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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 recommended supplication (Du'a) upon breaking the fast, and is it recited before or after breaking it?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is recommended (Mustahabb) for a fasting person to recite upon breaking the fast—that is, immediately after eating or drinking—the supplication: "Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu" (O Allah, for You I have fasted, and with Your provision I have broken my fast).
 
This is because our master, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), used to say this. The narration was recorded by Abu Dawud with a good (Hasan) chain of transmission, albeit in a Mursal form (a narration where a Successor reports directly from the Prophet). Shaykh al-Islam Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated: "Its Mursal status is inconsequential, as it pertains to virtuous deeds (Fada'il); furthermore, it was connected (Mawsul) through another chain of transmission." [Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, Vol.3/P.425]
 
It is also recommended to recite: "Dhahaba al-dhama'u wa ibtallat al-'uruqu wa thabata al-ajru in sha' Allah" (The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills).
 
This was recorded by Abu Dawud with a good (Hasan) chain. Our leading jurists (Imams) have explicitly stated that it is recommended for the fasting person to combine both supplications.
 
Imam al-Bajuri (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated:
 
 
"And his saying following his breaking of the fast—that is, it is recommended to say: 'O Allah, for You I have fasted, upon Your provision I have broken my fast, in You I have believed, to You I have submitted, and upon You I have relied. The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills. O You of vast bounty, forgive me. Praise be to Allah Who aided me so that I fasted, and provided for me so that I broke my fast. O Allah, grant us success in fasting, enable us to stand in night prayer during it, and aid us in it while people sleep, and admit us to Paradise in peace.'" [Hashiyat al-Bajuri, Vol.1/P.562]
 
Furthermore, the fasting person may supplicate with whatever good he or she wishes, for the supplication of a fasting person is answered. Al-Bayhaqi recorded on the authority of Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Three supplications are not rejected: the supplication of a parent for his child, the supplication of a fasting person, and the supplication of a traveler." And Allah Almighty knows best.

If someone fasts on the White Days with the intention of making up for missed fasts (qada), will they receive the reward for both voluntary and obligatory fasting?

Making up missed obligatory fasts (qada) is mandatory, and the intention for qada must be specified.
If a person makes up their missed Ramadan fasts on the White Days, they must intend qada, but they may also intend to fast the White Days, and Allah willing, they will receive the reward for both.
This is similar to entering a mosque and praying an obligatory prayer, where the person also earns the reward of Tahiyyat al-Masjid (greeting the mosque) if they intend both.
● If the person missed their fasts due to a valid excuse, they may wait and fast on the White Days.
● However, if they missed the fasts without a valid excuse, they must make up the fasts immediately and should not delay them until the White Days.

What is the ruling on someone who dies while having missed fasts?

● If a person dies before having the opportunity to make up the missed fasts—such as someone whose excuse (e.g., illness) persisted until their death—then no makeup fast (qada), fidyah, or sin applies to them.
● However, if they had the ability to make up the fasts but did not do so before passing away, the missed fasts must be compensated by giving a mudd of food for each missed day from their estate.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever dies while having a month’s fast due, one needy person should be fed per day on their behalf." [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi]
Additionally, a guardian (wali) may fast on their behalf, as the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever dies while having missed fasts, their guardian should fast on their behalf." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration: "If they wish." This indicates that both feeding the needy and fasting on behalf of the deceased are permissible options.

Is an elderly or chronically ill person required to pay additional fidyah if they delay it beyond the first year?

An elderly person or someone permanently unable to fast must pay fidyah by feeding one needy person for each missed day.
However, if they delay paying fidyah beyond the first year, no additional fidyah is required.
This differs from someone who delays making up missed Ramadan fasts (qada) without a valid excuse until the next Ramadan begins—such a person is required to pay an additional fidyah for the delay.