Thursday, October 24, 2013

Definition of Siyaam (fasting)

(1) Siyaam in Arabic means abstaining; in Islam it means abstaining from 
things that break the fast, from dawn until sunset, having first made the 
intention (niyyah) to fast.
Ruling on fasting
(2) The ummah is agreed t hat fasting the month of Ramadaan is 
obligatory, the evidence for which is in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Allaah 
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Observing al-sawn (the fasting) is prescribed for 
you as it was prescribed for those befo re you, that you may become al 
muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is 
built on five [pillars]…” among which he mentioned fasting in 
Ramadaan. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 1/49). Whoever breaks the 
fast during Ramadaan without a legitimate excuse has committed a 
serious major sin, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon 
him) said, describing a dream that he had seen: “… until I was at the 
mountain, where I heard loudvoices. I asked, ‘What are these voices?’ 
They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.’ Then I was 
taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, 
with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, 
‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘The people who broke their fast before it 


was the proper time to do so,’ i.e., before the time of iftaar.” (Saheeh al-
Targheeb, 1/420).
Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, “Among the 
believers it is well-established that whoever does not fast in Ramadaan 
without a valid excuse is worse than an adulterer or drunkard; they doubt 
whether he is even a Muslim at all, and they regard him as a heretic and 
profligate.” Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] (may Allaah  have mercy on 
him) said: “If a person does not fast in Ramadaan knowing that it is 
haraam but making it halaal for himself to do so, kill him; and if he does 
it because he is immoral [but believes it is haraam], then punish him for 
not fasting.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/265).
The virtues of fasting
(3) The virtues of fasting are great indeed, and one of the things reported 
in the saheeh ahaadeeth is that Allaah has chosen fasting for Himself, and 
He will reward it and multiply the reward without measure, as He says [in 
the hadeeth qudsi]: “Except for fasting which is only for My sake, and I 
will reward him for it.” (al -Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 1904; Saheeh al 
Targheeb, 1/407). Fasting has no equal (al -Nisaa'i, 4/165; Saheeh al
Targheeb, 1/413), and the du’aa’of the fasting person will not be refused 
(reported by al-Bayhaqi, 3/345; al-Silsilat al-Saheeh, 1797). The fasting 
person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one 
when he meets his Lord and rejoices over his fasting (reported by 
Muslim, 2/807). Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of 
Judgement, and will say, “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and 
physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.” (Reported 
by Ahmad, 2/174. Al-Haythami classed its isnaad as hasan in al-Majma’, 
3/181. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411). The smell that comes from 
the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allaah than the scent of musk. 


(Muslim, 2/807). Fasting is a protection and a strong fortress that keeps a 
person safe from t he Fire. (Reported by Ahmad, 2/402; Saheeh al 
Targheeb, 1/411; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3880). Whoever fasts one day for the 
sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove his face seventy years’ distance from 
the Fire. (Reported by Muslim, 2/808). Whoever fasts one day seek ing 
the pleasure of Allaah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter 
Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/412). In 
Paradise there is a gate called al -Rayyaan, through those who fast will 
enter, and no one will enter it except them; when they have entered it will 
be locked, and no-one else will enter through it.” (al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 
1797).
Ramadaan is a pillar of Islam; the Qur’aan was revealed in this month, 
and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months . “When 
Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell 
are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” (Reported by al -Bukhaari, al
Fath, no. 3277). Fasting Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months 
(See Musnad Ahmad, 5/280; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/421). “Whoever fasts 
Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins 
will be forgiven.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 37). At the 
breaking of every fast, Allaah will choose people to free from Hellfire. 
(Reported by Ahmad, 5/256; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/419).

No comments:

Post a Comment