In welcoming Ramadan

| | عربي

Home

Articles

Summarized Fatawaa

Is "Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm" a verse (āyah) of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The basmalah ("Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm") is, without question, a verse (āyah) of the Noble Qur'an, and according to the Shāfi‘ī school, it constitutes a verse of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah itself. Al-Fātiḥah is a pillar of the prayer, and it consists of seven verses, of which the basmalah is one. The prayer is not valid without reciting it, nor if any of the Fātiḥah's verses, letters, or shaddahs (consonant doublings) are omitted or altered.

It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm (Vol.1/p.202), from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "The basmalah is a complete verse of it [i.e., of al-Fātiḥah] in practice — and it suffices, for this to be established, that there be strong probability (ẓann), especially given that this has come very close to certainty (yaqīn), due to the consensus (ijmā‘) of the Companions on its inclusion in the muṣ-ḥaf [the written text of the Qur'an] in its script, despite their extreme diligence in excluding from it anything that did not genuinely belong to it — to the point that they even [carefully regulated] its diacritical dots and vowel markings." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on using snuff, inhaled vapor, or menthol rub (Vicks) during the day in Ramadan?

Using snuff, inhaled vapor, or menthol rub (Vicks) invalidates the fast because these substances enter the lungs through inhalation, and the lungs are considered part of the body cavity (jauf).

Whoever uses them must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day out of respect for the sacred month and make up for that day after Ramadan.

However, if it is merely a scent and none of its substance reaches the body cavity, it does not break the fast.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

There is no objection to participating in the prize draws (raffles) that commercial stores hold for their customers, provided that the buyer's intention in purchasing is not merely to enter the competition without any need for what is bought — rather, the purchase must be genuinely intended for the item itself, and one must not pay more than the item's fair market price. This is because paying an amount above the market price would effectively be paying a fee to enter the prize draw, which would render it a form of gambling (qimār).

These prizes are, in essence, gifts that businesses offer through a random drawing (qur'ah) to those who purchase from them, as a means of encouraging sales, without the customer bearing any additional monetary cost for participation. So long as the aforementioned conditions are met, there is no objection to benefiting from the prize offered by the store, as it is considered a lawful prize from the viewpoint of Islamic Law.

It is stated in the resolutions of the "Jordanian Iftaa' Board" (Resolution No. 47), in the context of outlining the conditions for permissible prizes: "The price of the ticket [or item purchased] for the sake of the prize must not exceed its original price, so that there is no payment of money in exchange for participation in the draw." And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on discharges two or three days before the expected period of menstruation and the light-colored blood accompanying it? Must the woman abstain from prayer during this period?

If the total duration of these blood-tinged discharges reaches a day and a night (24 hours) or more, it is considered menstruation. If their total does not exceed 24 hours, it is not considered menstruation but is irregular bleeding (dam al-fasad). Each woman has specific cases for which she should ask the scholars. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Send Your Question

Zakaat Account

Articles

In welcoming Ramadan

Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Date Added : 26-07-2023

In welcoming Ramadan

The month of Ramadan has returned, and the wheel of time has completed its usual cycle. The hearts of Muslims rejoiced at its return, illuminated by the lights of worship and obedience. They remembered the Prophet's joy in welcoming this noble guest, as he used to say: "O Allah, let this month come upon us with safety, faith, peace, and Islam. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah." [At-Tabarani].

Ramadan arrives as a noble guest, bringing with it its lights and blessings. It is incumbent upon Muslims to recognize its value and honor its arrival. Allah has designated a caller who announces at the beginning of its first night: "O seeker of goodness, come forward. O seeker of evil, retreat." Therefore, a pleasant encounter between the Muslim and Ramadan takes place, becoming an opportunity for repentance, returning to the straight path, resuming righteous deeds, and seeking forgiveness for past sins and the mischievous whispers of the devils. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than one of you who finds his lost camel in the desert." [Agreed upon].

Taking advantage of this blessed time and seizing the opportunity of this noble month, a person can rectify their situation, make up for losses, and rid themselves of past sins. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Indeed, Allah extends His Hand during the night so that the one who sinned during the day can repent, and extends His Hand during the day so that the one who sinned during the night can repent, until the sun rises from its place of setting." [Moslim]. The fasting person can elevate their status and attain emancipation from their sins, becoming one of the successful ones.

Ramadan is a rare opportunity bestowed upon humanity by Allah, offering a chance for a fresh start in their faith, a new way of life. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The Gates of Paradise are opened, the Gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained." During this month, there is the Night of Decree, better than a thousand months, in which angels descend to the Earth by the permission of their Lord...

The joy of fasting lies in meeting one's Lord, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "There are two joys for the fasting person: one joy when they break their fast, and another joy when they meet their Lord due to their fasting." [Agreed upon].

Therefore, whoever misses goodness during this month has indeed missed a great benefit and abundant blessings. The Prophet (PBUH) said: Gabriel (PBUH) told me: "Woe to the one who witnessed Ramadan and was not forgiven. Say, 'Amen." [At-Tirmithi].

Hence, one should seize this opportunity, filling their heart with love, mercy, faith, and seeking proximity to Allah through repentance, forgiveness, and acts of kindness. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of God! they are manifestly wandering (in error)!" [Az-Zumar/22].

Praise be to Allah, the good in our society is great. Many people resume their virtuous lives during Ramadan, renew their repentance to Almighty Allah, abandon sins and resolve not to return to them. They train themselves in this blessed month to do-good deeds and practice acts of obedience. It gives them an opportunity for correction, self-evaluation, and hope to attain the greatest reward, which is Paradise. Allah, The Exalted, Says (What means): "That is the great attainment." [At-Tawbah/72]. It is the ultimate victory, as it leads to eternal happiness in the Hereafter. Allah, The Exalted, also Says (What means): "Its mixture is of musk. And for this, let the competitors compete." [Al-Mutaffifin/26].

Al-Tabari said: "Al-Tanafus (competition) is derived from something precious that people eagerly desire, seek, and their souls long for. The meaning is: Let them hasten in seeking this bliss, and let their souls be eager for it.

Undoubtedly, whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, and uses this month to practice acts of obedience and offer assistance, while reading the Quran and controlling their tongue, is capable of being productive and restraining their desires and pleasures. The fasting person sets forth towards goodness and virtue. This challenge faces the Islamic nation in every time and place. Allah, The Most Exalted Says (What means): "By the soul and He who proportioned it, and inspired it with discernment of its wickedness and its righteousness." [Ash-Shams/7-8], meaning, purifying the soul through obedience to Allah. That is why Allah, the Exalted, has designated great rewards for sincere fasting. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, all his past sins will be forgiven." [Al-Bukhari].

The obedient person fasting for the sake of Allah the Almighty senses the constant surveillance of Allah in all aspects of their life and holds themselves accountable for their actions. By doing so, they have embarked on the initial stages of self-reformation and the treatment of their soul and desires.

Fasting has an important ethical and educational role in changing a person's behavior, leading to a true and genuine transformation. The physical changes associated with meal and drink timings require us to reflect on their implications and understand the purpose and objectives behind them. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari].

Just as the fasting person should feel and embody this positive change, they should also make others aware of it. He (PBUH) said: "If one of you is fasting, let him neither indulge in obscene language nor raise his voice in anger. If someone curses him or fights with him, he should respond by saying: 'I am fasting, I am fasting." [An-Nasa'i].

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author

• Why do we Celebrate Prophet Mohammad`s Birthday?

• The Importance of Intellectual Security and its Role in Preserving Society

• "And Become as Fellow Brothers and Slaves of Allah"

• Prophet Mohammad`s Birth Anniversary: "A Light that Shone in the Hearts of the Believers"

• Hardships Forge Nations

• Hajj-Mabrur: "Its Meaning and Virtues"

• Extremism

• The Virtue of Reconciling People

• Peace and Security during Hajj

• The Grand Mufti Commends the King`s Speech

>>> 1 2 3 <<<

Comments

Name

E. mail Address

Country

Comment Title

Comment

Enter the number shown on the image

Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.

Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on performing istinja' with perfumed tissues or a tissue moistened with water?

Performing istinja' with perfumed or moistened tissues is not sufficient if they are not dry, due to the moisture on them reaching the impurity, which increases its spread rather than reducing it. Then, to remove the impurity, one must use pure water. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

There are olive trees within the precincts of the mosque, and my father covers the costs of electricity, water, and other needs of the mosque. Is it permissible for him to take the olive harvest?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

If trees and fruit-bearing crops are planted in a mosque for the mosque itself, they may only be spent on the mosque’s interests. If they were planted for the public way (musabbalah), that is, for the general public, then any Muslim who enters the mosque may eat from them. If the planter’s intention is unknown, they are treated like those dedicated for public use, wherever custom has so run.

It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.6/p.295): “The fruit of a tree planted for the mosque within it is not freely permitted without compensation. Rather, the imam spends its equivalent value on the mosque’s interests. The tree left its planter’s ownership here without any verbal declaration because of the evident indication. The case of planting it for the mosque excludes planting it as musabbalah, in which case eating from it without compensation is permissible, and likewise if his intention is unknown, where custom has so run. The tree may be uprooted from the mosque if the imam sees fit. Indeed, if he makes the plot a mosque while a tree stands in it, the imam may uproot it, even if the endower included it within the endowment (waqf).”

The father is a donor (mutabarriʿ), so he is not entitled to take anything in return for his donation to the mosque.

The Ministry of Awqāf is the body that supervises the affairs of endowments, so it must be consulted and the Sharīʿah and administrative instructions regulating such matters must be considered. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is the multiplication of reward for prayer in the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madīnah limited to the obligatory prayer, or does it include the voluntary prayer as well?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

There is no difference between the obligatory (farḍ) and the voluntary (nafl) prayer in the ḥadīth on the multiplication of reward in the two Sanctuaries (al-Ḥaramayn), because the authentic ḥadīths are unrestricted and general in wording. It is therefore not permissible to restrict or specify them without evidence. Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Our school holds that the superiority of prayer in the two mosques of Makkah and Madīnah is not limited to the obligatory prayer, but includes both the obligatory and the voluntary.” [al-Majmūʿ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, Vol.8/p.476]

The multiplication of reward applies to whoever prays in al-Masjid al-Ḥarām or anywhere within the sanctuary (ḥaram). Al-Shirwānī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The more correct view according to al-Nawawī is that the multiplication of the prayer’s reward covers the whole sanctuary, and is not limited to the mosque, nor to Makkah itself.” [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj with the glosses of al-Shirwānī and al-ʿAbbādī, Vol.10/p.95]. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the semi-circular structure attached to the Holy Kabah?

The semi-circular structure attached to the Holy Kabah is Hijr Al-Kabah (is a low wall originally part of the Kabah) and passing behind it is an obligation while making Tawaf because it is a part of the Holy Kabah. And Allah Knows Best.