Obligation of Fasting in Ramadhaan
(Revised on March 18, 2017)
(Revised on March 18, 2017)
بسم الله والحمد لله
والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
All praises are for Allaah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And peace and blessings upon Prophet
Muhammad and his family and companions and all those who follow their path.
My brothers! Verily Fasting in
the month of Ramadhaan is one of the pillars of Islaam and one of its core
foundations. Allaah تعالى said:
﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ
الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ * أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَتٍ فَمَن
كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ
خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ
تَعْلَمُونَ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ
لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ
فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن
كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى
أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى
وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا
أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ
الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ
وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾ [البقرة: 183-185].
{O you who
believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon. [Observing
Saum (Fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a
journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those
who can Fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to Fast
or) to feed a Miskeen (needy person) (for every day). But whoever does good of
his own accord, it is better for him. And that you Fast is better for you if
only you know. The month of Ramadhaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance
for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between right
and wrong). So, whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the
month (of Ramadhaan, i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (Fasts)
that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which
one did not observe Saum (Fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah
intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.
(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must
magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)]
for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2):
183-185]
And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«بُنِي الإِسلامُ على خَمْسٍ: شهادةِ أنْ لا
إِله إِلاَّ الله وأنَّ محمداً رسولُ الله، وإقام الصلاةِ، وإيتاءِ الزكاةِ،
وحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصومِ رمضانَ»، متفق عليه. ولمسلم: «وصومِ رمضانَ وَحَجِّ
البيتِ»
“Islaam is
based on (the following) five (principles): that you testify that there is no
god but Allaah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allaah, and you establish
prayer, pay Zakat, observe the Fast of Ramadhaan, and perform pilgrimage to the
(House)”[1]
And there is an absolute
consensus among the Muslims that Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan is
obligatory, which is known by necessity. So, whosoever rejects its obligation
has done kufr (disbelieved); and he should repent from it. If he does repent
and accepts the obligation of Fasting (then that is well and good), otherwise
he should be killed as a Kaafir, an apostate from his religion. No Ghusl
(bath) should be given to him, nor should he be shrouded. The Salaah (of
Janaazah) should not be offered for him, and no supplications for mercy should
be made for him; nor should he be buried in the graveyard of the Muslims.
Rather, a hole should be dug for him in a far-off place and be buried there –
so that the people are not offended by his smell, and that his family is not
hurt with his presence.
It became obligatory to Fast
in the month of Ramadhaan in the second year after the Hijrah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Fasted for nine years
(before his death). And Fasting was made obligatory in two stages:
In the first stage, a person
was given a choice to either to Fast or to feed (the poor), with more
preference to Fasting.
In the second stage, Fasting
was enjoined without a choice. It is reported in the Saheehain on the authority
of Salamah bin al-Akwa` that he said:
عن سَلَمة بن الأكوع رضي الله عنه قال لما نَزَلَتْ: ﴿وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ
مِسْكِينٍ﴾ كان مَنْ أرَاد أن يُفْطِر ويفْتديَ «يعني فَعَل» حتى نَزَلَتْ الآيةُ
التي بَعْدَها فَنَسخَتْها
“When the Divine Revelation:
{For those who can Fast, they had a choice
either Fast, or feed a poor for every day} [Surah al-Baqarah
(2):184] was revealed, it was permissible for one to give a ransom and give up Fasting,
till the Aayah succeeding it* was revealed and
abrogated this Aayah.”[2]
* Meaning: the saying of
Allaah تعالى:
﴿فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ
فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ
أُخَرَ﴾
{So, whoever
of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhaan,
i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (Fasts) that month, and
whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not
observe Saum (Fasts) must be made up] from other days.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 185]
So Allaah تعالى made Fasting obligatory upon every (able)
individual without any choice.
The Fasting does not become
obligatory till it is confirmed that the month of Ramadhaan has started. So one
should not begin Fasting before the month has started as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«لا يَتَقَدمنَّ أحَدُكم رمضانَ بصوم يومٍ أو يومينِ إلاَّ أنْ
يكونَ رجلٌ كانَ يصومُ صَوْمَهُ فلْيصُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ»
“None of you should Fast a day or two before the month of Ramadhaan unless he has the habit of Fasting (Nawaafil) (and if his Fasting
coincides with that day) then he can Fast that day.”[3]
And the beginning of the
month can be determined by one of the two ways:
First: Sighting the crescent as per the saying of Allaah تعالى:
﴿فَمَن
شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ﴾
{So, whoever
of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadhaan,
i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (Fasts)}
And the saying of the
Prophet صلى الله علبه وسلم:
«إِذَا رأيتُمُ الهلالَ فصوموا»
It is not a condition that
everyone has to personally see the new moon. If a trustworthy person sees it,
then it becomes an obligation on all of them to Fast.
The
condition for accepting the testimony of the witness who has sighted the
crescent is that he should be: A Muslim, matured (adult), of sound mind, trustworthy
in what he reports and having good vision. As for the small (child), then his witness
– that the month has started - is not accepted because he cannot be relied
upon. Similarly, the testimony of an insane person is also not accepted. As for
the Kaafir, (then his witnessing of the crescent) is also not accepted
as per the Hadeeth of Ibn `Abbaas رضي
الله عنهما who
said:
«جاءَ
أَعْرابيٌ إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلّم فقال: إني رَأيتُ الهلالَ يعني رَمضانَ
فقال: أتَشْهَدُ أنْ لا إِله إِلاَّ الله؟ قال: نَعَمْ. قال: أتَشْهَدْ أنَّ محمداً رسولُ الله؟ قال: نَعَمْ. قال: يا بِلالُ أذِّنْ في الناسِ فَلْيصُوموا
غَدَاً»
A
Bedouin came to the Prophet صلى الله علبه وسلم
and said: I have sighted the moon, i.e. of Ramadhaan. He صلى الله علبه وسلم
asked: “Do you testify that there is no deity
worthy of being worshiped except Allaah?” He replied: Yes. He again
asked: “Do you testify that Muhammad is the
Apostle of Allaah?” He replied: Yes. He صلى الله علبه وسلم said: “O Bilaal! Announce to the people that they must Fast
tomorrow.”[5]
And
among the people whose witnessing is not accepted is a person who is known for
lying, or the one who is hasty, or the one who has weak eyesight – which makes
it difficult for him see properly. So the beginning of the month cannot be
affirmed based on the witness of a person about whom there is doubt regarding his
truthfulness, or that there is likelihood about him being a liar.
Moreover,
it will be affirmed that the month of Ramadhaan has begun even if there was
only just one witness, as per the report of Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما:
«تَرَاءَى الناسُ الهلالَ فأخْبرتُ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلّم
أنِّي رأيتُهُ فصامَ وأمَرَ الناسَ بصيامِهِ»
“The people gathered to sight the crescent. I informed the Messenger
of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم that I had seen it.
He Fasted and ordered the people to Fast.”[6]
And
whoever saw the crescent and he is sure about its sighting, then it is
obligatory upon him to inform those in charge of it (like the authority or the moon
sighting committee etc); and similarly, (the same has to be done with) the
sighting of (the crescent for) the month of Shawwal (`Eid al-Fitr) and
Dhul-Hijjah so that the obligations of Fasting, `Eid, and Hajj are established.
That which is indispensable to fulfilling an obligation is also an obligation
(i.e. a thing without which an obligation cannot be established also becomes
obligatory, example: reporting the sighting is an obligation, because without
it the beginning of the month of Ramadhaan cannot be affirmed). And if a person
who saw the crescent lives far away, and he cannot inform the authorities (in
time), then he should Fast (himself) and should look for ways to get the
message across to those in charge, to the best of his ability.
And
if the news has been announced by the authority – through radio or any other
means – that the month has started or ended, then it becomes an obligation to
act upon that news regarding the beginning or the ending of the month – in
Ramadhaan or any other month. This is because the announcement made by the
authorities is a Hujjah (legal proof), and it should be acted upon; like how the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
informed Bilaal to announce to the people that they should Fast as the month
has started, after it was confirmed to him صلى
الله عليه وسلم (by that witness); and that announcement (by
Bilaal) made it binding upon the people to Fast.
And
if the beginning of the month has been affirmed through legal Islaamic proofs[7],
then there is no point to worry about the phases of the moon[8];
because the Prophet صلى
الله عليه وسلم had instructed that one should start Fasting
upon sighting the crescent, and not upon its phases. He صلى الله عليه وسلم
said:
«إِذَا رَأيتُمُ الهلالَ فصُوموا وإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوه فأفْطِروا»
“When you see the crescent (of Ramadhaan), then Fast; and you should
stop fasting when you see the crescent (of Shawwaal)”[9]
He
صلى الله عليه وسلم
also
said:
«إن شَهِدَ شاهدان مُسْلمانِ فصومُوا وأفْطُروا»
“…and if two Muslim witnesses testify, then start Fasting and
(likewise) stop Fasting (at the beginning of Shawwal).”[10]
Second:
The other thing which confirms the beginning of the month of Ramadhaan is that
the month prior to it (i.e. Sha`baan) completes thirty days. This is because it
is not possible for the lunar months to exceed thirty days or be less than
twenty nine days. Sometimes it may happen that two months or three up to four
months will have thirty days continuously; or
two or three up to four months will have twenty nine days continuously.
But most of the time, a month or two will be of thirty days and the third month
will be deficient (i.e. 29 days). So, whenever a previous month completes
thirty days, so according to the Islaamic ruling, the following month has started,
even if the crescent is not sighted as per the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليع وسلم:
«صُوموا لِرؤيتِهِ وأفْطروا لرؤيته فإن
غُمِّي عليكُمْ الشهر فعدوا ثلاثين»
“Observe Fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (Fast) on
sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the
number (of thirty).”[11]
And
in the Hadeeth of al-Bukhaaree it is:
«فإن غُبَّي عليكم فأكْمِلوا عدَّة شعبانَ ثَلاثينَ»
And
in Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah it is reported on the authority of `Aaishah رضي الله عنها
that she said:
«كانَ النبيُّ صلى الله
عليه وسلّم يَتحفَّظُ من شعبانَ ما لا يَتَحَفَّظ من غيرهِ ثم يصوم لرؤيةِ رمضان
فإنْ غُمَّ عليه عَدَّ ثلاثين يوماً ثم صام»
“The Messenger
of Allaah صلى الله عليع وسلم used to count the days in Sha`baan in a manner he did not count
any other month; then he Fasted when he sighted the new moon of Ramadhaan; but
if the weather was cloudy, he would complete thirty days (of Sha`baan) and then
Fast.”[13]
And
all these Ahaadeeth confirm that no one should Fast before the crescent is
sighted, and if the crescent is not seen, then one should complete the month of
Sha`baan as thirty days. And no one should Fast on the thirtieth of Sha`aan
whether it was cloudy or not as per the narration of `Ammaar bin Yasir رضي الله عنه
that he said:
«مَنْ صَامَ اليومَ الَّذي يشكُّ فيه فقد عصى
أبا القاسمِ صلى الله عليه وسلّم»
O Allaah! Make us of those
who follow Your guidance, and remove from us that which is a cause for our
destruction and misery, and make this month for us a month full of goodness and
blessing, and help us in obeying You in this month, and distance from us the
path towards Your disobedience; and forgive us and our parents and all the
Muslims. And Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions.
[2] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4507),
Saheeh Muslim (1145), Abu Dawood (2315), Tirmidhee (798), al-Nasaee (2315)
[4] Saheeh Muslim (1081). It is also reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1906) and Saheeh Muslim (1080) with slight different wordings.
[5] Sunan Abu Dawood (2340, 2341), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (691), Sunan al-Nasa’ee (2112, 2113), Sunan Ibn Maajah (1652) and graded as “Dah`eef” (weak) by Shaikh al-Albaanee and also by Ibn Katheer, as the chain of narration is Mursal (broken).
[6] Sunan Abu Dawood (2342), and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee
[7] The
beginning of a month is determined by either of the two ways: 1) that
the new moon has been sighted or 2) the month prior to it completes
thirty days. As for using astronomical calculations to determine the beginning
of a month, then we do not use or rely on them, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor calculate. The
month is like this and this, i.e., sometimes of twenty-nine days and sometimes
thirty days.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1913) and Saheeh Muslim (1080)]
The
Lajnah said: “The Council has studied the issue of proving the
appearance of the new moon by means of calculation, and what has been narrated
in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and they have studied the comments of the scholars
on this matter. They have decided unanimously that astronomical calculations
carry no weight in determining the new moon with regard to Shar`ee matters,
because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Start fasting on seeing it (the new moon of Ramadhaan),
and give up fasting on seeing it (the new moon of Shawwaal).” And he
صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not fast
until you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast until you sight it”,
and also because of other evidence to that effect.” [Fataawa Lajnah
(10/135-136)]
[8] Certain times it happens that the
crescent is not sighted when the people were expecting it. Then the crescent on
the next day seems bigger than it should have, and this becomes a cause of
concern for the people. If the moon was not sighted and the previous month
completed thirty days, then there is no cause for concern, as long as they
complete Ramadhaan as twenty nine days; as a lunar month can be of thirty days
and sometimes of twenty nine days but not less than that. But if people only
Fasted for twenty eight days in Ramadhaan and then the crescent for Shawwaal is
sighted, then people should Fast for one more day after Eid to complete twenty
nine days, as explained in the following two Fataawa:
[Fataawa
Lajnah (10/121-123)]
[Majmoo`
al-Fataawa of Ibn Baaz (15/157-159)]
[9] Saheeh Muslim (1081). It is also reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1906) and Saheeh Muslim (1080) with slight different wordings.
[10] Sunan
al-Nasaa’ee (2116) and graded as “Saheeh” by
Shaikh al-Albaanee, and Musnad Ahmad (18895) and the wordings are his, and
graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami` (3811) and
al-Irwaa (909). In Sunan al-Daaraqutnee (2199) the wordings are: “…till two trustworthy men testify.”
[13] Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah (1910), Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (3444), Sunan al-Daaraqutnee (2149), and Sunan Abu Dawood (2325) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee
[14] Sunan Abu Dawood (2334), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (686), Sunan al-Nasaa`ee (2188), and Sunan Ibn Maajah (1645) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh Al-Albaanee
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem,
ReplyDeleteAssalamu Allaikum Warahmathullhi Wabarakathuh,
Jasakallahu Khiren for your beneficial article.
I'm from an area where our people practice local hilal sighting. They will not commence fasting until they see the hilal by the locals. they did not depend on International hilal sighting. Because of this issue, we are always one day late, when we compare us with Saudi Arabia. Which is the correct practice, local hilal sighting or International hilal sighting..?
Wa `alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.
DeleteYou can find answer to your question from the following links, inshaa-Allaah:
http://www.alifta.com/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Tree&NodeID=2730&PageNo=1&BookID=7
http://www.alifta.com/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Tree&NodeID=2457&PageNo=1&BookID=14
Baarak Allaahu feekum.
Jasakallaahu Khiren..
Delete