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The Family and Ramadan
Author : Dr. Ahmad Al-Harasees
Date Added : 26-04-2021

The Family and Ramadan

 

 

Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-" [Al-Baqara/183]. One of the greatest blessings that Allah bestows on a Muslim is the ability to reach Ramadan, endure fasting and perform Qiyyam (Taraweeh prayer). Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness and freeing from Fire. During this blessed month, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained to help the believers exert maximum effort in offering acts of obedience to Allah. Therefore, a Muslim should strive to make the most of this month and the goodness it brings.

Ramadan is the perfect time for the family to come together for Iftar and Suhur. It is like a training course that teaches a lot of positive morals and etiquettes.

Attaining Taqwa (Piety) is one of the major priorities in this month and it is reflected through celebrating the values of tolerance, mercy and kindness. We hope that this year we will be able to enhance these positive aspects and by doing so turn theory into practice.

A major point in this regard is setting up a schedule for our household members in terms of religious duties, such as dedicating a certain time for reciting Quran, reading a certain book about the righteous predecessors, remembering Allah or offering night prayers to enhance team work. 

A major societal issue during Ramadan is extravagance. It is true that a Muslim has the right to enjoy the blessings of Allah, but some make different types of foods most of which go to the garbage can. Thus, we should preserve the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us so that He the Almighty gives us more and more.

Moreover, it isn`t permissible to overburden the wife with preparing food and cleaning up since Ramadan is an opportunity for cooperation among family members following the example of the most honorable among all creation, Prophet Mohammad (Peace and blessings be upon him). Our beloved Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) used to keep himself busy helping members of his family, stitched his clothes and mended his sandals.

 

In addition, special care should be given to the children during this blessed month in terms of raising them up well, bringing them up properly and urging them to do all kinds of goodness and getting used to that. Our honored Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) taught that parents should train their children on performing acts of obedience, such as performing prayer, where he (PBUH) said: "Command your children to perform Salat (prayer) when they are seven years old." Moreover, it was reported that the wives of the companions used to teach their children to fast and spend time beneficially. This actually falls under educating them, however, it should be done gently because they aren`t of responsible age to perform religious duties in the first place.

 

Another milestone of this blessed month is to pray Qiyyam (Taraweeh prayer). The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Taraweeh) prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whosoever performs (optional Taraweeh) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah's reward, will have his past sins forgiven." [Agreed upon]. 

This is an opportunity to take one`s children to the mosque and to encourage them to perform this prayer and learn the etiquettes of the mosque.

In conclusion, Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to improve morality, come closer to Allah, enhance ties of kinship, enhance solidarity and mercy, and celebrate tolerance. 

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on one who sees moisture on his clothes and doubts whether it is semen or pre-seminal fluid (madhy)?

Whoever finds moisture upon waking from sleep and doubts whether it is semen or madhy, and cannot distinguish between them, he may choose between them and act according to his choice. If he wishes, he can consider it semen and perform the ritual bath, or consider it madhy, perform ablution, and wash what it has soiled. This is because if he fulfills the requirement of one of them, he is definitively free from it, and the default is his innocence from the other. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

How to perform the witr prayer in terms of connection (wasl) and separation (fasl)?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Witr prayer has several forms that vary in terms of virtue:
 
The First Form: Separating every two units (rak‘ah) with a Tashahhud and a Taslim (salutation). This is superior to connecting the units, even if it is only a single rak‘ah. This is based on the Hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven units between the end of the ‘Isha prayer and dawn, performing the Taslim after every two units and performing Witr with a single unit.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim).
 
The Second Form: Connecting the units with only one final Tashahhud at the very end.
 
The Third Form: Connecting with two Tashahhuds—meaning reciting the Tashahhud before the final unit without performing the Taslim, then standing to complete the final unit. This form is considered the lowest in rank so that the Witr prayer remains distinct from the obligatory Maghrib prayer, as stated in the Hadith: 'Do not make the Witr resemble the Maghrib prayer.' (Narrated by Al-Daraqutni, who stated its narrators are trustworthy).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah: 'It is permissible to connect [the Witr] with one Tashahhud in the final unit—which is better—or with two Tashahhuds in the last two units, as both methods are established in Sahih Muslim from the actions of the Prophet ﷺ. In the connected method, more than two Tashahhuds are prohibited. Furthermore, separating (al-Fasl) is better than connecting (al-Wasl) if the number of units is the same, because the Hadiths supporting it are more numerous and it involves more devotional actions.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."

What is the ruling on making up missed prayers during prohibited times?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to make up (qada’) missed prayers at any time, even during the periods when prayer is generally prohibited. The prayers that are forbidden and considered invalid during these times are 'absolute voluntary prayers' (nafl mutlaq)—which have no specific cause—and voluntary prayers whose cause follows the prayer itself, such as the Sunnah of entering Ihram or the Sunnah of the Istikharah prayer. Furthermore, no prayer is considered disliked (makruh) during these prohibited times when performed within the Meccan Sanctuary (Makkah al-Mukarramah).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim (Vol.1/P.181), one of the Shafi’i texts: 'It is not forbidden to perform prayers that have a cause that is not delayed (i.e., the cause is preceding), such as making up a missed prayer (fa’itah)—even if it was a voluntary one—and the funeral prayer (janazah); or a cause that is simultaneous, such as the prayer for rain (istisqa’) or the eclipse prayer (kusuf)... and the Sunnah of wudu, the greeting of the mosque (tahiyyat al-masjid), the Sunnah of circumambulation (tawaf), the Sunnah of arrival, and the prostrations of recitation (tilawah) or thankfulness (shukr). These mentioned prayers and their like are not forbidden provided that one does not specifically intend (ta'ammud) to perform them during the disliked time because it is a disliked time. If one does so intentionally, it becomes forbidden, even if it is a mandatory makeup prayer that is due immediately; because in that case, one is acting in defiance of the Sharia. This is in contrast to when one does not specifically seek out that time, even if the prayer happens to fall within it, or if one seeks it for another purpose—such as delaying a funeral prayer to that time so that a larger number of people may pray over the deceased; in such cases, it is permissible and valid... And it is forbidden to perform prayers with no cause at all, like absolute nafl, or those with a delayed cause, such as the Istikharah prayer, the prayer for Ihram, the prayer for a need (hajah), the prayer before leaving the house, or the prayer before execution; because their causes occur after the prayer itself.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."

How is night prayer offered?

Night prayer is offering voluntary prayer after Maghrib and before Fajr (Dawn). As for Tahajjud, it is offering voluntary prayer at night after waking up voluntarily, and for Allah`s sake as He Says (What means): "And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!" [Al-Isra`/79]. Offering Tahajjud is better than offering voluntary prayer before going to bed.

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