إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

موضوع: Ramadan Lessons الجمعة 20 يوليو 2012, 2:49 pm

Ramadan Lessons

of sheikh Assim Abd Alhakeem

Ramadan lesson nr 1

I would like you to welcome you all to our first class or our first lesson concerning the subject of fasting.

As you all know there are five pillars that Islam is built on and these five pillars are essential in the life of the Muslim.

The first pillar is to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) is His slave servant and His messenger.The second pillar is the establishment of the daily five prayers.

The third pillar is fasting Ramadan the holy month of Ramadan one of the twelve months in the Islamic Calendar.

The fourth pillar is paying the Zakat which is translated into the poor do and the last fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to the holy mosque in Makkah.

Fasting is a form of worship; it is something you do to get closer to Allah Azza Wa Jal, to the Almighty God.

Fasting Ramadan is one of the pillars as we have mentioned earlier but what does fasting mean?

The linguistic word of fasting, of Sawm is to abstain, to refrain, to stop from doing something so it can be said on not doing a particular action to fast from talking, to fast from eating, to fast from walking.

As it is narrated, it is said in the Quran that Maryam (may Allah be pleased with her) vowed not to talk, she vowed, she fasted from talking; this is the linguistic meaning of the word fast.

In Islam we are not allowed to fast from talking.

It is an innovation if somebody says ok, goes to his wife and says “I want to fast from talking to you for a whole year” that would be probably a blessing to him but it is not applicable, it is not acceptable in Islam this is an innovation because you cannot do something to get closer to Allah Azza Wa Jal unless the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam has done it or has shown us the way of doing it and the reward we get from doing it.

Ok what is the technical meaning of fasting; what is the Islamic meaning of fasting?

Fasting in Islam is to worship Allah Azza Wa Jal by refraining, by stopping from eating, drinking and all the other things that nullify and breaks one’s fasting such as sexual intercourse and we will come to this Insha’Allah in detail.

These things that nullify one’s fasting one should refrain from them with the intention of worshipping Allah Azza Wa Jal from the break of dawn this is the time span from the break of dawn from Fajr until the Sunset. So this is the technical meaning of fasting.

Is this a new thing, is it a new trend that we have and other religions do not? No its not.

Allah Azza Wal Jal says in the Holy Quran:

‘’O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self restraint’’.

So it was prescribed to those who were before us, the Christians have it, the Jews have it, all religions have fasting in different forms.

They are not like us exactly but they do have fasting in their religion.

Now this form of fasting was there.

Our Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told us that Dawood (David) one of the prophets of the Son’s of Israel and one of our prophets because he is a prophet, not a king.

We believe that Sulaymaan (Solomon) is a prophet and a king so they are all prophets of Allah (May Peace and his Blessings be upon them all).

David used to fast as our Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) tells us, he used to fast during the year so fasting is there in their religion.

Some scholars, I do not know how authentic that is, but some Scholars say that Christians also fast 50 days a year but their fasting is different, they refrain from eating flesh, from eating meat, but they may drink may eat bread or anything of that sort, I cannot say how authentic that is because I did not go through it, but this what our Scholars in Islam say about their fasting.

And if you look at the verse of the Quran I just read where Allah Azza Wa Jal says:

‘’O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self restraint’’ this word in Arabic means La'ala kum Tataqoon, so that you may reach the level of virtue, that you may take a shield between Hell Fire and your sins and this is understood in Arabic because At-Taqwa is to have this shield between you and Hell Fire, you have to do something to shield you from Hell.

What can I do to shield myself from Hell?

Fasting is one of them.

Now, one may ask and say too fast, to refrain from eating and drinking and having the pleasure of sexual intercourse with your wife or wives that is, isn’t this torturing?

Does Allaah Azza Wa Jal wants to torture ourselves? Does Allaah need us to refrain from eating and drinking what kind of worship is this?

Now I will not elaborate a lot on this subject but you have to bear in mind: you do not question in this case and Allaah has the higher example.

I would not question my managing director if he gives me a directive, I would do it even if I do not like it.

With Allah Azza Wa Jal, who has the higher example it is almost the same, you do not ask Allah Azza Wa Jal about his actions or his rulings.

He asks you why you did not comply with what he has told you to do.

Secondly Allah Azza Wa Jal is not torturing us, Allah Azza Wa Jal is establishing a lot of good virtues and deeds in ourself by this form of worship.

You may not find the wisdom behind it but if you look in all religions the torture, the word torture and this bad word the hardship in worship is there.

All religions have this and you can go and ask Christians.

Allah Azza Wa Jal does not want us to have hardship by not eating and drinking but explain to me why was Jesus as you claim was crucified? Why was he tortured? Why was he beaten? Then they would say no this is a different story, I say this one is also a different story.

There are many advantages behind fasting and I will give you a small preview, I hope we can go through some of it on today’s lesson or today’s dars and if time is not enough we would continue previewing it Insha’Allah.

‘Siam’, fasting has many advantages.

One of them: it prevents you from committing sins.

If one asks: how is that? I do not eat, I do not drink, how would that prevent me from doing sins? One can ask himself this question: why am I fasting? What is making me to fast? Who is going to know that: I am fasting or not? No one.

See, all the different form of worship is “doing things” like praying, you have to do it, you have to pray.

Giving ‘Zakah’, you have pay, performing ‘Hajj’, you have to go and do your pilgrimage. Now, what about fasting? What do we do? We do not do anything; it is an opposite, a negative thing.

We do not eat, we do not drink, and we do not go for sexual intercourse, we do not do certain things that nullify our fast. But we do not “do”.

So people, now if I look at you, there is a very big possibility, that some of you might be fasting. Do I know that? Is he carrying a sing saying: hey, I am fasting.

No he does not. So it is something between you and Allah Azza wa Jal, which means that you are refraining from things that are halal.

“Why don’t you drink water? I can’t, I am fasting.

Oh, is that Haram? No, drinking is permissible; no one can survive without water.

So why are you not drinking it now? Because I am fasting for the sake of Allah.

So you are doing this for the sake of Allah Azza wa Jal.

You are preventing yourself; you are refraining from halal things which are permissible.

Would you dare to do things that are not permissible? Would you go and commit sin? Definitely not.

This is why, the rate of sin goes way down, during the month of Ramadan.

Because people are closer to Allah Azza wa Jal. They intentionally stop eating and drinking permissible things.

Therefore they know they should not do bad things, sins that may get them away from Allah Almighty.

There is a Hadeeth reported in Bukhari.

As you know Bukhari is the most authentic book on the earth, after the Qur’an.

The Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said in this Hadeeth: “If one does not abandon falsehood, and the action in accordance with it and foolishness, Allah does not need that he abandons his food and drink”.

If you do not stop doing bad things, why would Allah want you to stop eating and drinking?

This is a sign, that I am refraining eating and drinking; and this is the lowest level, but there are higher level actions that you should always keep on mind.

I know a lot of people who stop doing bad things while fasting.

Nevertheless, when they break their fast, they go 180 degrees from where they stopped.

They will go on and do sins, from Maghreb to Fajr and say: “it is night time, party time, its Ramadan time, yes, but I’ve done my course, during the morning time; the day time is for Allah and the night is my time”.

This is the wrong concept of Fasting in Ramadan.

Fasting also makes you aware that Allah Azza wa Jal is watching you.

So Allah Azza wa Jal is watching you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

That is why, you are fasting. If I go to toilet and I would like to perform ablution, why would I refrain myself from drinking water? Nobody is looking at me.

I know that Allah is watching me and that is why I cease, I stop eating or drinking.

There are many advantages behind fasting, yet I think this is enough for today.

I do not want to load you with so much information.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate and we will try to answer the questions we know the answers to, there are question that we do not have the answers to.

So go ahead, does anybody have a question?

Question:

Am I allowed to enter water in my mouth, while I am fasting?

Answer:

If a person is fasting, definitely he has to pray and if you have to pray, you need to perform ablution. One of the obligatory parts of ablution is to turn, rinse your mouth with water.

Now, is turning the water in your mouth considered as drinking? No, it is not drinking.

Therefore, you can do this, actually you must do this but you have to be careful about not to swallow anything.

And if you do it normally, you won’t go to swallow anything. But if you fill your mouth with a large amount of water, eventually something is going to leak or you will be going to swallow some of it and this is not acceptable.

Any other questions?

Question:

If a person commits sins after breaking his fast, after sunset, is he sound or not?

Answer:

In the scenario I have stated earlier; there are types of people who would fast during the day time, abide by the rules, pray in the mosque etc. but immediately after sun-set, when they break their fast, they go back to their normal life.

They would probably go to disco, night-clubs, perform adultery, and call their girlfriends or whatever.

Now this is a separate thing.

Fasting is separate than other things, other sins.

So your fasting will be accepted.

But to what degree? Ask yourself: is it 100% acceptable or is it 20%, is it 5% or even is it 1%.

As a Muslim, it is acceptable and you are in the boundaries of Islam because you have fulfilled Allah’s orders and you are fasting the month of Ramadan.

But the sins, they deduct the reward for that day you have fasted.

But your fasting is acceptable. But I can’t imagine, how would a person fast the whole day, refrained himself from eating, drinking, smoking and all the things that nullify fasting, and yet he call his girlfriend for a date or go to the disco, or he books a table in a restaurant and he does this or that; knowing that these are major sins and Allah Azza wa Jal is watching him.

I can’t understand this, but unfortunately, there are people who are so far away from Allah Azza wa Jal.

They think that these are just dos and don’ts, and I’ve done my part and the rest is mine.

I think, this has answered our question, anymore questions?

Question:

you said: fasting is prescribed; meanwhile I’ve observed other people who do not fast on these days.

Is there obligatory and non-obligatory fasting in Islam?

Answer:

There are four types of fasting in Islam.

There is the obligatory fasting.

I thing we don’t have time for that, but we’ll discuss it a little bit later in sha’ Allah.

Four types:

1. Obligatory fasting, in the month of Ramadan.

2. Preferable fasting (mustahab) such as fasting on Mondays, Thursdays, 3 days in a month, Arafat, Ashurah and so on.

3. Un-preferable fasting (makrooh) one should not do this, but it is not forbidden.

4. Forbidden fasting; if you fast it is not acceptable and you are sinful for doing that that, such as fasting in the days of Eid.

The Eid days are for our celebration, the Eid ul Fitr, the first day after the month of Ramadan or the Eid ul Ajha.

If someone fasts those days, it is not acceptable and he will be sinful.

Well we will elaborate Insha’Allah on later.

But there are 4 types of fasting and fasting in Ramadan is the only obligatory fasting.

Nothing else, but in Ramadan it is obligatory from Allah azza wa jal except those you do as an expiation, like, if you have killed someone, you have to fast, two consecutive months.

If someone has sexual intercourse with his wife during the day of Ramadan, while they were both fasting or one of them were fasting, then the expiation for that is fast for two consecutive months.

This is also obligatory but it is not the part of the pillars of Islam, Ramadan is the only pillar of Islam.

Ramadan Lessons of:
sheikh Assim Abd Alhakeem

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موضوع: Ramadan lesson nr 2 الأحد 22 يوليو 2012, 12:39 am

Ramadan lesson nr 2

Last time, we were talking about the advantages of fasting, what we get out of fasting.

Today in sha’ Allah we will try to elaborate more on the same subject.

Fasting establishes the sincerity in the soul of a Muslim.

When a person fasts only for the sake of Allah Azza wa Jal, this makes him sincere towards Allah subhanahu wa ta’la, because he is not fasting to impress someone, he is not fasting to get raised in his work, he is only doing it solely for Allah and Allah will reward him greatly for doing this for His sake.

There is a Hadeeth, where the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Allah, the Almighty says (and whenever we hear this sequence “prophet salla Allahu alahi wa sallam said that Allah subhanahu wa ta’la says” this not the Qur’an but a Hadeeth, Hadeeth-Kudsi; this is between the Qur’an and the Sunnah, were the text itself is from Allah Azza wa Jal, yet the words are from the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, who has composed in this way; so this is not the text of Qur’an, though the text is from Allah the Almighty) every action of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting”.

All what you do is for you, except fasting.

Allah says “this is only for me and I’ll give the reward for it”.

The fast is a shield; Allah Almighty says that fasting is a shield.

A shield for what? Does it prevent enemies, does that means: if you are attacked by our enemies we just fast and it is a shield? Does it mean that it protects us from fire? No, it’s a shield, a shield from doing sins, a shield from going into hell.

If one is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice or act foolishly.

If someone rivals with him or fights with him, he should say twice “I’m fasting, I’m fasting”.

So this Hadeeth says that fasting is clearly for Allah Azza wa Jal, because it’s between you and Him.

I could have a son and whenever I see him in the house he’s not eating or drinking.

Do I know he’s fasting or not? No, he would say “I am fasting father”.

But when he goes in his room, what is he doing? I don’t know.

May be he has some candies, beverages and he is having it.

What prevents this labor, who’s working in the heat of the sun, in the high noon, digging the ground, or farming, what prevents him to take a sip of cold water? What prevents this woman working in her kitchen from eating the food she is tasting? Oh, it is just one spoon, will it hurt? What prevents her from doing this? What prevents her from doing this is her sincerity, her belief in Allah, that Allah Azza wa Jal is watching.

And this is one of the greatest attributes of Islam.

Islam teaches you to do things, by observing Allah azza wa jal and by having the thoughts that Allah Azza wa Jal is watching you.

So what prevents us from doing bad things is Allah azza wa Jal is watching you.

While in other communities, other material societies, I would not steal, because the law will punish me, but if there is no law there and I can go away with it, what the heck? Steal as much as you want.

So there is no fear of Allah, but the fear of Allah Azza wa Jal. Muslims fear Allah and they use to have it in conscience.

And that is why, if you go to western prisons, and you see those who are imprisoned and if you ask the guys in the jails: how do you think about the people who came as a non-Muslims and then reverted to Islam? They will tell you that, it is a 180 degrees change.

These guys are more calm, more peaceful and good for the society.

It has transformed them to a completely different new person that knows how to communicate with others, how to deal with the society, and that has a relationship with his Lord, Allah Azza wa Jal, who govern everything of his life.

Also fasting establishes patience, it makes you tolerate things.

In the Hadeeth we have heard that: if anybody fights you, rivals at you, all that you do is “I am fasting” the only thing that prevents me from hitting you back is “I am fasting”.

And this makes the one, who is fighting with you, ashamed.

Because he knows that you are capable of hitting him back, fighting with him, yet you are not doing this.

Maybe he thinks that this guy is weak, maybe he is afraid.

But when you say the words: “I’m fasting; I’m doing this for the sake of Allah Azza wa Jal” he is ashamed of himself and you have learned self restrained.

You know that your strength is not by attacking or hitting others, your strength lays in your ability to control yourself.

It also teaches patience in not doing things what Allah Azza wa Jal dislikes.

See, in fasting you prevent yourself to eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse with your wife or sexual pleasure in any kind or form, yet this establishes many things in you.

For instance, I have seen a lot of people engaged in a habit of smoking.

When you see them, you feel sorry for them because if he does not have the pack of cigarette in his pocket, and he has an urge to smoke, he would not hesitate to ask a total stranger to give him a cigarette.

Now, anyone with dignity and honor would not ask for food, if he is hungry.

Fe would not go and beg people for essential things in his life.

Why? Because this is completely out of the question for those who have dignity.

Nevertheless, his slavery to this habit, this bad habit of smoking, makes him ask for a cigarette.

And this is wrong, although it is forbidden, it is Haraam.

Nevertheless, how do you ask for such a thing, which is Haraam? Now, fasting teaches you to be patient because you stop eating, drinking, smoking, doing everything that was permissible some while ago, but for 16 consecutive hours.

So even if you smoke after you break your fast, in the other months than Ramadan, if you have the urge to smoke and you want to ask for a cigarette, you won’t because you are able to control yourself for 16-17 consecutive hours.

So, it builds in you this patience, this tolerance and it teaches you keep away from the things those may humiliate you such as cigarette etc.

Also another advantage of fasting is that it reminds you to be thankful.

We usually thank those who do favors for us.

When my dad gives me money, my allowance, I would say “thank you”.

When my boss gives me a raise, I say “thank you”.

When my wife cooks for me, I would say: “why is the salt not there”? No, I’ll say thank you.

I’ll be grateful for my wife.

Because she did something for me, she did me a favor.

Now look at yourself, look at the environment you are in, look at all the blessing of Allah Azza wa Jal on you.

He casted all of these blessings to you.

Because you are His servant and He loves you.

He gives you food; He gives you three meals a day, while some of us take seven meals a day.

He gives you shelter, He gives you everything you want.

Everything you have asked for, He has given you.

But we usually look at the negative sides.

I have made a request for 100 things, I have got only 98 of them, where are the remaining 2? We always look at the negative things.

We are in blessings of Allah azza wa jal, so many of them.

Ramadan teaches you to be thankful of these blessings.

How? Simply by depriving you from some of them.

See, you have never imagined the use and the degree of these blessings of Allah Azza wa Jal upon you until it goes.

I enjoy my sight, I enjoy looking at things. Although I have my spectacles on, but I really enjoy looking at things.

Do I appreciate this blessing of Allah? Have I appreciated it? Well, turn off the light and it is going to be completely dark, now I appreciate it.

That is why I make lots of sins by sending my gaze here and looking there, nice everything and even which are forbidden, and we do it although it is a blessing of Allah.

But how would it be if I was deprived of it? Then I say: oh, Allah I’m sorry, I did not knew that it was that serious. Can I have it back again please?

The same thing is with fasting.

Now we have tons of food, now for example: if you stop buying food, how long do you think the food in your kitchen cabinet is going to last for? 1 month? Let us take 10 days or more.

But do we appreciate that blessing? A lot may say: yes, we do. Ok, let me check the closest junk-yard; let me look at your trash-can.

Will I find anything there? I would find half a chicken, chucks of meat, rice, food, why do you dare throw it there? Well actually, I don’t need it and I have consumed what I needed and threw the rest in the thrash-can.

No, Islam teaches us discipline, it teaches us that this food is essential, is blessing of Allah.

When you are deprived of it, then you will understand how important food is.

And that is why we are instructed not to have excess food.

Eat what you need, but don’t make that as an excessive habith.

Fasting also teaches us to be kind to the poor.

Being kind to them is a sign of accepting your fasting.

Do you have any questions, please?

Question:

I just want to ask you a question: if you agree or not with this conception: some scholars say that one can practice all the 5 pillars of Islam every day, during the prayer itself, this including fasting.

This means that we can practice fasting every day.

My question is: do you agree with this? If yes, then how far is fasting can be practiced during prayer itself.

Answer:

This is a matter of argument.

One can argue in this issue.

I do not recall, any scholar saying such an allegation, nevertheless, one can see the linguistic meaning of the fasting is there in prayer.

Because you don’t speak, you don’t move, except in the manner that we are told to do in the prayer.

You can clearly see the pillar of Islam, testifying that: there is no God but Allah and the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) is the messenger of Allah by saying it in your prayer.

But how can you perform Zakah during prayer? How can you perform Pilgrimage (Hajj) during your daily five prayers? So, this is not acceptable.

Again, the linguistic meaning of the word “saum” fasting is to refrain, to stop doing these things.

This is applicable in prayer when we do not talk, but we can’t say that this is fasting, because in Islam, fasting has a definite meaning.

It is forbidden for someone to say: “today I’m about to fast for three days, standing up and not shading, just standing in the sun”.

It is forbidden.

The Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saw someone by the name of Israel and he told him: “let him break his fast, let him speak, let him sit down in the shed”.

This is not acceptable and not Islamic.

Therefore you can practice fasting if you are so interested in doing that by performing preferable fasting.

You can either fast in Mondays and Tuesdays, or you can fast 13th, 14th and 15th of every month (lunar month), you can fast a day and break fasting the second day like the Daud’s fasting (may peace be upon him).

This can be practiced.

But you can not practice something that was not there at the time of Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and say: “this is fasting or while praying I’m fasting, paying my Zakah, performing Pilgrimage and doing this or that.

Any more questions?

Question: You told us about the spiritual advantages we get from fasting, like the reduction of sins, teaching of patience, closeness to Allah azza wa jal.

Would you kindly tell us about the physical benefits of fasting.

In other words, what is my body going too benefited from fasting?

Answer: There are definitely physical benefits that we gain by fasting.

But the problem is that you always have to bear in mind that you are doing this just for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of your fitness.

See, a lot of people who are obese or a little over-weight, they say: “oh, ok I’m going to fast tomorrow”.

Why? Because I’m over-weight.

Ok, is this the reason? Well, this also a form of worship, I also want to get some reward.

This is not acceptable. You have to have your intention for Allah Azza wa Jal 100%.

Because Allah Azza wa Jal says in Hadeeth-e-Kudsi that “I’m the richest among all and I do not accept any associate with me.

Whoever performs any action and associate partners with me, I’ll abandon him and what he has done”.

So Allah will not accept anything which is not 100% for Him only.

So we should go on with the intention that we are doing that for the sake of Allah Azza wa Jal.

Yet there are physical advantages.

Fasting helps your digestive system.

It helps your kidneys to work properly and intact because the kidneys get 15-16 hours of break.

And if you have a machine working 24hours, for maintenance it should get some time to rest, check-up etc.

It is beneficial for the liver, because for a certain time it is not working, having a break.

This is what we call preventive maintenance.

It is good for the teeth, as it is clean, it gets time to stay away from dental cavities and it is good for gums also.

It is good for obesity of course, because then you will monitor the amount of food.

A lot of people fall in the same state.

They refrain themselves from eating and drinking for a whole day, 16-17 hours, but the minute you see the table for breaking the fast, Ya Allah, subhana Allah ta’la, it is filled with food for three days.

And the minute they hear the Adhaan, they start eating, eating and eating, until they are stuffed, like a stuffed duck.

They go to Maghrib prayer, but they can’t even perform the full Rukuh.

They just bow their head. Why? Because if they would bow fully everything is going to come out.

And when they return home, they ask for desserts and they stuff themselves until the Isha prayer.

When the Isha comes in, the Adhaan is called; they raise the white-flag, that: I can’t go for Prayer.

Ok, what about Taraweeh? Okay, I’ll pray 2rakah.

And then, knee problem, back-problem, and stomach problem and then they go home and spend the night in chit-chatting, doing things, but at the time of Fajr prayer they say: I’m too tired, at Zuhr: he’s asleep, Asr: he’s dead tired and hungry.

So this is not Islamic.

All in all, Islam teaches you to preserve, to monitor food radiance, eat little but whatever is enough for you.

But don’t eat everything; eat what is sufficient to give you power to worship Allah Azza wa Jal.

And people are not doing this in Ramadan that is why their digestive system is not working properly.

But if we do fast as we supposed to do, we’ll have an excellent health, Alhamdu li Allah and we’ll be full filling the orders of Allah Azza wa Jal.

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موضوع: Ramadan lesson nr 3 الأحد 22 يوليو 2012, 12:59 am

Ramadan lesson nr 3

Today, insha’Allah, we will discuss how was fasting in Ramadan or actually how was fasting in general was made obligatory upon the Muslim nation/ Ummah.

At the very beginning when the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam migrated from Makkah to Medina, and he went in, he saw the people fasting the day of Ashurah, which is the 10th day of the first month of the Islamic year, the month of Muharram.

Then he asked: why people are doing this? And then the Jews said: this is the day when Allah subhanahu wa ta’la saved Moses may Allah be pleased with him and his followers from Pharaoh.

So we are doing this as a sign of gratitude of being thankful to Allah almighty.

So the Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “then we should be more grateful and more thankful to Allah than the Jews because we believe with more correct way more than you believe in him and we follow more than you follow that he had brought”.

So it was obligatory upon all Muslims to fast at the day of Ashura for all the Muslims. So this was the stage One.

The stage two, this abrogated and the fasting of Ashura was made preferable and Sunnah, it is a voluntary fasting.

But it was replaced by fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan.

Allah almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: “fasting is for a fixed number of days.

But if anyone of you is ill or in a journey, the prescribed number should be made up later”.

So if you are in journey or ill, you don’t have to fast but you have to make it up later.

The ayah continues: “but for those who can’t do it with hardship, there is a ransom, the feeding of poor or indigent.

But he will be given more of his own free will that if he gives more of his own free will, it is better for him if he gives that money with his own free will is better for him.

And it is better for you if you fast if you only knew.

So the fasting of Ashura was lifted off and the fasting in Ramadan was obligatory.

And it is a must for us now, to fast in Ramadan.

But you had the option at the very beginning.

You had the option of either fasting or if you have the money you don’t fast, just pay this ransom and feed a poor and that does the job for you.

And then again, there was a certain option.

And that option was: if you break your fast, like if you fast the whole day, and it is the time of Maghreb and you are about to break your fast but you fall asleep.

If you wake up, you are not allowed to eat anything and you have to continue fasting till the sunset of the following day.

And there is a hadeeth of Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam): “one of the companion of Prophet salla Allahu alahi wa sallam used to work in his farm so hard while he was fasting, and when he went home after sunset and asked his wife: do we have anything to eat? His wife said yes and she got back to the kitchen to arrange some food.

But when she came back with the food, he was already asleep.

And she started weeping and said: what have you done? And he woke up and said: what happened? And he realized that he fall asleep, so he didn’t eat anything and he had to continue fasting.

The next day, by midday he fainted, he could not go on.

So then Allah Azza wa Jal lifted this case and then the order was obligatory for all Muslims and there is no ransom that you can pay unless a person who is too ill or too old to fast and for a pregnant woman, breast-feeding woman and we will come to that in sha Allah on later states.

And Allah Azza wa Jal has made things easier for us, you have the whole time from sunset until the break of dawn, you can eat, sleep and wake-up, eat again and then sleep again as much as you can providing that you do that before the break of dawn.

Now when do we fast Ramadan and how do we know that this is the month of Ramadan? See, Islam is very easy.

It’s not complicated and way easier than other religions.

In Islam the more you need something, the easier it is for you to get.

This is life, the rule of Allah azza w ajal.

For example: you have water and you have air, which do we need more? Air, definitely, so everyone gets air free.

It is easy just breath it.

But for water you have to look a little more, yet it is there.

Likewise, in Islam, whatever you need, it is made easy for you.

Like, marriage is very essential.

This is life, you have to get married.

So, what do you need to get married? It’s very simple, you have to get someone to marry, preferably a Muslim woman.

You go to her father to propose her.

I’ll give you to marry my daughter, for a dowry of 1000 dollars.

There will be two people witnessing it, and if you accept, she’s your wife, go and take her.

That’s it, it is done.

Now, funerals don’t get me wrong, there is no relation with marriage and funerals.

But, one links to the other.

Funerals, it is the same thing, everybody dies, okay, what do we do when someone dies? Oh, that is a big problem, you have to buy a bog coffin, made of such and such wood that is expensive and will cost 100 of dollars. You have to put him in display for 5-6 days, you have to put him a suit and other things.

Then you have to arrange the convoy of cars to take him to the cemetery with musical bands, and then the priest comes, it is a long process.

But in Islam it is very simple.

It is not easy to accept one’s dying, especially if he/she is from our relatives.

It is not that easy to accept it.

But Allah made this on everybody, everybody dies.

When somebody dies, wash him, clean him, perfume him, and wrap him with only three pieces of clothes, so you don’t have to buy a coffin.

Take him to the mosque, all Muslim can pray for Allah’s forgiveness.

Then take him to the cemetery, dig a hole, put him 6 feet under and put the dust and earth again.

That’s it.

He’s dead and it is over.

It takes only three or four hours.

We have the grief filled in our hearts for our loved ones.

But it is natural.

It is like if we are not dead, maybe we are going to die tomorrow.

But it is easy, Islam is easy. It is for everyone.

Now when we come to Ramadan, is the same story.

One would say how I would know that this is the month of Ramadan? Do we have to go to astrologers, mathematicians to get the calculations for me or anyone can do this.

The answer is: anyone can do this.

Abdullah Bin Muar, may Allah be pleased with them both (Abdullah ibn umar and his father Umar ibn Khattab) said: the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said: “do not fast until you see the new moon and do not break your fast (meaning the end of the month) until you see it.

And if it is cloudy calculate 30 days, when it should appear.

And this Hadeeth is reported by Bukhari and Muslim.

So this is the most authentic hadeeth that can possibly be.

In Islam we don’t go to arithmeticians and astronomers and tell them to calculate where the stars are or where the moon should be? And please tell me is tomorrow Ramadan or not.

No, this is not Islam.

Islam is easy, Islam tells you to go out and look out where the crescent should be or should appeared.

On the 29th day of Sha’ban, when the sun sets, you start tracking the crescent, if it appears or not.

If we see it, Alhamdu li Allah , tomorrow is Ramadan.

If you do not, then by default you have to continue the following day to be part of Sha’baan that means the 30th day of Sha’baan.

This is the easiest way of doing it; actually this is the only way of doing.

Can we refer to calculations? No, you cannot.

Why?

Because the Prophet Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said, that we are a nation that doesn’t calculate.

This is the way it should be done, everyone should do it.

That’s why we do it in this manner.

How many witnesses do I need to sight the moon?

There is a dispute amongst scholars.

Some Scholars say: Only one witness is enough and this is the school of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal; the Hanbali School.

They say one is enough for sighting the moon.

But the Shaa’fei school and the Maliki Schools say: No, you need two witnesses, as any other types of witnessing; you have to have two witnesses to sight the moon.

The third opinion is of the Hanafi School, and they say: no, if it’s clear sky, you need two witnesses, because everyone can see it.

Not even two is enough there has to be a whole bunch of people, sighting the moon; because it’s a clear sky.

But if it’s cloudy and there is haze in the sky and we cannot see it clearly, then one witness is enough.

And the most authentic of the three opinions, is that one witness is enough.

Because we do, we believe in the authenticity of the thing that one person tells us.

And this was illustrated clearly, when the Muslims used to pray, when they were Medina, they used to pray in the direction of Jerusalem, Masjidul Aqsa and when it was revealed to Prophet Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam that now the direction has changed into Makkah, you should face the direction of the Ka’ba, Makkah.

And that is 180 degrees.

See, Medina is in between Jerusalem and Makkah , so it’s actually north to south.

So there were a group of people of companions praying to the north; to Jerusalem.

They didn’t hear this revelation, this ayah, and this verse where they were ordered to change directions.

So while they were praying, a man came to them, who took the information from Prophet Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam and he said to them while they were praying: “I bare witness, that the Messenger of Allah has received a revelation instructing him to face the direction Ka’ba”.

None of the Companions said: “well let me finish my prayer, then we’ll check, may be this guy is bluffing, maybe he was misinformed”.

No, they immediately change their direction and face the Ka’ba at Makkah.

And that indicates that, one person, a good Muslim, conveys to us, we should do it and we don’t have to ask another person to double check and this is I think covers the things and wraps it up.

Do you have any questions?

Question:

If anyone eats accidentally during fasting, does he need to make it up?

Answer:

If a person eats or drinks by accident, he’s lucky, right? It is an accident and Allah Azza wa jal doesn’t punish if you do a mistake. God is so merciful.

Do you think Allah has a stick in His hand and He is ready to beat everybody, wants to throw everyone in hellfire?

No, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’la is so merciful; I can even spend hours and hours telling you about His mercy.

If you look in your lives, you’ll find the different ways and forms of His mercy, upon you, now, today.

Allah Subhanu wa ta’la is merciful; if you do a mistake, Allah Azza wa jal is forgiving you.

And if you make it without intention, he’ll not punish you for that, because it wasn’t your intention to do it and Allah forgives the thing that you do without intentions.

If somebody is asleep, and during his sleeping, and he wakes up because of a nightmare and he was not aware of what he was saying and he curses Allah.

This is blasphemy.

The guy is asleep, he is in the middle of the nightmare and he does this.

Can we hold him accountable for that? Does Allah hold him accountable for that? No, because he was unconscious, he was sleeping.

So if anybody eats or drinks or commits any action that nullifies fasting, we’ll come to those on later stages Insha’Allah, if you do those things unintentionally, Allah Azza wa jal will not punish you for that.

Ok, is my fasting correct or not? Should I continue fasting? Ok, I did a mistake, I ate a whole dish of steak, couple of hamburgers and three large cokes and seven french-fries but I forgot, after finishing all of that.

So should I continue fasting or will it be accepted? No, this is accepted.

No matter how much you have eaten, because Allah has fed you and Allah has given you and it’s a gift from Allah Azza wa jal.

But this brings another question:

If I see someone eating and I know he’s fasting, should I say: “oh! Lucky he let him finish it or should I stop him? No, you should stop him, you should tell him: hey stop, you are fasting, wait, you should stop! We will move to this topic further on In sha’Allah. Second question?

Question:

Allah the Almighty says in the Quran that: Allah doesn’t intend to play hardship on you.

Your eminence has referred to people who are exempted from fasting like the sick, the traveling, the pregnant woman, the breast feeding woman.

What about those who are in jail or working under hard circumstances.

Are they also exempted from fasting?

Answer:

No one is to break his fast, unless he has legitimate reason.

And this legitimate reason should be based on facts not fear.

For example: if someone is on hard labor or in a prison or a labor who works very hard, he should not go to the intention of breaking his fast.

He should start fasting and if in the in the middle of the day he is going to faint and if he is going to loser, then he may break his fast, due to the necessity, not due to the fact that he is doing the hard labor and tough job in prison.

So you may not have an intention not to fast just because it is hard for you.

A lot of people work hard and fasting in general is hard, fasting is hard.

So it is not an easy thing to do.

And we do not expect people to just come and say Alhamdu li Allah I didn’t have any hardship at all.

But if your job is difficult, it is hard, if you work in hard conditions, then you should not break your fast, you should only fast and until it is inevitable for you to break your fast, otherwise you are going to faint or have health problems and do something bad, then you may break your fast.

Yet you have to make it up when you have the time and the health to do that and Allah Azza wa jal will excuse you for that.

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» Ramadan: 100 Ramadan Tips and Suggestions
» Thirty Lessons for Those Who Fast
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