Articles

From Etiquettes of Fasting
Author : Mufti Yusuf Abu Hussein
Date Added : 12-03-2024

From Etiquettes of Fasting

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Here comes the month of divine generosity and heavenly blessings, here comes the month of Ramadan, the month of goodness and benevolence. How beautiful is its appearance, and how magnificent is its arrival! In it, good deeds are multiplied, sins and mistakes are forgiven, and prayers are answered. It is a station for purifying souls from blameworthy traits and urging them towards obedience. Therefore, a wise and discerning person should not miss out on this month. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! Whoever lives to see Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven..." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad).

 

In this article, we will discuss some of the etiquettes a fasting person should adhere to:

 

1-Eagerness for Suhoor and Delaying it: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of having Suhoor (pre-dawn meal during Ramadan) and delaying it until shortly before Fajr. He said, "Partake in Suhoor, for indeed there is a blessing in it." [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim]. He also said, "The Suhoor meal is blessed, so do not neglect it even if one of you just takes a gulp of water. Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who have Suhoor." [Reported by Imam Ahmad].

 

2-Refraining from Forbidden Speech: During fasting, it's crucial to abstain from prohibited speech such as backbiting, gossip, and lying. Fasting is an act of worship ordained to purify the soul and habituate it to goodness. Ramadan serves as a school whose aim is to graduate the fasting person as righteous, which is the ultimate goal of fasting. Allah says in the Quran, "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). The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, " Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions and does not abandon foolishness, Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his FASTING)." (Related by al-Bukhari). He also said, "Fasting is a protection for you, so when you are fasting, do not behave obscenely or foolishly, and if any one argues with you or abuses you, say, 'I am fasting. I am fasting." (Related by al-Bukhari).

 

3-Showing kindness to fasting people and offering them Iftar: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, " Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person." (Related by al-Tirmidhi & Ahmad).

 

4-Increasing charity and generosity in the month of Ramadan: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and his generosity would peak during the month of Ramadan. Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind. [Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

5-Recitation of the Quran: Ramadan is the month of the Quran, during which it was revealed. Allah says in the Quran: " Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." (Al-Baqarah, 185). Therefore, Muslims should increase their recitation and reflection upon the verses of the Quran, especially during Ramadan.

 

6-Iʿtikaf and Qiyaam during Ramadan, including Taraweeh prayers: It was narrated that the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim]. Additionally, it was his practice during the last ten nights of Ramadan to exert himself in worship, awaken his family, and tighten his waist belt (i.e., devote himself to worship). [Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim].

 

7-Performing Umrah during Ramadan: It is highly recommended to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Umrah performed in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj." (Reported by al-Bukhari).

 

8-Hastening the Iftar: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."* *This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done. (Related by Bukhari & Muslim).

 

9-Avoiding ignorant and foolish behavior, and forgiving: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: " When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: 'I am observing fast." (Reported by al-Bukhari).

 

10-Reflecting on the blessing of fasting: It is important for the fasting person to recognize the blessing of Allah upon him by granting him the ability and ease to fast. Many people are deprived of fasting due to various reasons such as death before reaching the age of fasting, physical incapacity, or turning away from it (fasting) due to misguidance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I joined a savings club and was scheduled to receive the payout first. My friend asked to take my place in line, so I requested 50 dinars in exchange for letting her have my turn. What is the ruling on this?
 
 
 
 
 

هذا لا يجوز؛ لأنه أخذ مال بدون مقابلٍ له قيمة شرعاً. والله تعالى أعلم.

This is impermissible, as it involves taking money without providing something of value in return according to Islamic law. And Allah Almighty knows best.

 

 

 

 

 Is Hyena's Meat Permissible or Impermissible?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is disagreement amongst the jurists as regards the ruling on eating hyena`s meat. Shafi`i and Hanabli jurists are of the view that eating hyena`s meat is permissible. The proof is the Hadith related by Al-Baihaqhi on the authority of Ibn Abi Ammar who said: "I asked Jabir bin Abdulla about hyenas, and he told me to eat them. I said: "Is it not game? He said: 'Yes' I said: 'Did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Yes."  And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Are phone conversations between the two sexes permissible if for consultation, and within the limits of good manners?

Such act is impermissible since it renders hearts corrupt, and could lead to forbidden attachment. Allah, The Almighty, Says (What means): "and follow not the footsteps of the devil." [Al-Baqarah/68].

A man has married a second wife and deprived the first from provision and overnight stay. He spent most of his time and wealth on his second wife. After sometime, the latter got sick and was diagnosed with breast cancer, which made him forsake her in bed and return to his first wife. What is the position of Sharia on this?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
It is forbidden for a woman to forsake her husband in bed without a lawful excuse since this is one of the mutual rights of spouses. When the wife abstains from making love to her husband without a lawful excuse, she is considered sinful. This is because the Prophet (PBUH) said: "If a woman spends the night deserting her husband's bed (does not sleep with him), then the angels send their curses on her till she comes back (to her husband)." [Agreed upon]. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.