Question: What is the ruling of and the wisdom behind fasting?
Response: With Allaah lies all success. As for its wisdom, Allaah(subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) mentioned a very incorporating meaning in that regard: {O you who believe fasting has been prescribed for upon you as it was prescribed upon those that came before you that you may attain taqwaa (piety)} [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 183]. It incorporates everything the people have mentioned with regard to its wisdom.
• Taqwaa is a comprehensive word for everything that Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) loves and is pleased with from actions which are desirable and from abandoning prohibitions. So fasting is the greatest way to reach this goal which is the goal of the pleasure of the servant in his worldly life and his Hereafter;
• The fasting person seeks closeness to Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) by avoiding all desires, giving love of Allaah precedence over the love of his self. For this reason, Allaah specified it out of the other actions by attributing it to Himself, as in the authentic hadeeth;
• It is from the principles of taqwaa, as Islaam is not complete without it;
• It causes an increase in faith, and attainment of patience and in it is training one's self upon hardships that bring one close to the Lord of the Heavens;
• It is a cause of increase of one's good deeds, prayer, reciting (the Qur.aan), remembrance (dhikr) and charity that actualizes at-taqwaa;
• In it is prevention of the self from Haraam (prohibited) things, of prohibited action and speech which is the pillar of Taqwaa. In the authentic hadeeth: ((Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon that, Allaah is in no need of his abandoning his food and drink)). So the servant seeks closeness to Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) through avoiding prohibitions altogether, and they are:
• "False speech" - and that is every haraam (prohibited) speech;
• "Acting upon that" - and that is every haraam (prohibited) action;
• Leaving every haraam thing that obstructs the fast and that is those thing things which break the fast.
So, since in fasting there are advantages, benefits and attainment of all good and reward, that which necessitates its prescription at all times, Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) told that it was prescribed upon us as it was prescribed upon those before us. This is His affair with all His Laws that have universal advantages.
As for its rulings: all the "al ahkaam at takleefiyyah" Islaamic rulings could apply to it in accordance with the differing reasons behind it:
• As for the obligatory (waajib & fardh):
1) It includes fasting Ramadhaan upon every Muslim that is Islamically bound by the `Eed and is able;
2) It also includes the fast that a person vows to do;
3) It includes the fasts of expiation (after having done an act obligating that.)
• As for the prohibited fast, it is:
1) Fasting the days of Sharee'ah;
2) Fasting the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, except for the person who is doing Hajj at-Tamattu' or Qiraan but does not have a sacrifice and did not fast before the Day of Sacrifice;
3. Also included in the haraam fast is the fast of menstruating woman and the woman in post-natal bleeding;
4. Also, the ill person that fears death (as a result of fasting);
5. Also, it is obligatory to break the fast upon the one that needs to in order to save a sinless soul from jeopardy - (meaning the baby in the mother's womb.)
• The fast which is recommended (sunnah) is the supererogatory fast, the restricted and the unrestricted;
• As for the fast that is disliked (makrooh), it is the fast of the ill person who feels hardship in doing that;
• The permissible fast (jaa.iz): the fasting of a traveler. It is permissible for him to fast or not particularly if he traveled in a day in which he began fasting before traveling.
Shaykh as-Sa'dee
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Pages 34-36, Fatwa No.8;
al-Irshaad ilaa Ma'rifatil Ahkaam - Pages 82-84
The significance of fasting
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Question: What is the status and significance of fasting as a form of worship in Islaam, especially (during) the month of Ramadhaan?
Response: The status of fasting in Islaam is that it is one of its great (important) pillars, without which one's religion is incomplete.
And as for it's significance in Islaam, then it has been authenticated on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he said:
((Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadhaan, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allaah's rewards, then all his previous sins will be forgiven)).
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 37, Fatwa No. 9;
Fiqh al-'Ibaadaat - Page 171
The ruling concerning neglecting to fast
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Question: What is the ruling regarding a Muslim who neglected to fast without a permissible excuse for a number of years? He was fulfilling the other obligations upon him. Does he make them up or seek to expiate them? How would he make these months up if he had to?
Response: The ruling regarding a person who neglected to fast in Ramadhaan whilst he was eligible for that, whether male or female, is that he has disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger and has fallen into a major sin. It is upon him to repent to Allaah due to this, as well as having to make up all that he missed. He must also feed a poor person for each day he missed if he is able to do so. If he is a poor person and cannot feed them, then it is enough for him to make up the days along with repentance. This is because fasting in Ramadhaan is a great obligation. Allaah ordained it upon the Muslims and the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) has mentioned that it is one of the five pillars of Islaam. If he denies the obligation of fasting Ramadhaan then he is, by that, a disbeliever, belying Allaah and His Messenger. He must be asked to repent from the one in authority through the Islaamic courts. If he does not repent it is obligatory to kill him due to his apostasy, and due to the saying of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that "…whoever changes his religion (from Islaam) then kill him." Reported by Bukhaaree. However, if he did not fast due to illness or travel there is no sin upon him. It is obligatory upon him to make up these fasts once he has recovered from his illness or returned from his travel due to Allaah's saying in the Qur.aan: "and he who was ill or on a journey the prescribed period should be made up by days later". [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 185].
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 50, Fatwa No.17
The ruling concerning leaving off fasting due to laziness
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Question: Is a person who leaves off fasting due to laziness and heedlessness like the one that leaves off prayer in the respect that he is a disbeliever (kaafir)?
Response: The one that leaves off fasting out of heedlessness and laziness is not a disbeliever. That is because the basic rule is that a person remains upon his Islaam until sufficient proof shows that he is outside Islaam. There is no proof that the person that leaves off fasting is outside the fold of Islaam if he left it due to laziness and heedlessness. This is not the same as prayer because the texts from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and the sayings of the companions all show that the person that leaves off praying through heedlessness and laziness is a disbeliever (kaafir.). 'Abdullaah ibn Shaqeeq said: "…the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) didn't consider as disbelief (kufr) the leaving off of any actions except prayer". It is obligatory to call this person who is neglecting to fast due to laziness and heedlessness to fast. If he refuses he should be banished until he fasts.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 51, Fatwa No.18
The fast of one who does not pray
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Question: We need to know the ruling about the fast of one who does not pray (obligatory prayers)?
Response: One who does not pray, (then) his fast is not correct and it is not acceptable from him. This is because the one who does not pray is a kaafir and apostate (murtad), as Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aala) says: {But if they repent, offer prayers perfectly and give zakaah, then they are your brethren in religion} [Soorah at-Towbah, Aayah 11]. And also the statement of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam): ((The agreement which is between us and them is the salaah, so he who leaves it has disbelieved)), and also His (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) saying: ((Between the man and shirk and kufr is leaving the salaah)). And certainly this is the statement of the general Companions, if it is not a concensus amongst them. 'Abdullaah Ibn Shaqeeq (rahimahullaah) who was amongst the prominent Taabi'oon said: ((The Companions of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) did not see the leaving off of any actions to be kufr except the prayer)). And based upon this, if a person was to fast whilst he did not pray, then his fast is rejected and unacceptable and there is no benefit for him in front of Allaah on the Day of Judgement. And we say to him: Pray then fast, as for fasting and not praying then your fast is rejected because (any) act of worship is not acceptable from a kaafir.
Shakyh Ibn al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 751, Fatwa No. 763;
Fiqh al-Ibaadaat libni 'Uthaymeen - Page 178-179
Vomitting whilst fasting
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Question: What is the ruling of one who vomits whilst fasting, does he have to make up his fast or not?
Response: It's ruling is that he does not have to make it up. As for the one who intentionally vomits, then he must make up his fast, as the Prophet (saw) said: ((One who vomits, then he does not have to make it up, and he who intentionally vomits, then he has to make it up)). Transmitted by Imaam Ahmad and the Four Imaams of the Sunan (Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa'ee and ibn Maajah) with a Saheeh chain of narration on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 481, Fatwa No. 424
Backbiting and slandering whilst fasting
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Question: Does backbiting and slandering during the day in Ramadhaan break the fast?
Response: Backbiting and slandering does not break the fast. However, it reduces the effect of the fast. Allaah (subhaanahu wa-ta'aala) says: {O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-Muttaqoon (the pious)} [Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 183]. Also, the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: ((One who does not abandon evil talk and actions and ignorance then Allaah is not in need of him abandoning food and water (whilst fasting) )).
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 518, Fatwa No. 482;
al-Fataawa lbni-'Uthaymeen - Kitaab ad-Da'waah, Volume 1, Page 166-167
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas, "He is the Master Who is perfect in His sovereignty, the Most Noble Who is perfect in His nobility, the Most Magnificent Who is perfect in His magnificence, the Most Forbearing Who is perfect in His forbearance, the All-Knowing Who is perfect in His knowledge, and the Most Wise Who is perfect in His wisdom. He is the One Who is perfect in all aspects of nobility and authority. He is Allah, glory be unto Him.
Ibn Shubrumah mentions:
((I am amazed at the people who take care of themselves by eating food out of fear of dying, yet do not protect themselves from sins out of fear of the Fire)).
Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa. - Volume 6, Page 348
"THE KNOWLEDGE OF A HYPOCRITE IS IN HIS SPEECH, WHILE THE KNOWLEDGE OF A BELIEVER IS IN HIS ACTION."
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