Remarks on some Fasting People

Muhammad Ibraaheem al-Hamad

Our issue in the following lines will focus on some remarks to be avoided by fasting people; so that their fasting is a correct, complete and accepted one; and to reap the desired benefits and the many blessings of the holy Month.

Categories: Fiqh of Fasting -

All praises and thanks be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet after whom there is no other Prophet.

It is noted that some people grumble upon the approaching of the holy month of Ramadan. They wish it would end quickly. You do not see them delighting when it comes, nor do they think of its virtues and blessings.

On the contrary, they receive it with pain and regret as if the one of them regards his fasting as favor upon Allah and people.

In such a state, you can see him easily irritated, much resenting for the least of reasons; so he does not tolerate the slightest word or negotiation.

To act like this contradicts the wisdom of fasting, and the manners of our righteous ancestors. They used to delight when Ramadan approaches. They were used to fasting, in other than Ramadan, some days of the week or the month to purify their souls, to get closer to their Lord, to practice the difficulty of the mission, and to achieve the good decent life.

How can we compare those people who grumble over the coming of the month to our righteous ancestors who have purified the corners of the earth from polytheism and injustice, and have filled the earth with faith and justice?

It is worthy of Muslims to welcome Ramadan happily and eagerly. One must determine to fast and to stay the night praying and remembering Allah, and to fill it with righteous deeds. So, if he lives up to the month and survives it he would be aided to fulfill his intention, and if he dies he would be rewarded by his intention {Say: “In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islâm and the Qur’ân); - therein let them rejoice.” That is better than what (the wealth) they amass.} [Surat Yûnus 10:58],

{قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّـهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ} يونس: 58

Transliteration: Qul bifadli Allahi wabirahmatihi fabithalika falyafrahoo huwa khayrun mimma yajmaAAoona

{And whosoever leaves his home as an emigrant unto Allâh and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward is then surely incumbent upon Allâh.}[Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:100].

{وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِن بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّـهِ} النساء: 100

Transliteration: waman yakhruj min baytihi muhajiran ila Allahi warasoolihi thumma yudrikhu almawtu faqad waqaAAa ajruhu AAala Allahi

It is worth noting that some people fast by imitation and indulgence because they don’t see in fasting more than this meaning.

There is no doubt that these people are wrong, and that they do not understand the meaning of fasting. They should fast out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), and in glorification to Allah’s rituals. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “Whoever observes fasting in Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]

«من صام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» متفق عليه

Thus, we find people fasting out of sincere faith, fear and Glorification of Allah, and seeking His reward; you can find them content, satisfied, at ease, delighted with fasting and thanking Allah Who extended their life to fast this month. You don’t see their souls disturbed, their manners annoyed, or their hearts closed or constricted. On the contrary, you find them of the most open-minded, the most high-spirited, the most strong-willed and the best mannered amongst people.

It is also noted that some fasting people are not keen on observing the Sunnah upon breaking the fast. They do not care about starting with ripe dates, dry dates or water. They even prefer other foods while these exist.

This, while sufficient, violates the Sunnah. The Sunnah is to break the fast with ripe dates, or dry ones. If dates are not found, one can start with sips of water - as was reported by Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhi.

Starting with ripe dates or the dried dates with water has a wonderful effect, a lot of blessings and an influence on the hearts and chastening them. This effect is recognized by the successful followers and emulators.

Starting with dates has some medical health effects. Physicians have mentioned that the bodies absorb sugars in five minutes; hence the symptoms of hypoglycemia and dehydration quickly vanish; as blood sugar decreases during fasting, leading to the feeling of hunger, and sometimes stress.

This all quickly vanishes by having dates: ripe or dried.

It is noticed that some people delay breaking the fast without excuse; which contradicts the Sunnah. It is from the Sunnah to hasten to breaking the fast, and “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast” as was told by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in the agreed-upon Hadith.

«لا يزال الناس بخير ما عجلوا الفطر» متفق عليه

If people delay breaking of the fast, this would indicate that goodness would depart from them, because they left the Sunnah that religiously benefits them which is following the path of the Prophet; and worldly which is maintaining their bodies with the food and drink they yearn for.

Also, hurrying on breaking the fast distinguishes the worship time from other times. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “When night falls from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets, then the fasting person should break his fast.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

«إذا أقبل الليل من ها هنا ، وأدبر النهار من ها هنا ، وغربت الشمس، فقد أفطر الصائم» رواه البخاري ومسلم

This is the time of breaking the fast that must not be delayed. Rather, it is blameworthy to delay it.

People observing fast should call this meaning to mind, and break their fast immediately after sunset; to reap the virtue of following (the Sunnah), and to pray the sunset prayer in congregation (in the mosque). However, some fasting people go to the Sacred House all the month of Ramadan or half of it or less; and leave their wives and children without monitoring – thus observing an advisable matter and leaving an obligatory one.

Some take their wives and children to Macca. Then, they seclude themselves in the Holy Mosque for days leaving their wives and children wander in the markets of Macca, exposed to turmoil and exposing others as well, wasting their religious obligations, not to mention neglecting the holiness of the place and the time. Woe to these guardians and again woe to them, they should care for those whom they are responsible for, even if this makes them leave performing the Umrah and seclusion.

It is noticed that some people ignore training their children to fast. They would even prevent them while they are able to, or that they would prevent girls on the pretext that she has not matured yet, in spite of the fact that she might already be mature. Maturity signs are multiple; they are not confined to age.

Some mistakes committed by some people are that they miss the night prayer, to catch the prayer with a good-reciting Imam.

It is worthy of these people to come early, and if they fear missing the night prayer (‘ishaa’), they should pray it in the nearest Mosque. It is more obligatory than the Taraweeh prayers, actually, the Taraweeh prayer is even optional in comparison.

It is noticed that some fasting women go to the mosque to perform the night prayer while wearing perfume and makeup, and showing some of their adornment; thus putting Muslims into affliction in the most honorable places and times.

So, it is obligatory for the Muslim women, if she wants to go to the mosque, to go out in plain clothes, away from adornment and affliction.

In this holy month, some Muslim women go to the mosque to pray the Taraweeh prayer. They get there while the Imam is praying the night prayer or the Taraweeh prayer, however they do not follow him in prayer; they pray alone, by themselves, the two rak’ats of greeting the mosque.

Some even come when the Imam is leading the Taraweeh prayer; they join prayers with him, and leave without praying the night prayer.

All the previous is ignorance and error. If a woman enters the mosque and the Imam is praying, and that she has missed a part of her prayer, she should pray along with him, and after he finishes she must get up and complete what she has missed.

If she enters the mosque while the prayer is being performed or about to be performed, she should join the prayer; she is not allowed to start performing the two rak’ats of greeting the mosque, because if the obligatory prayer is called for (the second call), there is no other prayer to be performed.

But if she comes while the second call is not yet performed, she should not sit down until she performs the two rak’ats of greeting the mosque.

If she enters the mosque and that the Imam has started the Taraweeh prayer, and that she has not yet performed the night prayer; she should join the Imam with the intention of performing the night prayer. After he finishes, she should get up and complete the rest of the night prayer.

It is also noticed that some women talk too much inside the Mosque. They may even raise their voices and hurt others sitting beside them, and keeping them off remembrance, invocations, reciting the Quran, or listening to preaches.

So, when a woman enters the Mosque, she should abide by good manners, serenity and modesty. She should keep herself busy with something that benefits her.

These are some available remarks in these papers, we ask Allah to make us see our defects, and to help us avoid them, and to get rid of them. He is The Most Generous.

And peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al-Hamad

Ibn Khuzaymah House