In this article, we will discuss some rulings connected to fasting during the days of Ramadan and we ask Allah The Almighty to help us apply these rulings.
Muslims should know that it is not valid to observe the fast of Ramadan or make up for days missed during it, or fast what has been vowed without having the intention to do so during the previous night. In other words, the Muslim must have the intention to observe the obligatory fast during the night that precedes the fasting. Intention is located in the heart and it is not permissible to articulate it. The evidence for making the intention of the obligatory fast at night is the Hadeeth that was narrated on the authority of Hafsah, the Mother of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with her, where the Prophet, , said: "Whoever does not have the intention to fast before dawn, his fasting will not be valid." [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad] [Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibbaan: Saheeh (Authentic)]
It is not obligatory to have the intention at night for the voluntary fast. To support this, we have ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said that one day the Prophet, , visited her and said: "‘Do you have something (to eat)?”When she replied in the negative, he said:“Then, I will be fasting."[Muslim] The Hadeeth shows that the Prophet, , woke up without having the intention to fast, then, made the intention during the day. This ruling applies only to voluntary fasting, though.
It is forbidden for a menstruating woman to observe both the obligatory and voluntary fast, and if she dies so, it would not be valid anyway. However, it is obligatory for her to make up for the days on which she broke the obligatory fast due to menstruation. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "When we menstruated, we were ordered to make up for the days of fasting without making up for the (missed) prayers (therein)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] If menstruation stops before dawn and the woman then observes fasting, her fasting will be valid even if she does not take her Ghusl (ritual bathing) except after dawn. Similarly, if a man in the state of Janaabah (post-sexual-intercourse impurity) has the intention to fast and does not make Ghusl until after dawn, his fasting will be valid. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Messenger of Allah would wake up in a state of Janaabah without having had a wet dream but due instead to sexual intercourse and he would (nonetheless) observe fasting in Ramadan." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
If dawn arrives while the woman has menses which then stops after the break of dawn, she must break her fast on that day. She is not allowed to fast this day and must make up for it later. The woman experiencing vaginal bleeding outside menses must observe fasting even if the bleeding continues and does not stop for a short period, such as a day or two, in the month, and this is because the woman experiencing vaginal bleeding outside menses is not exempted from the obligation of prayer and fasting as this bleeding differs from menstruation in rulings as well as in the characteristics of the blood itself.
It is not obligatory for an aged person who is unable to fast and the sick person whose recovery is not expected, to observe fasting. They are permitted to break their fast without making up for these days. Alternatively, they are required to pay an expiation, which is to feed a needy person for every day of fasting. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – an expiation [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day].} [Quran 2:184] Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This verse was revealed as a concession for the aged man or woman who is not able to fast. As a result, they should feed one needy person for each day (not fasted)." Qataadah reported that Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, became weak a year before his death and as a result he broke his fasting and ordered his family to feed a needy person on his behalf for every day he did not fast. [At-Tabaraani and Al-Bayhaqi] This applies to Muslims who are competent for religious assignments, but those who suffer from senility are not required to fast or pay a ransom because they are no longer accountable. If the sick person breaks his fast and the sickness remains till his death, he must feed one needy person for every day as long as his sickness is chronic. However, if the disease is temporary but lasts till he dies, then he is not required to make up for the days missed before he died; this is because Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days [are to be fasted].} [Quran 2:185] If the patient died before he could make up for these days, they would no longer be obligatory for him.
Muslims should know that it is recommended for the person who intends to fast to have the Suhoor (pre-dawn) meal. It was narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, , said: "Have the Suhoor meal, for in it is a blessing."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It was narrated on the authority of ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, , said: "The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book lies in (us) having the Suhoor meal."[Muslim]
It is recommended to delay the Suhoor meal as Zayd ibn Thaabit, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "We had the Suhoor meal with the Prophet then, he stood up for prayers."The narrator of this incident asked, "How long was the time between the Athaan (call to prayer) and Suhoor meal?"Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, said,"An amount equivalent to the time taken to read fifty verses of the Quran." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It is recommended that the Suhoor meal includes dates. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, , said: "The best Suhoor meal for the believer is dates, and if he does not find dates, let him drink water." [Abu Daawood, with a Good chain of narrators] It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, , said: "The Suhoor meal is a blessing, so do not miss it even if one drinks a gulp of water. Allah certainly confers blessings on those who eat the Suhoor meal and His Angels ask Him to do so."[Ahmad: Saheeh (Authentic) chain of narrators]
It is recommended to break one's fast without delay when the due time arrives. It was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, , said: "People will continue to be upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] In another narration, the Prophet, , said: "Islam will remain supreme as long as people hasten to break their fast." [Ahmad: Saheeh (Authentic) chain of narrators] This Hadeeth shows that the superiority of Islam is associated with the implementation of the Sunnah, adhering to it, disseminating it, and defending it. The Iftaar (fast breaking meal) should preferably include ripe dates, or dried dates, or some mouthfuls of water, in that order of preference. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet would break his fast on some ripe dates before he went to [the Maghrib] prayer. If he did not find ripe dates, he would eat dried dates; if he did not find any, he would take mouthfuls of water."[Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi, with a Good chain of narrators]
It is recommended for the Muslim who breaks his fast in his Muslim brother’s house to supplicate: "May the fasting people break their fast in your house; may the pious people eat your food; and may the Angels invoke blessings on you." [Ahmad: Saheeh (Authentic) chain of narrators] This was done by the Prophet, .