All praise is due to Allah.
For the past 3 years, I’ve spent my Ramadans traveling, working and teaching. Only now after spending consecutive days with my community have I realized that the Issue of Ramadan has never been sufficiently addressed or understood by members of our westside community. I’ve learned that there are quite a few misconceptions and misunderstandings about fasting and what ramadan is, so inshallah I’ll try to address them all here. This is meant to be a quick Q&A, I’m still in the process of building the fiqh section of the site, if any of the brothers or sisters want clarification or sources for anything please let me know.
- What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the month of fasting. In the second part of surah baqarah, Allah tells us that the month of ramadan is prescribed for us to teach of obedience and discipline (taqwa). Fasting the month of Ramadan is an OBLIGATORY OBLIGATION (Fard), fasting in ramadan is just as important as the 5 times daily salah and should not be missed for any reason.
2. When does the fast start?
Muslims fast in ramadan from Fajr to Maghrib, that is the beginning of fajr time (3:30am today) until maghrib (8:25pm). Which means approximately 17 hours of fasting. The fast DOES NOT begin at sunrise. Sunrise is when fajr time is over.
3. How old should a person start fasting?
A person starts following the shariah or islamic guidelines of life when one reaches puberty and the age of discretion. Children mature between the ages of 8-13. Any time the child reaches puberty he/she must fast. If no signs of puberty are found they must start by the age of 13.
4. Does ramadan fasting have any conditions? Am I ever not allowed to fast?
The only condition for fasting is maturity and intention. As long as one intends to fast one is fasting. Things like missing prayers or backbiting while bad to do, do not stop a person from fasting. Fasting during ramadan is an obligation THAT CANNOT BE MISSED. Trying to get your children to do more good is fine, but prohibiting them from doing obligations is sinful.
The sick, traveling and elderly are given an option of fasting, if they do not fast they are not required KAFFARAH. The menstruating woman, traveling and sick person however must make up the fast outside of ramadan when they recover.
5. What is the fast? What can’t I do?
Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse.
Eating means intentionally putting something in your mouth and swallowing it.
Drinking means allowing liquid that is not your own saliva to go down your throat.
Smoking means intentionally allowing smoke to enter your nose or mouth.
Sexually intercourse means halal or haram coitus between a man and a woman.
Doing any of these things BREAKS THE FAST and requires a make-up fast and KAFFARAH.
6. What if I do them by accident?
Accidentally eating, drinking, smoking or coitus do not require KAFFARAH, but do require a make-up fast.
7. What is Kaffarah?
This is the fine for missing a fast. KAFFARAH is done by fasting 60 consecutive days. If a day is missed you must restart the 60. It is recommended to do the 60 days fast during the cold weather months when the time to fast is significantly shorter (around 9 hours or so). If for VALID MEDICAL REASONS a person cannot fast 60 days then a person must feed the poor. One shouldn’t give money, he has to actually give food. Instead of fasting 60 days he feeds the poor 60 meals. One does not have the option of fasting 60 days or feeding 60 poor. One feeds 60 poor if he cannot fast for any valid reason.
I think I addressed all of the issues I found in the community and would now like give some advice about living through ramadan. I promised the masjid kids specifically advice on how to keep playing throughout the day in ramadan, and how to work out without causing your body medical harm. Available here as of now.
Please comment and let me know if this helped you, or if you find any mistakes inshallah. Salam alaykum.
