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.

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

In the Sharia-compliant viewing  at a prospective bride (*al-naẓrah al-sharʿiyyah*), is it permissible for the man to see the woman without a veil (*ḥijāb*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is sunnah for the suitor to see the woman he is seeking to marry within the limits the Sharīʿah permits, namely looking at the face and the hands (palms and backs), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Look at her, for it is more likely to bring about harmony between you.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
The suitor may also ask one of the women to look at the woman he is seeking to marry. In that case, she is permitted to see of her what she is normally permitted to see, which is not limited to the face and hands, and she then describes these matters to the suitor. It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Umm Sulaym to look at a girl, and said: “Smell her breath, and look at her heels.” Narrated by Aḥmad in his Musnad.
It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.7/p.192): “For one who cannot easily look, or does not wish to look himself, it is sunnah to send someone who is permitted to look at her, to observe her and describe her to him, even regarding what he himself is not permitted to look at. He thereby gains through the sending what he would not gain through looking. Because of the added need for this, it is excepted from the prohibition of a woman describing another woman to a man.”
The permissibility of looking is conditional upon his resolve to marry her once he is able to, his predominant assumption that his proposal will be accepted, and his assumption that the woman is free of marriage and of a waiting period (ʿiddah). Otherwise, looking is forbidden.
Accordingly, it is not permissible for the suitor to look at anything other than the face and hands. He may ask one of his maḥram women, such as his mother or sister, to see the woman unveiled, and the Sharia-compliant viewing (of a prospective bride) must take place in the presence of one of the woman’s maḥrams. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing the Witr prayer after the Adhan for Fajr prayer?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The time for Witr prayer begins after the ‘Ishā' prayer and ends with the rising of true dawn (al-fajr aṣ-ṣādiq). If a Muslim performs it at any point within this window, it counts as performed on time.
It is also recommended to make up a missed Witr prayer at any time — whether before or after performing the Fajr prayer, or at any other time of day. On the authority of Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever falls asleep and misses the Witr prayer, or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers, or when he wakes up." (Related by at-Tirmidhī)
Shaykh al-Islām, Imam Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī (raḥimahullāh), says: "The time for Witr prayer is between the ‘Ishā' prayer and the rising of dawn, based on the authentic ḥadīth to this effect. If this time has passed, it is permissible for him to make it up (qaḍā') afterward." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What are the Sharia consequences when the sacrificial time for the uḍḥiyyah comes to an end?

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the sun sets on the final day of Tashriq (the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah) and the Udhiyah (sacrificial animal) has not yet been slaughtered, its designated time has expired. Should a person slaughter it after this point, it will not be counted as an Udhiyah.
 
However, if the sacrifice was a vowed one (Mandhurah), they are strictly obligated to slaughter it as a makeup act (Qada’), and its meat must be distributed entirely according to the rules governing vowed sacrifices.
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim (p. 702): "If one slaughters after sunset on the final day [of Tashriq]... it does not count as an Udhiyah, unless it was a vowed sacrifice, in which case it is fulfilled as a makeup act (Qada’)." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on purchasing a home through conventional commercial banks for those living in the West?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The ruling of Islamic Law on purchasing a home through usurious/interest-bearing loans was previously detailed in Fatwa No. (760). Its summary affirms the prohibition of purchasing homes through interest-bearing loans, based on the general foundational principle of the strict prohibition of Riba (usury). This is the position we hold in devotion to Allah Almighty, and it is the religious edict we convey to the people.
 
As for considering the specific circumstances of a particular country or individual, the questioner must personally consult scholars whom they trust within their country of residence. And Allah Almighty knows best.