The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - IV

13/07/2011| IslamWeb

Abiding by the religious rulings regarding the relationship between men and women safeguards them from fornication and unlawful sexual intercourse. However, abiding by the religious rulings in the marital relationship according to the obligations of worship and I‘tikaaf (staying in seclusion) in Ramadan is the ultimate form of this commitment and obedience. 

Such is the manifestation of obedience, which is the opposite of the ultimate form of sin and deviation: the appearance of the child of fornication. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah commented that the goodness of this Ummah (Muslim nation) and its survival are based on two matters:

First: The absence of the phenomenon of the child of fornication in the Ummah.

Second: It is related to the rulings of fasting.

The words of the Messenger of Allah when he said: “My Ummah will remain good” combine both the aforementioned matters.

As for the first, its proof is the Hadeeth (narration) of the Messenger of Allah : “My Ummah will remain good as long as there is no prevalence of children born out of wedlock, and if there is such a prevalence, they will be on the point of receiving the torment of Allah.” [Ahmad]

As for the second, its proof is the saying of the Messenger of Allah : “My Ummah will still be good so long as they hasten to break their fast”.

As the command of hastening to break the fast is: “My Ummah will continue to be good,” the command of delaying Suhoor is the saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].} [Quran 2: 187]

The Prophet said: “My Ummah will continue to be good,” or said: “adhere to the Fitrah (sound natural disposition), so long as they do not delay the Maghrib prayer until the stars appear.”[Ahmad]

The wording of “My Ummah will continue to be good” is specifically linked to the context of the verses of fasting and it is mentioned only once, when linked to other than the context of the verses of fasting; however, it was not far away from it. The Messenger of Allah said: “My Ummah will continue to adhere to the Fitrah (sound natural disposition of man) so long as they do not delay the Maghrib prayer until the stars appear.” [Ahmad]

This explains the connection between the rulings of I‘tikaaf and the prohibition of consuming the wealth of people unjustly. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].} [Quran 2: 188]

What is mentioned in the classification of Al-Bukhari proves the relationship between I‘tikaaf and sales and trade, by putting the book of sales and trade after the book of I‘tikaaf.

The book of sales and trade that contains the rulings of selling, buying, and seeking the provision comes after the book of I‘tikaaf. It is the best form of worship in the last ten days of Ramadan. This will control the transactions that achieve righteousness, and perfect the relationship between worship and seeking provision. Rather, its benefits would extend to legal retribution, inheritance, rulings of fasting, timing the limits of eating, drinking and having relations with women. Therefore, such rulings are the limits that are mentioned at the end of the context by the saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.} [Quran 2: 187]

Finally, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.} [Quran 33: 4]

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - I

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - II

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - III