By Allah’s special grace and mercy, one-third of this year’s Ramadan is already history. Fasting in this holy month, which truly is far from being a burden, is rather the foundation of a virtuous life. It redeems believers from the clutches of the devil and from devilish thoughts and tendencies. In order to preserve the sanctity of our Ramadan fast, believers must avoid anything that would either vitiate the fast or threaten its sacredness. The advent of GSM technology has turned many of us in to liars and rumormongers. The Prophet (SAW) said that Allah (SWT does not accept the fasting of a believer who engages in telling lies. Let us be conscious of our spiritual state and shun all such evils including backbiting.
Like prayer, Ramadan is not without issues that prompt believers to ask questions from time to time about certain aspects of the Ramadan fast that border on its vitality. We shall attempt to answer some of such questions that puzzle the mind of believers in their observance of the Ramadan fast. The use of chewing stick (siwak) to brush the teeth is allowed during Ramadan in the daytime provided such a stick is devoid of any efficacious tastes. The use of siwak is a prophetic tradition that always precedes ablution. Scholars who disagree with use of siwak in the daytime during Ramadan base their argument on two prophetic traditions. First, on the Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) reported by Baihaqi, which states “siwak should be used at the beginning of the day and not at the tail end of it”. Second, on the Hadith in which the Prophet (SAW) said, “The odor form the mouth of a fasting believer is more pure in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of scent”. The first Hadith quoted above is a weak one. As for the second Hadith, it is pertinent to clarify that the use of siwak does not kill the mouth odor, but only cleanses the teeth. Therefore, siwak could be used in the daytime of Ramadan provided nothing from it would be swallowed down the throat including blood that may gush from the gums and teeth ridges in the process of brushing the teeth. Nonetheless, scholars are united in their opinions, which disapprove of the use of toothpaste at daytime during Ramadan. Toothpaste has strong flavors that could, without our knowledge, penetrate our throats down into the intestines. We thus advise believers to abstain from the use of toothpaste to brush their teeth during the day while fasting.
The use of perfume does not vitiate fasting. However, it is wise to refrain from using it if there are tendencies that could bring about circumstances such as nausea, which in effect could jeopardize the Ramadan fast. It is permitted for a fasting believer to swim in a river or swimming pool if there are strong reasons for that provided such an act would not lead him to do anything that amounts to disobeying Allah’s divine injunction. Of course, Islam does not object to swimming by fishermen who earn their living by means of swimming to catch fishes. Yet, they must be mindful of their state of fasting and guard against sipping of water. Taking bath while fasting is allowed during the daytime. A believer is also permitted while fasting, to pour cold water on his head if he feels fatigued or beaten by the sun; provided doing so will forestall any disposition to exhaustion. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 2:185 “Allah intend 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 that He has guided you…” As we read in many verses of the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) does not place a burden on a soul greater than it can bear.
If for unavoidable reasons and unforeseen circumstances, daybreak (fajr) catches up with a believer while he is in a state of major ritual impurity (junub), his fasting for the day remains intact. Aisha (RA) and Umm Salmah (RA), wives of Prophet (SAW), both relates that the Prophet (SAW) used to get up in the morning with junub from intercourse and not from a dream in Ramadan, and would continue with the day’s fast. The day’s fast is not vitiated as long as the state of major impurity did not occur after daybreak. But if one carelessly and disobediently engage in lustful thoughts or actions after daybreak and consequently enters into a state of junub, he is of course guilty of a great sin. Such a depraved Muslin is required to expiate for his transgression by observing a sixty-day consecutive fasting in addition to the one he violated giving a total of sixty-one day consecutive fasting. May Allah (SWT) protect us from the temptations of the devil, amin. This is why we must avoid watching films while fasting no matter how friendly they may appear to be. We must also shun circumstances that could expose us to temptations. Although there are prophetic traditions that permit a believer while fasting to kiss his wife, we are of the opinion that such an act should be reserved until after breakfast at sunset. This is for the obvious reason that contemporary believer’s, especially young men, may not be able to hold themselves with the same level of restraint exercised by companions of the Prophet (SAW). Malik (RA) relates from Yahaya Ibn Said that Atika, wife of Umar bn Khattab (RA) used to kiss Umar’s head while he was fasting and Umar never stopped her. Abdullahi bn Abbas (RA) was once asked about kissing while fasting and he replied that such could only be allowed for the old and not for the young. It would thus be in our interest to refrain from kissing our wives during the daytime considering the risk involved.
Scholars in their legal opinion (fatwah) permit asthmatic patients to use inhaler while fasting during the day owing to the basic fact that its contents do not reach the intestines but rather go to the lungs. In the same wise, injections received for medication during the daytime in Ramadan do not vitiate the fast except if the contents of the injection are composed of elements that have nutritional values for the body. Blood could be donated while fasting provided the quantity to be given would not incapacitate the donor as to break his fast. However, in situations of life and death, which may require quantity that would make it impossible for the donor to continue with the day’s fast, there is concession for him to eat and drink for the rest part of that day after donating the blood. He is required to pay back that particular fast, after Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) guard us against anything that would vitiate our fast, amin.
By Allah’s special grace and mercy, one-third of this year’s Ramadan is already history. Fasting in this holy month, which truly is far from being a burden, is rather the foundation of a virtuous life. It redeems believers from the clutches of the devil and from devilish thoughts and tendencies. In order to preserve the sanctity of our Ramadan fast, believers must avoid anything that would either vitiate the fast or threaten its sacredness. The advent of GSM technology has turned many of us in to liars and rumormongers. The Prophet (SAW) said that Allah (SWT does not accept the fasting of a believer who engages in telling lies. Let us be conscious of our spiritual state and shun all such evils including backbiting.
Like prayer, Ramadan is not without issues that prompt believers to ask questions from time to time about certain aspects of the Ramadan fast that border on its vitality. We shall attempt to answer some of such questions that puzzle the mind of believers in their observance of the Ramadan fast. The use of chewing stick (siwak) to brush the teeth is allowed during Ramadan in the daytime provided such a stick is devoid of any efficacious tastes. The use of siwak is a prophetic tradition that always precedes ablution. Scholars who disagree with use of siwak in the daytime during Ramadan base their argument on two prophetic traditions. First, on the Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) reported by Baihaqi, which states “siwak should be used at the beginning of the day and not at the tail end of it”. Second, on the Hadith in which the Prophet (SAW) said, “The odor form the mouth of a fasting believer is more pure in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of scent”. The first Hadith quoted above is a weak one. As for the second Hadith, it is pertinent to clarify that the use of siwak does not kill the mouth odor, but only cleanses the teeth. Therefore, siwak could be used in the daytime of Ramadan provided nothing from it would be swallowed down the throat including blood that may gush from the gums and teeth ridges in the process of brushing the teeth. Nonetheless, scholars are united in their opinions, which disapprove of the use of toothpaste at daytime during Ramadan. Toothpaste has strong flavors that could, without our knowledge, penetrate our throats down into the intestines. We thus advise believers to abstain from the use of toothpaste to brush their teeth during the day while fasting.
The use of perfume does not vitiate fasting. However, it is wise to refrain from using it if there are tendencies that could bring about circumstances such as nausea, which in effect could jeopardize the Ramadan fast. It is permitted for a fasting believer to swim in a river or swimming pool if there are strong reasons for that provided such an act would not lead him to do anything that amounts to disobeying Allah’s divine injunction. Of course, Islam does not object to swimming by fishermen who earn their living by means of swimming to catch fishes. Yet, they must be mindful of their state of fasting and guard against sipping of water. Taking bath while fasting is allowed during the daytime. A believer is also permitted while fasting, to pour cold water on his head if he feels fatigued or beaten by the sun; provided doing so will forestall any disposition to exhaustion. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 2:185 “Allah intend 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 that He has guided you…” As we read in many verses of the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) does not place a burden on a soul greater than it can bear.
If for unavoidable reasons and unforeseen circumstances, daybreak (fajr) catches up with a believer while he is in a state of major ritual impurity (junub), his fasting for the day remains intact. Aisha (RA) and Umm Salmah (RA), wives of Prophet (SAW), both relates that the Prophet (SAW) used to get up in the morning with junub from intercourse and not from a dream in Ramadan, and would continue with the day’s fast. The day’s fast is not vitiated as long as the state of major impurity did not occur after daybreak. But if one carelessly and disobediently engage in lustful thoughts or actions after daybreak and consequently enters into a state of junub, he is of course guilty of a great sin. Such a depraved Muslin is required to expiate for his transgression by observing a sixty-day consecutive fasting in addition to the one he violated giving a total of sixty-one day consecutive fasting. May Allah (SWT) protect us from the temptations of the devil, amin. This is why we must avoid watching films while fasting no matter how friendly they may appear to be. We must also shun circumstances that could expose us to temptations. Although there are prophetic traditions that permit a believer while fasting to kiss his wife, we are of the opinion that such an act should be reserved until after breakfast at sunset. This is for the obvious reason that contemporary believer’s, especially young men, may not be able to hold themselves with the same level of restraint exercised by companions of the Prophet (SAW). Malik (RA) relates from Yahaya Ibn Said that Atika, wife of Umar bn Khattab (RA) used to kiss Umar’s head while he was fasting and Umar never stopped her. Abdullahi bn Abbas (RA) was once asked about kissing while fasting and he replied that such could only be allowed for the old and not for the young. It would thus be in our interest to refrain from kissing our wives during the daytime considering the risk involved.
Scholars in their legal opinion (fatwah) permit asthmatic patients to use inhaler while fasting during the day owing to the basic fact that its contents do not reach the intestines but rather go to the lungs. In the same wise, injections received for medication during the daytime in Ramadan do not vitiate the fast except if the contents of the injection are composed of elements that have nutritional values for the body. Blood could be donated while fasting provided the quantity to be given would not incapacitate the donor as to break his fast. However, in situations of life and death, which may require quantity that would make it impossible for the donor to continue with the day’s fast, there is concession for him to eat and drink for the rest part of that day after donating the blood. He is required to pay back that particular fast, after Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) guard us against anything that would vitiate our fast, amin.
