Saturday 6 May 2017
Chapter: Fasting
Fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, it is obligatory for every Muslim according to:
- The Qur’an
- The Sunnah
- Ijmaa’ (consensus)
- Known from the religion to be a necessity
“O You who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you, just as it has been prescribed upon those before you” [2: 183]
- The wisdom behind fasting in Ramadan is that it purifies one from immorality and vice because it blocks the shaytaan as the shaytaan circulates round the body just like the blood does. When one eats and drinks he is more likely to succumb to desire.
- Timings of the fast:
- From Dusk (when the whiteness appears across the horizon)
- To sunset
- There are 3 ways in which you can find out when Ramadhaan begins
- Sighting of the Moon yourself
- Someone else informs you they sighted the moon
- The completion of Sha’baan (up to 30 days)
- It is not permissible to judge the start of Ramadhaan based on calculations
- What is the ruling on the one who fasts on the day of doubt (yawm ash-shakk) just in case?
- Can we use astronomical calculations to judge the start of Ramadan?
- For whom is it obligatory to fast?
- A Muslim
- Adult (reached puberty)
- Healthy (able to fast)
- If someone becomes Muslim during Ramadan – when should he start to fast?
- Who is exempt from fasting? Do they have to make up those days?
- What is the ruling on the one who is traveling? Should he fast? What if he finds it easy to do?