RAMADAN; AN ANNUAL RETREAT
Ramadan is an Arabic word derived from the root which
means (dryness / heat). It is the ninth month of the Islamic
Lunar Calendar. For Muslims, it is a great and blessed
month in which Allah sent down the Quran as guidance
for mankind. Allah prescribed the fasting of Ramadan as
a pillar among the five pillars of Islam.
Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “When the month of
Ramadan starts, the doors of the heaven are opened, the
doors of Hell are closed and the devils are chained” Bukhary
“3277”
FASTING (WHAT – WHO – HOW – WHY)
WHAT is the meaning of fasting?
Fasting, according to Islamic concept, is:
The abstention from eating, drinking and doing sexual
relationships from Fajr Azan (Dawn) until Maghrib Azan
(Sunset) for the sake of Allah.
Fasting is a common form of worship among the various
religions across the world. Its spiritual benefits are widely
recognized even through its frequency, practice and
duration may differ from faith to faith.
Allah says in Quran: “O you who have believed, decreed
upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before
you, that you may become righteous” (2:183)
WHO is obliged to fast the month of Ramadan?
Every ADULT Muslim is obliged to fast the month of
Ramadan. Nevertheless, there are certain people who are
exempted from fasting:
1. Minors and those who are mentally retarded. Such
category does not has tomake up “Qadhaa” in other
days, nor feed a needy “Kaffarah or expiation”.
2. One who is ill or on a travel. Such category has to
make up Qadhaa” for any days of fasting in Ramadan
they missed. As for ill person who is suffering from
anillness from which a cure is not anticipated, then he is
required to feed a needy person for every day of fasting
in Ramadan he misses.
3. A woman during her menses or post-partum bleeding,
then she is required to make up for any days of fasting
in Ramadan she misses.
4. The aged person (male or female) who are unable to fast
due to the hardship of old age, then they are required to
feed a needy person for every day of fasting Ramadan
that they missed.
5. The pregnant and the breast-feeding women, such
category contains two conditions:
• If they fear for their health and the health of their
child; then they arerequired to make up for any days
of fasting Ramadan they miss.
• However, if they fear for their child only, then they
are required to make up for any days of fasting they
miss in addition to feeding a needy person for every
day as well.
HOW DO WE FAST?
HOW:
To stop eating, drinking and sexual activity from Fajr Azan
(Dawn) until Maghrib Azan (Sunset).
Things which nullify the fast:
Things which nullify the fast are divided to two categories
1- That nullify the fast and – as a result – requires only the
making up of the missed days:
A. Eating or drinking intentionally.
B. Intentionally vomiting.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever intentionally
vomits, then he has to make up the fast” (Ahmed 10463)
C. Menses and post-partum bleeding, even if it occurred
just moments before sunset.
D. Excreting semen (intentionally). Such acts shall nullify
the fast and the person is required to make up for any
day of fast in Ramadan he missed.
2- That nullifies the fast and – as a result – requires the
making up of fast inaddition to the expiation “Kaffara”.
This category only applied to the act ofdoing a sexual
intercourse, then the penalty beside making up the
missed day of fasting in Ramadan is either freeing a
slave (not applicable nowadays), fasting continuously
for TWO months or feeding sixty needy persons.
Things which do not nullify the fast
(Qadaa or Kaffara not required):
1. To eat, drink or have sexual intercourse “FORGETFULLY”,
or “MISTAKENLY” or being under threat of harm.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If someone ate or
drunk forgetfully, then he should complete his fast, for
what he has eaten or drunk; has been given to him by
Allah” Al Bukhary (1831)
2. Vomiting unintentionally
3. Having a sexual discharge in a wet dream.
WHY MUSLIMS FAST?
Fasting is observed as an act of obedience to Allah, one
for which He has reserved special blessings. In essence,
fasting in the month of Ramadan is a yearly opportunity for
Muslims to physically and spiritually REVIVE themselves.
Fasting redirects the heart away from worldly affaires
and towards the remembrance of Allah. During Ramadan,
Muslims focus on strengthening their relationship with their
Creator. The self-restraint practiced in Ramadan makes the
heart and mind accustomed to the remembrance of Allah
and to the complying with his commands.
Virtues of Fasting
1. Gaining piety and fear of Allah. Allah said: “O you who
have believed,decreed upon you is fasting as it was
decreed upon those before you, thatyou may become
righteous” (2:183)”
2. Ar-Rayyan Door.
Prophet (peace be upon him said): “In the Heaven,
there is a door called (Ar-Rayyan), through which only
the people who observe fasting would enter on the day
of Resurrection, none else would enter along with them”
Bukhary (1763)
3. Fasting is a shelter from the Hellfire and a countless
reward.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah – the Almighty
– said: “The fast is for the sake of Me, and I will give
the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast)
leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My sake”
Fasting is a shelter from Hellfire” Al Bukhari (7492).
4. Protection from sexual passions.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O young-men,
whoever among you is capable of marriage (financially
and physically), he should marry, since it is more helpful
in lowering one’s gaze and guarding one’s private parts
(from prohibited sexual actions)” Al Bukhari (1905)
5. Fasting is one of the best deeds.
Abu Umamah reported: “I said: O Messenger of Allah,
tell me about an action (I should do). He (peace be upon
him) said: “Observe fasting, since no action is equal to
it”
6. Fasting expiates sins.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever observe
fasting during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping
to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be
forgiven. ” Al Bukhari (38)
Taraweeh (night prayer) & Lailat Al Qadr
Taraweeh is a voluntary prayer, which is also known as
“Tahajjud” or “Qiyam Allail”. It may be performed whether
collectively in mosques or privately in one’s house. Its time
starts after Isha prayer until Fajr prayer.
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stands for the
night prayer during the month of Ramadan, out of sincere
faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past
sins will be forgiven. ” Al Bukhari (37)
The prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray 11 Rakaah
as Qiyam Allail in Ramadan and other than Ramadan, as
narrated by Aysha (may Allah be pleased with her) when
she asked. Al Bukhari (3569)
The night of Decree “Lailat Al Qadr”
Lailat Al Qadr (night of Decree) is the crowning glory of
Ramadan. The person who is unable to benefit from the
blessings of this magnificent night is unfortunate.
– Lailat Al Qadr should be sought in the odd nights of the
last ten days of Ramadan.
– Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stands for
night prayer on the night of Decree out of sincere faith
and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past
sins will be forgiven. ”
I’etikaaf
According to Sharia; I’etikaaf means: Staying in the mosque
with the intention of drawing closer to Allah.
All scholars agreed that I’etikaaf is recommended (Sunnah),
since the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to stay in the
mosque for the last ten days of Ramadan until he died.
* Things that nullify I’etikaaf:
1. Leaving the mosque intentionally without need.
2. Losing one’s rationality through insanity or drunkenness.
3. Menstruation and post-partum bleeding.
Zakat Al Fitr or Sadaat Al Fitr
Zakat Al Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqat Al Fitr. The
word “Fitr” same like “Iftar”: “breaking the fast”. Islamically,
it is the given name to charity that is disbursed at the end
of the fast of Ramadan.
– It is obligatory upon every Muslim, whether they are young
or aged, male or female, free or slave.
Ibn Ummar reported: “The prophet (peace be upon him)
made the obligatory of giving Zakat Al Fitr in Ramadan
from a saa’ (approximately 2-3 Kgs) of dates, or a saa’ of
barly upon the slave and free, the male and female and the
young and aged among the Muslims” Al Bukhari (1503)
How our Salaf observed Ramadan?
They used to Focus on acts of worship such as: Reading
the Quran profusely. Uthman bin Affan radia Allaahu ‘anhu
used to finish reciting the Qur’an once every day.
Imam ash Shafii’ used to recite the whole Qur’an 60 times,
in other than his prayers.
When Ramadan would begin, az-Zuhri used to run away
from reading books of hadith and (didn’t) stopped attending
the gatherings of scholars. Instead he used to engage
himself in reciting the Qur’an from the Mushaf. Sufiyan
ath-Thawri used to leave all (voluntary) acts of worship
and engaged himself in reciting the Qur’an.
Al-Aswad used to recite the whole Qur’an every two nights
of Ramadan. Qatadah used to recite the whole Qur’an every
7 nights and in Ramadan every three nights, and every night
in the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Qiyam Allail
Umar bin al-Khattab Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu used to offer the
late night prayer till (the) midnight; then he used to awaken
his family to offer the prayer, and he would tell them, “the
prayer, the prayer,” Narrated Alqamah bin Qais: “I spent
one night with Abdullah bin Masud Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu
(in his house). ”
He (Ibn Masud) woke up in the early portion of the night
and offered the late night prayer. He used to recite the same
recitation of an Imam (slowly with the Telawah) till a little
before dusk (before dawn), then offered the Witr parayer.
Narrated as-Saa’ib bin Zaid: “The Imam used to recite
hundreds of verses in the late night prayer, such that we
were supporting ourselves with sticks, out of long standing
(in prayer), and they used to leave at dawn. ”
Charity
Abu as-Siwar al-Adwi said: “The men of Bani Adi tribe used
to pray in the Masjid. Never one of them breaks his fast
alone. If he finds someone to eat with him, he will eat,
otherwise he takes his food to the Masjid and eats it with
the people and the people eat with him (i. e. share his food
with the people. )”
