Wednesday, 12 September 2007

A timetable for 'RAMADHAN'.


"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you,
as it was prescribed to those before you, that
you may (learn) self-restraint."
(Holy Qur'an 2 : 183)

Sawm (fasting) means to refrain from eating, drinking and cohabiting from subha sadiq (early dawn) to sunset with a niyyah (intention) of observing fast.
Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is fardh (compulsory) upon every muslim who is sane and mature. Fasting has many physical, moral, and social benefits. However, Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we become pious and God-fearing.
Fasting will not be valid without niyyah. It is not necessary to express the niyyah in words. However it is preferable to recite 'Allahumma asoomu laka ghadan' - (O Allah tomorrow I shall be fasting for you only)'. In the case of Ramadhan, it is better to make niyyah in the night. However, should a person fail to do so, then it is permitted to make the niyyah during the day before zawal (midday).
Ideally a person would totally free himself for the whole month of Ramadhan, so that he may benefit fully from its blessings, This however is extremely difficult / impossible for most, thus it is acknowledged that a way or device needs to be utilised by people to make the most of whatever time they have.
To prevent time wasting and distractions from steering the mind and heart away from the remembrance of Allah, it is essential that one keeps check of oneself. This does not mean that one must do specific actions at specific times, but it does mean that a person fixes times during the day wherein he makes sure that he is doing something religiously constructive.
Fard acts need, more than ever, to be performed with unyielding punctuality. In reality, it should be that these are never missed at all. One must remember that if one neglects even one Fard then no amount of Nafl wilf ever recuperate the loss, and one may be liable to be punished for it. Thus one's priority must always be one's Fara'id.
Amongst the acts of worship given precedence in Ramadhan is the recitation of the Qur'an. Whatever free time one has should be spent engaged in this beneficial deed.
The niyyah (intention) for breaking fast - recite 'ALLAHUMMA LAKA SUMTU WABIKA AAMANTU WA ALAYKA TAWAKKALTU WA ALAA RIZ QIKA AFTAR TU FATA QABBAL MINNI.' - O Allah! I have kept fast for thee and I put faith in tliee and I have relied on thee and I break fast with the provisions provided by thee, therefore please accept from me my fast.
Read this DUA - O Allah! now thirst is gone, and the body has been refreshed while the reward had been attained if Allah so wills, O Great Granter of Favours, forgive me my sins. O Allah I beg You through Your Infinite Mercy which encompasses all things to forgive me my sins.
THINGS MAKROOH (DETESTABLE) WHILE FASTING
  • 1. To chew items such as rubber, plastic etc.
  • 2. To taste food or drink and spit it out.
  • 3. To collect one's saliva in the mouth and then swallow it.
  • 4. To clean teeth or mouth with tooth powder or toothpaste.
  • 5. To complain of hunger or thirst.
  • 6. To quarrel, argue with filthy words.
THINGS THAT BREAK THE FAST
  • 1. To eat, drink or indulge in cohabitation intentionally.
  • 2. To burn agarbatti (incense) and inhale its smoke.
  • 3. If water goes down the throat while gargling.
  • 4. To vomit mouthful intentionally.
  • 5. To swallow vomit intentionally.
  • 6. To swallow something edible, equal to or bigger than a grain of gram, which was stuck between the teeth. However, if it is first taken out of the mouth and then swallowed, it will break the fast whether it is smaller or bigger than the size of the grain.
  • 7. To drop oil or medicine into ear or nose.
  • 8. To swallow the blood from gums with saliva. However, if the blood is less than the saliva and its taste is not felt then the fast will not break.
  • 9. Snuffing.
  • 10. To eat and drink forgetting one is fasting and thereafter, thinking that the fast is broken to eat and drink again.
  • 11. Smoking.
  • 12. To apply medicine to the anus.
  • 13. For women to apply medicine to the urinary organs.
  • 14. To swallow intentionally a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not
    used as food or medicine.
    In all the above circumstances, only a single fast will become qadha except in the case of number one (1), where qadha and kaffarah both will become obligatory. (Consult an alim regarding the rules of kaffarah).

THINGS THAT DO NOT BREAK THE FAST

  • 1. To eat, drink or indulge in cohabitation in forgetful ness.
  • 2. To vomit without intention.
  • 3. To vomit intentionally less than mouthful.
  • 4. To have a wet dream.
  • 5. To oil the hair.
  • 6. To use surma (collyrium) in the eyes.
  • 7. To drop water or medicine in the eyes.
  • 8- To clean teeth with wet or dry miswak (a stick used for cleaning teeth).
  • 9. To apply or smell attar (perfume).
  • 10. To swallow a fly, mosquito, smoke or dust unintentionally.
  • 11. To swallow one's saliva or phlegm.
  • 12. Water entering the ears.
  • 13. To take an injection.

SUNNAHS IN THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN

  • 1. To observe taraweeh.
  • 2. To increase the recitation of the Holy Qur'an.
  • 3. To observe i'atikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan.

posted by islam on the net @ 03:00 0 Comments