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 In
the Name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful
Common Mistakes of Fasting
Shaykh Saleh ibn Abdul-Azeez Ibn
Muhammad Aalish Shaykh
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Stating The Intention Aloud
This was not the practice of the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi
wa sallam), nor that of his companions (radiAllahu 'anhum)
nor their followers (at-taabi'een) nor any of the four Imaams
(Ahmed, Ash-Shaafi'ee, Malik, Abu Hanifah), nor the
predecessors (as-salaf). It is a newly invented matter in
religion (muhdathah) and a forbidden innovation (bid'ah). the
place of the intention is in the heart and it is the
intention of worship ('ibaadah).
It is confirmed in the ahadeeth that the Prophet (sallAllahu
'alaihi wa sallam) made as condition (of fasting) that one
intend to fast before Fajr for the obligatory fast. Meaning,
that one makes intention to fast tomorrow in one's heart.
This is authenticated from Umm Al-Mu'mineen Hafsa (radiAllahu
'anhaa) who said: the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam)
said: Whoever does not intend (yubayyit) the fast before Al-Fajr
has no fast." [Ahmed and Ashaabus-sunan]
The phrase "tubayyit as-siyaama" [intend the fast] indicates
the intention of the heart as implied by the word tubayyit,
and Allah is the All-Knowing.
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Carelessness In Stopping Eating (Al-Imsaak)
Some people do this by eating and drinking until the mu'adhin
(caller to prayer) has finished calling the adhaan. They may
even continue eating until all the callers in the masaajid
(this of course applies in Muslim countries) have finished
that one can hear in the vicinity. This is an evident mistake
and may nullify the fast. Allah ta'aalaa states:
Eat and drink until the white string is
discernable from the black string of Fajr. [i.e. the break of
dawn and the night] The time of this
distinguishing mentioned is from the beginning of the time of
Fajr and that is signaled by the adhaan of Fajr. The word
'until' indicates the aim. If the muadhin is allowed
according to the shariah to call a second adhaan, which
occurs after the coming of dawn, it is necessary to stop
eating and drinking. This meaning comes in the hadeeth of 'Aaisha
(radiAllahu 'anhaa) and Ibn 'Umar (radiAllahu 'anhumaa) that
the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: Bilal makes
an ahdaan at night so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Al-Makhtoom
makes the adhaan." [Muttafaqun 'alaihi]. Also Al-Bukhaari
transmits: "..for he (Ibn Umm Al-Makhtoom) does not call the
achaan until Fajr comes in." "eat and drink until..." is
evidence of the obligation to stop eating and begin the fast
upon hearing the second adhaan which comes in after the
entrance of Fajr. It has come in the sunnah however a
relaxation to the one who hears the adhaan and there is food
or drink in their hand that they may finish it and Allah is
the Grantor of Success. [Note: This does not mean that one
continues to complete an entire sandwich that they have taken
a bite from for example, but rather if there is a bite left
they may finish that and they may complete the cup of liquid
that they are in the process of drinking, not the full
glass that is sitting away from them.- Ed]
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Negligence In Making Congregational Salaah Or Sleeping
Through It And Combining Prayers
This is a great abomination during the month of Ramadhan.
Salaah is a pillar of Deen and the greatest of them after the
shahaadatain (two-part declaration of faith). Negligence in
it is never allowable. The evidences for the obligation of
making congregational salaat (for men) have been mentioned
before [see
Vol. 2, Issue 8 - Ed.]
and it is forbidden to neglect the salaat by not performing
it in congregation preferring to sleep through it or
otherwise. To combine prayers without an Islamically
justified reason is another abomination that is not
permissible.
The Muslim is commanded to organize time with the salaah as
the basis giving it precedence over all other matters. It is
upon Muslims to cooperate and assist one another and advise
each other regarding this issue which comes up in Ramadhan as
Allah states: And assist one
another in righteousness and piety and do not assist one
another in sin and enmity.
- False
Speech and Action and Ignorance of Fasting and Other Matters
False or bad speech and action are evils that are not
permissible. It is confirmed in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari from Abu
Hurairah (radiAllahu 'anhu) who said: the Prophet (sallAllahu
'alaihi wa sallam) said: whoever does not drop vain false
speech and action Allah has no need of them dropping his food
and drink."
Ignorant usage of filthy speech or cursing and the like are
acts of bad character and immorality. They are especially
detestable for the fasting person. it is also confirmed in
the two saheehs that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu 'alaihi
wa sallam) said: Allah ta'aala said: every action of the son
of Aadam is for himself except fasting for it is for Me and I
will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield so whoever of you
fasts a day without behaving obscenely nor shouting and one
abuses or fights them he should say, 'I am fasting, I am
fasting.'
The hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu 'anhu) stated
previously is related by al-Bukhaari in "Al-Adab" among the
authentic narration with the wording: Whoever does not leave
false speech and acting by it and ignorance..." Ignorance
(al-jahl) enters into every act of obscenity, abuse, slander,
backbiting, lying or futility and the like of the sinfulness
of the tongue and the limbs. Likewise it is upon the
non-faster however the impermissibility is even more
emphasized during the month of fasting and Allah is the
Grantor of Success in staying away from such evils.
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Setting The Eyes Upon That Which Is Forbidden
Allah Ta'aala states: Verily, the
hearing, the sight and the heart of each one of those you
will be questioned. All the limbs that have
been given to the slaves of Allah are their responsibility as
to what they have done with them. Some people are accustomed
to looking at and listening to the detestable such as looking
at beautified females who call to fitnah or they listen to
every type of useless entertainment. All of this should be
shunned in the month of fasting and outside of it. This is
surely the case in the month of fasting due to its sanctity
and status as the month of obedience and forgiveness. There
is no better time for the Muslim than the month of fasting as
a means to cut off his bonds and connections with forbidden
sights and sounds and the remaining lusts. It is narrated in
a hadeeth qudsi: He puts away his
food and his drink and his lusts for My sake.
- Listening To Musical
Instruments During The Month Of Fasting And Outside it
This is indicated by evidences from the Qur'aan and Sunnah
forbidding listening to musical instruments and all that
accompanies that. Allah t'aalaa states:
And there are among people those who purchase foolish
and vain speech to lead astray from the way of Allah.
[Luqmaan 6] Ibn Mas'ood (radiAllahu 'anhu) and others stated:
This is singing. There is no doubt that musical instruments
and singing are included in "foolish and vain speech" that
leads away from the Way of Allah.
It is also transmitted in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari in a hadeeth
narrated without a full chain but considered as "connected"
[i.e. valid and authentic] by many scholars of hadeeth:
There will be from among my nation those who will make
illegal sex, the wearing of silk (to the men), drinking
alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments lawful.
[The Book Of Drinks]
It is evident that it is forbidden. This is because "making
lawful" cannot occur unless the thing made lawful was
previously forbidden. Indeed the words of the Messenger of
Allah (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) have been proven true
for many people from the nation of Muhammad use musical
instrument and singing with total disdain and indifference
[to its forbiddance]. It is the duty of the Muslim to adhere
to what has been revealed in the Qur'aan and the sunnah and
to leave behind the forbidden in the month of fasting. This
should be to a higher degree due to the virtue of the month,
but in other months as well.
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Negligence In Knowing The Rules of Fasting
It is a duty for every Muslim to know the rules of fasting
such as the time of breaking fast and stopping eating, the
types of things that break the fast and the things that
should not be done, along with the pre-conditions of fasting.
This should be to the degree that one properly performs the
acts of worship and that they will be accordingly rewarded
due to the merit of that knowledge
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