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If a Man Fights or Abuses him, he should Say: "I`m Fasting. I`m Fasting"
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 02-11-2022

If a Man Fights or Abuses him, he should Say: "I`m Fasting. I`m Fasting"

 

The advancement of nations lies in their good morals. One poet once said:

Nations live as long as morals do. When their virtues die nations do.

Morals are one pillar of magnanimity. Al-Shafie (May Allah have mercy on him) said: Magnanimity has four pillars: good manners, humility, generosity and asceticism.

Allah The Almighty Has Combined all virtues and perfections in our role model, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) where He Said (What means): "And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character." [Al-Kalam/4].

 

One of the best examples in this regard is the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet and said to him: "O Muhammad, give me some of Allah's wealth that you have with you. It doesn`t belong to your father nor mother." The Prophet turned to him and said: "Indeed. The wealth is Allah`s, the earth is Allah`s, and the people are the servants of Allah." Obviously, the Prophet`s response indicates patience and forbearance. However, after the Prophet ordered some food for that Bedouin, he politely held him accountable for his harsh language. Then the Bedouin said: "How could you reprimand me for offending you while Allah Said about You (What means): "And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character." In fact, people vary as far as good morals are concerned. Not harming others and treating neighbors with kindness indicate beautiful morals. 

 

Even more beautiful than this is exercising patience and forbearance when harmed by others. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." [Al-Bukhari]. 

 

The one who stands on an exalted standard of character is patient, forbearing, and controls himself in a fit of rage. In addition to this, he is forgiving and turns away from the ignorant. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The strong man is not one who is good at wrestling, but the strong man is one who controls himself in a fit of rage." [Al-Bukhari].

 

Allah the Almighty has clarified that the person of great moral character is the one who can-with his ability and kindness-repel rage with patience, ignorance with forbearance, and abuse with forgiveness. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become, as it were thy friend and intimate! And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, - none but persons of the greatest good fortune." [Fussilat/34-35].

Definitely, goodness and evil can`t be equal. Rather, there is a huge difference between them in the reward (Repel (Evil) with what is better). A divine guidance to repel evil with what is better. Ibn Abbas (May Allah be leased with them) said: "Repel ignorance with patience. Repel (Evil) with what is better refers to maintaining the relation with him who severed the relation with you, showing kindness to him who abused you, and being patient with the ignorant. If you do all of these things, then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!. This elevated rank is only bestowed upon the most blessed."

 

In addition, once Al-Ahnaf was walking to his village, a vulgar man followed him and kept shouting insults against him. The Ahnaf kept silent and never looked at that man until he became close to the village. Then he said to him to take out whatever insults are left against him because that if a member of Al-Ahnaf`s hears him then he will be in big trouble. The man stopped for a moment, grew a conscience, started sweating and felt greatly ashamed, rushed towards Al-Ahnaf kissing his hands, crying, saying that he was sorry, and asking to be forgiven and pledged before Allah not to insult anyone again.

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on the follower`s prayer if the Imam stands for a fifth rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the Imam stands up for an extra unit (rak‘ah) of prayer out of forgetfulness, he must return to the sitting position as soon as he remembers, and he should perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw). It is the duty of the congregants (Ma’mumin) behind him to remind him. However, if the Imam is in a state of doubt regarding the extra unit (and not certainty), it is not permissible for him to return.
 
As for the congregants: anyone who is certain that the Imam has stood for an extra unit is forbidden from following him. In this case, the follower has two choices: either intend to separate from the Imam (Mufaraqah) and finish the prayer alone, or wait for the Imam in the sitting position and perform the final salams with him—the latter being the preferred option. If a follower knowingly follows the Imam into an extra unit, their prayer becomes invalid. However, if a follower is in doubt and not certain of the mistake, they must continue following the Imam, as the Imam was appointed to be followed.
 
It is stated in Al-Majmu’ (Vol.4/P.145): 'If [the Imam] stands for a fifth rak‘ah, the follower should not follow him, even if it is assumed that the Imam might have omitted a pillar from a previous unit; because if the reality is known, following him is impermissible since the follower has certainly completed their own prayer. Even if the follower had missed a previous unit (Masbuq) or was in doubt about performing a pillar like the Fatihah, and the Imam stood for the fifth, it is not permissible for the latecomer to follow him in it. This is because we know that this unit is not counted for the Imam and that he is mistaken in performing it.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who insults or deceives others while fasting?

Insulting or deceiving others is forbidden (haram) and diminishes the reward of fasting.
The Prophet ﷺ warned against deception, saying: "Whoever deceives is not one of us." [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi]
However, their fast remains valid despite the sin.

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) on behalf of a deceased person is permissible. This is the official position of the Hanbali school (as stated in Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti,Vol.6/P.428) and was also upheld by the prominent Shafi'i scholar Al-’Abbadi (mentioned in Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah,Vol. 4/P.358). It has likewise been narrated as a valid view among some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
In fact, Imam Abu Dawud dedicated an entire chapter in his Sunan collection entitled, "Chapter on Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased." In it, he recorded a narration from Hanash, who said: "I saw 'Ali sacrificing two rams, so I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer a sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Imam Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You, for You, and on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah (community). In the Name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," and he then slaughtered the animal.
 
The textual evidence here lies in the fact that our Master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), offered a sacrifice on behalf of his entire community—and it is well-established that his community includes those who have already passed away.
 
Furthermore, there is an abundance of sacred texts demonstrating that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. For instance, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person who passed away with missed obligatory fasts, and it is equally permissible to perform Hajj on their behalf, both of which are firmly established in authentic Hadiths. Therefore, if the reward of fasting (which is a purely physical act of worship) and Hajj (which is a joint physical and financial act of worship) can reach the deceased, then the reward of an Udhiyah reaches them with greater reason (by way of A Fortiori argument). This is because it is a purely financial act of worship, falling under the general category of charity (Sadaqah).
 
Additionally, scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charity reach the deceased, and since the Udhiyah is inherently an act of charity, it falls under the same ruling. Consequently, based on all the aforementioned evidence, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is entirely permissible. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on sacrificing a castrated animal or one with a missing tail?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to sacrifice a castrated sheep; as it has been established that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sacrificed:
 
"...two large, fat, horned, white-and-black, castrated rams (Mawju'ayn—meaning having crushed testicles)." [Narrated by Ibn Majah in his Sunan].
 
It is not permissible to sacrifice an animal that is missing its tail, or udder due to being cut off. This is in contrast to an animal that was naturally born without a tail, or udder; such an animal is valid for sacrifice. And Allah the Almighty knows best.