70 Issues Related to Fasting Part 570 Issues Related to Fasting Part 5

Niyyah (Intentions) To Niyyah (Intentions) To FastFast

Having Intentions is required for your obligatory fast to Having Intentions is required for your obligatory fast to be accepted:be accepted:

The Prophet said: The Prophet said:

““There is no fast for the person There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast who did not intend to fast from the night beforefrom the night before.”.”

(Reported by Abu Dawood)(Reported by Abu Dawood)

About the Intention:About the Intention:

The intention may be made at any The intention may be made at any point during the night, even if it point during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajris just a moment before Fajr

Intentions lie in the heart so you Intentions lie in the heart so you do not say them aloud - anyone do not say them aloud - anyone who knows that tomorrow is who knows that tomorrow is one of the days of Ramadan one of the days of Ramadan and wants to fast has made the and wants to fast has made the intentionintention

Also the person who is fasting Also the person who is fasting Ramadan does not need to Ramadan does not need to repeat the intention every night repeat the intention every night during Ramadan; it is sufficient during Ramadan; it is sufficient to have the intention at the to have the intention at the beginning of the monthbeginning of the month

However:However:

If the intention is interrupted If the intention is interrupted by breaking the fast due to by breaking the fast due to travel or sickness – for travel or sickness – for example – he has to renew example – he has to renew the intention to fast when the intention to fast when the reason for breaking the the reason for breaking the fast is no longer present. fast is no longer present.

Menses is a great example – Menses is a great example – the intention must be renew the intention must be renew after the menses passesafter the menses passes

Intentions are different with voluntary fasts:Intentions are different with voluntary fasts:

Making the intention the night Making the intention the night before is not a condition of before is not a condition of voluntary fasts, because of the voluntary fasts, because of the hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah who said: who said:

““The Messenger of Allah entered The Messenger of Allah entered upon me one day and said, ‘Do upon me one day and said, ‘Do you have anything [food]?’ We you have anything [food]?’ We said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘In that case said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘In that case I am fasting.’” I am fasting.’”

(Reported by Muslim) (Reported by Muslim)

If person learns that Ramadan has started after If person learns that Ramadan has started after Dawn:Dawn:

He has to stop eating and drinking He has to stop eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and he has for the rest of the day, and he has to make that day up later on, to make that day up later on, according to the majority of according to the majority of scholars, because the Prophet scholars, because the Prophet said:said:

“ “There is no fasting for the one There is no fasting for the one who does not have the intention who does not have the intention to fast from the night before.”to fast from the night before.”

(Reported by Abu Dawood)(Reported by Abu Dawood)

When does the fastWhen does the fast

Begin and EndBegin and End

Once the entire disk of the sun has disappeared, the fasting person should break Once the entire disk of the sun has disappeared, the fasting person should break his fast, and not pay any attention to the red glow that remains on the horizonhis fast, and not pay any attention to the red glow that remains on the horizon

The Prophet said: The Prophet said:

““Once night comes from there Once night comes from there and the day disappears from and the day disappears from there, and the sun has set, there, and the sun has set, the fasting person should the fasting person should break his fast.”break his fast.”

(Reported by al-Bukhaari)(Reported by al-Bukhaari)

The Sunnah is to hasten in breaking the fast:The Sunnah is to hasten in breaking the fast:

The Prophet (sa) would not pray The Prophet (sa) would not pray Maghrib until he had broken Maghrib until he had broken his fast, if only with a sip of his fast, if only with a sip of water.water.

If a fasting person cannot find If a fasting person cannot find anything with which to break anything with which to break his fast, he should have the his fast, he should have the intention in his heart to break intention in his heart to break his fast, and he should not his fast, and he should not suck his finger, as some of the suck his finger, as some of the common people do. common people do.

He should beware of breaking He should beware of breaking the fast before the correct timethe fast before the correct time

Also:Also:

If a person is certain, or thinks it If a person is certain, or thinks it most likely, or is not sure most likely, or is not sure whether he broke the fast before whether he broke the fast before the proper time, he should make the proper time, he should make up the fast later on, because the up the fast later on, because the basic principle is that the day is basic principle is that the day is still there and has not endedstill there and has not ended

He should beware of relying on the He should beware of relying on the word of small children or word of small children or untrustworthy sources, and he untrustworthy sources, and he should also beware of the time should also beware of the time differences between different differences between different cities and villages when he cities and villages when he hears the adhaan on the radio hears the adhaan on the radio and so onand so on

When the dawn comes the person must stop eating When the dawn comes the person must stop eating and begin to fast:and begin to fast:

If he knows that the muezzin If he knows that the muezzin calls the adhaan at dawn, calls the adhaan at dawn, he has to stop eating and he has to stop eating and drinking as soon as he drinking as soon as he hears his adhaanhears his adhaan

The idea of being on the safe The idea of being on the safe side by stopping eating and side by stopping eating and drinking a certain time drinking a certain time before Fajr, such as ten before Fajr, such as ten minutes before, is bid’ahminutes before, is bid’ah

What if you live in a city wherein the day and night is What if you live in a city wherein the day and night is not distinguished:not distinguished:

Muslims in these Muslims in these places should fast places should fast according to the according to the times in the nearest times in the nearest city in which there city in which there is a distinct is a distinct alternation of night alternation of night and day.and day.