Fiqh of fasting june 2013

Month of the Mercy

Definition of Fasting

• Linguistically: It mean Abstinence(refrain from)• Legally: Withholding from something specified, During a

specified time which is from the true fajr until sunset, with a specific intention

• According to the Sharee‘ah it means “abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse, and other acts mentioned in the divine law during the day in the prescribed way. It is followed by abstinence from foolish talk, obscenity, and other forms of prohibited and disliked speech, due to the narration of hadiths forbidding them during fasting more so than at other times.

Proofs for the obligation to fastQuran:

•O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous[Surah Baqarah:183]

From Sunnah:•From the Hadith of Jibril: He Said: Oh Muhammad, tell me about Islam.' The Messenger of Allah(saw) said, 'Islam is that you witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and you establish the prayer, and you give the Zakat, and you fast Ramadan, and you perform the hajj of the House if you are able to take a way to it.'{Reported by Bukhari}

Nothing else like Fasting

• Abu Umama (radiAllahu anhu) said: Oh Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter paradise. Prophet(saw): Take to fasting, there is nothing like it. [An-Nasai, Ibn Hibban, Al-Hakim]

Every deeds is for yourself except Fasting• Abu Huraira narrates that the Prophet (saw) said Allah says: Every deed of the child of Adam

is for himself, except for fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward it. Fasting is a shield, so if it is a day of fasting for any one of you, then he should engage in no obscenity or shouting. If anyone belittles him or fights with him, he should just say ‘I am a person who is fasting’. I swear by Him in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the smell of the fasting person’s breath is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than that of musk. The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast because of his breaking it and the other when he meets his Lord because of the reward for his fast.[Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Chapter 28, Hadith 2566. Also reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari]

• In another narration Abu Huraira narrates Rasulullah (saw) said Allah says: Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it. [Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Chapter 28, Hadith 2567. Also reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari]

• Of course Allah will reward each of his slaves, but this hadith means there is no limit or value placed on this reward. Meaning it is up to Allah how much he will reward, he is saying don’t worry, I will give you from My bounty. So we leave the reward to the generosity of Allah, and he is the most generous.

The Virtues of Fasting• Sahl ibn Sa‘d said the Prophet (saw) said: “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, and

those who observe fasting will enter from it on the Day of Judgment and none except them will enter from it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasting?' They will get up, and none except them will enter from it. After their entry, this gate will be closed and nobody will enter from it (after that).” [Al-Bukhaari/Muslim]

• It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurayrah said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Whoever fasts Ramazan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.'" (Narrated by al-Bukhari, al-Eemaan, 37).

Medical and Spiritual Benefits• Spiritual/Moral Benefits: Above all it is an act of obedience to Allah. Trains

believers in TAQWA (Being Mindful of Allah & Fearing Him by doing all that He ordered & avoiding all that He has forbade).Teaches Patience & sincerity. Restricts the movement of the Shaitan.

• Physical Benefits: Empathy and sympathy with the poor who do not have food or drink and of those who cannot get married or cannot be with their spouses. Develops endurance & Self-restraint

• Social Benefits: Strengthens unity & equality between Muslims. Teaches sympathy towards the poor & needy.

• Medical Benefits: Rests the Digestive organs & gets rid of accumulated waste. Uses up stored cholesterol (Fats) in the Blood System, which is one of the causes of Heart Disease. Teaches self control from over-eating, smoking etc. [Ref: Video]

Preparing for Ramadan• There are number of ways by which to prepare for Ramadan:

• Repent to Allah• Make Dua to Allah• Try to complete any obligatory fasts that you have to

make up• Try to get of the things that distract you before Ramadan• Learn the rulings about fasting so you can worship• Fast some of the month of Sha’ban• Read lots of Quran• Try to set yourself a timetable and resolution for

Ramadan

Fasting Obligation upon

• Who is a Muslim(Islam)• Who is of age; must be baligh(Puberty)• Who is sane(Sanity)• Who is capable of fasting(Ability)• Who is free of excuse• Who is not traveling(Residency)

Fasting Obligation Upon:• “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance

for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

Concerning the people who break their fast illegally

• Anyone who does not belong to any of these categories and purposely still doesn’t fast, then he is committing a major sin because he is leaving one of the pillars of Islam. If anyone intentionally breaks his fast in Ramadan then upon him is a great sin and he must make up that day for which he broke or he did not fast. There is no expiation upon him.

• It’s a major sin to break ones fast intentionally. But if one eats or drinks without realization that its Ramadan, then its ok and the fast is not nullified.

• “A man came to the Prophet(saw) and said, O Messenger of Allah(saw), I have destroyed myself.’ So the Prophet(saw) said, ‘What have you done?’ ‘He said I fell upon my wife when I was fasting’ So the Prophet(saw) asked him, ‘Can you free a slave?’ He said, ‘No.’ Then he(saw) said, ‘Can you fast two months?’ He said, ‘No.’ So then the Prophet(saw) said, ‘Can you feed sixty poor people?’ He said, ‘Wallahi last night we went to sleep we couldn’t even eat our food.’ Then Prophet(saw) was quiet and some sadaqah was brought to him. So then the Prophet(saw) gave that man the sadaqah and go and said feed sixty poor people.”

Concerning the people who break their fast illegally

• A saheeh report which warns against not fasting was narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah (1986) and Ibn Hibbaan (7491) from Abu Umaamah al-Baahili who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say: “Whilst I was sleeping two men came to me and took my by the arm and brought me to a cragged mountain. They said, ‘Climb up.’ I said, ‘I cannot.’ They said, ‘We will make it easy for you.’ So I climbed up until I was at the top of the mountain. Then I heard loud voices. I said, ‘What are these voices?’ They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hell.” Then I was taken until I saw people hanging by their hamstrings, with the sides of their mouths torn and blood pouring from their mouths.’ I said, ‘Who are these?’ He said, ‘These are people who broke their fast before it was time.’” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid al-Zam’aan, no. 1509.

• Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This is the punishment of those who fasted then broke the fast deliberately before the time for breaking the fast came, so who about those who do not fast at all? We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound in this world and in the Hereafter.

Excuses for Not Fasting in RamadanSo whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding

a poor person [each day].[Surah Baqarah: 184]•Those who have temporary excuse from fasting in Ramadan

• Temporarily Sick Person• Traveler• Menstruating Women and Women in Post-Child birth bleeding• The pregnant and breast feeding woman• Miscellaneous categories of temporary excuse(i.e fighting, deeply in

need(doctor performing critical ops))

•Those who have Permanent excuse from fasting in Ramadan• The old• The fragile• The Terminally ill sick person

When does Ramadan Start ?• There are three ways from which we can know when does the

month of Ramadan start:• That we know that we’ve completed the thirty days of the

month of Sha’ban.• When we sight the moon on the 29th of Sha’ban.• When the night of 29th Sha’ban is cloudy, we assume that

Sha’ban will last for thirty days. It is mentioned in the hadith: “Fast when you see the moon and break your fast when you see the moon. But if it is cloudy then complete it out (the thirty days of Sha’ban).”

Degrees of Fasting

• 1. Ordinary Fasting i.e only fard or few times only• 2. Special Fasting i.e Sunnah…Taraweeh…Quran recitation

etc..• 3. Extra-Special Fasting

• a. Lower your gaze• b. Guard your tongue• c. Guard your ears• d. Keep your limbs pure• e. Once again: Easy on the Biryani!

Purpose of Fasting• The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Whoever does not give up lying and obscene

talk then Allah has no need of his giving up his food and water. [Al-Tabarani in Al Mu'jam Al Sagheer, Classed as Saheeh by Al-Albaani]

• Abu Huraira narrates the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Many a fasting person will get nothing from his fast save hunger or thirst, and many a one who stand to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness. [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1690 and Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1989, Classed as Sahih]

• We fast to achieve god consciousness, taqwa, if while you’re fasting you don’t achieve this then you might as well not fast. If the prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said lying and cheating makes a fast useless, what about the sin of leaving salah? This is one of the greatest sins of Islam. Salah is the second pillar of Islam and fasting is the fourth pillar. Does it make any sense to skip the 2nd and jump to 4th pillar? A building cannot have a 4th floor before a 2nd. Some ulema have said leaving salah invalidates your fast. You might as well not fast. It’s a joke. It’s ridiculous to not pray and fast at the same time. Make sure you are praying your 5 prayers in Ramadan and this will help you continue to pray them after Ramadan.

The Intention to Fast• Intention is obligatory for every ibadah. Intention is confined to

the heart – not tounge• The timing of the intention during fasting depends on the type

of fasting:• In obligatory fast: The safest opinion is that the intention

needs to be present from the night before fajr: There is no fast for the one who did not make his fast from the night[Abu Dawud 2454]

• In Supererogatory fasts: The intention can be made at anytime before the end of the fasting period as long as no food had been enter from the morning. This is based on the hadith from muslim that prophet(saw) intended to fast in the middle of the day when there was no food to eat. (Hanafi Opinion that intention can be made only up to mid day as a maximum

Fast Nullifiers• Changing intentions breaks one’s fast.• Eating and Drinking• Intentionally Vomiting• Cupping• Ejaculation by touching• Sexual Intercourse• Menstruation or Post Natal Bleeding

Things which do not invalidate the fast• Eye drops, eardrops, tooth extraction and treatment of injuries do

not invalidate the fast if nothing goes down the throat.• Medical tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat asthma

attacks etc, so long as you avoid swallowing any residue.• Insertion of anything into the vagina such as pessaries, or a

speculum, or the doctor’s fingers for the purpose of medical examination.

• Insertion of medical instruments or IUD into the womb.• Anything that enters the urinary tract of a male or female , such as a

catheter tube, or medical scopes, or opaque dyes inserted for the purpose of x-rays, or medicine.

• Fillings, extractions or cleaning of the teeth, whether with a siwak or toothbrush, so long as you avoid swallowing anything that reaches the throat.

Things which do not invalidate the fast• Rinsing the mouth, gargling, sprays etc . so long as you avoid

swallowing anything that reaches the throat.• Oxygen or anesthetic gases.• Anything that may enter the body via absorption through the skin,

such as creams, poultices, etc.• Insertion of a fine tube via the veins for diagnostic imaging or

treatment of the veins of the heart or any part of the body.• Insertion of a scope through the stomach wall to examine the

intestines by means of a surgical operation (laparoscopy).• Taking samples from the liver or any other part of the body, so long

as that is not accompanied by administration of solutions.• Endoscopy, as long as that is not accompanied by administration of

solutions or other substances.• Introduction of any medical instruments or materials to the brain or

spinal column.

Things that are undesirable (makruh)• Exaggeration in sniffing water at the time of making Wudu• Using strong tasting toothpaste or strong moutwash• Taking a swim• To chew something like gum or rubber, providing there is no

flavor• To taste food with the tip of ones tongue• To collect saliva in the mouth and swallow it in large quantity• To quarrel and use filthy and indecent language• To back bite• Eating too much, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah

be upon him) said:“The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than his stomach.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2380)

Things that are desirable (Mustahab)• It is recommended to eat the the suhur and delay it its

maximum possible time• It is highly recommended to hurry up in breaking the fast• To break the fast before prayting maghrib and break the fast

upon dates and if not then water• To read a lot of quran and give a lot of charity• It is wajib to stay away from lying, backbiting, swearing and

coursing• It is recommended to say if someone wrong you " I am

fasting"• To say the following Dua upon breaking the fast: Thirst has

been quenched, the veins wetted and the rewards establish insha allah

Components of a Fruitful Fast• 1. Suhur

• Anas narrates the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Eat suhoor for in it there is baraka (blessing). [Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Chapter 9, Hadith 2412. Also reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari] In another narration Allah and His angels send their salam on those who eat suhoor.

• Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: I command you to have suhoor even if it is only a glass of water. [Musnad Ahmad]• Amr Ibn Al-Aas narrates The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: The difference between us and previous nations is we

delay the suhoor and hasten the iftaar. [Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Chapter 9, Hadith 2413]• Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrates Rasulullah (saw) said: Suhur is a blessed meal. Hence, do not abandon it, even if one

just takes a sip of water. Indeed, Allah and His angels send Salah (blessings) upon those who eat Suhur. [Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shaibah]

• 2. Break it as soon as the sun has set with dates• Sahl ibn Sa’d that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The people will

continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.” [Bukhaari/Muslim] In another narrations Abu Hurayrah(ra) reported the additional phrase, “… because the Jews and Christians delay it.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood,

• 3. Generosity [Video]• 4. More good deeds• 5. More charity• 6. More Qur’ān• 7. I‘tikāf the last 10 nights

Meritorious Acts During Ramadhan:• Searching for the Night of Decree

• The Night of Decree (Laylatul-Qadr) is more virtuous and meritorious than one thousand months. It is the night of Ramadhan in which the Qur'an was brought from the highest heavens down to mankind. Allah ~ says in the Noble Qur'an interpretation of the meaning is: - "Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the Night of Decree (Al-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." (97:1-3)

• Performing `Umrah During Ramadhan• Performing 'Umrah (lesser pilgrimage to Makkah) in Ramadhan is especially virtuous

because it is equal in reward to Hajj (the major pilgrimage to Makkah).• The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said:"Umrah in Ramadhan is equal (in reward) to Hajj -

or he said "equal to (performing) Hajj with me." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Meritorious Acts During Ramadhan:• The Night Prayer or Tarawih Prayers

• Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon Him) has encouraged offering prayer at night regularly. This prayer is known as the 'night prayer' (Qiyamul-Layl) or (Tahajjud). During Ramadhan this prayer is also call Tarawih. It is allowed to offer the Tarawih, at any time starting from the conclusion of' Isha (Night) prayer until the commencement of the Fajr (Dawn) prayer. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) always prayed eleven Rak'ahs (units of prayer) for the optional night prayer, whether it was during Ramadhan or any other time of the year but it is allowed to pray more than 11 Rakahs InshaAllah

• Tarawih, is a voluntary prayer by which a true believer intends to seek the pleasure of Allah and draw near to Him. The Prophet said (Peace be upon Him): "Whoever performed the night prayer in Ramadhan with sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven." (Al-Bukhari

• Giving Charity And Donations• One of the good deeds of this blessed month of Ramadhan is charity and benevolence,

which is more virtuous than during the other months. The goal of giving charity and donations is to attain the pleasure of Allah(S.W.T). “And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.” (Quran 2:272)

Meritorious Acts During Ramadhan:• Increasing One's Recitation of The Qur'an

• The blessed month of Ramadhan is the month of the Qur'an, in which reciting the Qur'an according to one's ability is strongly recommended. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) recited the Qur'an with the utmost concentration and deep contemplation of its meanings. For Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. Allah (S.W.T) says interpretation of the meaning is: -"The month of Ramadhan, in which the Qur'an was revealed; a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)." (2:185)

• Seclusion in the Mosque (I`tikaf)• One of the special deeds of Ramadhan is I`tikaf. Performing I`tikaf means to confine

oneself in seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of worshipping Allah alone, leaving every worldly and personal affair. The mind of the person who observes I`tikaf concentrates exclusively on the goal of pleasing Allah (S.W.T). He is engaged in various types of worship, repentance, and beseeching Allah's forgiveness. He offers as many voluntarily prayers as he can, saying words of remembrance and invocations, etc. to Allah (S.W.T). In this sense, practicing I`tikaf is a combination of many acts of worship.

10 wisdoms of Ramadan:• Fasting reminds us of the blessing of Allah on us, that he has given us food and

water. There are many who must fast by force for days on end, who do not have food and water all year round

• Fasting brings us closer to Allah by making us thankful. By taking a blessing away we are more appreciative when it comes back.

• Fasting decreases our desire; desire for sins goes down out of sheer fatigue and hunger. That is why for young men who could not get married it is advised for them to fast.

• Everyone begins to attend masaajid frequently• We begin to pray the prayers on time and remember the times of prayer to the

minute• Brotherhood increases. We see each other regularly in masaajid and iftaar parties.• All of us are reattached to the Quran (by either reading it or hearing it)• We increase in our charity. This is the point of giving zakat and zakat al fitr, to the

extent that every single person including children must give this.• We increase in Duaa, especially at time of breaking the fast. The Prophet

Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said a duaa made before a fast is hardly ever refused.

• Gives us the realization that we can be better Muslims.

Tarawih:• Tarawih was intially with Prophet(saw) in congregation and

then revived by Umar(ra)• Its Manner: in 2’s praying with Imam until the imam finish• Its number 11 or 23• Important Mistake: Some people pray only 8 with imam and

then leave

Itikaf:• And do not fondle them whilst you are in itikaf in the

mosques(Surah Baqarah:187)• The prophet(saw) used to perform itikaf in the last ten days of

Ramadan until he passed away(Bukhari/Mulim)• It is to be done in Masjid and not in homes• It is permissible for both men and women• It is from Sunnah to fast during I’tikaf• Actions not permitted during I’tikaf included: Visting the sick,

looking after family matters, visiting people, buying and selling, kissing and fondling spouse.

• Actions that are permitted include: All act of worship, to move around the mosque, answering phone, teaching, going out for food or a shower and toilet etc.

Zakatul Fitr:• Zakatul Fitr is obligatory charity in food items due at the end

of Ramadan• Time of its obligation: Sunset on the last day of Ramadan• How much : 1 sa(Aprox 2.2kg) of Wheat, barley, rice, raisins,

dates.• To whom: All poor people who need food• Can it be given in money ? According to the majority of the

scholars(but not the Hanafi Madhab) it should not be given in monetary

Virtues of Laylatul Qadr:• Laylatul Qadr is the most blessed night of the entire year. Qadr means divine

destiny or power. On this night Allah reveals Qadr for the following year to the angels. We should ask Allah to bless us with what we want on this night, like health, good deeds, children, jannah etc. It could be that Allah will change qadr by our duaa, and Allah already knew that we would make this duaa.

• It is better than 1000 months. Allah sends down the angels and Gabriel (called ar-ruh). Gabriel hardly comes down to earth anymore. He is the most blessed of all angels and only used to come down for the prophets to give them revelation and teach them, but on this night he comes down, and peace lasts until fajr. If we worship Allah in our entire lifetime. say 30-60 years, it is possible we will have much much more, something like 100s of years of ibada, if just this one night is accepted from us every year.

• Abu Huraira narrates Rasulullah (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) said: He who prayed on the Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Majestic Night) knowing that it is (the same night) praying with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), his sins would be forgiven. [Sahih Muslim, Book 4 (Kitaab As-Salah), Hadith 1665]

When is Laylatul Qadr ? • There are 46 saying regarding it• Most Authentic hadiths mention 27th Ramadan• However stronger opinion is that it moves around, most probably in the last in the

last 10 days and most probably in the odd nights and most probable odd night is 27th night

• Its sign :• Greater Sign: The sun comes out without any rays and the moon is like a half

plate of silver[Mulim 762]. The weather is neither hot nor cold. There are very few clouds in the sky and very little wind.[Ahentic ,ibn Khuzaimah 2190-2193]

• Lesser signs: Dogs don’t burk, donkey doesn’t bray, cocks crow a lot• It may be that Allah shows it to some people in their dreams

• What to say if you find yourself on Laylatul Qadr ?• Aisha (radiAllahu anha) narrates she asked the Rasulullah (saw) : Oh messenger of

Allah, if I find myself on the night of Laylatul Qadr, what should I say? Prophet(saw): Say Oh Allah you are forgiving and love to forgive so forgive me

• (Allahumma innaka ‘afuyyun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu’anna) [Jami' Al-Tirmidhi]

Fasting outside of Ramadan• Fasting all or most of Sha’ban

• A’ishah(ra) tells us: “I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) fast an entire month except for the month of Ramadân. I never saw him fast more often in any other month than he did in Sha`bân.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (1969) and Sahîh Muslim (1156)]

• 6 days of Shawwal• Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) says: "Whoever fasts the

month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days in Shawwâl, it will be as if he had fasted the year through." [Sahih Muslim (1163)]

• 9 Days of Dhil-Hijjah• Ibn Abbaas (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah(saw)said: "There are

no days in which the righteous acts are more beloved to Allah than in these days, meaning the ten (of Dhul Hijjah). They asked: O Messenger of Allah(saw), not even Jihaad in His way? He(saw) replied: Not even Jihaad in the way of Allah except for the man that goes out with his life and his money and does not return with either of them"

Fasting outside of Ramadan• The days of Arafat and A’shurah

• "Fasting the day of 'Arafat expiates the sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And, fasting the day of 'Aashura' (the tenth of the lunar month of Muharram) expiates the sins of the past year." (Reported by Muslim.)

• Fasting 13th, 14th and 15th of every month(White Days)• From ibn Abbas: That the messenger of Allah(saw) never used to leave

fasting on “white days”, neither in travel, nor during residency[Authentic, Albani in Sahih Al-Jamil]

• Every Monday and Thursday• From Usamah bin Zaid(ra): I saw Prophet of Allah (saw) used to fast on

Monday and Thursday. So i asked him and he(saw) replied: Verily actions are presented to Allah on Mondays and Thursdays and I love that my actions are raised whilst I am fasting.[Abu Dawud/Nasai]

Fasting outside of Ramadan• Every Second Day

• Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-’Aas(ra): Allah’s Apostle(saw) told me, “The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days.

• Fasting the month of Muharram• The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer in the middle of

the night and the best fasting after the month of Ramadan is the fasting in the months that are Muharram

Days on which fasting is discouraged:• Singling out Rajab• Fasting only on Fridays• Fasting only on Saturday• Consecutively fast without breaking the fast• Fasting 11th – 13th of Dhul-Hijjah except for the one who does

not have a sacrifice• The Day of Doubt which is the day before Ramadan. For

example is when someone fasts on 30th since it was cloudy on 29th Sha’ban night just to be on a safe side. This is not allowed since Prophet(saw) has forbidden it

Days on which fasting is Prohibited/ Not Recommended:

• Prohibited: On the two Days of ‘Eid• Not Recommended:

• The day of Pagan religions i.e Christmas day, Diwali Day etc.

• Pick a special day which is not in accordance with Sunnah i.e Month of Rajab pagan used to fast

• Only on Friday or only on Saturday• Immediately prior to Ramadan

Eid Prayer

• Do not engage in vain waste of money and time• Praise Allah• Eid greetings: May Allah accept from us and from you• Even female in menstruation are recommended to go out and

witness the congregation, even if they cannot pray

Sunnahs and etiquettes on the day of EID

• Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer. • Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr and after the

prayer on Eid al-Adha (eat 3 dates after fajr)• Takbeer on the day of Eid • Offering congratulations • Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid. • Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.

May Allah accept from all of us