English Fasting Booklet
In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy DEFINITION OF FASTING (SIYAAM) Linguistic definition: To abstain from something. Islamic definition: Worshipping Allaah by abstaining from food, drink and other actions which invalidate a person’s fast, from true dawn to sunset. THE PILLARS OF FASTING A sincere intention (Niyyah). Abstaining from anything that invalidates the fast. TYPES OF FASTS AND THEIR NIYYAH (INTENTION) Obligatory fast: This includes the month of Ramadhan,...
English Fasting Booklet
In the name of Allaah,
the Most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy
DEFINITION OF FASTING (SIYAAM) Linguistic definition: To abstain from something.
Islamic definition: Worshipping Allaah by abstaining from food, drink and other actions which invalidate a person’s fast, from true dawn to sunset.
THE PILLARS OF FASTING
- A sincere intention (Niyyah).
- Abstaining from anything that invalidates the fast.
TYPES OF FASTS AND THEIR NIYYAH (INTENTION)
- Obligatory fast: This includes the month of Ramadhan, expiations and vows. A person must make an intention the night before he fasts i.e. before the Fajr prayer. It is sufficient for a person to make a single intention for the whole month at the beginning of Ramadhan. The intention is in the heart, and pronouncing it verbally is a Bid’ah (innovation).
- Voluntary fast: The intention is made at any time of the day, as long as a person has not eaten or done something which would invalidate the fast. The reward for a voluntary fast is according to how early a person intends and begins his fast.
CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF A FAST
- Islaam: Fasting is only accepted from Muslims.
- Intellect: A person who is mentally disabled does not fast.
- Puberty: After the age of puberty, fasting is an obligation. However when a young child reaches the age of distinction (Tamyeez) then he is encouraged and trained to fast by the guardian.
- Residence: Fasting is not obligated upon a traveling person, although it is better to fast as long as there is no difficulty upon him. Why?
- The Prophet often fasted whilst on a journey.
- The fast need not be made up at a later date.
- It is easier to fast during Ramadhan.
- A person gains the virtue of the month of Ramadhan.
- Health: An ill or weak person does not need to fast.
- Purity: From menstruation and post-natal bleeding. Wudhu is not a condition for Fasting.
FASTING FOR THE ILL
- Chronic illness: A weak or old person also falls under this category. There is no obligation to fast in this state. However, a poor person must be fed for each day missed. Each poor person must be given staple food of the locality such as wheat or rice to the measure a half a Saa’ (approx. 1.5kg). It is also encouraged to give a condiment of meat and sauce. If this cannot be afforded, nothing is obligated.
- Temporary illness: A menstruating woman, a woman suffering from post-natal bleeding, a breastfeeding woman all fall under this category. They must make up the missed fasts at a later date according to the number of days missed.
THE BEGINNING OF RAMADHAN
It can be known by one of two ways:
- Sighting the new moon.
- Completion of thirty days of the month of Sha’baan.
RECOMMENDED ACTS DURING THE FAST
- Delaying the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) until its latest time.
- Iftaar (breaking the fast) at the earliest time.
- Breaking the fast with fresh dates and water; if they are not found, then dry dates. If there is no food or drink then the intention of Iftaar is done in the heart.
- Du’aa during the day especially before Iftaar, reciting Qur’an, charity, Taraaweeh and Dhikr.
- Performing Umrah.
- Saying ‘I am fasting’ to the one who insults.
- Seeking the Night of Al-Qadr (by increasing in good deeds in the last ten nights).
- I’tikaaf in the last ten days.
PERMITTED ACTS DURING THE FAST
It is permitted for a fasting person to swallow saliva, taste a minute amount of food due to a necessity, take a shower, use the Miswaak, brush the teeth with toothpaste, use perfume and any other action which is not an invalidator. A person can rinse the mouth with water but this should not be done excessively.
ACTS WHICH INVALIDATE THE FAST
- Eating and drinking intentionally: If a person eats or drinks forgetfully, he should continue fasting.
- Sexual intercourse: If a person has intercourse during his fast in a day of Ramadhan, then upon him is the major expiation:
- Freeing a slave.
- If unable to do so, then fasting two months consecutively.
- If unable to do so, then feeding sixty poor people.
- Discharge of semen: Due to touching, kissing, hugging or any other action out of desire.
- Anything similar to eating or drinking: Such as taking a nutritional injection. As for injections that have no nutritional value, they do not invalidate one’s fast.
- Bleeding due to Cupping: A small amount of bleeding due to blood-analysis or the like, does not invalidate a person’s fast.
- Vomiting intentionally.
- Menstruation and post-natal bleeding.
English Fasting Booklet
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