Ramadān: Pathway to Paradise

Mustafa Umar

Associate Director – Islamic Society of Corona-Norco

www.myiscn.com

www.coronamuslims.com

Determining the Month of RamadānCurrently there are three opinions:

Sighting the moonSighting the moon and using astronomical data

to reject sightingsUsing astronomical data

One more complicationLocal sightingGlobal sighting

Importance of unity within a localityUnity on every issue?

Is Their Fasting Accepted?Legitimacy of different opinions in Islam

Hadīth of Banī QurayzahIbn Abbās and Kurayb

Unity will come with “official” leadershipThere is a price to pay for authorityCouncils can act as a “leader” in non-Muslim

landsFollow your masjid and keep the family

together (duty of the leader of the house)

Who Must Fast?History

Became obligatory 2 A.H.Who doesn’t need to fast?

Non-MuslimInsaneImmature (puberty)Sick [make up] - Pregnant, breast-feeding

Compensation (feed a poor person) - elderlyTraveler [make up] – better to fast if there’s no

hardshipMenstruating woman [make up]

What If I Don’t Feel Like It? م� ر�ب�وه� و�اض� ن�ين� س� ب�ع� س� ب�ن�اء�

� أ م� و�ه� ة� ال� ب�الص� د�ك�م� و�ال�أ� وا م�ر�

ر� ع�ش� ب�ن�اء�� أ م� و�ه� ا ع�ل�ي�ه�

“Make your children pray when they reach the age of seven. Discipline them about it when they

reach the age of ten.”

Don’t be ritualistic, but don’t neglect the outward as well

How to FastHave the intention to fast – must be before

the beginning of the fast or the month – may be vocal

Abstaining from food, drink, and intercourseFrom dawn until dusk

Abstain from all immoral behaviorIt can nullify the reward of your fast

What Breaks the Fast?Breaks and requires a makeup

Consuming anything resembling food/drink – drip Inhaling smoke or incense Intentionally vomiting – make up

Accidentally vomiting does not break the fastAccidentally eating/drinking assuming that the fast has

not begun or has ended Intentional masturbation or even by looking at

something and ejaculatingIntentional intercourse – make up + 2 months (if

unable then feed 60 needy people)Intentional eating or drinking

Hanafites and Mālikites = analogous to intercourse

What doesn’t break it?Forgetfully eating/drinking during the day – during ablutionTasting food with the tip of the tongue then spitting it out if:

Husband is ill tempered You are a cook and your job is on the line

A mother chewing food for her child if there is no one else to chew it

Giving blood or cupping – but if it weakens you it’s dislikedBrushing with toothpaste – but don’t brush the back of the

tongueEye and ear drops – nose drops must not reach the throatBathing or rinsing your mouth with water for cooling down Injections for medicine– but no nourishment like a dripUsing perfume, smelling flowers – but not inhaling incenseHaving a wet dream

Don’t fast on Eid dayDon’t try to fast two days straight without

breakingDon’t consume more food than you would in

other months

What Should You Not Do

Have suhūr – before the fast beginsRush to break your fastBreak the fast with (an odd # of) dates – or waterBreak with the duā –

الله شاء إن األجر وثبت العروق وابتلت الظمأ ذهب The thirst is gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is affirmed,

if Allah wills.Recite and study the Qur’an – learn about your religion

Nawawi: “The best view is that that varies from one person to another. The one who is seeking to understand it and ponder its meaning should limit himself to as much as he can understand fully when he reads, and the one who is busy spreading knowledge or other religious works, or working for the public interests of the Muslims, should limit himself to what will not cause him to neglect his work. If he is not among the categories mentioned here, then he should do as much as he can without reaching the point of boredom.”

“Gun it” on the last 10 nights – focus on the worship

What Should You Do

Cut off from worldly affairs for a periodDoesn’t have to be 10 days – do what you canWhat to do:

Make the intention of seclusionDon’t leave the mosque without necessity

(hospital, etc.)Pray, fast, remember Allah – don’t buy and sell

Al-I’tikāf – Seclusion in the mosque

Don’t fast on Eid dayFast 6 days of Shawwāl – not necessarily in

orderRamadan = 1 month x 106 days x 10 = 60 days = 2 monthsRamadan + Shawwāl = 12 months = the whole

year

Eid al-Fitr and After