Maulana Shoeb Desai writes...
1. Fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is the one of the five pillars of Islam.
2. Almighty Allah has promised the great reward for those who fast, whilst serve punishment is in the store for those who do not fast in the month of the Ramadan.
3. There are many physical, moral, spiritual and social benefits in the fasting. However Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we may develop self control and become pious, God fearing and God conscious.
4. Fasting in Islam means to stay away from eating, drinking and cohabitation from subhe-e-sadiq (early down) to sunset.
5. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory (Farz) upon every Muslim, male and female who is sane and mature. Children should be encouraged to fast, but should not be forced to complete it until sunset if they are unable to bear hunger or thirst.
People exempted from Fasting in Ramadan
1. Sick people, when their health is likely to be effected by fasting. They should how ever make up the loss of any days, once they have recovered after Ramadan.
2. A musafir (traveller), who is under taking a journey of 48 miles or more and is not attending to stay at the destination for fifteen days or more. However if the journey is not a tiresome one, then one is recommended to fast.
3. If expectant mothers are fearful of harming their own health and pregnancy.
4. If one is feeding mother, and feels that fasting will harm the young child.
5. Fasting by women in their menstrual periods is not allowed. similarly, fasting during the period after child birth (nifas) is also not allowed.
6. People on such necessary medications that can only be taken during the daytime.
7. All the above should make up for the missed fasts anytime after Ramadan once they can.
Suhoor
1. To eat suhoor is Sunnah and is very helpful to the actual fast throughout the day.
2. It is very much desirable to delay the suhoor up to little while before its the finial time.
3. If one misses suhoor for any reason, for example they over slept, then they should make intention in the morning, keep the fast. The fast must not be missed because one has failed to eat suhoor.
Valid Reasons for breaking the fast
1. If one become so ill that if medicine is not taken immediately, then he will get from bad to worse.
2. If it is feared that hunger or thirst will lead to death.
3. If such a situation arises in which an expected mother has to break her fast for the safety of her own health, or her child’s health.
4. In all the above cases qadha must be kept on a day for day basis for those that are broken, anytime after Ramadan.
Niyyah (intentions)
1. In order to make the fast valid “niyyah”, i.e., intentions of fasting is necessary.
2. A niyyah means intention, it is sufficient to simply have an intention in your mind of keeping the fast. However, it is better still to express this intention verbally by saying “I am fasting today”.
3. Niyyah can be made any language.
4. For the fasts in Ramadan, it is best to make niyyah just before subge-sadiq, i.e., dawn, even though, niyyah is acceptable till about an hour before noon, on the day of the actual fats, provided on has had nothing to eat or drink since fajr beginning time and has also abstained from all those things that break ones fast.
Few Things which do not break fast
1. If one ate or drunk by mistake i.e. without being conscious of his fast.
2. If water gets into the ears.
3. To have an injection, provided its medicine does not directly reach the stomach.
4. To put eyeliner on, or to apply surma or medicine into the eyes.
5. To have a bath or shower.
6. To rub oil onto to body or hair.
7. To apply itr or perfume.
8. To vomit unintentionally.
9. To brush the teeth without the use of a tooth paste, etc e.g. to use the miswaak.
10. To have wet dream.
11. To have a blood test.
12. To attend the dental appointment, as long as no part of the medicine or blood etc is swallowed.
Things that are Makrooh (undesirable and discouraged while fasting)
1. To chew things like rubber or plastic items.
2. To use tooth paste or tooth powder for cleaning teeth.
3. To let the water go too far up the nostrils when cleaning the nose.
4. To over gargle the mouth.
5. To quarrel, argue and to use filthy or indecent words.
6. To swear, tell lies, backbite, etc.
7. To complain of thirst and hunger.
A few things that break one’s fast
1. While gargling, some water accidentally goes down the throat whilst conscious of his feet.
2. If one swallows pure blood only.
3. If one swallows blood along with saliva, provided that the quantity of blood is more that the saliva.
4. If one intentionally vomits a mouthful.
5. One was to vomit, but return it down deliberately.
6. If one intentionally swallows a pebble, a piece of paper or any other item that is not used as food or medicine.
7. If one instils oil into the ears.
8. If one carries on eating after the time of suhoor was over due to ant reasons, e.g. a faulty watch.
9. If one does not iftar before sunset, due to any reason, e.g., a faulty watch.
10. If one deliberately inhales smoke of any kind e.g.looban, agar batti or cigarettes.
11. If one instils medicine into the nostrils or in the anal passage.
12. If one inserts a wet finger in the anal passage.
In all above the cases qadha must be kept on a day basis for those broken, anytime after Ramadan.
Fidya (Material compensation)
Only those who are either (a) very old have no strength to fats or (b) who are permanently ill and have no hope of ever recovering should pay material compensation known “FIDYA” to the poor.
Fidya can be paid through food items or even cash. If paid in cash then approx £1.00 to £1.50 should be paid for each fast missed.Fidya is not an option for those who are temporarily ill. They should only make up for the loss by practically fasting once they have recovered.
Important Notice
1. If one in the month of Ramadan after starting the fast for the day deliberately breaks it without a valid reason with something edible or drinkable, then along with qadha fast, they must also give a penalty of continuous fast for 2 months anytime after Ramadan. This is known as “kaffarah”.
2. Also note if in the month Ramadan, if a fast breaks for one reason or another then one still should abstain from eating or drinking until sunset. However if a fast was not kept in the first place due a one valid reason, then eating and drinking throughout the day is although allowed but only secretly and not openly.
