Fasting Rules | What is Ramadan fasting? 2021

What is Ramadan fasting?

“Fast” means “to refrain from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse throughout the day, right from the break of dawn up to sunset, with a clear intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah.” If somebody refrains from food, drink, and sex for any reason other than seeking the pleasure of Allah, it cannot be called a “fast” in the terminology of the Shari’ah.

Ramadan Meaning:

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is called “Ramadan” and it is the most meritorious month of the whole year. The month of Ramadan is the season of divine blessings. It is the month of purification. it is meant for the annual renovation of the inner spiritual qualities.

It is a golden opportunity for every Muslim to strengthen his Iman, to purify his heart and soul and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him. This month invites a Muslim to minimize his other mundane involvements and maximize the acts of worship. One should plan his schedule for this month, so that he may have maximum spare time for Ibadah.

Ramadan Facts:

• The month of Ramadan is believed to be the month in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as a guidance for all mankind.
• During Ramadan, Muslim-majority countries often shorten workdays to allow for additional prayer time each day.
• During Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to give to charity through Sadaqa (voluntary giving), or Zakat (mandatory giving).

• Children are not obligated to fast during Ramadan, not until they have reached puberty, but some practice in order to prepare for adult participation.
• At the end of Ramadan, there is a large festival called “Eid ul Fitr” to celebrate the end of the fasts. Eid ul Fitr is celebrated by wearing one’s best clothes, giving gifts, having a large meal, and spending time with one’s family. Muslims also use this time to ask for forgiveness for sins and to praise Allah (God).

Fasting Rules:

Fasting in the days of Ramadan is obligatory (Fard) on every Muslim. The one who does not believe it to be obligatory is not a Muslim, and the one who, without a valid excuse, does not fast in the days of Ramadan is a sinner.

Following are the Fasting rules which should be kept in mind during Fast:

• It is necessary that there should be an intention of fast which is called the “Niyah”. Since the Niyah means intention, it is an act performed by one’s heart. It is not necessary to pronounce words. However, one can express this intention in spoken words.
• Acts nullifying the Fast:

Following are some acts which not only nullify the fast but also make one liable to both qada and kaffarah, namely:

• Eating something.
• Drinking something.
• Having sexual intercourse.

These three acts are liable to kaffarah when they are committed deliberately after one has started a fast, provided that the person committing them knows that they render the fast broken. in such cases both qada and kaffarah are obligatory on him. Qada means to keep another fast in lieu of the broken one. And kaffarah means to perform an act to expiate the sin of having broken the fast.

• Acts rendering Fast Makruh:

The following acts do not nullify the fast but render it Makruh in the sense that they lessen the reward of the fast. Hence it is not advisable to indulge in any of the following acts when one is in the state of fast:

• Chewing something or tasting it with the tongue without eating it.
• Using toothpaste or tooth powder. However, cleaning teeth with a miswak or a brush (without paste or powder) is allowed.
• Remaining in the state of Janabah (major impurity) for the whole day.
• Giving blood to anyone.
• Quarreling with someone or abusing him.
• Gheebah i.e., to abuse or to blame someone in his absence.
• Telling a lie.

The latter three acts are absolutely prohibited even when one is not in the stat of fast.

• following acts are allowed in the state of fasting:
  • Cleaning teeth using a miswak or a brush and ears with cotton swabs.
  • Applying oil or henna or color to the hair.
  • Using eye-drops or kohl (Surma/kajal).
  • Wearing perfume or feeling it or using lipstick or chopstick.
  • Taking a shower.
  • Using medicine through injection.
  • Vomiting unintentionally.
  • Entrance of smoke or dust into the throat unintentionally.
  • Ejaculation while dreaming.
  • Bleeding from the teeth unless blood slips into the throat.
  • Delaying the ghusl of Janabah up to the sunrise.
• Cases in which fasting is not/obligatory:

In the following cases it is allowed for a Muslim to avoid fasting in Ramadan and compensate it by fasting on some other days:

1. if a person suffers from a disease that has rendered him unable to fast, or a competent doctor has expressed his apprehension that fasting may increase the disease, he can avoid fasting until when it is clear that fasting is no more injurious to his health. But after recovery, he is under an obligation to perform qada of all the fasts he has missed due to his sickness.
2. If a woman is pregnant, and it is seriously feared that fasting may harm her or her baby, she can postpone fasting in Ramadan and may fast after delivery as qada.
3. If a woman breast-feeds her baby, and it is seriously feared that, in case she fasts, she cannot feed her baby or her fasting may harm her or her baby, she may avoid fasting in Ramadan and perform qada.

• Fasting rules in the journey:

1. The one who travels to a distance of at least 48 miles from his hometown can also postpone fasting during his journey. But if he decides to stay in a town for more than 14 days, he is not treated as a traveler for this purpose and he is obligated to fast in the days of Ramadan. However, if he has not made up his mind to stay in a place for more than 14 days, and he is doubtful whether he will stay for 14 days or less than that, he can also avail of the concession unless he decides to stay for the prescribed period.
2. If someone has started fasting, then he had to travel during the day, he cannot avail of the concession during that day, rather he will have to complete his fast. However, if his journey continues to the next day, he can benefit from the concession the next day.

• Fasting is prohibited for a woman during her monthly periods (menstruation) and during partition (i.e. normal bleeding after childbirth), but she must perform qada for the fasts they have missed in such a state.
• Those who are allowed a concession (of not fasting) in Ramadan can eat and drink during the day, but they should honor the days of Ramadan and should not eat or drink as far as possible at a public place or before other Muslims who are in the state of fasting.
• Those who can break their fast during the day:

It is a major sin to break a fast during the day without a valid excuse. It makes one liable to kaffarah as explained earlier. However, there are situations where it becomes lawful to break a fast. These situations are as under:

1. A person feels such an extreme hunger or thirst that further abstinence from eating or drinking may endanger his life. In this situation also, breaking of the fast is obligatory.
2. In any situation where refraining from eating or drinking may create a danger to one’s life, it becomes lawful to break the fast.

In these cases, the person breaking the fast is not liable to kaffarah, but he must perform qada whenever the danger is removed.

FAST OF QADA

Whoever has missed a fast of Ramadan is liable to compensate it with fasting after Ramadan. This fast is called “The Fast of Qada”. Fast of qada may be observed any day during the year except for the following days:

1. First of Shawwal (Eidul-fltr).
2. Tenth of Zulhajjah (Eidul-Adha).
3. Eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Zulhajjah.

On these days fasting is strictly prohibited. So, the fast of Qada cannot be observed in these days. Fast of Qada should be observed as soon as possible after one has missed a fast of Ramadan. Delaying the performance of qada without a valid reason is not desirable. If someone has missed more than one fast, he can perform qada for all of them continuously, or with intervals. But the fasts of kaffarah should necessarily be continuous (without any interval).

Unlike the fast of Ramadan and optional (Nafil) fasts, in the fast of Qada, it is necessary to make Niyah before the dawn. The person who is not able to do Qada should also make a will that if he could not fast in his lifetime, his heirs should pay fidyah (redemption from obligation not carried out) from his leftover property.

The amount of fidyah for one fast is one kilo and six hundred thirty-three grams of wheat or its price. If the amount of fidyah can be paid from one-third property of a deceased person who has made a will to pay fidyah, the heirs are bound to pay it from his leftover property. But if the deceased made no will to pay fidyah, the heirs are not bound to pay it from their property.

Read also

• Taraweeh Dua, Traweeh prayer time & How to pray
• Itikaf Ramadan – What is itikaf in Ramadan

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