Ramadan and the Heaven (Jannah)

Sahl ibn ‘ Saa’d said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayaan

Bukhari, Muslim

“Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayaan. On the Day of Resurrection, those who fasted will never enter it and none except them will enter. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to fast!’ They will arise and none except them will enter it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and none will enter it.” (Bukhari, Muslim).

Fasting in the Ramadan

The obligation: fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of obedience and submission to Allah’s commands through the highest degree of commitment, sincerity and faithfulness to seek Allah’s mercy, to atone for sins, errors, and mistakes and to avoid condemnation to hell. The fasting during Ramadan is obligatory on every adult, sane and able Muslim.

When to fast?

Fasting involves abstinence from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn (approximately one and a half hours before sunrise) to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan.

Who is exempted from fasting?

• Children and insane people.
• Men and women who are too old and feeble but they should offer one poor muslim a full meal or its value per day.
• Sick people whose health is likely to be severly affected, people during the hardship in travel, expectant or nursing women their children, women in periods of menstruation but they must make up for it in later days, a day for a day.

What is Niyyah or Intention of fast?

To observe the fast, the intention of fasting is essential (Wajib).

For RAMADAN month, announcing fasting by saying-after suhoor eating:

I INTED TO FAST, and in ARABIC; NAWAITUL-SIAM. The intention can be announced even during some of the daytime latest 50 minutes before NOON time.

What is Suhoor?

Suhoor is a light, predawn meal, recommended before actually fasting. It is a blessing and hence recommended but not essential. Any consumption of food or drink should cease at least five to ten minutes before the onset of dawn.

When does ‘Sahoor’ end? Is it at Fajr or at dawn? What is religiously correct in accordance to the times of the Prophet and not custom?

For fasting, ‘Sahoor’ ends when you hear Fajr azan.

If a person eats past the ‘Sahoor” time by mistake can he/she still continue to fast or have to make up another day?

When fasting, if you eat something by mistake you stay fasting, and you do not have to make up for the day of eating by mistake.

Can anyone eat during Ramadhan if wakes up late?

If you are fasting in Ramadan, you cannot eat after dawn.

What is Iftar?

Iftar is an Arabic term meaning breaking the fast immediately after the sunset. Iftar is a light snack consisting of dates or desserts, along with liquids, such as water, juice or milk.

What breaks the fast?

• Intentional consumption of food, drink, medicine, or smoking during the fasting.
• Any injection, which has some nutritional value.
• Beginning of menstruation or postnatal birth bleeding.

Do smoking tobacco breaks your fast?

Yes, smoking does break fasting.

Does giving blood test breaks the fast?

No, giving blood for testing does not break fasting.

Does giving blood test breaks the fast?

No, giving blood for testing does not break fasting.

What is Fidya?

For those who cannot fast for any valid reason (such as elderly, sick or handicapped) compensation must be given by feeding a poor person for every day of fasting not observed. The young and healthy people need to make up their missed fasts, should they be sick or travelling.

Allah swt says:
" The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, 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 Ramadan 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. Allah 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 Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allah-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. " (2:185)

How to calculate the price for Fidya?

The price of Fidya for each day of missed fasts is either to feed a poor person two meals in a day, or to give whole wheat, which is enough to feed a poor person twice in a day (1/2 Saa per Hanafi school of thought, or 1 Saa per Shaafi and other schools of thought). (1 Sa = 3 Kilograms approx.).
The ‘Fidya’ price for a person should be based and calculated on the local price of whole wheat where the person resides.

What is the price of ‘Fidya’ in UK this year?

The ‘Fidya’ price in UK is £4.00 per person.

What is ‘Kaffara’? (Making up the fast)

During the fasting period, if one deliberately breaks his or her fast s/he must fast for sixty continuous days, or feed sixty needy persons, or spend in charity an amount equal to feeding sixty persons.

Breaking of the fast under exceptional permissions to break a fast of Ramadan when there is a danger to the health.

How to do with the missed fasts in Ramadan?

If the missing is with some excuse, like sickness or travel or any other excuse, then the one who did the missing should make up for whatever was missed by fasting the same numbers of missed days. If no excuse was there for missing then nothing can make up for the missed days.

Can sick person fast?

A sick person, should fast ONLY if he can afford fasting, otherwise, he is excused, on condition that later, this person has to make up by fasting the same number of not fasting days when he recovers.

When making up days after Ramadan, do they have to be consecutive?

Making up days after Ramadan, DO NOT HAVE TO BE CONSEECUTIVE.

Is it obligatory for a pregnant woman to fast in the month of Ramadhan?

Pregnant and breast feeding woman are permitted not to fast, if she cannot afford it. Later, when she can afford it, she has to make up by fasting same number of days for the non fasted days, or she has to pay ‘Fidya’ as charity to needy persons, and the amount of ‘Fidya’ should be the cost of feeding or paying what equals the cost of her food for a day for each non fasted day.

How long does a person have to make up fasts from the past Ramadan? And can a person fast on religious days if they haven’t made up their fasts from Ramadan?

There is nothing wrong in making up the missed fasts during any of the other days; but not in the prohibited days.

There are five days in a year on which one is prohibited to fast:

1. Eid Al-Fitr

2. Eid Al-Adha and three days after that.

Also a woman cannot fast while she is menstruating.

What is Aitekaf?

‘Aitekaf ‘or ‘Itikaaf’ is seclusion in a mosque (or home for ladies) for worship for the last 10 days of Ramadan.

What is Laylatul Qadr? (The night of power)

Laylatul Qadr (the night of power) falls within the last 10 days of Ramadan.

“Seek it in the Ramadan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the old nights the twenty-first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night.” (Ahmad)

Seek it in the Ramadan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the old nights the twenty-first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night

Ahmad

Here are a few suggestions to help you through Laylatul Qadr:

• Plan ahead if you intend to spend the night in prayers. In case you are working book the following day off.
• Take regular breaks during the nights the night to avoid exhaustion.
• Try switching between different forms of worship.
• Perform Itikaaf i.e seclusion in a mosque (or home for ladies) for worship. If possible, take a vacation for the last 10 days of Ramadan.
• Increase reading Salah (prayer) and with full attention.
• Find out if there are any events organized, and take your family along.
• Motivate your family and friends to spend these nights seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Laylatul Qadr (the night of power) “The night of power is better than a thousand months.” (Al-Qadr, 3)