Ramadan Is Here! Part 1: What Should A Woman Do During ‘Those Days’?

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

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Assalamu3alaikum!

It is the 11th of Ramadan today! Time has been flying so fast. I’m sure many of you would agree with me that once it’s Ramadan, you don’t like the time flying like it does usually. The ambiance, the very air we breathe seems different. Alhamdulillah 🙂 Only Allah can make fasting for 15 odd hours seem pleasurable. 🙂

The topic of this blog has been a question for me and various women every Ramadan. What exactly are we supposed to do if we can’t pray or read the Qur’an? I will inshaAllah deal with this topic in two parts as it might be quite an extensive read!

To start with, women should remember that just because we get our periods, it doesn’t mean we can’t be rewarded for our deeds. If our intention is to please Allah, to make the maximum out of Ramadan, then inshaAllah, the angels who write down our deeds will continue to do so 🙂

Here are a few things women can do during her periods in Ramadan (as well as after Ramadan too)

1. Listen to Qur’an recitation:

It is surprising how little we think about ‘listening’ to Qur’anic recitations. We focus on how we should read more, which is true. But even listening to someone reciting the Qur’an is a part of our deen. Listening to the Qur’an being recited has a positive effect on us. If you’ve ever concentrated on listening to the Qari/Iman reciting the Qur’an, you know how it calms one down, you feel positive.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

But those who have avoided Taghut, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allah – for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants (17)

Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. (18)  (Surah Zumar, 39:17-18) (1)

2. Reading the Commentary (Tafseer) and Meanings (Tarjumah) of the Qur’an

For Arabic and non-Arabic speakers alike, reflecting upon the words of Allah, to understand the deep meanings behind it, one should make it a must to read and understand the Qur’an in their local language (if they are non-Arabic speakers).

To reflect upon the verses of Allaah is a form of worship; it is something that will draw one close to Allah, Most High.

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction. (Surah An-Nisa 4:82) (2)

Maybe you have a favorite ayah, or ayats that you want to learn more about? Or maybe you have memorised a surah and now you want to know what it means? The possibilities are endless 🙂

3. Dhikr of Allah:

A women on her periods can do excessive dhikr night and day. This is a blessing in disguise. While fasting we get so busy with praying and reading the Qur’an that we don’t read du’as or do dhikr!

Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (RA) said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The People of Paradise will not regret anything except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah.” (Bayhaqi) (3)

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah the Exalted says: ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels).” (Riyadh As-Saliheen, Bukhari & Muslim) (4)

The following are some dhikr that we can make day and night, whenever we can remember, while walking, while sitting, or doing anything for that matter. 🙂

1. اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

  – Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee

 – O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’

This du’a if you’ve noticed is read extensively in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. So make sure you’re in the habit of reading them 🙂

2. سبحان الله

 – SubhaanAllah

 – Glory be to Allah

3. الحمد لله

 – Alhamdulillah

 – Praise to Allah

4. الله أكبر

 – Allahu Akbar

 – Allah is Great

5. لا اله الا الله

 – Laa ilaaha illallah

– There Is No God But Allah

6. لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إلاّ بِاللهِ

 – La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah

 – There is no might nor power except with Allah.

7. أستغفر الله‎

 – Astaghfirullah

 – I seek forgiveness from Allah

8. سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ

–  Subhan-Allahi wa bi Hamdihi

 – Glory be to Allah and Praise Him

9. سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ ، وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

  – Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

– Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, There is no might or any power Except with Allah

10. لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

 – Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

– There is No God But Allah Alone, who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the raise, and He is Able to do all things

  11. Durood e Ibrahim

“O Allah, let Your Blessings come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”.

Or one can also read: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim (Peace Be Upon Him)

Imagine, even you read ‘SubhanAllah’ 20 times, if you read in 5 times a day, it becomes 100! How wonderful is it to glorify the Almighty a 100 times without even putting so much thought into saying it?

You can find more dhikr here

4. Dua & Repentance

And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (Baqarah 2:186) (5)

Allah loves repentance & loves those who turn to him in sincere repentance:

And they ask you about menstruation. Say, “It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.“(Qur’an 2:222) (6)

The times when Dua’s are most accepted during Ramadan are:

1. The third portion of the night shortly before suhoor/During Tahajjud.

2. In the state of fasting.

3. Between ‘Asr & Maghrib.

4. Few minutes before opening the fast.

5. On Jum’uah, before & after khutbah.

6. The time between sounding the Azaan & the Iqamah.

7. When it rains.

8. After reciting the Qur’an.

9. The Night of Qadr/Last 10 nights of Ramadan.

We should not be among those who let Ramadan pass by and do not repent for their sins or asking for Allah’s forgiveness.

Kaab Ibn Ujrah (RA) relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said ‘Come near to the mimbar*’ and we came near the mimbar. When He (SAW) climbed the first step of the mimbar, He (SAW) said “Aameen”, When He (SAW) ascended the second step, He (SAW) said “Aameen”, When He (SAW) climbed the third step, He (SAW) said “Aameen” When He (SAW) came down, We said “O Rasool of Allah (SAW), we have heard from you today something which we never heard before” He (SAW) said When I climbed the first step, the angel Jibraeel (A.S.) appeared before me and said

“Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramdhan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness”
upon that I said ‘Aameen’. When I climbed the second step, he said,

“Destruction to him before whom thy name is taken and then he does not make Dua for Allah’s blessing on me (by saying, for example SAW).”
I replied ‘Aameen’. When I climbed the third step, he said

“Destruction unto him in whose lifetime his parents or either one of them reaches old age, and (through failure to serve them) he is not allowed to enter Jannah”. I said ‘Aameen’. (Hakim, Baihaqi) (7)

We should ask Allah to accept all of our good deeds during Ramadan & be hopeful that Allah will accept it from us. We should also have FULL hope that Allah will accept our Dua’s if not in this world then in the hereafter. We should accept his decree for he knows best in all matters.

*****

End of Part 1

Jazakallah Khair!

References:

1. http://quran.com/39/17-18
2. http://quran.com/4/82
3. Shu`ab al-iman (1:392 #512-513)
4. http://www.sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/16/28
5. http://quran.com/2/186
6. http://quran.com/2/222
7. The Book Of Fasting, Tahfeem us Sunnah series 9, Compiled by Muhammad Iqbal Kailani

Ramadan Is Here! But What Is The Wisdom Behind Fasting?

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

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Assalamu3alaikum!

I wish all of you a very happy and blessed Ramadan. I know I’m late but I’ve been trying to set myself in the Ramadan routine and failing miserably!

In this post I will share a very beautiful and informative article from Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen’s book ‘Majaalis Shahr Ramadan’ [pp. 41-43] which was translated by Isma’eel Alarcon.

The Wisdom Of Fasting

1) Act of worship for Allah (SWT)

It is an act of worship done for Allaah, in which the ‘abd (servant) draws closer to His Lord by abandoning the things that he loves and desires, such as food, drink and sexual intercourse. So because of this, the truthfulness of his Faith and the completeness of his servitude to Allaah become apparent, as well as his love for Allaah and his longing for what Allaah has prepared for him (of good).

This is since the one who fasts does not abandon something that is beloved to him except for that which is greater to him than it (which is Allaah). When the believer knows that Allaah’s contentment lies in the fasting – which is abandoning those desires that he naturally loves – he will give his Lord’s contentment precedence over his desires. So he abandons his desires no matter how much he longs and yearns for them, because his delight and the tranquility of his soul lies in his abandoning all that for the sake of Allaah.

2) Attaining Taqwa (Piety)

It is a means of attaining Taqwaa, as Allaah says:

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, in order that you gain Taqwaa.” (Baqarah, 183) (1)

This is since a person who is fasting is commanded to do the obligatory duties and to avoid sinful acts.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever does not abandon false speech, acting upon that (false speech) and (acts of) ignorance (i.e. sins), then Allaah has no need of him abandoning his food and drink.” [Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Buloogh Al Maram] (2)

So when a person is fasting, every time he desires to do a sinful act, he will remember that he is fasting and thus withhold himself from that. This is why the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the person who is fasting, when cursed at and abused, to say: “I am fasting”, cautioning him (the reviler) that a person fasting is commanded to refrain from cursing and reviling, and reminding himself that he is fasting and cannot react with cursing.

3) Remembering Allah

The heart opens to contemplation and remembrance (of Allaah). This is since fulfilling one’s desires leads to heedlessness and perhaps the heart becomes hardened and blinded from the truth.

• This is why the Prophet (PBUH) advised us to eat and drink little, where he said: “The Son of Aadam does not fill a vessel worse than his stomach.” [Reported by Ahmad, An-Nasaa’ee and Ibn Maajah] (3)

• Handhala Al-Usaidee (raa), who was one of the scribes of Allaah’s Messenger, said to the Prophet (PBUH): “Handhala has become a hypocrite.” So Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: “Why is that?” He said: “O Messenger of Allaah, when we are with you, you remind us of the Hellfire and Paradise, as if we see them with our own eyes. But when we depart from you, we meet our wives and our children and our homes and we forget much (of what we heard from you).” In the last part of the hadeeth, the Prophet (PBUH) said to him: “But O Handhala, there is a time for this and a time for that (three times).” (Sahih Muslim) (4)

Abu Sulaymaan Ad-Daraanee said: “Indeed, when the soul hungers and thirsts, the heart softens and becomes pure. And when it is fed, the heart becomes blinded.”

4) Realizing the blessing of wealth

The person who has wealth is caused to realize the blessing of wealth that Allaah has bestowed on him, such that Allaah blessed him with food, drink and sexual intercourse. Many people are deprived of these things, so he should praise Allaah for these blessings and thank Him for granting him them. And he should remember his brother who is poor and who probably goes through the day starved and hungry. So he should be generous to him and give him charity so that he can clothe his barrenness and satisfy his hunger.

5) Training our soul

It trains one to curb the soul, and it gives one strength to withhold his soul by its bridle, such that one can govern it and lead it towards that which is good for it and what will make it prosper. This is because the soul commands one to do evil, except for those souls that my Lord has mercy on. So when a person undoes and lets go of his (soul’s) bridle, the soul lands him into many dangers. But when he controls it and curbs it, he is able to lead it to the highest of levels and the greatest of goals.

6) Being humble

The soul is broken down and restricted from having pride, to the point that it humbles itself to the truth and softens itself before the creation. This is because eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse with women – all of these things bring about insolence, arrogance, vanity and pride over people and over the truth. The soul preoccupies itself with trying to obtain these things because of its need for them. So when it obtains these things, the soul feels like it has conquered what it desired and so it falls into the happiness and proudness that is condemned. And this is a cause for its destruction. Only those whom Allaah protects are saved from this.

7) Curbing devil’s influence

The passageways of blood (in the body) become narrow due to hunger and thirst, so therefore the passageways of the Devil in the human body also become narrower. This is since the Devil flows through the son of Adam like the flowing of blood, as is authentically recorded in the two Saheeh collections. (5)

So by fasting, the whisperings of the Devil are subdued and the strength of one’s desires and anger are subjugated.

This is why the Prophet (PBUH) said: “O young men! Whoever amongst you can afford it, should get married, for it is the best means for lowering one’s gaze and the best way of keeping (one’s) private parts chaste. But whoever is not able to marry, then let him fast, for it has protection.”  (Sunan Nasa’i) (6)

8) Health Benefits

The health benefits that come as a result of it, which are attained by in-taking little food, allowing the digestive system to rest for a specified time, which lets excess wastes and excrements that are harmful to the body be discharged.

So how great and profound is the wisdom of Allaah, and how beneficial are His commandments to His creatures!

O Allaah, give us comprehension of Your Religion and allow us to understand the inner secrets of Your commandments. Rectify for us the affairs of our Religion and our worldly life. And forgive us and our parents and all the Muslims, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful. And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be on Muhammad (PBUH) and on his family and all his Companions.

***

PS: This is an excerpt from Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen’s book ‘Majaalis Shahr Ramadan‘. No changes have been made apart from referencing and formatting.

Jazakallah Khair

References:

1) http://quran.com/2/183
2) http://sunnah.com/urn/2059130
3) http://sunnah.com/urn/2054380
4) http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/1/151
5) http://sunnah.com/urn/1271820
6) http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/152

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 8 – The Importance of Qiyaam in Ramadan

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

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Assalamu3alaikum!

Among the things that are recommended to do in Ramadan, the virtue of Qiyaam (prayers) during this holy month is something that unfortunately is taken very lightly, or in some cases, completely deviated from the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Tarawih) prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He (PBUH) said, “Whosoever performs (optional Tarawih) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.” (Muslim, Riyadh us-Saliheen) (1)

What we need to do is establish prayers as much as possible during this month. And what better than praying the Taraweeh every night? The importance of Taraweeh is stated in the hadith above. Even though Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did not pray it every night BECAUSE he did not want to make it a mandatory practice to us.

How ironic. Praying 5 times a day is a burden on some. Imagine if Taraweeh was made obligatory too? Subhan’Allah!

(At this point, the Aalima said while Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did this out of the fear of making Taraweeh obligatory, it doesn’t mean we don’t pray Taraweeh. Unfortunately, certain sects of Islam consider Taraweeh an innovation (bid’ah)  because of this. This is a wrong practice and may Allah guide those people.)

The reward of establishing Taraweeh too is mentioned in the hadith above. If all of us pray with utter sincerity, inshaAllah Allah will forgive us. And the blessings for Taraweeh isn’t limited to that.

In another hadith:

‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhani said: “A man from Qudaa’ah came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! What do you think if I testify that there is no god except Allaah, and that you, Muhammad, are His Messenger, and I pray the five daily prayers, and fast in the month (of Ramadaan), and pray at night in Ramadaan, and pay zakaah?’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever dies on that will be among the siddeeqeen (those who tell the truth) and the martyrs.’” (Albani) (2)

Both the hadiths above are crystal clear on what exactly is the importance of praying Taraweeh in Ramadan, even though it is not obligatory on us to pray.

The words Taraweeh/Tahajjud/Qiyam-ul-Layl (Prayer of the night) all mean the same. Though what people do is refer to the prayers directly after Isha as Taraweeh (ONLY during Ramadan) and the prayers after midnight as Tahajjud (regardless of the month).

(PS: Going into semantics isn’t necessary, just wanted to clear doubts!)

Now we have established it’s importance, we’ll move on to the duration and the number of rak’ahs prayed during Taraweeh.

The number of rak’ahs is eleven, ie

11 = 8 rakahs in twos + (2+1) witr

and it is preferable not to exceed this number, following the practice of the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH), because he never did more than that in his life.

Narrated Abu Salma bin `Abdur Rahman:

I asked `Aisha, “How is the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) during the month of Ramadan.” She said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) never exceeded eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in other months; he used to offer four rak`at– do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four rak`at, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three rak`at.” Aisha further said, “I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! Do you sleep before offering the witr prayer?’ He replied, ‘O `Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake’!’
(Sahih Bukhari) (3)

What a wonderful hadith! Not only it debunks the 20 rak’at prayers that are held so ceremoniously everywhere, it even hints on praying the Witr late into the night!

Before I get slandered by people for the 20 rak’at comment, I would point out that most of the 20 rak’at hadiths are proven da’eef (weak). Even though 20 rak’at prayers are held in Masjid ul Haram, they do it for a lot of reasons. Firstly, people from all walks of life, Islamic sects pray in the Haram. If the Imam were to pray only 8 (which they used to once upon a time), they’d noticed that after the 8 raka’at there were mini congregations forming within the Haram which continued to pray among themselves. To avoid this, the Haram has sanctioned the 20 rak’ats Taraweeh.

If you have ever seen the Taraweeh prayer telecasted live from Makkah, you’ll notice that the Imam WILL change after 8 rak’ats of prayer. What does that mean? That we are recommended to pray 8 rak’ats, not 20 🙂

Moreover, Masjid ul Haram is such a magnificent masjid! It houses hundreds and thousands of people at one point of time. And therefore due to its vastness and the huge number of people who are trying to pray at the same time, not everyone gets place/time to start their Taraweeh with the Imam. So if one ends up missing a few rak’ats, they can always make up behind the imam!

It isn’t a bad thing to pray extra prayers. Its the intention (as usual) behind it. One can pray 20 rak’ats throughout the day instead. Why do we need to do something that wasn’t even recommended by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)? When there is a Sahih hadith telling us not to go to such extremes, we still end up doing that. And then in those 20 rak’ats, the length of every rak’at shortens which is again the opposite of what we should be doing.

We should increase the length of our prayers by reciting as much as we remember. Every act of the Salah, from reciting the surah, to rukoo and the sujood, we should lengthen them.

Now to explain the miscellaneous issues related to Taraweeh:

1) Women can and should try to pray Taraweeh in congregation if a masjid is nearby.

2) Reading from the Mus’haf/Qur’an during Taraweeh is not bid’ah. Since it is a nafl prayer, the majority of the scholars have consented that the reading from the mus’haf during the taraweeh is possible. This is great news for people like me whose first language isn’t Arabic. So while the Imam recites the surah I make sure I read the translation and understand what the Imam is reciting!

3) The number of Rakat’s for Taraweeh is 11, which can be prayed from the time Isha starts till before Fajr.

4) Delaying the witr till late is recommended

5) It is better to pray Taraweeh in a congregation.

6) If the Imam is known to lengthen the prayer by a considerable amount, one can always sit during his recitation.

7) One can shorten his Taraweeh (if he or she is praying alone) if they are unable to withstand long periods of standing.

For a more detailed explanation of the virtues of Taraweeh I would recommend you all to read this link on IslamQA. The excerpt on this page is taken from Qiyaam Ramadaan by al-Albaani and I would request you all to read this as it has a lot of sunnah and recommended things to do when praying in Ramadan! http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/3452/qiyaam

Jazakkallah Khair

 

*****

This brings us to the end of  the Ramadan series. While I won’t be ending my blog here, I will still update it with other relevant topics in Islam 🙂

 

References:

1) http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/9/198
2) Sahih Al Targheeb wat-Tarheeb Lil-Albani Vol 1 H. 993
3) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/19/28

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 7 – What Should We Do While Fasting?

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

**

Assalamu3alaikum!

There are a number of things that are mustahab (recommended) that one must do in the state of fasting. But this doesn’t mean that those who can’t fast (for reasons mentioned in the earlier posts) do not take heed. We must strive to do as much as we can in this month. May Allah give us the ability to do so. Ameen. Let’s start by listing them down.

1) It is Sunnah to hasten while breaking the fast and delaying the pre dawn meal (suhoor).

Abud-Dardaa’ said: “Three things are from the manners of the Prophets: Hastening in breaking the fast, delaying the Suhoor, and placing the right hand upon the left in prayer”. [Tabarani] (1i)

What we should remember is that the delay in Suhoor should not be that we wake up 5 mins before the Fajr athan and stuff our faces. We should eat as much as you require to sustain yourself throughout the day and speed-eating will only cause you harm, nothing else.

Thankfully, being raised in the Gulf means I was never exposed to the practices that take place in other countries. I know from my family and friends back home that some actually wait for the Maghrib athaan to finish before they start eating. Or some people only follow a certain masjid’s athaan (which could have wrong timings for all we know wallahu ‘aalam) and break their fast after ‘their’ masjid has sounded the athaan.

If during the Suhoor, the Athan commences, one should not immediately stop eating; rather they should try finishing it before the Athaan is over.

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand, he should not lay it down till he fulfils his need. (Hasan Sahih, Albani Sunan Abu Dawud) (1ii)

Alhamdulillah. Everything has been made so convinient for us. 🙂

Remember, these things matter in the long run. Following sunnah is following our Prophet (PBUH)

2) Breaking the fast with fresh dates, dried dates or water is masnoon (Prophetic tradition)

Anas bin Malik narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salat. If there were no fresh dates then (he would) break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water.” (Hasan, Tirmidhi) (2)

To add to this point, I should point out that breaking the fast with ‘salt’ is not masnoon and one must adhere to what the hadiths say, and not ‘heresy’.

3) It is Masnoon to recite either or both du’aas (supplications) before breaking the fast.

The following two dua’s are what should be read before breaking the fast.

• Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

  Marwan ibn Salim al-Muqaffa’ said: I saw Ibn Umar holding his bread with his hand and cutting what exceeded the handful of it. He (Ibn Umar) told that the Prophet (PBUH) said when he broke his fast: Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills.  (Sunan Abu Dawaud, Albani) (3)

  The dua:

  ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

‘zahabaz-zamaa-u wab-tallatil ‘urooqu wa thabatal ajaru inshaAllah

• Narrated Mu’adh ibn Zuhrah:

  The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) used to say when he broke his fast: O Allah, for Thee I have fasted, and with Thy provision I have broken my fast. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Albani) (4)
  

  The dua:

  اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ ‏

Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘alaa riz qika aftartu

4) There is blessing in the Suhoor.

Anas (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“Eat the suhur (pre-dawn meal), for there are blessings in this meal.” (Buloogh Al Maraam, Bukhari & Muslim) (5)

5) Using Siwak

Siwaak means cleaning the mouth and teeth with a siwaak, which is the name given to the tool used. The siwaak is a stick or twig used for this purpose.

Since there is no hadith that stops us from using the Siwak, scholars have recommended its use as a cleansing tool. A lot of us have experienced the stale smell that emanates from our mouths while we fast. That happens due to the stomach staying empty for a stretched period and hence one can use the siwak to avoid it.

At this point, the ‘Aalima pointed out that it is okay to brush our teeth in the state of fasting, provided nothing goes past the throat.

6) Reading the Qur’an

Quran has even more of an important significance in the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

• The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong) [Quran al-Baqarah 2:185] (6)

• 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. (Riyadh As-Saliheen, Bukhari & Muslim) (7)
  

7) Praying Taraweeh/Tahajjud

Since this is a topic that requires a post of its own, I will cover it in the next entry.

***

Jazakallah Khair

References:

1i) http://www.qss.org/articles/ramadan/6.html
1ii) http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/38
2) http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/15
3) http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/454) http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/46
5) http://sunnah.com/urn/2059100
6) http://quran.com/2/185
7) http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/9/232

 

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 6 – What Breaks The Fast? (ii)

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

**

Assalamu3alaikum!

We left the last post where we discussed the things that break our fast which are mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah and the scholars of Islam agree upon its authenticity.

This post will deal with those things that break our fasts that are debated upon by the scholars.

Please note: For any individual issue please address an ‘aalim.

**

Things that break our fasts are divided in 2 categories:

1) Things that were already established by the Qur’an and Sunnah (Hadiths) and are agreed upon by the scholars in unity.
2) Things that some of the scholars may disagree/debate on.

Since we have covered Point 1 in detail, we’ll now move on to 2.

Things that break our fast that are debated by the scholars.

1) Hijamah (Cupping)

We first need to understand what is hijamah and its significance in Islam.

In fiqh terminology the word hijaamah is applied by some scholars to the extraction of blood from the nape of the neck by means of cupping after making an incision with the lancet.

In conclusion, hijaam refers to the extraction of blood from the body by means of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment serves the same purpose.

Cupping was known since ancient times. It was known to the Chinese, the Babylonians and the Pharaohs. Their relics and carved images indicate that they used cupping to treat some diseases. At first they used metal cups or bulls’ horns, from which they would remove the air by sucking it out after placing the cup on the skin. Then they used glass cups from which they would remove the air by burning a piece of cotton or wool inside the cup.

Benefits of cupping:

Cupping has real benefits in treating many diseases, past and present. The diseases which have been treated by cupping and for which it has been of benefit by Allaah include the following:

1-     Circulatory diseases

2-     Treating blood pressure and infection of the heart muscle

3-     Diseases of the chest and trachea

4-     Headache and pains in the eyes

5-     Pain in the neck and stomach, and rheumatic pain in the muscles

6-     Some diseases of the heart and chest, and pain in the joints

In addition, cupping may offer a unique treatment which may reduce pain, and it does not have any side-effects. (1)

What did the Prophet (PBUH) say about Hijamah?

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:

I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying, “If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be (cauterized) branded with fire.” (Sahih Bukhari) (2) 

Since cupping is an act that involves drawing of blood, the scholars debate on the fact whether it may weaken a person or not.

Doing my research on cupping I found various hadiths advocating FOR and AGAINST hijamah but the hadiths were da’eef (weak). So the ‘Aalima told us that the consensus of the majority of the scholars is that cupping does not break the fast on the condition that the person who is getting cupping done knows that it won’t weaken him.

This ruling applies to donating blood as well as giving a blood test in the state of fasting.

But, if a person knows that cupping/donating blood/blood tests will have an adverse effect on his physical health then it is advisable that he should not do these in the state of fasting unless it is really unavoidable.

We divide ‘modern’ issues of those things that are not found in the hadiths that MAY or MAY NOT break our fast by the majority of the scholars in consensus in the following:

1) Through the mouth

2) Through the nose

3) Through the ears

4) Through the eyes

5) Through the skin

6) Through the genitals

Through the mouth

• Inhalers for Asthma patients does not break the fast.
• Gastroscope (used to take pictures of the stomach/small intestine) which is inserted through the mouth does not break the fast.
• Tablets kept under the tongue of heart patients does not break the fast.
• Tasting food for the purpose of cooking (should not go past the throat) does not break fast.
• Bleeding gums do not break the fast.

Through the nose

• Nose drops break the fast.
• Feeding tube fit through the nose breaks the fast.
• Oxygen masks don’t break the fast.

Through the ears

• Ear drops don’t break the fast.
• Ear wash/Ear baths do not break the fast.

Through the eyes

• Eye drops don’t break the fast.

Through the skin

• Vaccinations for treatments don’t break the fast (eg: those vaccinations that don’t provide nutrition to the body.
• Vaccination for nutritional purposes break the fast (eg: Vitamins, Glucose etc.)
• Anaesthetic drugs/injections do not break the fast.
• Laproscopy does not break the fast.
• Dialysis is done in two ways. Medicinal dialysis will not break the fast, while the dialysis that provide nutritions will break the fast.
• Plastering does not break the fast.

Through the genitals

• Suppositories and enemas do not break the fast.
• Vaginal checkups do not break the fast (for any lady, pregnant or not).

Please check ref #3 for more detailed explanations.

***

What are the things that break our fast which are makrooh (disliked)?

• Collecting saliva in the mouth and swallowing on purpose.
• Tasting the remnants of food that may be stuck in the teeth on purpose.
• Lying
• Gossipping
• Backbiting

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night. (Graded as Hasan, Sunan Ibn Majah) (4)

Excellent hadith to summarize this post. May Allah reward us for our intentions and our deeds, ameen.

**

The next post will cover what are the things that we are recommended to do while fasting.

Jazakallah Khair

**

References:

1) Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (IslamQA) & Zaad al-Ma’aad by Ibn al-Qayyim, 4/52, and al-Hijaamah: Ahkaamuha wa Fawaa’iduha by Ibraaheem al-Haazimi.
2) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/76/6
3) http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/38023/fasting
4) http://sunnah.com/urn/1270930

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 6 – What Breaks The Fast? (i)

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

**

Assalamu3alaikum!

I will now post the final entry for the Ramadan series (which is divided in two/three parts) ^_^

**

What breaks our fasts?

First and foremost, I’d like to start by saying that everything in our religion is based on our intention. And if anyone after reading this post did do something without purposely intending to break your fast then don’t be disheartened, Allah knows your heart better than you do. Have faith!

Things that break our fasts are divided in 2 categories:

1) Things that were already established by the Qur’an and Sunnah (Hadiths) and are agreed upon by the scholars in unity.
2) Things that some of the scholars may disagree/debate on.

We will first look into things that are in agreement by the major scholars.

The Qur’an has already established a few limits in Baqarah 187:

It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah , so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous. (Baqarah, 187) (1i)

1) Eating or Drinking on purpose breaks the fast.

The consensus is unanimous on this. The Qur’an is crystal clear on this. If you eat on purpose, you break your fast. If someone eats out of forgetfulness then inshaAllah his or her fast will not be broken. Remember, Allah is watching us and our actions. You can fool everyone but not yourself or Allah 🙂

This includes smoking (or consuming any intoxicant).

This refers to food or drink reaching the stomach via the mouth.

If anything reaches the stomach via the nose, this is like eating or drinking. 

Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Snuff up water deeply into the nose (when doing wudoo’), except when you are fasting.” Narrated by Abu Dawud, 788. (1ii)

If water reaching the stomach via the nose did not invalidate the fast, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have told those who are fasting not to snuff up water deeply into the nose.

2) Vomiting on purpose breaks the fast.

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: if one has a sudden attack of vomiting while one is fasting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement. (Classified as Sahih by Albani, Sunan Abu Dawud, The Book of Fasting) (2) 

This hadith also makes it clear that if vomiting had occurred naturally then there is no atonement (kaffara) for it.

3) Sexual intercourse/Istimna’ (self-pleasuring)

The ayah of Surah Baqarah (2:187) quoted in point #1 prohibits sexual relations during the duration of fasting and advises us to only commence it after dusk.

At the point, the Aalima pointed out that both spouses should encourage each other to fast with complete devotion and attention and not let such thoughts creep up during fasting. This also includes not indulging in istimna’ during the state of fasting. The hadiths below will shed some light on this point:

Narrated by ‘Aisha:

A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) in the mosque and said, “I am burnt (ruined)!” The Prophet (PBUH) asked him, “With what (what have you done)?” He said, “I have had sexual relation with my wife in the month of Ramadan (while fasting).” The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Give in charity.” He said, “I have nothing.” The man sat down, and in the meantime there came a person driving a donkey carrying food to the Prophet (PBUH) ….. (The sub-narrator, ‘Abdur Rahman added: I do not know what kind of food it was)**. On that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Where is the burnt person?” The man said, “Here I am.” The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Take this (food) and give it in charity (to someone).” The man said, “To a poorer person than l? My family has nothing to eat.” Then the Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “Then eat it yourselves.” (Sahih Bukhari) (3i)

(** other narrators have mentioned the food being a basket of dates)

The evidence that masturbation is one of the things that invalidate the fast is the words of Allaah in the hadeeth qudsi in which He says of the fasting person: “He gives up his food and drink and desire for My sake.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1894; Muslim, 1151. (3ii)

Causing ejaculation comes under the heading of the desire which the fasting person gives up.

4) Menstruation/Nifaas (Post natal bleeding)

Narrated by Abu Sa’eed Al Khudri

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Isn’t it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And that is the defect (a loss) in her religion.” (Sahih Bukhari) (4)

As a woman I understand how frustrating it is for our periods to commence a few minutes before Maghrib. But one cannot hide from the fact that, even if there was a few seconds left for Maghrib to commence and you become aware of the onset of your periods, the fast *is* broken. I know some women who think if they pretend not to notice their fast will still be counted. But like I said at the very beginning: Every action in our religion is governed by our deeds which are based on our intentions.

So ladies, periods are a part of us. Don’t crib/complain if you get periods like right before Maghrib. Allah will reward us for our patience too 🙂

Adding to this, the fast will break *only* when she realizes that it has indeed been broken. This differs with every woman. Some woman only find out that they periods have commenced after they check it. Some realise it as soon as it occurs. So be vigilant.

These are the things that are in consensus with the scholars.

***

The next post will cover what are those things that the scholars may have a difference of opinion over, that break our fasts.

Jazakallah Khair

References:

1i) http://quran.com/2/187
1ii) http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/54
2) http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/68
3i) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/86/51
3ii) http://sunnah.com/qudsi40/10
4) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/30/58

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 5 – Expiation of Missed Fasts

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

**

Assalamu3alaikum!

Like I’d promised in the previous post, I will now explain what are the kinds of expiations for missed fasts.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Baqarah 184 & 185:

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew. (1)

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (2)

The expiatory payment is a special form of charity given to a poor person where one has to pay for each day of missed fasts during Ramadan. This is called Fidya.

The expiatory payment for Ramadan is only paid by “a person who is not able to fast at all.” This entails that the fidya only applies for people whom, due to health considerations mentioned in the previous post:

1.       Cannot fast in Ramadan

2.       Cannot make up for the missed fasts at any other time of the year and

3.       Are not expected to ever regain the ability to make up for the missed fasts

All three conditions must be fulfilled*. Otherwise one does not pay expiatory payments but has to perform the missing fasts.

*Please check with your doctor in case of medical reasons. Allah does not inflict hardship upon us. Do not simply go by this post and adhere to it without consulting a doctor/scholar

Fidya is not calculated in terms of money, but only in food which can be cooked or cooked.

In case one wants to provide a cooked meal to a miskeen,

1 day of missed fast = Providing food (equivalent of 2 times/day) to a 1 needy person.

In case one wants to provide grains/uncooked food to a miskeen,

1 day of missed fast = 1 Saa or 2 kg* of wheat/grains.

*(Please consult a local scholar on what the amount exactly is in your area).

One can either provide food on a daily basis OR can accumulate the missed days of fasts and provide food accordingly.

For example: for 15 days of missed fasts you provide 15 miskeen food equivalent food eaten twice a day, irrespective of where you are and where the people you are providing food are situated.

***

This was the explanation of Fidya.

The next post shall cover things that break one’s fast.

Jazakallah Khair

References

1) http://quran.com/2/184
2) http://quran.com/2/185

Ramadan Is (Almost) Here!: Part 4 – Requirements and Conditions

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

Assalamu3alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Less than 20 days are left for Ramadaan to commence inshaAllah! I feel so excited and nervous about this Ramadaan! Firstly because the lecture series that I’d attended was such an eye-opener that I felt obliged to share the details of the lecture with you guys.

Also, as a side note I’d like to point out that the same lecture series will be conducted on the 30th of June. I have already added the details before this post so do spread the word and make maximum use of the seminar if you are able to!

**********

Commencement of Ramadaan

There are two points that we need to keep in mind in order to start fasting for Ramadan. These are:

1) Sighting the new moon

OR

2) On the completion of Sha’baan’s 30 days.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Observe Saum (fast) on sighting the crescent and terminate it on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy before you, then complete the number (thirty days) of the month.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Riyadh As Saliheen]. (1)

Simply put, if one can sight the moon of Ramadaan on the 29th of Sha’baan, then we should commence fasting. But if one finds it difficult to sight or if it is cloudy then we must fast after the completion of Sha’baan’s 30 days.

Even though most of the countries nowadays have their own moon-sighting committees and with the advancement of technology, we need to know how the system works don’t we? 🙂

Conditions for Fasting

1) Intention (Niyyah)

As we all know, most of the deeds or things that we do in our lives are based on our intentions. Our intentions are imperative to almost every aspect of our daily lives whether religious or otherwise.

Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab:

I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. (Sahih Al Bukhari) (2)

With this hadith we need to understand why making the niyyah is wajib (obligatory), not just for fasting in Ramadan but for any thing that we do for the sake of Allah! Intentions are not uttered from the mouth therefore if you or your parents read this out loud -> “Allahumma inni nawaito laka sauma ramadhan/Wa bi saumi ghadin nawaito min shahri ramadhan/or any other variant” please make note that this is considered a bid’ah (innovation) and there has been no authentic reports of the Sahabah or the Prophet (PBUH) practising this in their times. We should amend our ways and strive to do only what Allah has asked us to do!

Without the intention, Allah will not accept our fast! Hence one should intend to fast (in our hearts) before the the fast commences.

The intention to fast is to be made before Fajr athaan or preferably the night before.

Hamzah bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar narrated that his father said:

“Hafsah, the wife of the Prophet said: ‘There is no fast for the one who does not intend (to fast) before dawn.”‘ (Sahih Sunan an Nasa’i) (3)

2) Islam

The fasting person should be a Muslim. Self explanatory.

3) Buloogh (Maturity)

• Fasting is waajib (obligatory) on every sane man or woman who are of age.
• Children who are not yet mature are exempt from fasting but parents should train and educate their children as early as possible about fasting. Forcing a child to fast only after he or she has reached maturity/puberty without proper training will not help them and this might have some negative consequences on the child. A parent/guardian should instill the teachings of Ramadan and the reasons of fasting to the child so that once he reaches the age of maturity, he is ready to embrace the responsibility of fasting in Ramadan and by Allah’s will does not find it difficult or does it simply because he is forced to. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) orders parents to make children start praying at the age of 7 just so that they can get into the habit of it when it does become obligatory on their maturity! So shouldn’t fasting in Ramadan be treated similarly?

4) ‘Aqal (Sanity)

• Any mentally-disabled individual who does not have any control over his actions/thoughts is exempt from fasting.
• Senile old people too are exempt from fasting.
• Individuals falling in these categories DO NOT have to make up for missed fasts (qa’dha) or give Fidya as expiations for missed fasts.

It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“The pen* has been lifted from three: From the sleeper until he wakes up, from the minor until he grows up, and from the insane until he comes back to his senses or recovers.” (Classed as Hasan, Sunan An Nasa’i) (4)

*The pen here refers to our deeds being recorded (hisaab).

5) Qudrat (The Ability to Fast)

(Note: The following point mentions fidya. I realize many of you will not be aware of what it means but I will deal with Fidya extensively (expiation of fast) in the next blog post insha’Allah)

This point is divided into:

a) The sick

b) Old people who are not senile

c) Pregnant and Breastfeeding women

d) The traveler

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew. (Baqarah 2:184) (5)

We will first deal with

a) The Ability of a Sick Person

• This person is of age
• This person has a sane, working mind.

We will further examine the cases of those individuals who fall sick for a few days and have the ability to make up the fasts later:

Since it is already established that people with perpetual illness cannot fast at all, they should give fidiya as an expiation for missed fasts.

We will now further investigate the case of those individuals who fall ill for a specified period AND have the ability to fast later.

1. Fasting is haraam (prohibited) on those individuals who may face severe physical harm if they try to fast at all.
2. Fasting is makrooh (disliked) on those individuals who may face some physical harm (less severe than previous condition) if they try to fast at all.
3. Fasting is wajib (obligatory)on those individuals who will not face any physical harm if they fast at all.

Note: If an individual falling in the ‘haraam/makrooh’ category does fast and finds it difficult to continue it, he can break the fast during the day.

b) Old people who are not senile

• Aged individuals do not need to fast but are required to give Fidiya for missed fasts.

c) Pregnant and Breastfeeding women.

• Imam Ibn Baz and major scholars are in the verdict of such women to only make up for their fast once they have the ability to do so, and not give Fidiya.

d) The Traveler

Any individual traveling can make up for missed fasts.

There are 3 conditions:

• Fasting is haraam for the traveler who may face physical harm if he fasts.
  It was narrated from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that:

  the Messenger of Allah saw some people gathered around a man, so he asked (what was happening) and they said: “It is a man who is exhausted because of fasting.” The Messenger of Allah said: “It is not righteousness to fast when traveling.” (Sahih Sunan An-Nasa’i) (6)

• Fasting is makrooh for the traveler who may face physical harm (not as severe as the condition above) if he fasts.
  Ibn `Abbas said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) travelled in the month of Ramadan and he fasted till he reached (a place called) ‘Usfan, then he asked for a tumbler of water and drank it by the daytime so that the people might see him. He broke his fast till he reached Mecca.” Ibn `Abbas used to say, “Allah’s Apostle fasted and sometimes did not fast while traveling, so one may fast or may not (on journeys)” (Sahih Bukhari) (7) 

  It was narrated that Jabir said:“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went out to Makkah in the year of the Conquest in Ramadan. He fasted until he reached Kura Al-Ghamim, and the people fast, so he called for a vessel of water after ‘Asr and drank it while the people were looking on. Then some of the people broke their fast and some continued to fast. He heard that some people were still fasting and he said: ‘Those are the disobedient ones. (Sahih Sunan An-Nasa’i) (8)
  

• Fasting is wajib for the traveler who may not face physical harm in his condiiton.
  If the traveler breaks his fast out of difficulty he needs to make up for his missed fasts.

6) Women in Nifas or Haydh’

A woman need not fast in Ramadan (but needs to make up for the missed fasts later) if she is in a state of:

• Haydh’ (Menstruation)
• Nifas (Post-natal bleeding)
  It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
  “We used to menstruate at the time of the Prophet (PBUH), and he would order us to make up for the (missed) fasts.’” (Classed as ‘Hasan’, Sunan Ibn Majah) (9)
  

***

Please note that for individual issues one needs to address an ‘Aalim, not blog posts 🙂

The next post will cover Fidya in detail!

Jazakallah Khair

References

1) http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/9/231
2) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/1#1
3) http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/2474) http://sunnah.com/nasai/27/44
5) http://quran.com/2/184
6) http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/168
7) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/64/313
8) http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/174
9) http://sunnah.com/urn/1270730

Bid’ah of Sha’baan

Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!

****

Assalamu3alaikum everyone!

While I’m still working on part 4 of the Ramadan Is (Almost) Here! series, I realised that I need to blog about this very important topic.

Yesterday I was grocery shopping with my mum where I saw this lady stocking up on sweets and packing them in gift bags. I didn’t find this weird but my mum commented. She said “Do you know why she’s doing this? She’s going to distribute the sweets because it’s the 15th of Sha’baan.” I got a little annoyed with my mum at this point. And I told her that there’s absolutely no way of knowing that and what you’re doing is wrong. She says “I don’t think so.” And then we got busy doing other stuff. After a few minutes I saw the same lady with another bag filled with pamphlets which had ‘Mid Sha’baan’ written in bold letters.

Mums are awesome, aren’t they? ^_^

Anyhow, I will cover this very, very briefly.

**

Bid’ah of Sha’baan

The practice of spending the 15th night of Sha’baan in prayer and fasting the following day is an innovation. This night has various names. South Asians call it Shab-E-Baraat while Arabs call it Laylatul Bara’ah/An Nusf Min as-Sha’baan. The apparent significance of this night is that Allah (SWT) gives gives the knowledge to the Angels, about what is going to happen in the following year, for example, who is going to die, who will be born, who will be ill and how much food people will have in the year, etc. The supporters of this act of worship highlight that there is a hadith that does signify this night. But what they fail to point out that one of the narrators from the chain of this hadith may not be reliable.

It is very important to know who the narrators of any hadith are. Because in this chain of narrators there might be one who was known to fabricate hadiths or maybe is proven to be unreliable by the scholars. Hence one must be very careful and vigilant whilst researching for hadiths on the web as we may not be very informed about what is fabricated and what isn’t.

Coming back to the topic, the scholars regarded celebrating this day as an innovation (bid ‘ah).  What is narrated concerning the virtue of praying, fasting and worshipping on the fifteenth of Sha’baan (al-nusf min Sha’baan) does not come under the heading of da’eef (weak), rather it comes under the heading of mawdoo’ (fabricated) and baatil (false). So it is not permissible to follow it or to act upon it, whether that is in doing righteous deeds or otherwise.

Even if we assume that the hadeeth is da’eef (weak) and not mawdoo’ (fabricated), the correct scholarly view is that weak ahaadeeth should not be followed at all, even if they speak of righteous deeds or of targheeb and tarheeb (promises and warnings). The saheeh reports are sufficient and the Muslim has no need to follow the da’eef reports. Nothing is known in Islam to suggest that this night or day is special, either from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his companions.

The following is a very detailed explanation that follows this night:

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Salaam al-Shuqayri said: Imam al-Fatni said in Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat: Among the innovations that have been introduced on “Laylat an-Nusf”  (mid-Sha‘baan) is al-Salaat al-Alfiyyah, which is one hundred rak‘ahs in which Soorat al-Ikhlaas is recited ten times in each rak‘ah, offered in congregation; they pay more attention to this than to Jumu‘ah and Eid prayers, although there is no report concerning it, except da‘eef (weak) and mawdoo‘ (fabricated) reports, and we should not be deceived by the fact that these reports were quoted by the authors of al-Qoot and al-Ihya’ and others, nor should we be deceived by what was mentioned in Tafseer al-Tha‘labi, that it is Laylat al-Qadr. End quote.

Al-‘Iraaqi said: The hadeeth about the prayer on Laylat al-Nisf (mid-Sha‘baan) is false. Ibn al-Jawzi narrated it in al-Mawdoo‘aat (which is a compilation of fabricated hadeeths):

Chapter on the hadeeth, prayer and supplication on Laylat al-Nisf:

The hadeeth, “When the night of ‘nisf Sha‘baan’ (mid-Sha‘baan) comes, spend the night in prayer and fast on that day” was narrated by Ibn Maajah from ‘Ali. Muhashiyyah said: (It was also narrated) in al-Zawaa’id. Its isnaad is da‘eef (weak) because of the weakness of Ibn Abi Basrah, of whom Ahmad and Ibn Ma‘een said: He fabricates hadeeth. End quote.

Praying six rak‘ahs on Laylat al-Nisf with the intention of warding off calamity, having a long life and being independent of people, and reciting Ya-Seen and offering du‘aa’ in between that — there is no doubt that this is something that has been introduced into the religion and is contrary to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The commentator on al-Ihya’ said: This prayer is well known in the books of later Sufi masters, but I have not seen any saheeh report in the Sunnah to support it and the connected du‘aa’. Rather this is the action of some shaykhs. Our companions said: It is makrooh to gather on any of the nights mentioned in the mosques or elsewhere. Al-Najm al-Ghayti said, describing spending the night of al-Nisf min Sh‘baan (mid-Sha‘baan) praying in congregation: That was denounced by most of the scholars of the Hijaz, including ‘Ata’ and Ibn Abi Mulaykah, the fuqaha’ of Madinah and the companions of Maalik. They said: All of that is an innovation (bid‘ah) and there is no report to suggest that the Prophet spent that night in praying in congregation or that his Companions did that either. Al-Nawawi said: The prayers of Rajab and Sha‘baan are two reprehensible innovations. End quote from al-Sunan wa’l-Mubtada‘aat, p. 144

Al-Fatni (may Allah have mercy on him) said, after the comments quoted above: The common folk are so infatuated with this prayer that they stored up a lot of fuel for it and many evils resulted from it, and many transgressions are committed which we do no need to describe. (It is so bad that) the close friends of Allah feared His punishment and fled into the wilderness. The first time this prayer occurred was in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) in 448 AH. Zayd ibn Aslam said: We never saw any of our shaykhs or fuqaha’ saying that Laylat al-Baraa’ah (15 Sha‘baan) had any superiority over other nights. Ibn Dihyah said: The hadeeths about the prayer on Laylat al-Baraa’ah are fabricated and one has an interruption in the isnaad. Anyone who acts upon a report which is known to be false is a servant of the Shaytaan.

End quote from Tadhkirat al-Mawdoo‘aat by al-Fatni, p. 45

See: al-Mawdoo‘aat by Ibn al-Jawzi, 2/127; al-Manaar al-Muneef fil Saheeh wa’l-Da‘eef by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 98; al-Fawaa’id al-Majmoo‘ah by al-Shawkaani, p. 51

Some people use the word al-Sha‘baaniyyah to refer to the last days of Sha‘baan, and say, “These are the days of bidding farewell to food,” and they take advantage of these days to eat a lot before Ramadan begins. Some scholars say that this idea was originally taken from the Christians, who used to do that as their fasting period (Lent) approached.

To sum up, there is no celebration in Sha‘baan and there is no special act of worship to be performed in the middle of it or during the last days of the month. Doing that is an innovation that has been introduced into the religion. 

What about fasting on the 15th as it is one of the White Days (Ayyam Beedh)?

Fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month in the Lunar/Hijri calender was recommended* by the Prophet (PBUH). These days are called White Days or Ayyaam Beedh.

*(These are voluntary/nafl fasts)

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “My close friend [the Prophet (PBUH)] advised me to do three things which I will not give up until I die: fasting three days of each month, praying Duha, and sleeping after Witr. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1124; Muslim, 721.)

It was narrated from Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2420; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1040.)

There is broad scope in the command to fast three days, as it says in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), but the best days of the month for fasting are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth, as it says in the other saheeh ahaadeeth.

Now what if someone who is fasting on these 3 days? Is he committing Bid’ah?

No.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid says:

 If a person wants to pray qiyaam on this night as he does on other nights – without doing anything extra or singling this night out for anything – then that is OK. The same applies if he fasts the day of the fifteenth of Sha’baan because it happens to be one of the ayyaam al-beed, along with the fourteenth and thirteenth of the month, or because it happens to be a Monday or Thursday. If the fifteenth (of Sha’baan) coincides with a Monday or Thursday, there is nothing wrong with that (fasting on that day), so long as he is not seeking extra reward that has not been proven (in the saheeh texts). And Allaah knows best.

Every deed is based on our intention. And Allah knows them the best.

May Allah forgive us all.

Ameen!

References

1. http://islamqa.com/en/ref/154850
2. http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49675
3. http://islamqa.com/en/ref/8907
4. http://islamqa.com/en/ref/69781