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Reply:
Kinds of Fastingscript src=ht
Replied by( webmaster)
Replied on (17/Oct/2006)
Kinds of Fasting (sweetmahamrana@yahoo.com)
Fasting, like the other special acts of worship, is one of two kinds: one obligatory and the other recommended. The form of the fasting is the same; it is only the days of fasting which differ. Fasting is always during daytime. It starts from dawn and ends at sunset. During this period of the day one abstains completely from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. But this by itself is not sufficient. One also has to abstain from all kinds of sins, like foul language, backbiting, drinking, lying, prohibited listening, and dealing in unlawful items like drugs, wine and pork. The fasting which is a pillar of Islam is a fasting of every day of the lunar month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. Why this month in particular? Because it is a special month. It is, in fact, the best of all of the months of the year and one of its nights, the night of Qadr, is the best of all nights of the year. It is for this reason that the Quran was sent down on that night. Thus when God urged the faithful to fast during the month of Ramadan, He endeared it to them by reminding them that it was the month in which the Quran was sent down, as a guidance to people, a Book that contains clear evidence of the truth of that guidance, and a criterion of discrimination between truth and falsehood. [this is a paraphrase of the Quranic verse 2:185]
Reply:
The Month Of Ramadaan - The Be
Replied by( webmaster)
Replied on (12/Oct/2006)
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the Worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions. Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him.
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the Worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions. Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him. For fear of Allaah is the best provision. "O you who believe! Fear Allaah and die not except in the state of Islaam."
Know also that this world is sweet and blossoming, it provides happiness though it is finite, it is praiseworthy though will come to an end. No one shall live in it forever. For no condition is permanent and everyone will be called to account. Whoever depends on this worldly life will be afflicted with an unending preoccupation, wish and covetousness. Its days and months move quickly and astonishingly and its time hastily slopes off away. The world itself is insignificant and nothing remains of it except the insignificant.
This world is full of dangers and crises; and full of major and minor sins. People are living there and among them believers and disbelievers, pious and sinful, loser and victorious. Blessed then is he who protects himself, his children and women from causes evil and Allaah's wrath. Allaah says, "And whoever holds firmly to Allaah, then he is indeed guided to the right path." (Aal 'Imraan 3:101)
Fellow Muslims! The month of gains has come to you with gifts and beauty. It is a generous visitor whose virtue is pure and is full of blessings. Its beauties can never be enumerated. It is a month that spreads good among us where you only see a devoted worshipper who bows for Allaah in worship, recites the Qur'aan with humility; a worshipper whose heart has become softened and weeps out of fear of Allaah when he reads or hears verses that removes spiritual thirst and hunger. So thank Allaah that He spared your lives to reach it and gave you strength to fast it. For many had wished to reach it whom death has taken away.
Brethren in faith! We are fortunate to have lived to witness this year's Ramadaan, for many loved ones we have been bereaved of.
My dear brethren! Passages of those among us who have died is a warning to us. Death is now near to us and yet we have not made any provision. Let us repent now before there will be no more time for repentance and no money can ransom. Endeavour to change for better with all determination and show Allah the good that is in you. For it is through determination and seriousness that those who succeeded attained success. Know that whoever is insolent will never achieve his aim and is bound to fail. Aaishah said, "The Messenger of Allaah used to strive to do much acts of worship in Ramadaan which he did not do in other months." (Muslim)
Fellow Muslims! This is the month of acceptance of good deeds and prosperity; month of liberation from Hell and that of generosity, and this is the best period of spiritual upliftment. Loss is the lot of those who spend this period in sleeping and blocking the ways to good deeds. The Prophet said, "Allaah says: If my slave comes closer to Me an inch, I will come closer to him a cubic length and if he comes closer to Me a cubic length, I will come to him a arm's length, and if he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running." (Al-Bukhari)
Dear Brother! This is a time for good deeds if you are serious and ready to do good deeds. This is the time of acceptance of good deeds. The Satan is now locked up and the doors of good are opened for whoever wants. The Prophet said, "When Ramadaan comes, gates of Paradise will be opened and gates of Hell will be closed and the devils will be locked up." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Fellow Muslims! This is the time for sincere return to Allaah in repentance; a blessing from Allaah. Hasten to repentance now before it is too late. For Allaah loves to be generous to His creatures and have mercy on them and to forgive them their sins. Blessed is the one who cleanses himself from sins in this month and shun all misdeeds. O the captive of sins, this is the month when captives and sinners are set free and a month where the wrong-doer is forgiven. Seize the opportunity of this great period and do not like him by whom Ramadaan came and yet did not achieve forgiveness and pleasure of Allaah. The Messenger of Allaah one day ascended the pulpit and said, "Aameen, Aameen, Aameen." He was asked, "O Messenger of Allaah! You ascended the pulpit and said: Aameen, Aameen, Aameen?" The Prophet then answered, "Angel Jibreel came to me and said: Whoever witnessed the month of Ramadaan and yet did not have his sins forgiven and then entered Hell, may Allaah keep such a person away from His Mercy. Then I said Aameen."
Fellow Muslims! Beware of that which the corrupt people and callers to error has prepared for you of misleading and despicable programmes. For these people have no conscience and are free and no man can subject them to punishment. They are also criminals who have no regard for fasting at all. They feed the youth with poisoned drink and increased them in perdition. O the one who has chosen evil fate for himself and committed all kinds of immoralities, your bargain will end in a huge loss and your companions are the most evil ones.
O you who look at forbidden things, you are now in the best of all months. So beware not to violate the honour of this month. The Prophet said, "Whoever does not abstain from falsehood in word and deed, Allaah has no need of his abstention from food and drink." (Al-Bukhari)
O you who feels free while you are actually in captivity. O you who blindly follows the Path of destruction, O you who prefer filth to purity and spends his nights in sins. I wonder how can you abandon the clear path for an erroneous one. How can you have ears without ability to hear and eyes without the ability to see. Get out of your constant heedlessness and illusion and make proper use of your life. Do not be like those whom when they are asked to repent, they procrastinate. Blessed are those who abandon the present lust for the promised enjoyment of the Last Day which they have not seen, but yet they believed in it.
"And he who has brought the truth and those who believe therein, those are the pious. They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of good-doers. So that Allaah may expiate from them the evil of what they used to do." (Az-Zumar 39:33-35)
O you fasting Muslims! The best thing in which you can spend your time in this blessed month is reciting and studying the Book of Allaah a reflecting upon its meanings. Angel Jibreel used to meet the Messenger of Allaah every night during Ramadaan and he would study the Qur'aan with Him." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Qur'aan is the healing to all heart diseases. It is the just judge in all affairs. It is full of deterrent admonition, excellent wisdom and astounding evidence on Islaamic Monotheism. It is more generous than rain and more pleasant to eyes than sleep. It is the soul to the everlasting life and without soul nobody can live. Therefore, concentrate on it and expunge its pearls. Study causes of revelation and the books of exegesis. Implement its injunctions in all your affairs. The fortunate is the one who gives his attention to the Qur'aan.
"The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)." (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
Fasting and the Qur'aan shall intercede on behalf of man on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, "O my Lord! I prevented him from food and his lust, please allow me to intercede for him." and then the Qur'aan will say, "O my Lord! I prevented him from sleeping, so allow me to intercede for him." (Ahmad)
Fellow Muslims! This is a month of righteous spending and compassion. O you rich brethren! Remember the hungry and the destitute who have been afflicted by hardships and possess nothing. Assist them and provide for them. Feed the hungry and remove their hardship and do not enumerate your favour on them. Listen all to the word of the Prophet, "O son of Aadam! It is good for you to spend out of your excess wealth and it is evil to withhold. You will not be blamed if you do not have. Start with your dependants first. The hand that gives is better that the one that takes." (Muslim) The Prophet also said, "The best charity is the one given out in Ramadaan."
Brethren in faith! Seasons of blessings are only few days that soon end. Do not therefore be negligent in this great month. Endeavour to do many acts of worship, obligatory and supererogatory. Follow the etiquettes of fasting like early breaking as soon as the sun sets and eating predawn meal. The Messenger of Allaah used to break his fast on fresh dates and dried dates or few gulps of water. When he broke his fast he said, "Dhahabadh-dhama' wabatallatil urooq, wathabatal ajr insha Allaah." [The thirst has gone and the veins are moist and the reward is recorded, insha Allaah.] He also said, "Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully, let him complete his fast, for it is Allaah Who gave him food and drink." No payment or expedition is incumbent on him.
He also said, "Whoever is overwhelmed by vomiting while he is fasting, there is repayment on him. But whoever causes vomit by himself should repay the fasting of that day." "Whoever fasts Ramadaan faithfully and hoping to get reward for Allaah, all his past sins will be forgiven and whoever prays in the night of Ramadaan faithfully and hoping to get the reward of Allaah, his past sins will be forgiven." "Whoever prays with the Imaam until he finished, the reward of night prayer will be recorded for him." "Whoever provides food of Iftaar for a fasting Muslim, he will be given reward equal to that of the fasting Muslim without diminishing anything of the latter's reward."
Fellow Muslims! Beware of breaking your fast before the prescribed time. Beware of violating the honour of your blessed month by breaking fast with no legal excuse. The Prophet said, "While I was sleeping, two men came to me, took hold of my sides and brought me out to a rough rock. They told me, 'Ascend' and I said, 'I cannot.' They said, 'We shall make it easy for you.' So I ascended and when I reached the middle of the rock, I heard severe and loud sounds and asked, 'What are these sounds?' The two men answered, 'This is the cry of the dwellers of Hell.' I then preceded and then saw some people who are hanged by their ankles with their jawbones cracked and bleeding and I asked, 'Who are these?' The two men said, 'They are those who used to break their fasting before the appointed time.'" (Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibbaan)
As for the Muslim woman, she should not touch any perfume whenever she is attending Ishaa and Taraweeh prayers. She should also abstain from ornamental garments that can tempt people of weak minds and faith. She should not be alone with a strange male driver for that has evil consequences. The Prophet said, "If anyone of you women attends the congregational prayers, let her not use any perfume." (Muslim) Aaishah said, "Had the Messenger of Allaah seen what women are doing now, he would have prohibited them from attending the mosque as the women of the children of Israel have been prevented."
Women's prayer in their homes are however better for them. The Prophet said, "The best place in which women can perform prayers is the inner part of their houses." (Ahmad)
Fellow Muslims! The remedy of ignorance is to ask. Ask scholars about what is not clear to you, for whoever goes acting with no knowledge, he will have his deeds rejected. Brethren in faith! It I saddening that an ugly habit has become widespread among some Muslims. The habit of extravagance in food and drink during the month of Ramadaan. Greediness and excessive eating causes disease, damages the intellect and cause many to throw remnants into waste bins, while there are some people who are hungry and looking for what they can satiate their hunger with. Fear Allaah, dear Brethren, for this is not how to thank Allaah for His blessings and this is not how to avert His retributions. He says,
"Spend not wastefully (in the manner of the spendthrift) . Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the devils, and the Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord."(Al-Israa 17:26-27)
There is no good in extravagance as there is no extravagance in good. Allaah says,
"If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My blessings), but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe." (Ibrahim 14:7)
Fellow Muslims! Every fasting Muslim is entitled to an accepted supplication each day and night. Endeavour then to make much invocation in this month of Ramadaan, for yourselves and you families. Raise up your hand to Allaah in supplication and invoke His Pleasure through many righteous deeds. Beseech Him to help your persecuted, oppressed and expelled brethren. For the Muslim Ummah is now undergoing worst and most difficult situation under the evil conspiracy of her enemies and there is no way out of Allaah's affliction except by escaping to Him.
We therefore must put our trust in Him, for He alone can help us and guide us in the time of need. Let us know that Allaah tests this Ummah with affliction so that she can wake up from her slumber, know friend from foe and go back to her religion practically.
Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif,e-tabligue
Reply:
RAMADHAAN - AN OVERVIEWscript
Replied by( webmaster)
Replied on (8/Oct/2006)
Observing al-sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious)." [al-Baqarah 2:183]
RAMADHAAN
The onset of Ramadaan is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon, or by the completion of thirty days of Sha'baan. Whoever sees the crescent of the new moon or hears about it from a trustworthy source is obliged to fast.
Using calculations to determine the onset of Ramadaan is bid'ah, because the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) clearly states: "Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it." ).
AT THE SIGHT OF CRESCENT READ THE FOLLOWING DUA
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'Allaah is the greatest. O Allaah, let the crescent loom above us in safety, faith, peace, and Islaam, and in agreement with all that You love and pleases You. Our Lord and your Lord is Allaah.' |
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell his Companions the good news of the onset of Ramadaan, and urge them to make the most of it. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, 'There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.'" (Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490)
SIYAM OR FASTING
Siyaam in Arabic means abstaining; in Islam it means abstaining from things that break the fast, from dawn until sunset, having first made the intention ( niyyah) to fast.
AHADEETH ABOUT FASTING
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Islam is built on five [pillars]"¦" among which he mentioned fasting in Ramadaan. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath , 1/49). Whoever breaks the fast during Ramadaan without a legitimate excuse has committed a serious major sin, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, describing a dream that he had seen: ""¦ until I was at the mountain, where I heard loud voices. I asked, 'What are these voices?' They said, 'This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.' Then I was taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, 'Who are these?' They said, 'The people who broke their fast before it was the proper time to do so,' i.e., before the time of iftaar." (Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/420).
· Allaah has chosen fasting for Himself, and He will reward it and multiply the reward without measure, as He says [in the hadeeth qudsi]: "Except for fasting which is only for My sake, and I will reward him for it." (al-Bukhaari ).
· Fasting has no equal (al-Nisaa'i, 4/165; ),
· Du'aa' of the fasting person will not be refused (reported by al-Bayhaqi, 3/345).
· The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord and rejoices over his fasting (reported by Muslim, 2/807).
· Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of Judgement, and will say, "O Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him." (Reported by Ahmad,
· The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allaah than the scent of musk. (Muslim, 2/807). Fasting is a protection and a strong fortress that keeps a person safe from the Fire. (Reported by Ahmad, 2/402; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411;).
· Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove his face seventy years' distance from the Fire. (Reported by Muslim, 2/808). Whoever fasts one day seeking the pleasure of Allaah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391).
· In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through those who fast will enter, and no one will enter it except them; when they have entered it will be locked, and no-one else will enter through it." (al-Bukhaari, ).
· Ramadaan is a pillar of Islam; the Qur'aan was revealed in this month, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. "When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, ).
· Fasting Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months (See Musnad Ahmad, 5/280, 1/421).
· "Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, ).
· At the breaking of every fast, Allaah will choose people to free from Hellfire. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/256
· Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing (barakah)." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, )
· "Suhoor is blessed food, and it involves being different from the people of the Book. What a good suhoor for the believer is dates." (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 2345; )
· "The people will be fine so long as they do not delay iftaar." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, ).
· "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if fresh dates were not available, he would eat (dried) dates; if dried dates were not available, he would have a few sips of water." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3/79)
· When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when he broke his fast, would say: "Dhahaba al-zama', wa'btallat al-'urooq, wa thabat al-ajru in sha Allaah (Thirst is gone, veins are flowing again, and the reward is certain, in sha Allaah)." (Reported by Abu Dawood, 2/765 ).
· "When any of you is fasting, let him not commit sin"¦" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 1904).
· "Whoever does not stop speaking falsehood and acting in accordance with it, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink." (Al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 1903).
· The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It may be that a fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger." (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 1/539; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/453).
· The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting, I am fasting.'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari and others. Al-Fath, no. 1894)
· The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than his stomach." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2380; he said, this is a hasan saheeh hadeeth). The wise person wants to eat to live, not live to eat. The best type of food is that which is there to be used, not that which is there to be served.
· In Indian subcontinent we see that housewives and servants spend all their time on making food, and this keeps them away from worship, and people spend far more on food during Ramadaan than they do ordinarily.
· We make this month a month of indigestion, fatness and gastric illness, where people eat like gluttons and drink like thirsty camels, and when they get up to pray Taraaweeh, they do so reluctantly, and some of them leave after the first two rak'ahs.
· Hazrat Ibn 'Abbaas (Razi Allaahu anhu) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the most generous of people [in doing good], and he was most generous of all in Ramadaan when Jibreel met with him, and he used to meet him every night in Ramadaan and teach him the Qur'aan. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was more generous in doing good than a blowing wind." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 6).
· The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside and the inside can be seen from the outside. Allaah has prepared them for those who feed the poor, who are gentle in speech, who fast regularly and who pray at night when people are asleep." (Reported by Ahmad 5/343;
· The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi , ).
·
FASTING IS FOR
1. Every adult,
2. Sane,
3. Settled [i.e., not travelling]
NIYAT OR NIYYAH
The Niyyat (intention) of fasting is NECESSARY. If a person stays away from all those things that break one's fast without a Niyyah, the fast will NOT be valid.
It is NOT necessary to express the Niyyat verbally as Niyyat means to intend. Thus, the intention at heart will suffice. However, it is better to express the Niyyat verbally also. The time for Niyyat lasts upto midday
DUA AT THE TIME OF BREAKING THE FAST
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'The thirst has gone and the veins are quenched, and reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills.' |
DO's IN FASTING
1. To partake of SEHRI (the meal before Subha Sadiq)
2. To delay the Sehri upto a little Subha Sadiq.
3. To break one's fast immediately after the sunset.
4. To break one's fast with dry or fresh dates if available. If dates are NOT available, then with water.
5. To make Niyyat at night.
DON'T FORGET TO
- To take Sehri /Suhoor or predawn meals.
2. To break fast immediately after sunset.
3. Te read Tarawih Salaah at night.
4. To feed the poor and hungry.
5. To increase the reading of the Holy Quraan.
6. To observe I'tikaaf within the Musjid during the last ten days of Ramadhaan
NOT TO
- To chew gum, rubber, plastic items or other such things.
2. To taste any article of food or drink and spit it out. If a woman has a very ill-tempered husband, it is permissible for her to taste the food provided it does NOT go down the throat.
3. To collect one's saliva in the mouth and then to swallow it trying to quench thirst.
4. To delay a bath that has become FARZ knowingly until after Subha Sadiq.
5. To use paste or tooth powder to clean one's teeth. It is permitted to clean with a miswaak of any fresh branch or (tooth stick).
6. To complain of hunger and thirst.
7. To take the water too much up the nostrils when cleaning the nose.
8. To gargle more than necessary.
9. To quarrel, argue, use filthy or indecent words.
10. To backbite, tell a lie and swear etc. are sinful acts even when one is not fasting. Therefore they become even worse when fasting
1. Anything put by force into the mouth of fasting persons.
2. Water goes down the throat whilst gargling, conscious of one's fasting.
3. To vomit mouthful intentionally or to return vomit down the throat.
4. Swallowing intentionally a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not used as food or medicine.
5. Swallowing something edible, equal to or bigger than a grain of gram which was stuck between the teeth. However if it is first taken out of the mouth and swallowed, it will break the fast whether it is smaller or bigger than the size of a gram.
6. Putting oil into the ear.
7. Inhaling snuff into the nostrils.
8. Swallowing the blood from the if the colour of the blood is more than saliva with which it is mixed.
9. To eat and drink forgetting that one is fasting and thereafter thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink again.
10. To eat and drink after Subha Sadiq or to break the fast before sunset due to a cloudy sky or a faulty watch etc. and then realising one's fault.
N.B. Any other fast other than a Ramadhaan one whether broken intentionally or with a good and valid reason, makes ONLY Qaza WAJIB. There is NO Kaffarah for breaking any fast besides that of Ramadhaan.
BOTH QAZA AND KAFFARAH BECOME WAJIB WHEN
- Eating, drinking or breaking the fast in any other manner e.g. smoking, etc. without a valid reason, will make both Qaza and Kaffarah necessary.
2. Applying SURMA into the eye or rubbing oil on the head and then thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink intentionally.
3. To drink any kind of medicine intentionally. (Note: INJECTION is permitted.)
FAST IS NOT BROKEN IF YOU
- To eat or drink something unintentionally.
2. A mosquito, fly or any other object going down the throat unintentionally.
3. Water entering the ears.
4. Dust or dirt going down the throat.
5. Swallowing one's OWN saliva.
6. Taking an injection.
7. Applying of Surma (kohl) into the eyes.
8. Taking a bath to keep cool.
9. Rubbing oil onto the body or hair.
10. To vomit unintentionally.
11. Applying Itr or perfume. It is NOT permitted to inhale the smoke of Lobaan or Agarbatti whilst fasting. It is also NOT permitted to smoke cigarettes or inhale its smoke.
12. Brushing the teeth without tooth paste or powder e.g. using a Miswaak, etc.
13. A dream which makes Ghusl WAAJIB (necessary) does NOT break the Rozah.
EXEMPTED FROM FASTING
- Sick people when their health is likely to be badly affected by fasting. They should make up the loss, a day for a day, when they recover after Ramadhaan.
2. A Musafir (one who is undertaking d journey of more than 77 kms and does NOT intend staying more than 14 days at his destination) . However, it is better for him to fast in Ramadhaan than keep Qaza later, provided the journey is NOT a tiresome one.
3. If it is feared that hunger or thirst will lead to death, it is permitted to break one's fast.
4. It is WAJIB to keep Qaza of a NAFL fast that was broken before completing it
FIDYA (COMPENSATION)
- A very old person who does NOT have the strength to fast or a very sickly or diseased person who has NO hope of recovering after Ramadhaan should give FIDYA for each fast he fast missed in Ramadhaan.
2. The Fidya for a fast is similar to that of a missed Farz or Wajib Salaat i.e.
To give 3 1/2 Ibs = approx 1.6kg of wheat
OR 7 lbs = approx 3.2kg of barley
OR the equivalent of the above in cash or kind.
If, however, an old or sick person gains strength or recovers after Ramadhaan, he must keep the missed number of fasts and whatever was given as Fidya will be a reward for him from Allah Ta'ala.
No one is allowed to fast for another (sick or fit) person.
IT IS CLEAR THAT
· Fasting in the month of RAMADHAAN is one of the five pillars of Islam.
· Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan is FARZ upon every Muslim, male and female who is
sane and mature.
· Almighty Allah has promised great reward for those that Fast, whilst severe punishment is in store for those that do NOT fast in the month of Ramadhaan.
· Fasting has many physical, moral and social benefits. However, Allah has made Fasting compulsory so that we become pious, God fearing and God conscious.
· Fasting in ISLAM means to stay away from EATING, DRINKING and COHABITATION from Subha Sadiq (early dawn) to sunset with a Niyyat of ROZAH (Fasting
FOR ALLAH 'S SAKE LEAVE :
· TV
· Films
· Unncessary talk & usage of Mobile phones .
· Shows,
· sports matches,
· going to idle gatherings,
· hanging about in the streets with evil people and
· driving without purpose,
· Sleeping in the day so as to avoid feeling hungry, thus missing their prayers and the opportunity to pray them in congregation,
· spending their nights in entertainment and indulging their desires.
· wasting their time in the markets, wandering around the shops, or sewing and following fashions .
TAKE CARE THAT
1.Ramdhan is to re-make yourself and all around you. Therefore the most important thing is to make and prepare in such a way that you are comfortably free for worship, Tilawat, Zikr and keeping away from all useless and unwanted activities. Tahajjud and nafil salat must be
2.Second most important point in Ramadhan is to wash off the sins and turn towards Allaah swt ,If it is not achieved, you have missed Ramadhaan this year.Therefore lets prepare so that we don't miss this chance.
3.Third most important thing is to revive your relation and connectivity with Al Quraan , the word of Allaah. Associate yourself as much as you can with Quraan, reading again and again, trying to understand it and inculcating the effects on your mind and heart.
4. In a nutshell, if you don't feel the fear of god prevailing you and your life after Ramadhaan , if you don't feel much more disciplined that before , if you don't feel renewed connection and spirituality with Allaah, Get to know that you have lost Ramadhaan.
At last do not forget to make prayers for
1.Your parents
2.Your brothers and sisters
3.Your teachers and mentors
4.The whole Muslim Ummah
5.The whole Humanity for his Hidayah
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
BROTHER IN ISLAM
KHALID BIN UMAR
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O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord (having taqwa),
All praises to Allah, Lord of the worlds. He who revealed in His Glorious Qur'an, "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord (having taqwa)," (2:185). And may blessings and peace of Allah be upon His last Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, forever. O you who believe, Ramadan is a sacred month wherein Almighty Allah is constantly testing His creation and giving humanity the opportunity to achieve infinite, endless Bliss. Fasting is a complete purification and a means to developing the consciousness of Allah's presence. The consciousness of Allah (Taqwa) is a protection against the schemes of Shaitan, and the suffering of this world. Allah has informed us that, "Whoever keeps his duty to Allah (has taqwa), He ordains a way out for him and gives him sustenance from where he imagines not. And whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah attains His purpose. Allah has appointed a measure for everything." (65:2) Many Muslims today have a misconception about fasting and the activities of a fasting person. They go into a state of semi-hibernation, spending most of their daylight hours in bad. If they fear Allah, they wake up for prayer, but then return to sleep immediately. This unnatural sleep makes them become lazy, dull-witted and often cranky. Ramadan is actually a time of increased activity wherein the believer, now lightened of the burdens of constant eating and drinking, should be more willing to strive and struggle for Allah. The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, passed through approximately nine Ramadans after the Hijrah. They were filled with decisive events and left us a shining example of sacrifice and submission to Allah. In the first year after the Hijrah, the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, sent Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib with thirty Muslim riders to Saif al Bahr to investigate three hundred riders from Quraish who had camped suspiciously in that area. The Muslims were about to engage the disbelievers, but they were separated byMajdy ibn Umar al-Juhany. The Hypocrites of Madinah, hoping to oppose the unity of the Muslims, built their own masjid (called Masjid ad-Dirar). The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, ordered this masjid to be destroyed in Ramadan. On the seventeenth of Ramadan, 3 A.H., Almighty Allah separated truth from falsehood at the Great Battle of Badr. The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, and 313 of his companions set out to intercept a caravan of their own goods that had been left in Makkah. It was led by Abu Sufyan himself, and estimated at 50,000 dinars. They were met, instead, by a well-equipped army of the nobility of Quraish, intend on putting out the light of Islam. Despite being outnumbered three to one and appearing weak and unseasoned, the Muslims defended their faith with a burning desire to protect the Prophet and meet their Lord through martyrdom. Allah gave them a decisive victory on this day of Ramadan, that would never be forgotten. In 6 A.H., Zaid ibn Haritha was sent to Wadi al-Qura at the head of a detachment to confront Fatimah bint Rabiah, the queen of that area. Fatimah had previously attacked a caravan led by Zaid and had succeeded in plundering its wealth. She was known to be the most protected woman in Arabia, as she hung fifty swords of her close relatives in her home. Fatimah was equally renowned for showing open hostility to Islam. She was killed in a battle against these Muslims in the month of Ramadan. By Ramadan of 8 A.H., the treaty of Hudaibiyya had been broken and the Muslim armies had engaged the Byzantines in the North. Muhammad, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, felt the need to strike a fatal blow to disbelief in the Arabian Peninsula and conquer the city of Mecca. Allah has declared His Sanctuary a place of peace, security and religious sanctity. Now the time had come to purify the Ka`bah of nakedness and abomination. The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam set out with an army having more armed men than al-Madinah had ever seen before. People were swelling the army's ranks as it moved toward Makkah. The determination of the believers, guided by the Will of Allah, became so awesome that the city of Makkah was conquered without a battle, on 20 Ramadan. This was one of the most important dates in Islamic history for after it, Islam was firmly entrenched in the Arabian Peninsula. During the same month and year, after smashing the idols of Makkah, detachments were sent to the other major centers of polytheism and al-Lat, Manat and Suwa, some of the greatest idols of Arabia, were destroyed. Such was the month of Ramadan in the time of the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam. It was a time of purification, enjoining the good, forbidding the evil, and striving hard with one's life and wealth. After the death of the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, Muslims carried on this tradition and Allah used the true believers to affect the course of history. Ramadan continued to be a time of great trials and crucial events. Ninety-two years after the Hijrah, Islam had spread across North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Spain was under the tyrannical rule of King Roderic of the Visigoths. Roderic had forced his six millions serfs and persecuted Jews to seek the aid of the Muslims of North Africa in order to be delivered. Musa ibn Husair, the Umayyad governor of North Africa, responded by sending his courageous general Tariq ibn Ziyad at the head of 12,000 Berber and Arab troops. In Ramadan of that year, they were confronted with a combined Visigoth army of 90,000 Christians led by Roderic himself, who was seated on a throne of ivory, silver, and precious gems and drawn by white mules. After burning his boats, Tariq preached to the Muslims warning them that victory and Paradise lay ahead of them and defeat and the sea lay to the rear. They burst forth with great enthusiasm and Allah manifested a clear victory over the forces of disbelief. Not only was Roderic killed and his forces completely annihilated, but also Tariq and Musa succeeded in liberating the whole of Spain, Sicily and parts of France. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of Al-Andalus where Muslims ruled for over 700 years. In the year 582 A.H., Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi, after battling with the Crusaders for years, finally drove them out of Syria and the whole of their occupied lands in the month of Ramadan. The Muslim world was then destined to meet one of its most frightening challenges. In the seventh century A.H. the Mongols were sweeping across Asia destroying everything that lay in their path. Genghis Khan called himself "the scourge of God sent to punish humanity for their sins". In 617 A.H., Samarkand, Ray and Hamdan were put to the sword causing more than 700,000 people to be killed or made captive. In 656 A.H., Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Khan, continued this destruction. Even Baghdad, the leading city of the Muslim world, was sacked. Some estimates say that as many as 1,800,000 Muslims were killed in this awesome carnage. The Christians were asked to eat pork and drink wine openly while the surviving Muslims were forced to participate in drinking bouts. Wine was sprinkled in the masjids and no Azan (call to prayer) was allowed. In the wake of such a horrible disaster and with the threat of the whole Muslim world and then Europe being subjected to the same fate, Allah raised up from the Mamluks of Egypt, Saifuddin Qutz, who united the Muslim army and met the Mongols at Ain Jalut on 25th of Ramadan, 458 A.H. Although they were under great pressure, the Muslims with the help of Allah, cunning strategy and unflinching bravery crushed the Mongol army and reversed this tidal wave of horror. The whole of the civilized world sighed in relief and stood in awe at the remarkable achievement of these noble sons of Islam. This was the spirit of Ramadan that enabled our righteous forefathers to face seemingly impossible challenges. It was a time of intense activity, spending the day in the saddle and the night in prayer while calling upon Allah for His mercy and forgiveness. Today, the Muslim world is faced with drought, military aggression, widespread corruption and tempting materialism. Surely we are in need or believers who can walk in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, the illustrious Sahabah, Tariq ibn Ziyad, Qutuz, Salahuddin and the countless heroes of Islam. Surely we are in need of believers who are unafraid of the threats of the disbelievers, yet kind and humble to the believing people; Muslims whose fast is complete and not just a source of hunger and thirst. May Allah raise up a generation of Muslims who can carry Islam to all corners of the globe in a manner that befits our age, and may He give us the strength and the success to lay the proper foundations for them. May Allah make us of those who carry out our Islam during Ramadan and after it, and may He not make us of those who say what they do not do. Surely Allah and His Angels invoke blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad. O you who believe, send blessings and peace to him forever.
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What Invalidates Fastingscrip
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Two types of action invalidate fasting: 1) Actions that necessitate compensatory fasting later on, and 2) actions that require an additional form of compensation together with compensatory f
Two types of action invalidate fasting: 1) Actions that necessitate compensatory fasting later on, and 2) actions that require an additional form of compensation together with compensatory fasting. 1. Eating and drinking: If someone eats or drinks by mistake, or forgetting that he is fasting, or if he is forced to do so, his fasting remains valid and he is not required to compensate for that in any way. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: “He who forgets on a day of fasting and eats or drinks, let him continue his fast. He has only been given food and drink by God.” (Related in all six main Hadith anthologies) . This ruling is unanimously agreed by all scholars. In another statement by the Prophet: He who breaks his fast in Ramadan out of forgetfulness is not required to fast later on or to compensate in any way.” (Related by Al-Daraqutni and others). Ibn Abbas quotes the Prophet as saying: “God has forgiven my community what they do by mistake, out of forgetfulness and what they are forced to do.” (Related by Ibn Majah). 2. Vomiting: Involuntary vomiting does not require any compensation or later fasting. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet as saying: “He who vomits involuntarily is not required to fast later on; but the one who deliberately causes himself to vomit must fast later on.” (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others). According to Al-Khattabi, all scholars are unanimous that this Hadith provides an indisputable rule. 3. Menstruation and postnatal discharge: These invalidate fasting even if they start one minute before sunset. Again, this is unanimously agreed by all scholars. 4. Deliberate ejaculation, whether through kissing and cuddling of one’s wife, or through masturbation. If ejaculation happens as a result of merely looking at a woman or day-dreaming, it does not invalidate fasting. It is considered in these cases in the same light as ejaculation during sleep. 5. Eating something that is not nourishing such as swallowing a large quantity of salt is generally agreed to invalidate fasting. 6. If during a day of fasting one intends to finish his fast, his fasting is no longer valid, even though he may not have had anything to eat or drink. Intention is an essential requirement of fasting. Therefore, if it is revoked by a new intention of breaking one’s fast, the fast is no longer valid. As has already been mentioned, all these practices invalidate fasting and require the person concerned to fast later on in compensation. If a person eats, drinks or has sexual intercourse with his wife thinking that the sun has already set or that the starting time of fasting is not due yet, and later realizes that he was mistaken with regard to the time, he is required to compensate by fasting a day later on, according to the majority of scholars including the four main schools of Fiqh, or Islamic law. Some very distinguished scholars, however, including Ishaq, Dawood, Ibn Hazm, Ata’ and others, believe that his fast is valid and he is not required to compensate. They base their argument on the Qur’anic verse: “No liability is attached to you in what you do through a genuine mistake, but you are liable for what you do deliberately.” (33: 5) We have already quoted the Prophet’s tradition which states that God has forgiven Muslims anything they do through genuine mistake. It is reported that during Umar’s time, people finished their fast on an overcast day when large containers of water were brought out from Hafsah’s rooms (his daughter and the Prophet’s wife), and they all drank. Sometime later, the sun reappeared through the clouds. People were very depressed and some of them suggested that they should fast in compensation. Umar said: “Why? By God, we were not inclined to break God’s law.” Al-Bukhari relates that Asma’ bint Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s sister-in-law, said: “One day in Ramadan during the Prophet’s lifetime, we broke our fast when it was very cloudy. Later on, the sun reappeared.” Imam Ibn Taymiyah comments that this statement proves two points: 1) That people are not required to delay ending their fast when it is cloudy until they are absolutely certain that the sun has set. The companions of the Prophet did not do that, and the Prophet did not order them to do so. We know that the Prophet’s companions were better informed about Islam and more obedient to God and His Messenger than any succeeding generation. 2) That such a mistake does not require compensation by fasting later on. The Prophet did not order his companions to fast later. Had he done so, we would have been told. Since we are not told of that, we conclude that he did not order them to fast later. Fasting and Compensation TogetherBoth fasting later and compensation are required if a person has sexual intercourse with his wife during a day of fasting. Abu Hurayrah reports: “A man said to the Prophet: ‘Messenger of God! I am doomed.’ The Prophet asked: ‘On what grounds have you been doomed?’ He said: ‘I had sexual intercourse with my wife in Ramadan.’ The Prophet asked the man: ‘Can you afford to free a slave?’ The man answered in the negative. The Prophet asked him: ‘Are you able to fast two consecutive months without interruption?’ The man again answered in the negative. The Prophet then asked him: ‘Can you afford to feed 60 people?’ The man again said no and sat down. Some time later, the Prophet was given a large container full of dates. He gave it to the man and said: ‘Give this for charity.’ The man said: ‘To any people who are poorer than us? There is no family in Madinah which more badly needs these dates than we?’ The Prophet laughed so much that his back teeth were visible. He said to the man: ‘Take it to your own family.’ (Related in all six anthologies) . Most scholars agree that both the man and the woman are required to give this sort of compensation since they both have intercourse deliberately out of their own free will, during a day of Ramadan on which they have intended to fast. If they have forgotten that they are fasting, or if they are forced to have intercourse, or if they have not intended to fast, then no compensation is required of either of them. If the man forces his wife to have intercourse with him, or if she was exempt from fasting, the compensation is required of him alone. Imam Al-Shafie believes that the woman is not required to give compensation at all, if she has intercourse with her husband, whether she is willing or unwilling. She is only required to fast a day later instead. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal is of the same opinion. Fasting LaterIf someone does not fast one day or more in Ramadan for any reason, he is required to fast later on, but this does not mean that he should fast immediately when Ramadan is over. He can choose to fast at any time which is convenient for him. The same applies to compensation. It is authentically reported that Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, used to fast in the month of Shaaban in compensation for the days she did not fast in Ramadan of the preceding year; that is over ten months later. Each day of Ramadan is compensated for by fasting one day instead. Moreover, if one did not fast on several days in Ramadan and he is fasting them later on, it is not necessary for him to fast on consecutive days. If he delays fasting in compensation for over one year, he fasts the new month of Ramadan in the normal way when it falls due, and then he fasts those compensatory days later on without incurring any additional penalty, whether this delay was for good cause or not. This is according to the Hanafi school of Fiqh . Other schools of Fiqh agree with this verdict if the delay is for a valid reason. If not, the person concerned is still required to fast a similar number of days, but he is also required to feed a needy person for each day. This view, however, does not seem to be based on any firm grounds. The Hanafi view seems to be the weightier one in this instance.
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When a person is overcome by material desires and cravings, he becomes negligent of his spiritual being and indifferent to the obligations imposed on him by his Creator.
When a person is overcome by material desires and cravings, he becomes negligent of his spiritual being and indifferent to the obligations imposed on him by his Creator. To help man in combating this onslaught, the Almighty has made fasting compulsory once every year for one whole month -- the month of Ramadan. With Ramadan comes restriction on our eating and marital relationship. Compared with some other forms of worship subscribed by Islam, fasting is somewhat demanding because its aim is to discipline and channel our soul. This objective, obviously, can only be achieved by a tough training programme. When we are having sehri, all of a sudden we hear the Adhan and we stop eating at once. Howsoever strong our need or want to do certain things may be, they are not allowed to us during our fast; we do not give in to our wishes and temptations. This restriction remains till the maghrib Adhan as God has appointed this time for us to discontinue our fast. Therefore, as soon as the Mu'adhin begins his Adhan, we rush forth to eat and drink. After this, there is no restriction throughout the night. We spend the whole month of Ramadan in the same way. There is no doubt in the fact that we feel a certain amount of weakness and inability to perform to our full capacity but the patience and piety we acquire in return is as essential to the soul as air, water and food are to the body, for man does not live by bread and water alone but also by that which comes from his Lord. Fasting is obligatory for every adult and sane Muslim. If during Ramadan, a person is ill or if he is travelling or if he is unable to fast owing to some reason, then he is required to keep the fasts he has missed whenever he is able to do so. We gain a lot from fasting. The greatest achievement is that a man's soul is liberated from the shackles of his wishes and desires and moves a step further towards the lofty summits of knowledge and intellect. He moves a step closer to the Kingdom of Allah by rising above all mundane needs. For this purpose, fasting puts a restriction on all such things which cause an increase in our desires and incline us towards pleasure. When a person endures such constraints, he is able to break his bond with this world and come closer to his Creator. It is this aspect of fasting because of which God says that fasting is for Him and He alone will bestow the reward for it. The second thing which a person gains from fasting is that the doors of temptation and revolt are closed to a great extent. It is the tongue and the private parts on which the devil attacks the most. The Prophet (sws) said that whosoever could give him guarantee of the two things: one between the two cheeks and the other between the two legs, he would guarantee him Paradise . Fasting puts a check on both these instincts and weakens all inclinations of going overboard with these two. It makes it easy for a person to do all things that are pleasing to Allah and refrain from those which are displeasing to Him. It is this fact which the Prophet (sws) has stated by saying that Satan and his army are chained during the month of Ramadan. The third thing which a person gains from fasting is that his actual distinction -- freedom of will -- is given a great chance to develop and strengthen so that his character become adorned with the qualities of resolve and determination. He gets disciplined enough to control all sorts of emotions and reactions rising in his self. If a person's will power is weak he can neither control his wishes from exceeding the limits nor can he remain steadfast on the Shari'ah. Moreover, he cannot keep such emotions as greed, provocation, hatred and love in check. This requires patience, and, to be patient, it is necessary that he possess a strong power of decision making. Fasting increases this power and disciplines it. It is this power that helps a person to stand for the truth instead of evil. This is the reason that the Prophet (sws) called fasting a shield and asked Muslims to use it in combating evil by just saying: 'I am fasting'. The fourth thing a person attains from Fasting is that it inculcates and strengthens the spirit of sacrifice in a person and urges him to show compassion to people who are less fortunate than he. To experience hunger and thirst in a fast brings him closer to the poor and makes him realize their needs. Fasting effects everyone according to his own disposition. People who are sensitive become even more sensitive to and aware of the suffering and sorrow around them. The fifth thing that a person achieves in Ramadan is that the solitude and isolation he has in this month inclines him to spend more time in reciting the Holy Qur'an with a view to understand and practice its teachings. Allah revealed His Holy Book in this month and made this the month of fasting so that people could thank Him for this bounty. Different Ahadith have revealed that Gabriel used to come to the Holy Prophet (sws) in this month to hear and recite the Qur'an. It is this relationship of the Book of Allah with this month that pious people recite the Qur'an in their late night prayers while the general masses hear the Qur'an in the Taravih prayer said after the 'Isha' prayer. The Holy Prophet (sws) is reported to have given glad tidings of forgiveness of previous sins to whosoever fasts in this month and stands for prayers at night. The sixth thing that a person gains from fasting is that if he so desires he can become attentive to his Creator with all his heart and soul. For this, the 'ibadah of I'tikaf has been prescribed in this month. Although this is not obligatory for everyone, it is a very essential form of worship to incline our hearts towards God. In religious parlance, I'tikaf means that a person should isolate himself from everyone in the mosque for ten days or less according to his convenience and devote himself to the Almighty, and unless an indispensable need arises, he should not come out. The Prophet (sws) was very particular in observing I'tikaf throughout his life. Taken from Studying Islam www.studying- islam.org
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Read The Full Taraweeh Prayer
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Whoever prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward,
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 37; Muslim, 759.
This hadeeth is indicative of the virtue of praying qiyaam in Ramadaan, and shows that this is one of the means of forgiveness of sin. Whoever prays Taraaweeh as it should be prayed has prayed at night (qiyaam al-layl) in Ramadaan.
Forgiveness is conditional upon “faith and hope of reward,” as stated here.
What is meant by “faith” is that when the person stands to pray qiyaam, he believes in Allaah, may He be exalted, and believes in His promise and in the virtue of praying qiyaam, and in the greatness of its reward with Allaah.
“Hope of reward” means that he is seeking the reward from Allaah and is not doing it for any other purpose such as showing off, etc.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to encourage them to pray qiyaam during Ramadaan, without commanding them to do it. Then he said: “Whoever prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
So the Muslim should be keen to pray Taraaweeh, and should be patient in completing the prayer with his imam. He should not neglect any part of it, or leave before his imam, even if his imam does more than eleven or thirteen rak’ahs, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded that he spent the night in qiyaam.”
It is only a few nights, which the wise man makes the most of before they are gone.
Abu Dawood said: It was said to Ahmad while I was listening: Can qiyaam – i.e., taraaweeh – be delayed until the end of the night?
He said: The way of the Muslims is dearer to me.
If a person is keen to pray whatever rak’ahs he wants to at the time of the pre-dawn (suhoor time), then he should not pray witr again at the end of his prayer, rather it is sufficient for him to pray witr with his imam in taraaweeh, because of the hadeeth of Talq ibn ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There cannot be two witrs in one night.”
With regard to the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) – according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Make the last of your prayers at night witr” – this is to be understood as referring to one who prays at the end of the night and did not pray witr at the beginning of the night.
The command here is to be understood as a recommendation, not an obligation. It is not essential to conclude the prayer at the end of the night with witr, based on the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed at the end of the night, after his witr.
Abu Dawood said: I said to Ahmad: Does praying after witr invalidate witr? He said: No.
Abu Dawood said: I heard Ahmad say concerning one who prayed witr at the beginning of the night then got up to pray qiyaam:
He said: He should pray two rak’ahs.
It was said: Does he not have to pray witr?
He said: No.
He said: I heard someone ask him about someone who wanted to pray after witr – should he pray two by two ?
He said: Yes, but after witr he should lie down.
The imam should take care to pray properly in taraaweeh. He should pray with proper focus and humility, reciting in a proper manner and being at ease in rukoo’ and sujood. He should beware of rushing lest he fail to attain the proper level of khushoo’ (focus and humility) and lest he make the weak, elderly and sick among the people behind him get too tired.
Al-Saa’ib ibn Yazeed said: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab commanded Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Tameem al-Daari to lead the people in praying eleven rak’ahs of qiyaam. He said: The reciter used to recite the soorahs that contain more than a hundred verses, until we would lean on sticks because of having to stand for so long, but we did not leave until dawn was approaching.
When the worshipper has said the tasleem at the end of witr, he should say: Subhaan al-Malik al-Quddoos (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy) three times, elongating the vowels and raising his voice the third time, because it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that.
There is nothing wrong with women attending Taraaweeh prayers so long as there is no risk of fitnah, and they go out looking decent, not making a wanton display of themselves in attractive clothes or wearing makeup, and they pray with proper focus and humility, keeping the houses of Allaah free from idle talk and evil speech such as backbiting, malicious gossip or talking about their household affairs, so that they will be free of sin and will earn the reward of Allaah.
And Allaah knows best.
From: Ahaadeeth al-Siyaam by al-Fawzaan, p. 59.
O Allaah, accept this (worship) from us, for You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, and accept our repentance, for You are the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful
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