What is Ramadan?
And I replied
They say that Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
It is the Islamic month of fasting, where doing good deeds and giving in charity are highly rewarded.
Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and all sexual activities from dawn until sunset.
Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality.
Ramadan starts on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
This year Ramadan started on August1st and ends on September 1st, depending on where you live.
The beginning of Ramadan is based upon the Islamic calendar and observing the first waxing crescent moon.
This is also where the crescent moon that symbolizes Islam originated.
The Quran says;
2:183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-
2:184 Fasting for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number Should be made up from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is poor. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.
2:185 Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear Signs for guidance and judgment Between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period Should be made up by days later.
Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. He wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you shall be grateful.
According to the earliest hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.
Muslims fast during Ramadan to understand what it feels like to be without food while having to work and take care of family, such as those who are poor and less fortunate.
Muslims are expected to read the entire Quran during Ramadan and attend special Taraweel prayers which are only said during the month of Ramadan.
And they are expected to be more compassionate during Ramadan, to be more giving and understanding. It is also a special time for families, friends and fellow Muslims around the world.
According to hadith, the person who observes Ramadan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According to another hadith, "When Ramadan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, while Hell's gates are closed and Satan and the Jinn are chained up and who ever dies during this time will enter paradise."
Not all Muslim agree as to when Ramadan starts. The Saudi tradition of sighting the moon with the naked eye works for them, but there are differences for countries who are on the opposite side of the planet. Many Muslims now lean towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.
Last Friday's Fatwa was about women sighting the moon.
The name "Ramadan" had been the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture before the arrival of Islam; It means intense heat scorched ground and shortness of rations.
The month after Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to fast for another 6 days. When the fasting is over, Muslims go to their mosques in formal clothes to pray. Afterwards they give presents to young children and greet their friends and families and thank Allah for the bounties he has given to them.
Not every Muslim is required to fast. People who are travelling more than 40 miles in a day do not have to fast. The same is true for those who are mentally ill, the elderly or those who are gravely ill. Also pregnant women, nursing women and, women who are menstruating are all exempt from fasting as the Quran states. However, they must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fast.
In some Muslim countries, failing to fast during Ramadan is considered a crime.
Fasting for 12 hours a day is not easy, fasting for 12 hours a day for a month is extremely difficult especially when you have to continue to work and take care of the family. In many countries the heat in nearly unbearable, yet devout believers suffer through. No other religion has such a demand placed upon them. But for over 1400 years believers have been fasting as proof of their love of Allah. If you think this is easy, try it.
When the sun goes down each family has a huge feast to celebrate their day and their victory over hunger, and they are reminded of the poor and less fortunate.
Doing good deeds and giving in charity is especially highlighted during Ramadan as a reminder of Allah's mercy.
Fighting, bickering and all negative behaviours are not acceptable. Understanding, tolerance and a helpful nature is what is required of all believers during this month as it is the most Holy month of the year.
2:187 It has been made lawful for you during the night of fasting to approach your women sexually. They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them.
God knows that you used to betray your souls so He has accepted your repentance, and forgiven you; now you may approach them and seek what God has written for you.
And you may eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn; then you shall complete the fast until night; and do not approach them while you are devoted in the temples.
These are God’s boundaries, so do not transgress them. It is thus that God makes His revelations clear to the people that they may be righteous.
For all my believing readers, I wish you each a Happy Ramadan and may Allah bless you and your family through out the year with peace and prosperity.
Now, how can the scholars possible screw up this sacred month?
A Muslim asks a scholar
What is the ruling on a wife who refuses intimacy with her husband during Ramadaan because she is preoccupied with worship and drawing close to Allaah?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah.
The month of Ramadaan is an important occasion for worshippers to increase their worship and for sinners to give up their ways and reconcile themselves with their Lord by giving up their sin and doing more acts of worship and obedience, so that they may turn over a new leaf and start a new life.
Women should understand that their husbands have great rights over them. It is not permissible for a woman to refuse her husband these rights, or to refuse them for the sake of naafil acts of worship.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Awfa said: The Messenger of Allah said:
“By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no woman can fulfill her duty towards Allah until she fulfils her duty towards her husband. If he asks her for intimacy even if she is on her camel saddle, she should not refuse.”
On her camel saddle, huh? Interesting visual...bad advice
What this means is that women are urged to obey their husbands, and that they should not refuse them even in this situation, so how about in other situations?
.
Because of the importance of husbands’ rights, women are enjoined to ask their permission before doing some acts of worship which may conflict with their rights, such as:
Observing fasts.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said:
“No woman should fast when her husband is present except with his permission.
Allah didn’t say that, neither does the Quran. A bad scholar can screw up the best of intentions.
A Muslim asks a scholar
What is the ruling on touching women with one's hand only during Ramadaan and the emission of semen as a result?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah.
Sins in general – including touching women – are more serious in Ramadan. The Standing Committee was asked:
I suffer from seminal discharge during the days in Ramadan without any wet dreams or engaging in the “secret habit” (masturbation). Does this have any effect on the fast?
They replied:
If the matter is as described, the emission of semen without any feelings of pleasure during the day in Ramadan does not affect your fast, and you do not have to make up that day.
He only suffers this affliction during Ramadan? Very suspicious, indeed.
A Muslim asks a scholar
It is well known that the devils are chained up in Ramadan and that yawning comes from the Shaytaan, so why do we yawn in Ramadan?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah.
There should be no confusion stemming from the fact that people yawn during Ramadaan even though the devils are chained up at that time, because what is meant by saying that it is from the Shaytaan is that he likes it.
So what's the point of chaining him up if he can still cause mischief? No answer to that question.
A Muslim asks a scholar
What is the ruling on one who inhales the smell of food deliberately when he is fasting?
Praise be to Allaah.
And the scholar replies
There is nothing wrong with a fasting person smelling good smells, from food, perfume etc, but he should not inhale bukhoor (incense) or the steam coming out of the cooking pot because these have particles which may reach his stomach
If the smoke of bukhoor or steam from the cooking pot reaches the throat, the day must be made up… if it reaches it through inhaling deliberately, whether the one who does that is the one who is making it or someone else.
But if one of them reaches the throat without him wanting it to, then he does not have to make it up, whether he is the one who is making it or someone else according to the correct view. End quote.
The point is that simply smelling food does not affect the fast, but one should not inhale the steam from the cooking pot.
As it might burn your nose and throat. A fatwa came out this week forbidding eye drops as the drop may reach your throat. The intent of the fast is to abstain from eating-- not thinking.
A Muslim asks a scholar
We have a foreign driver who is not Muslim. Can we give him food during the day in Ramadan?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah
The ruling on this and similar issues comes under the ruling on whether minor issues of Islam are addressed to kaafirs too. The correct view is that they are addressed to them, and this is the view of the majority. Hence it is not permissible to enable him to eat during the day in Ramadaan or to help him to do so.
The next question will be…our kaafir driver quit because we wouldn't let him eat during Ramadan, now no other driver will work for us, what should we do?
Fire your stupid scholars.
I suffer from seminal discharge during the days in Ramadan without any wet dreams or engaging in the “secret habit” (masturbation). Does this have any effect on the fast?
They replied:
If the matter is as described, the emission of semen without any feelings of pleasure during the day in Ramadan does not affect your fast, and you do not have to make up that day.
He only suffers this affliction during Ramadan? Very suspicious, indeed.
A Muslim asks a scholar
It is well known that the devils are chained up in Ramadan and that yawning comes from the Shaytaan, so why do we yawn in Ramadan?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah.
There should be no confusion stemming from the fact that people yawn during Ramadaan even though the devils are chained up at that time, because what is meant by saying that it is from the Shaytaan is that he likes it.
So what's the point of chaining him up if he can still cause mischief? No answer to that question.
A Muslim asks a scholar
What is the ruling on one who inhales the smell of food deliberately when he is fasting?
Praise be to Allaah.
And the scholar replies
There is nothing wrong with a fasting person smelling good smells, from food, perfume etc, but he should not inhale bukhoor (incense) or the steam coming out of the cooking pot because these have particles which may reach his stomach
If the smoke of bukhoor or steam from the cooking pot reaches the throat, the day must be made up… if it reaches it through inhaling deliberately, whether the one who does that is the one who is making it or someone else.
But if one of them reaches the throat without him wanting it to, then he does not have to make it up, whether he is the one who is making it or someone else according to the correct view. End quote.
The point is that simply smelling food does not affect the fast, but one should not inhale the steam from the cooking pot.
As it might burn your nose and throat. A fatwa came out this week forbidding eye drops as the drop may reach your throat. The intent of the fast is to abstain from eating-- not thinking.
A Muslim asks a scholar
We have a foreign driver who is not Muslim. Can we give him food during the day in Ramadan?
And the scholar replies
Praise be to Allaah
The ruling on this and similar issues comes under the ruling on whether minor issues of Islam are addressed to kaafirs too. The correct view is that they are addressed to them, and this is the view of the majority. Hence it is not permissible to enable him to eat during the day in Ramadaan or to help him to do so.
The next question will be…our kaafir driver quit because we wouldn't let him eat during Ramadan, now no other driver will work for us, what should we do?
Fire your stupid scholars.