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

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

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

Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.

As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.

However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.

It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.

It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on congregational prayer performed outside the mosque, and is it a condition that it be performed in a mosque in order to attain the full reward?

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

It is not a condition for attaining the reward of congregational prayer that it be performed in a mosque; however, a Muslim should still be keen to perform his prayers in the mosque, so as not to miss out on immense reward. This is due to the virtue of the mosque and of spending time there (i‘tikāf), the typically larger number of worshippers present, and the additional reward gained through walking to and from the mosque. On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever purifies himself in his house, then walks to one of the houses of Allah to fulfill one of the obligations Allah has prescribed, one of his steps will erase a sin, and the other will raise him a degree [in status]." (Related by Muslim)

Whoever misses congregational prayer at the mosque should still strive to pray in congregation at his workplace, or together with the members of his household. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Are school exams a valid excuse for breaking the fast in Ramadan?

School and university exams are not considered a valid excuse for breaking the fast, as most students take their exams while fasting without experiencing extreme hardship. Fasting does not conflict with exam preparation, and a Muslim seeks strength in obedience to Allah for both worldly and spiritual matters.

What is the ruling on delaying Zakat al-Fitr until after Eid day?

It is forbidden to delay Zakat al-Fitr beyond the sunset of Eid day. If someone delays it past Eid day without a valid excuse, they have committed a sin and must immediately make up for it because their obligation remains unfulfilled, and they must clear their responsibility.

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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.

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it valid to share in the 'aqīqah by contributing a seventh share of a camel or cow?

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

Yes, it is permissible. If a group of people jointly share in the slaughter of a camel or a cow on behalf of seven individuals, this is valid — regardless of whether all of them intend the 'aqīqah, or some intend the 'aqīqah, others the uḍḥiyyah, and others simply the purchase of meat. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer for a traveler, and what are the conditions for it to be waived from him?

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

Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer is not obligatory upon a traveler, whether on a long or short journey, provided that — according to the Shāfi‘ī school — he departs from his place of residence before the time for Fajr prayer begins, and that he does not intend to stay in the place he travels to for four days or more, excluding the day of arrival and the day of departure. If he intends to stay longer than that, he may not make use of the travel concession simply by arriving in that town. If he begins his journey after the adhān for Fajr has already been called, then Jumu‘ah prayer remains obligatory upon him, whether in his own town or in any town where Jumu‘ah is being held.

It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm (Vol.1/p.383), from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "Jumu‘ah [prayer] is not obligatory upon a traveler on a permissible journey, whether long or short, if he departs from his place of residence before Fajr."

A "short journey" refers to travel covering a distance shorter than that of a long journey — that is, less than (81 km). The traveler begins to be entitled to travel concessions once he passes beyond the built-up limits of his town. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, with the intention of waking up shortly afterward?

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

It is permissible for a Muslim to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, intending to wake up and perform the prayer, by setting an alarm or asking someone to wake him. What is to be avoided is that a person sleeps while he predominantly assumes that he will not wake up for the prayer.

If he does not wake up until the time of the prayer has ended, he must make it up. It is recommended that he hasten to make it up as soon as he wakes, and likewise recommended that he make up its sunnah along with it.

It is stated in al-Majmūʿ by Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him): “Whoever was obliged to pray and did not pray until the time passed must make it up, because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.’ It is recommended that he make it up immediately, because of the ḥadīth we have mentioned. If he delays it, that is permissible, because it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) missed the Fajr prayer and did not pray it until he had left the valley. Had it been required immediately, he would not have delayed it. Abū Is-ḥāq said: If he left it without a valid Sharia excuse, he must make it up immediately, because he was negligent in delaying it.”

It is therefore the duty of every Muslim to keep the prayer in its proper time, seeking help from Allah the Exalted and striving against the self to do so. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on Friday Ghusl (ritual bath)?

Friday Ghusl is a confirmed Sunna (Prophetic tradition) even if a person wasn`t in a state of Janbah (ritual impurity), or physically unclean. However, one who doesn`t make Ghusl on Friday isn`t sinful for the Prophet (PBUH) said: "It is good for a Muslim to make ablution for Friday prayer, but it is better to make Ghusul. [At-Tirmithi & Abu Dawood].