Articles

Negative Aspects Emanating from some Fasting Individuals during the Holy Month of Ramadan
Author : Dr. Mahmoud Muhaidat
Date Added : 22-08-2023

Negative Aspects Emanating from some Fasting Individuals during the Holy Month of Ramadan

 

 

Many negative aspects emanate from some of the fasting individuals during the holy month of Ramadan. These can prevent them from achieving the ultimate goal for which fasting was prescribed in the first place: piety. 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-Baqarah, 183}. Therefore, it is essential to avoid these negative aspects so as not to miss out on attaining piety. Here, dear fasting brothers, are some of these aspects:

 

Firstly, neglecting the mosques in the Maghrib prayer:

 

Many of our mosques lament the fact that their attendees abandon them during the Maghrib prayer, using the excuse of breaking their fast with their families, impatience of the young ones, the presence of guests, and other justifications that do not render the congregational prayer invalid. This leads them to neglect the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

 

Secondly, being oblivious to following the Mu'adhin during the Maghrib adhan and becoming preoccupied with Iftar:

 

The fasting person deprives himself or herself of this great virtue. Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "When you hear the call to prayer, repeat what the Mu'adhin says." {Transmitted by Bukhari}. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "When you hear the call to prayer, say, 'O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, grant Mohammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the honored station You have promised him. It will be a means of mediation for him on the Day of Resurrection." {Transmitted by Bukhari}.

 

Thirdly, delaying the breaking of the fast until the Adhan is finished:

 

This practice stems from excessive caution to ensure the sunset and it falls under the category of religious extremism. Abdullah bin Mas'ud reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Those who are extreme have perished." He repeated it three times. {Transmitted by Muslim}.

 

Fourthly, a decrease in enthusiasm after a few days of Ramadan:

 

Some worshippers exert very little effort. You might find them attending Taraweeh prayers for a day or two, or perhaps a single week at the beginning of Ramadan. However, their zeal dwindles, their determination wanes, and they stop praying Taraweeh for the remainder of the month. Had they focused on performing Taraweeh prayers more towards the end of the month than at the beginning, it would have been closer to the Sunnah, and they might have caught the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). Allah, the Exalted, says {What means}: "The Night of Power is better than a thousand months." {Al-Qadr, 3). The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Search for the Night of Decree in the last ten nights of Ramadan." {Transmitted by Bukhari & Muslim}.

 

Narrated by Aisha, the Mother of the Believers: "The Messenger of Allah used to strive [in worship] during Ramadan more than he strove [in worship] at any other time, and he would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."{Transmitted by Muslim}.

 

Fifthly, breaking the fast while engaging in sin:

 

One of the trials we face during Ramadan is the spread of forbidden programs in the media, such as prohibited quizzes and degrading TV series. Adding to this are the mixed-gender Ramadan tents. Many fasting individuals break their fast either while watching these forbidden programs or in these mixed tents; fasting from what Allah has permitted and breaking their fast with what Allah has forbidden.

Moreover, many people mistakenly think that Ramadan is only during the daytime. They somewhat adhere to the ethics of fasting by lowering their gaze, refraining from backbiting and gossip, and increasing their worship during the day by reading the Quran and reciting supplications. However, once the Maghrib call to prayer is heard, they revert to their earlier habits of watching movies, TV series, and inappropriate programs, even the religious channels don't interest them except during the day. They believe that Ramadan is only during the daytime, as if there is no Ramadan at night.

 

This misconception needs to be corrected. Ramadan is a complete month, day and night. It is not restricted to the daytime alone; rather, Ramadan encompasses both day and night. It is essential for a Muslim to engage in obedience and avoid sin during Ramadan and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


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 giving Zakah (obligatory charity) to one`s relatives?

It is impermissible to pay Zakah to one`s origins (parents and grandparents) because providing for them is an obligation on their branches (sons and daughters) if they were poor, but it is permissible to give some of the Zakah money to relatives whose provision isn`t due on the giver of the Zakah.

What is the ruling on Zakat al-Fitr?

Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim for themselves and for those they are financially responsible for, provided they possess wealth that is surplus to their and their family's needs on the night and day of Eid.
Ibn Umar reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory—one sa‘ (measure) of dates or one sa‘ of barley—upon every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, young or old." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Its estimated amount is approximately 2,500 grams of wheat or rice, and the General Iftaa` Department issues an annual ruling specifying its monetary value.

What is the ruling on using the *subḥah* (prayer beads) to count during *tasbīḥ* and *dhikr*?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is recommended to use the ordinary or electronic subḥah (prayer beads or counter) to count tasbīḥ, dhikr, and istighfār, because it helps one to remember Allah. Many reports have been transmitted from the Companions and the Followers (tābiʿūn) showing that they continued to use strings of date pits as an aid to dhikr and tasbīḥ.
It is one of the lawful means of worship. Indeed, what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), namely that he counted tasbīḥ on his right hand, shows that it is permissible to count tasbīḥ with whatever helps a Muslim keep track of the number. There is therefore no basis for calling it an innovation (bidʿah), and we know of no jurist who said so.
Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Suyūṭī (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote a dedicated treatise on the subject titled al-Minḥah fī al-Subḥah, printed within al-Ḥāwī li’l-Fatāwī (vol. 4–6).
Shaykh al-Islām Imam Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Does the subḥah have a basis in the Sunnah? He replied: “Yes, and al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Suyūṭī wrote on this. Among the evidence is what is authentically reported from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both): ‘I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) counting tasbīḥ on his hand.’ Ibn Abī Shaybah, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Tirmidhī also narrated: ‘Hold fast to tasbīḥ, tahlīl, and taqdīs, and do not be heedless, lest you forget the affirmation of Allah’s oneness (tawḥīd). Count them on the fingertips, for they will be questioned and made to speak.’ Counting tasbīḥ with pebbles, date pits, and a knotted string has also been reported from a group of the Companions and those after them. Some scholars held that counting on the fingertips is better than the subḥah, based on the ḥadīth of Ibn ʿUmar. Others distinguished, saying: if the one reciting is safe from miscounting, counting on the fingertips is better; otherwise the subḥah is better.” [al-Fatāwā al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubrā, Vol.1/p.152]. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it incumbent on the fiancée to obey her fiancé?

When the woman settles in her husband`s house, it is incumbent on him to provide for her and it is incumbent on her to obey him. Before that, and if the marriage contract had been concluded, then she is lawfully his wife and thus she should abide by custom in treating him, but if the marriage contract hadn`t been concluded, then she should treat him as a non-Mahram (Marriageable).