Acts that Diminish the Reward of Fasting - II
18/07/2011| IslamWeb
Backbiting and tale-bearing
Q: Do backbiting and tale-bearing during the day in Ramadan invalidate one's fast?
A: Backbiting and tale-bearing do not invalidate fasting; however, they reduce its reward. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous} [Quran 2:183]
The Messenger of Allah 
said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon them and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink."
said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon them and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink."[Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Kitaab Ad-Da‘wah]
Q: Do backbiting and tale-bearing with which many people are afflicted, invalidate one's fast?
A: These actions are forbidden at all times – especially in Ramadan. The fasting person is ordered to safeguard his fast from what may reduce his reward such as backbiting, tale-bearing and false speech. The Prophet said: “Fasting is not just abstaining from eating and drinking, but fasting is also refraining from vain speech (Laghw) and foul (or obscene) language or sexual relations (Rafath).”
said: “Fasting is not just abstaining from eating and drinking, but fasting is also refraining from vain speech (Laghw) and foul (or obscene) language or sexual relations (Rafath).”Imam Ahmad 
narrated in his Musnad that two women were fasting and said that they were dying of thirst. The Prophet turned away from them in silence. They begged him again. The Prophet then called them and ordered them to vomit into a bowl. They spat out a mixture of vomit, blood and pus, which filled the bowl. The Prophet said: "Verily, these two have fasted from what Allah has made lawful for them and did not fast from what Allah has made unlawful. They sat with each other and spent their fast eating the flesh of people."
narrated in his Musnad that two women were fasting and said that they were dying of thirst. The Prophet turned away from them in silence. They begged him again. The Prophet then called them and ordered them to vomit into a bowl. They spat out a mixture of vomit, blood and pus, which filled the bowl. The Prophet said: "Verily, these two have fasted from what Allah has made lawful for them and did not fast from what Allah has made unlawful. They sat with each other and spent their fast eating the flesh of people." In addition, the Prophet said: "Perhaps a fasting person will get nothing for his fast save hunger and thirst and perhaps someone who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness.".
said: "Perhaps a fasting person will get nothing for his fast save hunger and thirst and perhaps someone who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness.".The point is that these acts affect the fast, yet they do not completely invalidate it – they just reduce its reward.
The fasting person should also safeguard his physical organs from quarreling if someone abuses or insults him. That is why the Prophet said: "When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say, ‘I am fasting’."
said: "When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say, ‘I am fasting’." The fasting person should differentiate between the days he is fasting and other days. Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "If you fast, let your ears, eyes and tongue fast by abstaining from backbiting and tale-bearing, and refrain from harming neighbors. Be quiet and respectful and do not make the day on which you are fasting like your other days", or something to that effect.
[Shaykh Ibn Jibreen, Fataawa As Siyaam]
Q: Does backbiting invalidate one's fast in Ramadan?
A: Backbiting does not invalidate one's fasting. Backbiting means saying something about someone that he would dislike. It is a sin, for Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not backbite each other} [Quran 49:12].
The same ruling applies to tale-bearing, insulting, abusing and lying. None of these acts invalidate fasting but they are sins that should be avoided by the fasting and non-fasting person alike. They reduce the reward of fasting, for the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon it and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]
said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon it and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]The Messenger of Allah also said: "Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say, ‘I am fasting.’" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] There are many other Hadeeths (narrations) to this effect.
also said: "Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say, ‘I am fasting.’" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] There are many other Hadeeths (narrations) to this effect. [Shaykh Ibn Baaz Majmoo‘ Al-Fataawa]
Majmoo‘ Al-Fataawa]Obscene language
Q: Does speaking forbidden words during the day in Ramadan invalidate one’s fast?
A: If we consider the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous} [Quran 2:183], we will know the wisdom behind ordaining fasting. It is to attain righteousness and to worship Allah The Almighty. Righteousness, which is abandoning the forbidden, includes performing what is ordained and abandoning what is prohibited. The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon it and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink."
said: "Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), acting upon it and intolerance, Allah will not be in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink."Thus, it is confirmed that the fasting person should avoid forbidden words and acts. He should not engage in backbiting, lying, and tale-bearing. He should not conduct a forbidden transaction. He should avoid anything that is forbidden. If one abides by this for a whole month, his soul will be upright for the rest of the year.
It is extremely sad that there is no difference in the lives of many fasting people on the days when they are fasting and other days. They continue using forbidden language and doing impermissible acts such as lying, cheating and so forth, as usual. One does not feel that they have acquired the respectfulness and gravitas that comes from fasting. These acts do not invalidate fasting, but reduce its reward and may even waste the entire reward of fasting. We ask Allah The Almighty for help.
[Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Al Fataawa]
False testimony in Ramadan
Q: Is the fast of a man who bears false testimony valid?
A: False testimony is one of the gravest major sins. It includes testifying to something that one does not know about or knows the opposite to be true. This does not invalidate fasting but diminishes its reward.
[Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Al Fataawa]
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