to be offered with each missed day. This is the Fatwa of Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, and none of the Companions differed with them in relation to this. The KAFFARAH here is to feed a poor/needy for this day.
c. KAFFARAH is due when a pregnant woman or one who is breast feeding breaks the fast out of fear for the child. She must make up the day and offer a KAFFARAH (to feed a poor/needy for the day). This is the Fatwa of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and none of the Companions differed with him in relation to this.
Sixth Rule: Whoever breaks their fast without a valid reason during the day of Ramadhan, he must refrain from eating/drinking and all other things that render the fast null for the rest of that day.
This is a very basic, straightforward rule…if you have broken the fast with a VALID reason, then you are exempt from this.
- If a sister’s period stops during the day of Ramadhan, she can continue to eat and drink till the end of that day, and there is no sin on her part, as she broke the fast for a VALID reason.
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If a person who is traveling arrives in town, and there are 5 hours before fast-breaking, is he required to refrain from food and drink? The strongest view here is that he can continue to eat and drink as he broke the fast with a valid reason.
Seventh Rule: A traveler is allowed to do what is easiest for him…if he chooses to fast, he may do so and if he chooses to break it, he may do so.
With this in mind, he shouldn’t overburden himself, whereby he passes out or becomes ill…to them the Prophet, may Allah praise him, said: “It is not of piety for one to fast while traveling.”
Alhamdulilah…with this, we have completed the seven ‘golden’ rules to Ramadan
The most intelligent ‘inanimate’ object!
If one were asked what the most intelligent creature on earth is, the answer is quite easy…it will not require you to think twice! The difficult question would be which inanimate object is intelligent? Can we even describe inanimate objects as ‘intelligent’?
It seems inanimate objects can be described as intelligent. No proof demonstrates this more clearly than the moon and what it does before the month of Ramadhan by a few days…the moon ‘abides’ by the political makeup and divisions of individual countries. It views whether or not there has been a recent change in the political borders between countries so that it can abide by them.
In the past, when the Ummah was united, the moon was sighted in one area within the Greater Syria Area, and this sighting was sufficient for the entire region. After the agreement of Sykes-Picot, which divided the Muslim Ummah, the ‘intelligent’ moon took this into consideration and ‘decided’ it should be sighted in four different localities! Moon sighting in Syria is not sufficient for Lebanon. Moon sighting in Lebanon is not sufficient for Jordan, and moon sighting in Jordan is not sufficient for Palestine.
When Yemen was divided into two countries, the moon ‘realizing’ this fact, decided that it should be sighted at two different localities…one in each of the two countries…after the two parts of Yemen united and become one, the moon ‘realizing’ this political change, decided that one sighting was sufficient for the entire country!
Don’t you agree with me that the moon deserves to be dubbed as the most intelligent inanimate object? More amazing than this, or should we say ‘bewildering’ is when some of our brothers insist each ‘country’ should sight the moon itself! When they are asked to define what they mean by ‘country’ they give the definition given by the non-Muslims who divided Muslims lands. Sometimes a country is extremely vast and large, and at other times, it is a small insignificant dot…nonetheless, they state every ‘country’ should sight the moon itself!
The question is how is it the Muslims are united in terms of moon sighting during the month of Dhul-Hijjah, and have not been able to come to terms with the crescent during the month of Ramadan?
Isn’t it time that Muslims realize the difference between ‘political’ moon sightings and ‘Shari’ (legal) moon sightings?
Questions and Answers related to Ramadan and this post:
Q: Regarding the water in nose, if the water enters but we didnt intend that it enter, will the fast break? and what is the least amount of water needed to clean the nose that will suffice the wudhu?
A: You will find the answer to this in the fourth rule. If you didn’t do it deliberately, it would not harm the fast…but you should be careful of this…you still sniff water into the nose, but not so much that it enters the throat.
Q: What about oral medication, i.e heart circulation or cholesterol reducing or blood pressure? These won’t break that fast same as eye drops or insulin? Jazakallahu Khair.
A: Whatever is taken through the mouth, in spite of its nutritional content or nourishing nature, it will break the fast. So all oral medications break the fast.
Some said: Toothpaste, mouthwash and asthma puffer won’t break fast.
Reply: You’ve got to be a little bit more specific…when it comes to these issues, you may be right in general, but adding a few conditions is important to get the right answer.
Q: What about cupping ?
As-Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Baz rahimahullah was asked this question:
What is the Ruling of the usage of the needle [ shot] in the vein, and the needle [shot] in the muscle. And what is the difference between that for the one fasting?
Answer: the correct position is that those two examples do not brake the fast. Indeed that which brakes the fast is the shot that has nutrients specifically. Like this taking blood for testing it does not brake the fast. Because it is not like cupping. Regarding cupping it brakes the fasts of the one who is cupped and the one who cups, from the authentic statements of the Scholars regarding the saying of the Messenger of Allah sallahu wa alyhi wa salam: ” the one who cups and the one who is cupped have broken their fasts.”.
A: The issue of cupping is one of variance among the scholars…Sh. Walid, may Allah preserve him, views it to be a nullifier of the fast, as the Prophet, may Allah praise him, said: “أفطر الحاجم والمحجوم”, and this is the view of Imam Ahmed, may Allah have mercy on him. The hadeeth”احتجم وهو صائم” the Prophet, may Allah praise him, cupped while fasting…is stated to be weak by Imam Ahmed. The second opinion, which is the the view I take, is that it will not break the fast, and this is the view of the majority of scholars. They authenticate احتجم وهو صائم the Prophet, may Allah praise him, cupped while he was fasting. Imam al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, indicated that it was authentic…therefore, this text would abrogate the text أفطر الحاجم والمحجوم.
In relation to the reason why the one who ‘cups’ breaks his fast, it is due to the method that was used in the past…where no suction was available, instead, they relied upon an older method of creating a vacuum…the cupper would have to suck the air through a tube…and the blood would reach the cupper’s mouth, thus breaking his fast. This practice has been completely abandoned today. The one who cups is called الشارط, i.e. the one who slits the skin, and a suction cup that draws the air out through mechanical means is used…the fear of the blood reaching the mouth is non-existent in this scenario, and the person who does this would not break his fast.
Q: Shaykh bin Baz may Allah have mercy upon him said also, Bokoor brakes the fast and some ahul ilm in hadeeth also say the same thing. But I never seen the proofs. is this so ? Baraka Allahu feekum
A: In relation to the issue of Bukhoor, and add to this as well, smoking (first hand or second hand) both would definitely break the fast when ingested deliberately, as it has a جرم or a trace that can be felt, tasted in the throat…this trace is what makes you cough and choke. Whatever has a trace and then enters into the mouth or nose (solid, fluid or gas) and then felt in the throat would break the fast, irregardless of the notion of it being nourishing or not. This is the reason the scholars have indicated it to break the fast…looking at the Four Madth’hab, Abu Hanifah, Malik and Ahmed, may Allah have mercy on them all, indicated that Bukhoor would break the fast. They mentioned it was important for one to distinguish between smelling a rose, that has no trace in the throat and smoke that is ingested and has a trace. That said, I think it is important as well that one distinguish between the smoke itself and the smell that that smoke leaves after it dissipates. The smell that lingers will not break the fast…we are speaking about the smoke that you visibly see and inhale.
Q: What about the sisters who in Ramadan fast and they think their menses is coming, so they stop fasting but after a few days they realize it is istihaadah, do they make up those days they did not fast thinking it was hayid (menses)? Baraka Allahu feekum.
A: When it comes to a women who is menstruating, she doesn’t fast…as is mentioned in the Hadeeth…but she must make those days up afterwards. So since she has missed those days, she must make them up. Inshallah…we will discuss the issue of Kaf’faarah in the next rule of fasting. (Mention in the above section related to Kaffaarah).
Q: May Allah bestow upon you all type of good. Is humidifiers either blows out warm steam or cold steam does this break the fast? Baraka Allahu Feekum.
A: Inshallah this will not break the fast, as it is not in the meaning of food and drink. Even when breathed in, it doesn’t have the affect that food and drink would have on the body. It as well, cannot be equated with smoking or Bukhoor (incense) since both these two items have evident particles that can be tasted and smelt. Jazaak Allah Khairan
Works of Abul Baraa Muhamad Amreeki 
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