Ramadan, the Holy Month (cont’d)

Last week our discussion was centered on the supplementary prayers after sighting of the moon. It is followed by saying the intention of the fast. The next step is the taking of the early morning meal before day break.  This early morning meal is taken near to the Fajr, (early morning) prayers.  This meal is allowed in Islam so that the one fasting for the whole day will have at least something to keep him up during the day.

 Islam is concerned about working to earn a living  Since people go to work for the maintenance of their families\ and for the fact that when fasting you feel very lazy.  Islam has given us permission to eat early in the morning so that we will be able to work properly.

The prophet Mouhammed(PBUH) said “there is blessing in the early morning meal so it is good to have it.

Islam does not allow the one who is fasting to just spend his time sleeping. He has to help in the development of his country by working.  A sahaba called Zaidun Ibnu Sabit narrated that they once had their early morning meal during the month of Ramadan with prophet Mouhamed and after the meal, they went to the mosque for Fajr prayers.  After praying, Zaidun asked the prophet “how many minutes is it between the time that we had our early morning meal and the Fajr prayers? The prophet replied “the time should be about the time you take to recite 50 verses from the holy Quran’ when they checked it, the 50 verses corresponded to sura Wal Mursalat, which is the 77th sura of the holy quran.

This is to explain that since this sura has 50 verses, the time it takes to recite the whole sura is the time between eating the early morning meal and praying for the Fajr.  It is about 10 minutes.  Islam does all this to facilitate your fasting for the day.  If you eat a few minutes before the early morning prayers, then you will not be hungry during the day.

These are some people who have the intention to fast but because of illness, they cannot.
Old age and the feeble.  Human beings reaching a stage in their age are not permitted to fast.  The prophet Mouhammed said: “the life span of my people is between 60 and 70 years, anything beyond that is additional.  Although there are some old aged who are strong and can fast.

The sick: those with disease that are incurable, like diabetes who cannot stay for the whole day without food are exempted from fasting.

The old age and the one with incurable disease have to give the amount of food they should have eaten, if they were fasting to the needy, everyday, during the whole mouth of Ramadan.

Expectant mothers who fear harm on them, or the expectant child in her womb.  Pregnant women are regarded as sick.

A woman who is sucking her baby and is afraid that fasting would be detrimental to her or her baby, or both her and the child.
However the Malickias uphold that if babies could be fed by women, other than their mothers, those mothers must fast.

According to Ibnu Umar and Ibnu Abass, the pregnant women and sucking mothers who are unable to fast are to feed the needy everyday of Ramadan and pay for missing dates.  Abu Hanifata and Abu Ubaida stated that the women mentioned above are to repay the missing dates but need not feed the needy.

According to Imam Shaafiyu, such women are to feed the needy and fast the missing dates when they regain their normal health.  On such women some scholars stated that the suckling mother must pay back days missed and feed the needy, but the pregnant shall pay but shall  not feed the needy.  These are differences by some various scholars.
This sacred month must be honoured by even those who are not fasting and are exempted from fasting.  No muslim is allowed to eat or drink openly.  Fasting women must not be tormented or forced to do things beyond their means by husbands or any body else.

 Those travelling on mini buses and vans and cars must avoid smoking passengers in their vehicles.  Please avoid spitting in mosques, in the rooms and other places.  We remind you that swallowing saliva does not nullify fasting.

Fasting is not to keep yourself thirsty and hungry only.  It is here to discipline the human being.  The one who is fasting must avoid anything that can spoil his fast.  His hands must fast, meaning he should not take with his hands anything that is not his own.  His feet should also fast by not going to any place for enjoyment while fasting.  The one fasting should avoid sitting and discussing about people.  As stated in sura Nahl V.125: “ Invite all to the way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.  And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.  For thy Lord Knowth best.
Who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance.”

He should not speak of any evil while fasting.  It is stated in the Holy Quran in Sura Nisai V.148 “Allah loveth not the shouting of evil words in public speech, except by one who has been wronged for Allah is He who heareth and knowth all things” Even backbiting and laughing at your fellow muslim brothers is not allowed in Islam, especially during Ramadan.  Sura Hujarat V.11 states: “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others.  It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others.  It may be that, the (latter) are better than the former, nor defame not be sarcastic to each other.  Nor call each other by(offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one).  After he has believed; And those who do not desist are indeed doing-wrong.”

He should not look down on others and should not feel superior to others as stated in sura Nahl V.23: “Undoubtedly Allah doth know what they conceal.  And what they reveal, verily he loveth not the arrogant.”

The Prophet Mouhammed said: “when fasting and talking bad things behind others, then you are just making yourself hungry and thirsty because your fasting will not be accepted by Allah the Almighty.”  To avoid all these habits, you have to  recite the holy Quran or  engage yourself in other prayers that you know of at home or in the office.  It will keep you busy during the fasting period.

We are happy that many offices now have places where people can say their prayers.  So we advise especially women to put on dresses that cover their bodies in the office especially when praying. They should double their efforts in worshipping Allah during this fasting period, so that Allah will answer their prayers.  Since there is freedom of religion in our country, muslims can pray easily without any disturbance.
May Allah the Almighty give us guidance throughout this fasting period.