Ramadan, the Holy Month (cont’d)

Allah commanded us to fast.  It is for our own good in view of the good rewards to be achieved by obeying His commandment.

All muslims who have no genuine excuse should fast in this blessed month.  Its period is a short one as mentioned in the Quran in Sura Baqara V.183-184: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may learn self-restraint.

Fasting for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number should be made-up from days later, for those who can do it with hardship, is a ransom the feeding of one that is indigent but he that will give of his free will - it is better for him, and it is better for you that ye fast if ye only know”.

Fasting in Ramadan is a pillar of worship. It has its regulations. There are acts which are permissible to muslims while fasting.  There is no hardship in religion but instead there are provisions to make it easy. Sura Hajj V.78: “And strive in this cause as ye aught to strive with sincerity and under -discipline.

“He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulty on you in religion”.
The following are permissible while in a state of fasting:
1.Cooks may taste food or soup but shall not swallow.

3.Take shower bath with or without soap.  It is narrated by some scholars that under intense heat from sunrays, the Prophet used to pour water over his body, while in a state of fasting to cool off.

1.Failing to perform ‘Janaba’ due to shortage of water or over sleep. The person can take bath (Janaba) anytime during the day when he has water. It will not prevent him from fasting.
 
According to Aisha, the Prophets wife, he (the Prophet) used to wake-up in the morning and have “Janaba”.  However, it will not prevent him from continuing his fasting.  He will take bath and continue his fasting.  Another wife of the Prophet called Oumou Salama, also narrated that Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS) used to wake up with “Janaba” in the morning but will continue fasting.

Aisha, the Prophets wife, narrated that a man came to the Prophet and said: “I have ‘Janaba’ and I have to pray.” He asked the Prophet whether he can continue fasting and pray after taking bath.  The Prophet replied:

“You can continue fasting, take bath after and pray,”  The same thing happened to me (the Prophet).  But I continued fasting, take bath and prayed after,”  The man told the Prophet not to compare himself with others because Allah had forgiven all his sins. The Prophet said: “I am reminding you that I am doing my best to follow Allah’s command and do more of it than you do”.

Women in menses or those who have delivered, when the blood has stopped before Fajr (early morning prayers), can say their intention to fast.  Afterwards, she can take bath and pray anytime during the day.  As narrated by Imam Annawawe.
4.Injection on the skin of a sick person.
5.Use of tooth brush with paste before Fajr.
6.Use of perfume spray will not spoil your fasting.
7.Unintentional vomit, drinking of water or eating. The unintentional eating or drinking of water must be stopped when realised, and the fasting must continue.

8.Mistakenly ending your fast few minutes before the appropriate time.  Sura Ahzab V.5 states: “But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake there in.  What counts is the intention of your hearts, and Allah is most forgiving  and most merciful”.

9.Unintentional offering of foul language, but we are to be careful of it because it is stated in a hadith in which the Prophet Mouhammed said: “Those who could not avoid doing bad things and uttering foul language should not fast because it would not be accepted in the sight of Allah”.
 
We are reminding doctors to check their patients carefully before advising them to fast because they will be held responsible if they did it intentionally.  Allah knows everything.  Sura Ra’ad V.38:   “For nothing whatever is hidden from Allah whether on earth or in heaven”.

Allah is everywhere and nothing can be hidden from Him.  Stated in Sura Naml V.25:”
“Allah who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal”.