Fasting

Know! O my Muslim Brother that Allah has made fasting obligatory upon us so that we worship Him doing so; (therefore) so that your fast is acceptable and beneficial (to you) be aware of the following:

1. Be wary of protecting your prayers: Many people who are fasting are slack in maintaining their prayers despite it being a pillar of the religion and leaving it is from (the acts of) kufr.
2. Maintain good manners: Be wary of falling into kufr and cursing the religion and ill manners towards the people particularly whilst fasting. Fasting purifies the inner self and does not lead to ill manners and kufr renders the Muslim outside the fold of the religion.
3. Do not speak unnecessarily even if you are joking as this will reduce the reward of your fast. Take note of what the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alahe wa sallam) said:
   "If any of you are fasting then abstain from ignorant and indecent speech that day; and if anyone curses you or strikes you then say: I am fasting".
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].
4. Benefit from the fast by leaving off smoking which causes cancer and ulcers; Try to maintain your willpower and leave off smoking in the evening just as you left it during the day. As a result you will be better off in health as well as financially.
5. Be wary of divulging in excessive eating at the time of breaking the fast as it can result in ruining the benefit of the fast and harming your health.
6. Do not go to the cinema or watch television so that you do not see that which will spoil your fast and ruin its effect.
7. Do not go to sleep too late and as a result miss out on the sahoor (pre-dawn meal) and the Salaatul-Fajr. Try to maintain an early start to your work as the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "O Allah bless my Ummah in that which they maintain of an early start".
   [Saheeh transmitted by Ahmad]
8. Increase in giving in charity to your relatives and those who are needy; visit your relatives (to maintain family ties) and clear up any disputes and misunderstandings that may exist.
9. Increase in the remembrance of Allah and recite the Qur'an listen to it and reflect upon its meaning and act according to it. Go to the masaajid to listen to beneficial talks; and doing the i'tikaaf in the masjid during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan is from the Sunnah.
10. Read around the subject of fasting so as to learn its rulings. You will then come to know that eating and drinking forgetfully does not break the fast. Also having sexual intercourse during the night does not prevent anyone from fasting.
11. Maintain the fast of Ramadan and prepare your children to fast as soon as you feel they are capable and beware of breaking the fast without an Islamically valid reason. Whoever intentionally breaks his fast any day then he is required to make up that day and repent.
12. Beware O my Muslim brother from eating (and drinking during the day) in Ramadan and beware of openly doing so in front of the people for indeed doing so is tantamount to fearlessness of Allah making a mockery of Islam and brazenness in front of the people. So know that whoever does not fast then he has no right to celebrate the 'Eed since 'Eed is a major celebration upon the culmination of the fasting and anticipation for the acceptance of one's worship.

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo

The Messenger of Allah encouraged the fasting of the following days

1. Fasting the six days of Shawwaal as the Prophet (sal-Allahu 'alyhe wa sallam) said:
   "Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it up with (any) six (days of fasting) in Shawwaal then it would be as if he has fasted the (whole) year"
   [Transmitted by Muslim and others]
   The scholars have noted that each good deed is rewarded by ten (10) and therefore fasting the month of Ramadan is equivalent to fasting ten (10) months and the six (6) days being equivalent to two (2) months; So the total sum is equivalent to twelve (12) months (i.e. a year);
2. Fasting the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah the day of 'Arafah - for those not performing the Hajj.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "The fast on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for (the sins of) two years: the previous (year) and the following (year) and the fast of the day of 'Aashooraa is an expiation for (the sins of) the previous year"
   [Transmitted by Muslim and others]
   Once the Messenger of Allah was brought some laban and he drank it whilst he was addressing the people in 'Arafah and he (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "There are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than these days (i.e. the ten (10) days of Dhul-Hijjah". It was said: O Messenger of Allah not even jihaad in the path of Allah? He said:
   "Not even jihaad in the path of Allah except for a man who leaves (for jihaad) with his wealth and does not return with anything of it"
   [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
3. The fast of the Day of 'Aashooraa. including the day before or the day after.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Indeed this is the Day of 'Aashooraa. and it has not been presecribed (obligated) upon you to fast it. However I am fasting and whoever wishes to fast may do so and whoever wishes to refrain from doing so may do so"
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
   And the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) also said:
   "And if I remain until the following year then indeed I will fast the ninth (of Muharram along with the 10th (day of 'Aashooraa.")
   [Transmitted by Muslim]
4. Fasting the days of al-Biyadh as one of the Sahaabah (radhi-yAllahu 'anhu) said:
   "The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) encouraged us to fast (every) month the three days of the full moon the thirteenth the fourteenth and the fifteenth" [Transmitted by an-Nasaa.ee and others and its grade of authenticity is that of Hasan. Refer to Silsilah as-Saheehah page 93]
5. The fast of Prophet Daawood ('alayhis-salaam) i.e. fasting every other day.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of Daawood and the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Daawood. He used to sleep half the night and stand for prayer for a third of the night and used to sleep a sixth of the night and he used to fast every other day"
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
6. Fasting most of Sha'baan.
   "The Messenger of Allah used to fast most of Sha'baan"
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
7. The fast of (every) Monday and Thursday.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "The actions (of the son of Aadam) are presented (before Allah) (every) Monday and Thursday and I like it that my actions are presented whilst I am fasting"
   [Saheeh narrated by an-Nasaa.ee. Refer to Saheeh al-Jaami' No.2956]
   And he (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was asked about fasting (every) Monday and he said:
   "That is the day on which I was born and (the day) on which revelation descended upon me"
   [Transmitted by Muslim] .

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo

1. The one performing hajj fasting on the day of 'Arafah.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "The day of 'Arafah and the day of Nahr and the days of Tashreeq are the (days of) 'Eed for the Muslims and they are the days for eating and drinking"
   [Saheeh transmitted by Abu Daawood]
2. Singling the day of Jumu'ah (Friday) out for fasting.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Do not fast the day of Jumu'ah (Friday) unless you fast a day before it (also) or the day after it (also")
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
3. Singling the day of Saturday out for fasting.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Do not fast the day of Saturday unless it is an obligatory fast upon you and even if any of you were to find only grape skin or a wooden stick then chew it"
   [Saheeh transmitted by Ahmad]
4. Fasting the entire year without missing a day.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "Whoever fasts the (entire) year then neither has he fasted nor has he not fasted"
   [Saheeh transmitted by an-Nasaa.ee]
5. Fasting two days or more simultaneously without breaking the fast after the first day. This is what is called "al-wisaal".
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Beware of al-wisaal" i.e. do not fast the fast of al-wisaal
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
   And the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) also said:
   "Do not fast continuously. Whoever amongst you wishes to fast continuously then do so for a day (only")
   [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
6. Fasting the day of doubt which is the 30th day of Sha'baan.
   'Ammaar ibn Yaasir (radhi-yAllahu 'anhu) said:
   "Whoever fasts the day on which there is doubt (as to whether Ramadan has begun or not) then he has gone against (the guidance of) Abul-Qaasim (Muhammad (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam")
   [Transmitted by Abu Daawood]
   And the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Do not preceed Ramadan by fasting a day or two days before it except for the person who regularly fasts"
   [Transmitted by Muslim]

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo

1. One who is ill and the traveller. It is upon them to make up (for any) days (of fasting in Ramadan they missed).
   Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
   "[Observing Sawm (fasts)] for a fixed number of days but if any of you is ill or on a journey the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty (e.g. an old man) they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (needy person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know."
   [Soorah al-Baqarah Ayah 184]
   As for the ill person who is suffering from an illness from which a cure is not anticipated then he is required to feed a poor and needy person for every day he misses (of fasting in Ramadan).
2. A woman on her menses or post-parum bleeding then it is upon her to make up (for any) days she misses (of fasting in Ramadan).
   'Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllahu 'anhaa) said:
   "We (the women on their menses or post-partum bleeding) were commanded to make up (for any days of) fasting (in Ramadan we missed) and were not commanded to make up for (any) prayers (missed")
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
3. The aged from both the male and female who are unable to fast (due to the hardship of old age); they are required to feed a poor and needy person for every day (of fasting in Ramadan they miss).
4. The pregnant woman and the one breast feeding – if they fear for their health; they are required to make up (for any days of) fasting (in Ramadan they miss). However if they fear for their child only then they are required to make up (for any days of) fasting (in Ramadan they miss) in addition to feeding a poor and needy person for every day (of fasting in Ramadan) they miss.

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo

1. The two 'Eed days namely: al-Fitr ad al-Adh.haa; as 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radhi-yAllahu 'anhu) said:
   "Verily the Messenger of Allah prohibited fasting on these two days the day of al-Fitr from Ramadan and the other day on which you eat whilst carrying out your (hajj) rites" i.e. 'Eed al-Adh.haa
   [Transmitted by Muslim]
2. The days of Tashreeq and they are the 11th 12th and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) sent 'Abdullaah ibn Hudhaafah (radhi-yAllahu 'anhu) around Minaa saying:
   "Do not fast these days for indeed they are the days for eating and drinking and remembering Allah ('Azza wa Jall")
   [Saheeh transmitted by Ahmad]
   And the ones excused from this prohibition are those who are performing the Tamattu' or al-Qiraan hajj but have no means to offer the obligatory sacrifice.
3. The menstrual and post partum bleeding days with respect to women.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "Is it not that when she is on her menses she does not pray nor fast? Then this is the deficiency in her religion?"
   [Transmitted by al-Bukhaaree]
4. The wife fasting whilst in the presence of her husband unless she has sought his permission.
   The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
   "A woman is not to fast whilst in the presence of her husband except with his permission not including (the fast of) Ramadan"
   [The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeenoo