IN RAMADAN CAN A NURSING MOTHER BREASTFEED TO HER CHILD.& KEEP FAST?

CAN A NURSING MOTHER BREASTFEED TO HER CHILD DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN??

Can a nursing mother Breastfeed her child during the month of Ramadan?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question: 
I refer to your reply to the subject question. You have stated that the nursing mother can observe Ramadan fasts if her or her child's health is not affected. Does it mean that during the fast she should not breast feed the child? If she does so her fast will not be valid? Kindly elucidate on the aforesaid points. Allah Hafiz.

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Answer:

Can a nursing mother Breastfeed her child during the month of Ramadan?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The fast of a woman is not affected by her breastfeeding or nursing the baby.   If the woman observes all the other conditions of the fast, her fast will be valid. 

The nursing mother has a choice not to fast, and make up her fasts later, if she fears that by fasting, her health or the health of the infant might be affected.  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

SHALL THE BELIEVING WOMEN COVER HERSELF IN RAMADAN WITH HIJAB?

IN RAMADAN, ARE THE BELIEVING WOMEN SHOULD COVER HERSELF WITH A VEIL, HIJAB AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH ?

Cover women in the month of Ramadhan

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
I live in a muslim country where during the month of Ramadhan, the woman believe that they should cover their head. My question is that Is it right to just cover your head during the month of Ramadhan and not for the rest of the year?

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Answer:
Cover women in the month of Ramadhan
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam, no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The real reason that Allah declares fasting has been ordained for the believers, is that it will instill in them with piety or God-consciousness.   

In Ramadan, Allah commands and stops the believers from some of the ‘halaal’ things as a test; to see who amongst His slaves obeys and follows His commands.    The reason is not to keep the believers hungry and thirsty; but rather to see who are the obedient and obey Allah’s command, and who are the disobedient and dis-obey the commands of Allah Subhanah.  The one who fasts, thus declares his absolute obedience to his Creator; when His Creator says eat, he eats, and when His Lord says stop, he stops.  This is the training method of Allah Subhanah.

Just as we follow Allah’s Commands and orders in Ramadan and stay away from food and drink as long as He has ordered, so should be our state with all the commands of Allah Subhanah. Thus if Allah has commanded the believing woman to cover herself with a veil, she should obey the command of Allah and cover herself as ordered by her Lord and Creator, in Ramadan as well as after Ramadan.   

The training that Allah wills to implant to the believers is that we should obey and follow each and every command of our Lord and Creator, and at all times of our lives.  We cannot pick and choose the commands, nor the times we want them to follow it in.   Each and every command of Allah and His Messenger (saws) must be obeyed in its entirety….  That should be the way of a true believer, who truly believes in Allah and the Last Day.
Now if a woman only obeys her Lord part-time and only covers herself in Ramadan, she is disobeying the command of Allah for the rest of the year.  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

CAN WOMEN DO ITIKAAF AT THERI HOME?

CAN WOMEN DO ITTEKAAF IN RAMADAN AT THEIR HOME ?

iteekaaf in ramzaan for a women
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

salam, i was just wonerdering whether or not a female is allowed to sit itekaaf in her house instead of the masjid or is she only permissable to sit itekaaf in the masjid? jazakallah-hair

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Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The general and preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to dedicate himself to the worship and remembrance of the Lord in isolation in the masjid for a period of ten days in the month of Ramadan. In the year the Prophet (saws) died, he (saws) observed ‘itikaf’ for twenty days of Ramadan. 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.260         Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet (saws) used to perform ‘Itikaf’ every year in the month of Ramadan for ten days, and when it was the year of his death, he (saws) stayed in ‘Itikaf’ for twenty days.

The scholars and jurists in Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that there is absolutely no minimum period one may intend to observe the worship of ‘itikaf’…..as long as one makes the intention to observe the ‘itikaf’ and dedicates oneself to the worship and remembrance of the Lord, even if it be for a day or a night, or a part of the day or the night, one would be considered to be in the state of ‘itikaf’.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.152a
Topic: Permisible Acts for the Mu'takif
The following acts are permissible for one who is performing the worship of ‘itikaaf’:
Combing and cutting one's hair, clipping one's nails, cleaning one's body, wearing nice clothes or wearing perfume are all permissible.
The person may go out for some need that he must perform. The scholars agree that the one who performs ‘itikaaf’ may leave the mosque in order to answer the call of nature, for this is something that he personally must perform, and he cannot do it in the mosque. Also, if he needs to eat or drink and there is no one to bring him his food, he may leave to get it. If one needs to vomit, he may leave the mosque to do so. For anything that he must do but cannot do in the mosque, he can leave it, and such acts will not void his ‘itikaaf’, even if they take a long time. Examples of these types of acts would include washing one's self, cleaning his body or clothes from impurities, attending the Friday prayers, witnessing a funeral, etc. 
The person may eat, drink, and sleep in the mosque, and he should also keep it clean.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.154
Topic: Actions that nullify the worship of ‘itikaaf’:
If a person performs one of the following acts, their ‘itikaaf’ will be nullified:

Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so, even if it is for just a short time. In such a case, one would not be staying in the mosque, which is one of the principles of ‘itikaaf’.
Abandoning belief in Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship.
Losing one's reason due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding, all of which disqualifies a person for ‘itikaaf’.
Sexual intercourse.

Your Question: ….my mum would like to know how you do "etteqaf" at home.

At the time of the Prophet (saws), his noble and chaste wives would perform the worship of ‘itikaaf’ in the masjid; and if one finds a masjid which has arranged for women to perform ‘itikaaf’ in the masaajids, it is permissible for the believing women who wish to fulfill the worship of ‘itikaaf’ to do so in the masaajids.  

But in this day and age, the absolute majority of the scholars and jurists, including the great Imam Abu Hanifah, are of the opinion that it is permissible for the believing woman to perform the worship of ‘itikaaf’ in their homes.

A believing woman may isolate and dedicate oneself in a corner of a room, or even a room in the house if available to the sole remembrance and worship of Allah Subhanah for a fixed period of time. 

Your Question: ….are you allowed to speak to people on the phone to see how they are? to what extent can you speak to people that live with you?

If one has an absolutely genuine need, or one wishes to enquire about the health or state of a loved or dear one, there is absolutely no harm if one speaks either personally or through the phone to fulfill their genuine need. 

What is not permitted is that one talk casual or vain talk for hours on end about all and sundry when they have isolated and dedicated themselves to the remembrance of Allah in ‘itikaaf’.  But if one communicates either personally or through the phone for a genuine need, there is absolutely no harm and it does not affect the validity of their worship of ‘itikaaf’.


Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.   Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF ITTIKAAF ?

IN RAMADAN WHAT IS THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF ITIKAF AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH?

What is the Minimum period of itikaf?
Minimum period of itikaf.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam, 
 I would like to know the minimum period to observe itikaaf, I have heard it has to be observed for the last 10 days of ramadan, also i have heard that it is OK to do itikaaf for 1 whole day. The main aim of itikaaf as of my knowledge is to find the Night of Qadar and to seek forgiveness from Allah, Is it possible to do itikaaf only during the Odd Nights of the last 10 days of ramadan and return home during the day or do i have to sit for the whole 24 hour period to complete the itikaaf??? 

Plz answer the above question as soon as possible 
Jazaak Allah 

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Answer:
Minimum period of itikaf
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The general and preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to dedicate himself to the worship and rememberance of the Lord in isolation in the masjid for a period of ten days in the month of Ramadan. In the year the Prophet (saws) died, he (saws) observed ‘itikaf’ for twenty days.  

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.260         Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet (saws) used to perform ‘Itikaf’ every year in the month of Ramadan for ten days, and when it was the year of his death, he (saws) stayed in ‘Itikaf’ for twenty days.

The scholars and jurists in Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that there is absolutely no minimum period one may intend to observe the worship of ‘itikaf’…..as long as one makes the intention to observe the ‘itikaf’ and dedicates oneself to the worship and rememberance of the Lord, even if it be for a day or a night, or a part of the day or the night, one would be considered to be in the state of ‘itikaf’.

Your Question: Is it possible to do itikaaf only during the Odd Nights of the last 10 days of ramadan and return home during the day or do i have to sit for the whole 24 hour period to complete the itikaaf??? 

Because observing ‘itikaf’ is not obligatory but rather a Sunnah (voluntary), one may, if one so wishes, observe ‘itikaf’ on only the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan….but one would have to make the intention every time one starts the ‘itikaf’ and dedicates oneself to the worship and rememberance of the Lord; it is expected that their Lord Most Gracious will accept their devotion from them and reward them generously from His Infinite Mercy.

If one wishes to observe ‘itikaf’ for a full 24-hour period of the day, or only a part of it….they are well within the boundaries to do so.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

ITIKAAF IN RAMADAN, WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF ITIKAF?

WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF ITIKAAF IN RAMADAN FOR MEN IN MASJID (MOSQUE) AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Thnx for ur answer and give me a detail knowledge abt my question.. so i wanna ask one more question is any special recommendation  for aitekaaf i mean  people says taht befor sitting in aitekaaf th person has thre month record of offer orayer 5 time a day if a person did not offer prayer 5 times a day  in the last three months he has no right to be sit in aitekaaf is it so??? plz give me the answer i m very grate full 2 u... becoz some time for any reason or in some certain circumstances if  we skip one time prayer and do qaza for it so we are unable to be sit in aitekaff???

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Answer:
Conditions restrictions for itikaf eligible

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.152a
Topic: Permisible Acts for the Mu'takif
The following acts are permissible for one who is performing the worship of ‘itikaaf’:

1.                  Combing and cutting one's hair, clipping one's nails, cleaning one's body, wearing nice clothes or wearing perfume are all permissible.

2.                  The person may go out for some need that he must perform. The scholars agree that the one who performs ‘itikaaf’ may leave the mosque in order to answer the call of nature, for this is something that he personally must perform, and he cannot do it in the mosque. Also, if he needs to eat or drink and there is no one to bring him his food, he may leave to get it. If one needs to vomit, he may leave the mosque to do so. For anything that he must do but cannot do in the mosque, he can leave it, and such acts will not void his ‘itikaaf’, even if they take a long time. Examples of these types of acts would include washing one's self, cleaning his body or clothes from impurities, attending the Friday prayers, witnessing a funeral, etc. 

3.                    The person may eat, drink, and sleep in the mosque, and he should also keep it clean.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.154
Topic: Actions that nullify the worship of ‘itikaaf’:
If a person performs one of the following acts, their ‘itikaaf’ will be nullified:

1.       Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so, even if it is for just a short time. In such a case, one would not be staying in the mosque, which is one of the principles of ‘itikaaf’.

2.       Abandoning belief in Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship.

3.       Losing one's reason due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding, all of which disqualifies a person for ‘itikaaf’.

4.       Sexual intercourse.

Your Question: ….i mean  people says taht befor sitting in aitekaaf th person has thre month record of offer orayer 5 time a day if a person did not offer prayer 5 times a day  in the last three months he has no right to be sit in aitekaaf is it so??? plz give me the answer i m very grate full 2 u...

The only qualifications one needs to perform the worship of ‘itikaaf’ is that one is a believer and intends to dedicate oneself to the sole worship of Allah Subhanah for a fixed period of time in the blessed month of Ramadan.

Rest absolutely assured brother that there is nothing in the Glorious Quran or the authentic Sunnah which declares that one must have a record of having offered their five obligatory prayers on time for a period of three months (or for any duration whatsoever) to qualify to perform the worship of ‘itikaaf’!!!  This is a self-invented and fabricated restriction invented by the ignorant and it has absolutely no legal basis in Shariah or Fiqh.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

HUSBAND & WIFE SEX DURING FASTING (RAMADAN)

QUESTIONS OF HUSBAND WIFE SEX DURING RAMADAN FASTING AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH ?

Sex during Ramadan.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear Sir, 

Hope you are doing well. I would really appreciate if you could kindly revert on the following question to me as soon as possible. I have sent the same to many other Islamic teaching centers / institutions but so far haven’t receive the reply. Then through the search I was able to find your email contact details & I am asking for the help from you. I am in a situation where I can not find a way; hence I would be very much obliged to have an appropriate answer of my following questions.

During Ramadan from morning sun rise to sun set evening fasting time, I understand it is prohibited to touch the opposite sex (female) and any other activities which motivate the sexual feelings. But what if it’s just a co worker touch you or shake hand or kiss while meeting or greeting?  
After breaking fast in evening what if you had female guest coming setting for chat on business topic or work related topic?  

Also, I wanted to know what are conditions / penalties if the female friend hug or kiss, or set beside where you can see her body.  
Is it still HARAM to have SEX after EFTAR before SUHOOR? If so, then what would be the penalty or KAFARAH for that?  
Is it HARAM to just kiss and sleep together but no sexual intercourse? If so, then what would be the penalty or KAFARAH for that?  

I would really appreciate your prompt reply on above in order to clear the misunderstanding / misconception about our religion ISLAM & if any Muslim sister or brothers need assistance with in the community we can assist accordingly.

Many thanks for your help and assistance, & looking forward to hear form you soon.

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Answer:
Sex during Ramadan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: During Ramadan from morning sun rise to sun set evening fasting time, I understand it is prohibited to touch the opposite sex (female) and any other activities which motivate the sexual feelings. 

Respected brother, firstly lets divide the members of the opposite sex into two categories:

1. Mehram members of the opposite sex (mother, wife, sisters, daughters, etc….basically every woman one is prohibited to seek in marriage)

2. Non-Mehram members of the opposite sex (all the other women).

It is not that only in Ramadan the believers are prohibited from touching (the non-mehram) members of the opposite sex or indulging in activities which motivate sexual feelings…..this prohibition of Allah Subhanah is valid at all times: Ramadan or no Ramadan!!!
During the fasting hours of Ramadan, one is additionally prohibited from having sexual relations with one’s wife.

Your Question: ….But what if it’s just a co worker touch you or shake hand or kiss while meeting or greeting?  

If the co-worker is a non-mehram member of the opposite sex, she should not be allowed to intentionally touch you, leave alone shake your hand or kiss you while greeting at any time…Ramadan or no Ramadan!!!

Your Question: ….After breaking fast in evening what if you had female guest coming setting for chat on business topic or work related topic?  

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 30-31:

30      Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.

31      And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their ….. (mehrams, womenfolk, children, etc.)

As long as all the conditions of ‘hijaab’ are scrupulously honored, there is absolutely no harm if one has a genuine need and talks or interacts with a member of the opposite sex in a strictly business-like manner.  What is categorically prohibited and indeed a sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah is that two non-mehram members of opposite sex meet in privacy, or talk vain or casual talk, or develop or maintain an illicit or lewd relationship…..and this prohibition applies at all times, Ramadan or no Ramadan!  

Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 3118         Narrated byUmar ibn al-Khattab
The Prophet (saws) said, "Whenever a man is alone with a (non-mehram) woman, the Shaitaan is the third."

Your Question: Is it still HARAM to have SEX after EFTAR before SUHOOR? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 187:

187    Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your wives.  They are your garments.  And ye are their garments.  Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques.  Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto.  Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.

It is absolutely lawful and permissible in Islam for the husband and the wife to enjoy conjugal relations with each other in their sacred bond of marriage during the nights or non-fasting hours of the blessed month of Ramadan.

Your Question: ….If so, then what would be the penalty or KAFARAH for that?  

If, Allah forbid, one has sex with one’s wife during the fasting hours in Ramadan, the atonement for this grave sin as prescribed by Shariah is as follows:

Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: "I am destroyed, O Messenger of Allah (saws)!" The Prophet (saws) asked: "What has destroyed you?"  He said, "I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadan."  The Prophet (saws) asked: "Are you able to free a slave?"  He said, "No". The Prophet (saws) asked: "Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?" He said, "No." The Prophet (saws) asked: "Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?" He said, "No."  The Prophet (saws) said: "Then sit."  A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (saws) and he said to the man: ‘Give this in charity.’ The man said: "To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!"  The Prophet (saws) laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said: "Go and feed your family with it!"
Related by the Muslim and Bukhari.

If one is unable to control one’s desires for any reason and were to perform the actual act of sexual intercourse with ones spouse while in the state of fasting, it would indeed be a grave sin in the Sight of Allah.  The atonement for this sin as prescribed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) is that the person should either free a slave, or (if one is unable to do that) fast for two consecutive months, or (if one is unable to do even that) then feed sixty poor people! Such is the enormity of the sin and the atonement of having sexual intercourse with one’s spouse while one is in the state of fasting.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

CAN I KEEP FASTING WITH OUT SUHOOR??

CAN I FAST IN RAMADAN WITHOUT 

TAKING (EATING) SUHOOR? AS IT 

DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET UP FOR

SUHOOR?

Not eat at suhoor.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Kindly advice I am fasting in Ramadan regularly but due to some un avoidable circumstances I reach home very late and due to this I am unable to wake up in the Suhoor always I woke up after the Suhoor time but I contineou to fast from there reading Suhoor dua, is it the right way to fast kindly advice.
Is it ok to eat late and night make niyat to fast the next day and sleep through suhoor..

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Answer:

Not eat at suhoor

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It is narrated by Hadrat Anas bin Malik (r.a.) that  the Prophet (saws)  said, "Take Suhur,  as there is a blessing in it."
Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Al-Miqdam ibn Madyakrib (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "You should eat the ‘suhoor’ meal for it is a blessed nourishment."
Related by an-Nasa'i

Said Sahl ibn Sa'd narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "All the Prophets of Allah have been ordered to hasten the breaking of the fast and to delay the ‘suhoor’ meal.’
Related by al-Bukhari, Ahmad and Malik.

The taking of ‘suhur’ or pre-dawn meal for fasting is an extremely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws),   and he (saws) recommended and urged the believers to eat and/or drink something before the fast begins. It would make the fast easy for the believer and he (saws) said that Allah has put a blessing in this meal.
The delay in taking of a ‘suhoor’ meal is an extremely preferred Sunnah, but not obligatory or compulsory.  If one does not take the ‘suhur’ and intends to fast,  their fast will be considered valid.   

If for whatever reason, one does not like to get up and eat a full meal at the time of ‘suhoor’,  it is preferred that one gets up just before dawn and eat something (even only one date) and/or a gulp of water… so that one would be able to attain the blessings of the ‘suhoor’, Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

AGE LIMIT OF FASTING (RAMADAN)

WHAT IS THE AGE LIMIT OF FASTING 

IN ISLAM AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH?

Age limit for Fasting.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu alaykum.

I have one question to ask:

What is the age limit which exempts an adult from fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan?

My father is 70 years old and I was told that he is exempted.Please confirm,and reply as soon as possible as fasting is coming up soon.

Ma salaam,

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Answer:

Age limit for Fasting

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam, no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is no particular age limit prescribed in Islam after which the obligatory fasts of Ramadan become exempt.   Allah Subhanah has made it obligatory for the believers who are healthy and stationed in their place of domicile to fast the whole month of Ramadan,  but if one is ill or on a journey he may break his fast and make up these missed fasts on any other days of the year.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185: Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind,  also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).   So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting,  but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later.   Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties.  (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

Thus if one is elderly and terminally ill and is unable to keep the fasts of Ramadan, nor has hope of recovering and making up the fasts later,   or if by keeping the fasts his health would deteriorate further;  there is absolutely no harm if such a person does not fast.   His ‘kaffarah’ or expiation would be that he should feed one poor person for every day of his missed fasts; it is expected that the Merciful Lord would accept the expiation of such a person and not hold him accountable for his missed fasts.  

Allah intends every facility for you;  He does not want to put you to difficulties.(Holy Quran 2:185)

The companion of the Messenger of Allah (saws),  Hadrat Ibn 'Abbas (r.a.)  said: "An elderly man is permitted to break his fast,  but he must feed a poor person daily.  If he does this, he does not have to make up the days that he did not fast.”

Related by ad-Daraqutni and by al-Hakim.

Ata heard Hadrat Ibn 'Abbas (r.a.) recite the 'ayah: "And for those who can fast [but do not], there is a "ransom': the feeding of a person in need" [Al-Baqarah 2:184].   Its ruling applies to elderly men and women who are not able to fast.  Instead, they must feed one poor person on a daily basis."

Related by Al-Bukhari.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

IF (SHAITAN) SATAN IS TIED UP DURING RAMADAN, WHY ARE WE STILL COMMITTING SINS IN RAMADAN ?

IN RAMADAN THE GATES  OF HEAVEN GET OPENED 

AND THE GATES  OF HELL GET CLOSED SATAN GET 

CHAINED IN RAMADAN

if satan is tied up during Ramadan?

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

if satan is tied up during Ramadan , Why are we still committing sins? who is misleading us now ?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.123         Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle (saws) said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the shaitaans are chained."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1962        Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast.  In it the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained.  In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months.  He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation."

The above words of the Messenger of Allah (saws) say that the shaitaans are chained,  not annihilated!   What it means is that Allah Subhanah restricts the powers and guiles of the Shaitaan and he is not as free to work his falsehoods and beguile the believers as he does in the other months of the year.   And this is clearly evident from what happens to the believers in Ramadan.   The people who don’t normally pray,  perform the prayers regularly!   The people who are never seen in the mosques,  attend the mosques more regularly to worship Allah!    The people who are away from the deen,  try to learn and study the deen in Ramadan!   The people who rarely recite and study the Quran,  increase their efforts to recite and study this Glorious Book of Guidance in the Holy Month of Ramadan!    There is a definite and remarkable increase in the piety and worship of the believers in this Blessed Month.

But the above hadith does not mean that the Shaitaans are completely destroyed or not allowed to mislead the believers at all.  The Shaitaan is our avowed enemy and he will always try to mislead the believers with his lies and deception,  however restricted he may be!   The hadith only means that their works  of lies and deceptions are decreased and their means to spread mischief is reduced.

To understand the concept allow me to relate a worldly example.   When a nation or state increases its security and its police force, and makes strict rules to reduce the number of thefts in a country;   it will obviously result in a reduction of theft and robbery in the country.    But some professional and hardened criminals and thieves will still find a way around it and carry on their criminal activities;  albeit in a manner much less than before.    This is exactly what the Shaitaan does.   Although his power is reduced and restricted,  he still tries to mislead anyone he can;  in a much restricted manner.

Beloved brother in Islam, the guidance of the authentic hadith of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is that in the holy month of Ramadan, the Shayaateen are chained.  It means that their power to inspire evil and mischief is reduced to a considerable extent as compared to the other times of the year.  It does not in any way mean that they are destroyed or stopped completely from creating their mischief.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.255 (part)          Narrated by Ali bin Al Husain from Safiya
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘The Shaytaan circulates in the body of Adam's offspring, as one’s blood circulates in it."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that the Shaytaan circulates in the body of man just like ones blood circulates in it; thus this avowed enemy of man is constant in his whispering and instigation of evil whenever he is given an opportunity. 

Indeed, the one who has faith in Allah, His Messenger (saws) and the Last Day recognizes the evil mischief and whispering of the Shaytaan; and the more faith one has in Allah and the Last Day, the more he will be able to recognize and tackle the mischief of the Shatyaan.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 5-6:
5        O mankind! Certainly the promise of Allah is true.  Let not then this present life deceive you,  nor let the Chief Deceiver (Shaitaan) deceive you about Allah.
6        Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so treat him as an enemy!  He only invites his adherents that they may become Companions of the Blazing Fire.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 16-18:
16      He (Shaitaan) said: "because Thou (Allah)  hast thrown me out of the way,  Lo!  I will lie in wait for them on Thy Straight Way.
17      "Then will I assault them;  from before them, and behind them, from their right, and their left: nor wilt Thou find in most of them gratitude (for Thy
Mercies).
18      (Allah) said: "Get out from here!  Disgraced and expelled.  If any of them follow thee, Hell will I fill with you all.

Beloved brother,  indeed Shaitaan is the avowed enemy of man,  and especially the believers!   He hates nothing more than to see a believing slave of Allah Subhanah remember his Merciful Lord and worship Him;  and he will do everything in his power to beguile and dissuade this believer and take him away from the Remembrance and Worship of Allah Subhanah! 

The Shaitaan’s main target are indeed the true believers and worshippers of Allah Subhanah;  and he will not rest until he has taken them away from Allah’s Remembrance and Worship!  
The Shaytaan, even though he is chained and his power is minimized in the holy month of Ramadan; because of his ardent hatred and enmity towards the believers and worshippers of Allah Subhanah will continue to try his mischief in whatever way he can! 

Narrated Uthman ibn Abi al-'Aas who said to the Prophet (saws): "O Messenger of Allah (saws), the Shaitaan comes between me and my prayers and my recitation, confusing me therein!"  The Prophet (saws) said: "That Shaitaan is called ‘Khanzab’.  If he affects you, seek refuge in Allah from him,  and 'spit out' on your left side three times."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 200-202:
200    If a suggestion from Shaitaan assail thy (mind),  seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things).
201    Those who fear Allah,  when a thought of evil from the Shaitaan assaults them,  bring Allah to remembrance and lo! they see (aright)!
202    But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error and never relax (their efforts).
Thus,  the believers who truly fear Allah and the Last Day,  must recognize the tactics and ploys of Shaitaan,  and immediately arm themselves in defense against Shatiaan’s strategy by seeking refuge in Allah Subhanah.   Whenever a believer gets a feeling that the Shaitaan is upto his tricks again and trying to dissuade him from the Remembrance of Allah Subhanah,  he must immediately seek refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan, and that will be his defense against this accursed enemy of man.

The Shaytaan hates nothing more than when he sees a slave of Allah worshipping the Lord of the Worlds; and he will do anything in his power to dissuade the slave because of the condition that overtakes him.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 144      Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘When the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (Prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Shaytaan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: “Alas!  Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him; and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.’”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.   Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RAMADAN??

SIGNIFICANCE OF RAMADAN?

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RAMADAN IN ISLAM AS PER QURAN & SUNNAH?

what is the true and real meaning and importance of 

this holy month? what does all the fasting mean, why 

do we do it?

Significance of Ramadhan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, nodai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The twelve months of the Arabic calendar have always been part of the Arabic tradition and culture, even before the advent of the Last Messenger of Allah (saws).    And Ramadan was the name of one of those twelve months.

Allah chose the month of Ramadan to reveal His Final Message as a guidance and mercy to all of mankind; and subsequently Allah commanded the believers to fast the whole month of Ramadan, as a sign of gratitude to Allah Subhanah; and thus made it a way or course to develop piety and obedience in ourselves through this training for one month of the year.

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:Ramadan is the month in which the Quranwas sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood. Therefore, from now on,  whosoever witnesses it,  it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month.  But if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days (of the year).

Because this is the month in which Allah chose to reveal the Holy Quran, and this is also the month in which Allah commanded the believers to fast; the month of Ramadan has become a Sacred and Holy month for the believers, and considered better than the other months of the year.  

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 183: O you who have believed!  The Fast has been made obligatory on you just as it was prescribed for the followers of the Prophets before you.   It is expected that this produce piety in you.  

In light of the above aayah of the Holy Quran, Allah declares the main reason for the fasts: so that one is able to produce piety or God-consiousness in himself.   For this one month of Ramadan, the believers are commanded by Allah to abstain from the things which are normallyhalaal for them (food, drink, sexual intercourse, etc.) for a limited time, so that He may test who are obedient to His Command.  When one fasts, it is a practical proof in deeds that he believes sincerely in Allah and the Last Day, and has submitted his will to the Will of His Lord.   When Allah says eat, we eat!   When Allah says stop, we stop!  And Allah has promised a generous reward for the believers who fast for His sake and look towards Him for their reward.  Allah also forgives a lot of the sins of the believers who fast in this Holy Month of Ramadan. 

The significance and importance of Ramadan can be gauged from the following words of the Messenger of Allah (saws):

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1967        Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Paradise is decorated for Ramadan from the beginning of the year till a following year, and when the first day of Ramadan comes, a wind under the throne blows some of the leaves of paradise on the maidens with large bright eyes, and they say, 'My Lord, appoint us husbands from among Thy servants, with whom we shall be happy and who will be happy with us."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1962        Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim (Hell) are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months.  He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.754         Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Prophet (saws) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur'an with him. Allah's Apostle then used to be more generous than the fast wind.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.226         Narrated by Abu Huraira

I heard Allah's Apostle (saws) saying regarding Ramadan, "Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.241         Narrated by Aisha

With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (saws) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.519         Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle, offers prayers perfectly and fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah's cause or stays in the land where he was born." They (the companions of the Prophet) said, "O Allah's Apostle! Should we not inform the people of that?" He said, "There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.125         Narrated by Abu Hurairah

The Prophet (saws)  said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.86 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

When the Prophet (saws) returned after performing his Hajj, he asked Um Sinan Al-Ansari, "What did forbid you to perform Hajj?" She replied, "Father of so-and-so (i.e. her husband) had two camels and he performed Hajj on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land." The Prophet said (to her), "Perform 'Umra in the month of Ramadan, (as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward)."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2390  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: If anyone breaks his fast one day in Ramadan without a concession granted to him by Allah, a perpetual fast will not atone for it.

Ref:  The Night of Qadr

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 97 Surah Al Qadr verses 1-5:We have sent down this (Quran) in the Night of Glory.   And what do you know what the Night of Glory is?   The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months.   The angels and the Spirit descend in it with every decree, by the leave of their Lord.   That Night is all peace,  till the rise of dawn.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.234         Narrated byAisha

Allah's Apostle said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1964        Narrated byAnas ibn Malik

Anas told of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) saying when Ramadan began, "This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it."

One of the wives of the Prophet (saws) asked him the best supplication one could make to Allah in this blessed month, and the Prophet (saws) told her to pray like this: “Allah Hummainnaka Afu-wan,  Tohibbal Affwa,  Fahfo Anna”.

“O Allah, you indeed are the All-Forgiving.  You love to Forgive; thus (please) forgive me”.

Try to pray the above supplication as many times as possible in this blessed month.    Allah forgives and saves more people from the Hell Fire in this Blessed Month, than any other month of the year.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.