Ramadan: Significance, observances for Muslims

As we always say, injunctions of the religion of Islam do not change. Therefore, the column will focus on the significance and observances prescribed for all Muslims faithful during the month. It will also bring out the benefits that are derivable from the month through the observances for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Qur’an and Sunna […]

As we always say, injunctions of the religion of Islam do not change. Therefore, the column will focus on the significance and observances prescribed for all Muslims faithful during the month. It will also bring out the benefits that are derivable from the month through the observances for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Qur’an and Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would be our guiding principles while writing this column.
The column welcomes any observation, suggestion or correction, as the case may be, especially from our Ulama (scholars).
 Onset of Ramadan
In Nigeria, the onset of Ramadan this year was confirmed by the Sultanate through an announcement that the new moon was not sighted throughout Nigeria on Monday, Sha’aban 29, 1434AH/July 8, 2013. This led to the completion of the lunar month of Sha’aban to 30 days, and this year’s Ramadan fasting began on Wednesday, July 10, 2013.
What happened in Nigeria this year is in line with Islamic command that says the onset of Ramadan fasting depends on the sighting of the new moon or completion of thirty days of Sha’aban, the eight month of the Islamic lunar calendar. 
Islam provides that whoever sees the crescent of the new moon or hears about it from a trustworthy source is obliged to begin fasting. Those recognised as Muslims leaders are responsible for verifying the authenticity of any claim regarding the sighting of the new moon. Using the calendar to determine or calculating the onset of Ramadan is not permissible in Islam. Onset of any lunar month in Islam depends on sighting of the moon with human eyes.
Muslim reported in a Hadith that Allah enjoins all who believe in Him and the message of His Prophet (pbuh) to “fast when you see the new moon and end your fast when you see it.” This means that sighting of a new moon ushers in the Ramadan fasting and ends it for the Eid-ul-fitr celebration.
The individual must not see the new moon himself. It suffices for any adult, sane and trustworthy Muslim with good eyesight to announce seeing the new crescent with his own eyes. The word of such a person is enough to kick start the fasting.
After the sighting of Ramadan moon
The next thing that is expected of every Muslim on sighting the new moon of Ramadan or completion of 30 days of Sha’aban is Niyya (intention). Niyya is an obligatory pillar in fasting. It induces the heart to focus on Ramadan fasting. Fasting without niyya is null and void. Niyya must be made before the dawn of the first day of Ramadan or immediately after the sighting of the new moon.
Month of Ramadan
The Islamic month of obligatory fasting is known as Ramadan. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is obligatory for all adult Muslims in good mental and physical health who are not on a journey.
Ramadan fasting is one of the three categories of obligatory fasting. Islamic fasting connotes abstention from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is adjudged obligatory on account of Allah’s directive in Chapter 2, verse 183 of the Holy Qur’an that all those who believe in Him should fast as prescribed for the preceding generation. Allah in that verse says that fasting makes believers pious.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in the Sunnah that Islam is built on five pillars. According to Bukhari, he mentioned fasting in the month of Ramadan as one of the pillars.
 
Dos and don’ts in Ramadan
– Eating, drinking, or engaging in any other acts that break the fast – intentionally – between dawn and sunset during the month of Ramadan is a grave sin (kabeera). The punishment for this act is greater than kaffara (fasting for sixty consecutive days, feeding sixty needy people, or freeing a slave). The person that engaged in such acts must continue to seek Allah’s forgiveness and has to sincerely repent and execute more voluntary worship to avoid shortfalls in his/her obligatory deeds, that Allah might accept his/her repentance.
– Bukhari reported in a hadith that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks should complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him drink.” It is said in the Al-Hakim version however that “whoever breaks his fast forgetfully has no re-fasting or atonement for it.”
– Having sexual intercourse during the day is a major offence during the month of Ramadan. Its punishment is either to fast sixty consecutive days, feed sixty needy people, or free a slave. Bukhari and Muslim reported in a hadith that the Prophet (pbuh) said to a man that had sexual intercourse with his wife during the day to fast for two consecutive months, or provide for sixty people – what will feed them at once, – or free a slave. If a person has intercourse during the day on more than one occasion during Ramadan, he must offer this expiation for each day as well as repeat the fast for each day.
– Uttering falsehood or taking any action in accordance with it or adjudged to be foolish could lead to the loss of the rewards of fasting. The Prophet (pbuh) said in a hadith reported by Bukhari that Allah has no need for a one that does not abandon falsehood or acts in accordance with it or foolishly to refrain from eating or drinking.
– The person that needs to break his/her fast to save someone whose life is in danger may do so, but should make up for it later. This could apply when someone is drowning, when fires need to be put out, etc.
– It is permissible for one to kiss, hug, embrace, touch, or repeatedly look at his wife or concubine provided he controls himself. Bukhari and Muslim reported A’isha (wife of the Prophet, pbuh) in a hadith as saying that the Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting, but firmly controlled his desire. Therefore a person that easily gets aroused and cannot control himself or herself is forbidden to kiss or embrace the opposite sex while fasting, as that may lead him/her to break the fast and attract punishment.
– When the day breaks while a person is still in a state of janaba (impurity following sexual intercourse), the person’s fasting is not affected.
– If a person that is fasting has a wet dream while asleep, the person’s fasting is not affected. According to scholarly consensus (ijimaa), he/she must complete his/her fast.
– The emission of wadiy (a thick and sticky substance emitted after urination with on sense of physical pleasure) does not break the fast.
– According to a hadith reported by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (pbuh) said that, “whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up for the fast later on; but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up for it.”
– If a person spits out water after rinsing his/her mouth, the fasting is not affected by any moisture or wetness that is left because he cannot help that.
– Nose bleed does not break fasting because it is beyond one’s control.
– It is permissible to use siwaak (toothbrush) and is even Sunnah for the fasting person at all times of the day. If a person who is fasting uses siwaak, detecting and swallowing some taste from it does not break the fast.
– Smelling pleasant fragrances, using perfume or applying scented creams and the like is permissible during fasting.
– It is permissible for a fasting person to immerse himself or herself in water, wrap wet cloth over the body to cool down, or pour water over the head to obtain relief from heat. Swimming is to be avoided however because it might cause one to break the fast by swallowing water.
– If a person eats, drinks, or has intercourse thinking that it was still night but later realises that dawn had broken, no harm is done because such acts are permissible during the night. It would be an offence to carry out such acts deliberately however, as explained earlier.
– If a person breaks his/her fast thinking that the sun had set when it had not, the person must refrain from eating until the sun sets but it would not be necessary to make up for the fast.
 Next week inshaAllah, we shall discuss ruling on fasting for women, virtues of the month of Ramadan and other issues.