Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) said: “He who fasts solely for the sake of Allah, has all his previous sins forgiven.
The odour of the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
The Prophet said, the sleep of a fasting person is Ibadat and his silence is Tasbeeh (recitation of Subhan Allah).
According to the Hadith, fasting is a shield as long as the fasting person does not rupture it with lies and back-biting.
Saum and the Quran will intercede on behalf of the servant of Allah. Saum will say ‘My Rabb! I forbade him from sleep at night and desires during the day, therefore, accept my intercession on his behalf.’ The Quran will say: ‘I forbade him from sleep at night, therefore accept my intercession on his behalf.’ Thus, their intercession will be accepted.”
Who should Fast?
Fasting during Ramadan is compulsory for every Muslim, male or female, who meets the following requirements:
1. Is mentally and physically fit i.e., sane and able.
2. Has attained the age of puberty and discretion, which is normally about 14.
3. Is present at their permanent settlement, hometown, farm or business premises etc.
4. Is fairly certain that the fasting is unlikely to cause any harm, physical or mental other than the normal reactions to hunger, thirst etc.
Simple facts about Sahri
Sahri is the act of arising from sleep during the course of the night to partake of some food or drink in anticipation of the next day’s fasting.
Sahri is Sunnat regardless of whether one feels like eating anything or not. One should rise and eat even a date or two or merely take a gulp of water.
It is of greater merit to delay Sahri. But it should not be delayed so much that Subah Sadiq has almost set in, causing doubt in the validity of the fast.
It is not permissible to forgo a fast because of failure to wake up during the night for Sahri.
It is not permissible to eat after the expiry of Sahri time. Sahri time expires with the commencement of Subah Sadiq.
Some people continue eating even when the Fajr Azan is being proclaimed. This act breaks the fast since the Azan is proclaimed after expiry of Sahri time.
It is Mustahab to delay Sahri as late as possible, but not to the Makrooh time, i.e. when one starts doubting the validity of Sahri time.
If Sahri was missed if one has overslept, one should not forgo fasting. It is not permissible to refrain from Saum because of having missed Sahri.
The Glow of Sunset-Iftar
It is Mustahab to hasten with Iftar (breaking the fast) as soon as the sun has set.
Iftar should be made before the Maghrib Salat.
The Muezzin should make Iftar before proclaiming the Azan.
At the time of Iftar, it is Sunnat to recite the following dua:
“O Allah! I have fasted for you. I believe in you.
I have trust in you and I make Iftar with the rizaq (food) provided by you.”
Iftar should preferably be made with dates. In the absence of dates, water is best.
It is Makrooh to make Iftar when in doubt regarding sunset.
If it is overcast, Iftar should be delayed until there is absolute certainty that the sun has set.
If Iftar is made even a minute before sunset, Qadha of the fast is incumbent. It is Makrooh to unnecessarily delay Iftar.
The time of Iftar is very auspicious. Dua is readily accepted at the time when the fast is about to end.
What makes the fast valid?
Niyyat : It is preferable to make the Niyyat of Saum during night, i.e. prior to the entry of Subah Sadiq. When the fast starts, if the Niyyat was not made during the night, the Saum will be valid if the Niyyat is made approximately one hour before zawaal. One hour before zawaal is an approximate time taken as a precautionary measure. The exact time limit for the validity of the Niyyat for Saum is before the time of Nisfun-Nahar, i.e. mid-day in terms of the Shariah.
Nisfun-Nahar is determined by dividing by two the time duration from Subah Sadiq to sunset, and adding the result to Subah Sadiq time.
Example: Subah Sadiq : 5.30 a.m Sunset : 5.35 p.m
Time duration from Subah Sadiq to Sunset.
12 hrs. 5 mins divided by 2 = 6 hrs. 2 mins.
Add this result to Subah Sadiq : 5.30+6.02 = 11.32 a.m.= Nisfun-Nahar.
If Niyyat is made for the saum before 11.32 a.m. (in this example), the wajib Saum will be valid. It is not essential that any particular Niyyat formula be recited. Niyyat merely means to intend that one will be fasting, or is fasting. The Niyyat could also be made verbally in any language, e.g. One may say: O Allah! Tomorrow I shall be fasting for You. Or one may recite it in Arabic e.g. “I make Niyyat of tomorrow’s fast”.
Remaining without food and drink the whole day will not render such abstention a Saum, if Niyyat was not made.
During the month of Ramadan, only Niyyat of the existing Ramadan’s Saum will be valid. Even if a Niyyat for any other Saum is made during Ramadan, then too only the Saum of the existing Ramadan will be discharged and not the Saum for which the Niyyat was made.
Things which do not break the Fast
The using of Miswak
To take bath during the day or to pour water, over the head due to the summer heat.
To smell perfume.
To apply Surmah (Kohl) in the eyes, or oil to the hair.
To eat or drink in forgetfulness.
To inhale a fly or smoke or dust without one’s will or intention.
To pour water into the ear unintentionally.
To swallow saliva or phlegm.
To gargle or take water in the nose, while performing ablution (Wudu), but care should be taken that no part of water enters the throat.
Blood tests during illness.
Things which break the Fast
Eating or drinking breaks the Saum.
Sexual intercourse even if there is no emergence of semen.
Inhaling smoke by one’s own action, e.g. inhaling the smoke of incense, etc.
Swallowing any substance or object which is not normally consumed as food or medicine, e.g. pebbles, paper, a coin, etc.
Pouring oil into the ears.
Saliva mingled with blood will break the fast if the taste of blood is discernible when swallowing it.
Eating deliberately. (Eating by mistake does not break the fast).
Water slipping down the throat while making wudu even if not done deliberately.
Deliberately inducing oneself to vomit will break the fast if the vomit is mouthful. If the emergence of the vomit cannot be restrained, the vomit will be said to be a mouthful. Vomiting less than a mouthful will not break the fast even if deliberately induced.
A food particle, the size of a chana (about the size of half a pea) stuck in the teeth slips down the throat.
Applying drops of medicine into the nostrils.
Masturbation. In addition to it nullifying the Saum, it is an immoral and a sinful act.
Ejaculation as a result of caressing and fondling the wife even if there was no sexual intercourse.