Quick guide on Ramadan

1. DOS AND DON'TS OF
RAMADHAN
By Nuhu Tahir
1st Sha’aban 1437 A.H / 8th May 2016 A.C

2. FASTING IN THE MONTH OF
RAMADHAN
• It has also been narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with
him), Allah S Messenger (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him)
Said;
• “Whoever observes (fasts) during the month of Ramadan out of
sincere Faith, and hoping to attain Allah's Rewards, then all his past
sins will be for given” (Al-Bukhari).

3. UPON WHOM IS FASTING
OBLIGATORY?
• Muslim
• Ballgh (Puberty or Adulthood) Discharging semen as a result of wet
dreams,
Appearance of hair around the pubic area or 15+ (Discretional).
• A’qil and At Tamyeez (Sane and Discretion or mentally fit)
• Qadir (Physical fitness and fasting will not harm him/her)
• Muqim (Resident: not in a state of travelling) but, a traveler may
fast if he/she want’s to

4. UPON WHOM IS FASTING
INAPPLICABLE?
• A non-Muslim (Kafir)
• A mad person (the insane)
• Children (non baligh) but could be discretionally trained
• Women during the menstruation or of post childbirth state but,
should be made up later, a day for a day
• The Pregnant and breast-feeding women should pay back as
above
• A person having a sudden illness

5. FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF
FASTING
• The intention (the center of intention is the heart)
• Refraining from eating, intake of nutritional drugs and drinking from
dawn to sunset
• Abstention from sexual relations from dawn to sunset (Newly wed and
nonchalant Muslims should note this)

6. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
• Having Pre-Dawn meal (Suhoor close to fajr) “Take Suhoor for there is
blessing in it”. (Bukhari and Muslim).
• Breaking the fast hastily “Hasten the breaking of the fast and delay the
Suhoor”. (Sahih Al-Jami’). Also, “My people will continue doing good
deeds as long as they hasten in breaking the fast”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
• Breaking the fast with fresh/dry dates or water (Not cigarettes)
• Supplication at the time of breaking the fast ("Allah humma laka
sumna, wa 'ala rizqika aftarna” “O Allah for you we have fasted And on
Your provision we have broken the fast”. (Abu Dawood)

7. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
• Using the Siwak (tooth stick brush) “It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for
the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah s pleasures’’ (Bukhari).
• Safeguarding the fast (i.e. guarding the limbs from what Allah has
forbidden (Porn or Blue films, masturbating, backbiting, lying &
lowering your gaze etc..)
• Not being excessive in food and drink (Eat and drink and do not be
excessive. Verily Allah does not love those who are excessive (Al-
A’araf, Verse: 31)
• Patience in obeying Allah

8. DESIRABLE ACTS IN RAMADAN
• Benevolence and Generosity 61
• Offering night prayers (Taraweeh) “O people! Spread peace; feed
the needy, and join the blood ties among the next of kin; and
establish prayer while people are at sleep, you will enter Paradise
peacefully.” (Tirmidhi)
• Recitation/Studying the Qur’an (“Verily,Allah elevates some people
with this Qur’an and humiliates others” (Muslim)
• Seeking Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
• Performing Umrah

9. DESIRABLE ACTS IN RAMADAN
• Seclusion in a mosque (I’tikaf) “But do not have sexual relations
with them (your wives) while you are in retreat in the mosque.
These are the limits of Allah do not approach them}. (Al-
Baqarah,Verse: 187). Actions that nullifies I’tikaf:
1. Leaving the mosque intentionally.
2. Abandoning belief in Islam & ascribe a partner to Allah.
3. Insanity, drunkenness, menstruation or post-childbirth
bleeding.
Note: Combing, cutting one’s hair, clipping one’s nails, cleaning
one’s body, wearing nice clothes or wearing light perfume, call of
nature, seeing your wife off are all permissible.

10. PERMISSIBLE ACTS WHILE FASTING
• Brushing the teeth (Best after sahoor before fajr and after iftar)
• Taking a bath or cooling oneself with water, etc.
• Washing the mouth or the nose with water (If possible, without
gargling)
• Using light perfumes and body spray
• Blood-letting or donation for medical purposes
• Taking injections or medicine having no food value
• Tasting food on the condition that it does not reach the throat
• Applying Kohl or eye-drop

11. PERMISSIBLE ACTS WHILE FASTING
• Dental filing, extracting or scaling teeth
• Pecking or embracing (wives or husband) for one who has the ability
to control desires
• Swallowing things which are not possible to avoid
• Unavoidable having food in the mouth when Fajr is beginning
• Eating or drinking unknowingly
• Discharge Of Semen (as a result a an uninduced wet dream)

12. PERMISSIBLE ACTS WHILE FASTING
• Unintentional vomiting (by itself)
• Bleeding by itself such as nose-bleeding or extraction of tooth

13. THOSE PERMITTED TO BREAK THE FAST
(BUT WHO MUST PAY A “FIDYAH”
(RANSOM) FOR NOT FASTING)
• The elderly persons “And as for those who can fast (with difficulty) they
have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person for every day). ” (Al-
Baqarah, Verse: 184)
• Physical disability ‘Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope...’ (Al-
Baqarah, Verse 286)

14. THOSE PERMITTED TO BREAK THE FAST
(BUT WHO MUST MAKE UP THE DAYS
FOR NOT FASTING)
• A traveler Ibn Amr A1 Aslamee (may Allah be pleased with him) asked “O
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him). “I am a
person who fasts often, so should I fast while travelling? Allah’s Messenger
replied: Fast if you wish and refrain from fasting if you wish”. (Bukhari and
Muslim).
• Women during the period of menstruation or of the post childbirth state
• The Pregnant and breast-feeding women
• A person having a sudden illness (Unexpected illness)

15. AN IMPORTANT NOTE
• If a sick person or a traveler fast and withstand the hardships of the
fast, and continue to fast while feeling the hardship, their fast will be
valid but disliked, for they did not accept the concession Allah
gave them (Ibn Amr A1 Aslamee (may Allah be pleased with him)
asked “O Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon
him). “I am a person who fasts often, so should I fast while
travelling? Allah’s Messenger replied: Fast if you wish and refrain
from fasting if you wish”. (Bukhari and Muslim) thereby causing
themselves much hardship and the Prophet (Peace and Blessing of
Allah be upon him) said:

16. ACTIONS WHICH NULLIFY THE FAST
WITH
ATONEMENT (QADA)
• Deliberate vomiting
• Bleeding of menstruation or after childbirth (Seeing it before sunset
must be atoned for) i.e, + 1 day on the days of actual fast.
• Taking injections or drugs that are used as food or has nutritional
values
• Letting anything in the month intentionally
• Intentional ejaculation of sperm
• Breaking of fast under exceptional conditions

17. NOTE ON BREAKING OF FAST
UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS
• Muslims are permitted to break the fast of Ramadan when there is
danger to their health or being forced to eat or drink, etc. The fasting
person should not be acting against his free will. In this situation he/she
should make up his/her fast later at any other time of the year.
• Also, Eating, drinking or having intercourse after dawn on the mistaken
assumption that it is not dawn yet, would nullify fasting however, a person
should complete the fast and compensate the day Similarly, engaging in
these acts before Maghrib on the mistaken assumption that it is already
sunset. Although, obviously it is better to hasten in compensating the
missed Ramadan fasts than to delay them, it is not obligatory to
compensate the missed days immediately afterwards. (Worst case, pay
back before the next Ramadhan.)

18. ACTIONS WHICH NULLIFY THE FAST
WITH EXPIATION
• Sexual interaction or intentionally break your fast
(a) Free a slave, if one is not able to do so then (Days of slaves)
(b) Fast a period of 60 continuous days (Per fast) if one is not able,
(c) Or, must feed sixty poor people-one average meal each at once.

19. ALHAMDULLILAH