Welcoming the blessed month of Ramadan
This column, which has become an annual attribute, will this year, as well, feature throughout this coming month of Ramadan, insha Allah. This year’s Ramadan Talk will, insha Allah, attempt to contact as many scholars as possible for contribution. However, the number of contributions that would appear on the column would depend on the cooperation […]
This column, which has become an annual attribute, will this year, as well, feature throughout this coming month of Ramadan, insha Allah.
This year’s Ramadan Talk will, insha Allah, attempt to contact as many scholars as possible for contribution. However, the number of contributions that would appear on the column would depend on the cooperation we get from the scholars. Therefore, as it was last year, the column will focus on the significance and activities prescribed for all Muslim faithfuls during the month. It will also bring out the benefits that are derivable from the month for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Ramadan’s dos and don’ts would also feature on the column.
Clarification
To avoid creating any unnecessary confusion, RamadanTalk will restrict itself to the submissions of the Holy Qur’an and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace). This will be adopted in accordance with the explanation provided by those who followed the Prophet’s footsteps especially those from the generations the Prophet (pbuh) described as the best of all thus: “the best of all generations is mine and then those that follow and those that follow.”
This year, RamadanTalk would debut with the contribution it received from Ahmad Bello Dogarawa (PhD) of the Department of Accounting, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. We wish our readers happy reading:
OBLIGATION OF FASTING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN
Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims all over the world observe Ramadan fast as a religious obligation upon them, so as to please Allah (the Most High) and to earn His blessings and rewards. They abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset with the intent of worshipping Allah and earning His pleasure, and drawing practical lessons and gaining spiritual experience in forbearance and self-restraint from indulgence in legitimate pleasure for certain time.
The fast of Ramadan, according to the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijmaa, is obligatory. The evidence from the Qur’an consists of the following two verses: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days…” [Q2:183-184]. And: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…” [Q2:185].
From the Sunnah, a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “Tell me the fast Allah has prescribed to me.” He (the Prophet – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting in the month of Ramadaan” [Bukhari and Muslim]. Also, Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built upon five things: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle; establishing the prayers; giving legal alms; pilgrimage to the House; and fasting during Ramadan” [Bukhari and Muslim].
According to Ibn Qudaamah in Al-Mughnee, An-Nawawi in Al-Majmuu’ and Sayyid Saabiq in Fiqhus Sunnah, the whole Muslim nation agrees that the fast of Ramadan is obligatory. It is one of the pillars of Islam, and if one disputes this, he cannot be called a Muslim.
Whoever breaks the fast during Ramadan without a legitimate excuse has committed a serious major sin. In an authentic Hadith transmitted by Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, describing a dream that he had seen: “… until I was at the mountain, where I heard loud voices. I asked, ‘What are these voices?’ They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.’ Then I was taken (to another place), and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, ‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘People who broke their fast before it was the proper time to do so,’’ that is, before sunset.
In his Kitaab al-Kabaa’ir, Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “Among the believers it is well-established that whoever does not fast in Ramadan without a valid excuse is worse than an adulterer or drunkard; they doubt whether he is even a Muslim at all, and they regard him as a heretic (zindiq) and profligate (those who destroy Islam).” In Majmoo` al-Fataawaa, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “If a person does not fast in Ramadan knowing that it is unlawful but making it lawful for himself to do so, kill him; and if he does it because he is immoral (but believes it is unlawful), then punish him for not fasting.”
HOW TO WELCOME RAMADAAN
The first thing to do is to prepare oneself and one’s environment for Ramadan fast while hastening to repent and turn back to Allah. The Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to wish that they have Ramadan throughout the year. According to some historical accounts, the Sahabah even used to spend half of the year longing for its arrival.
Next, is to look for the new moon of Ramadan from the evening of the 29th of Sha’aban, (which is today). If its appearance is not confirmed, the month of Sha’aban should continue for thirty days [Bukhari and Muslim]. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them) used to come out to look for the moon as reported by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in the following Hadith: “The people looked for the moon, so I informed the Prophet that I saw it. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) started to fast and commanded the people to fast also.” [Abu Daawud, ad-Daarimi, Ibn Hibbaan, al-Haakim and al-Baihaqi].
Third, is to rejoice and feel happy at the onset of the month, and to develop the right frame of mind to pray Taraaweeh, read the entire Qur’an with understanding, seek Laylatul Qadr, give charity, perform i’itikaaf, and go to Makkah for ‘Umrah.
Next, is to congratulate one another for the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to give the good news of the onset of Ramadan and urge the Sahaabah to make the most of it. Imam Nasaa’i transmitted an authentic Hadith from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month. Allah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.”
Next, is to make sure that intention (promptness) to observe Ramadan fast be made (in the heart) before dawn (fajr) in line with the Hadith of the Prophet: “Whoever did not make intention before dawn, his fast is void” [Abu Daawud, Tirmidhi and Nasaa’i]. One should remember that without intention, fasting is not proper and that its determination is done in the heart, hence, requires no pronouncement.
Ahmad Bello Dogarawa, PhD, Department of Accounting, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
+2348026499981;
Next week insha Allah, Dr Dogarawa shall discuss the benefits of fasting during Ramadan in particular and the virtues of the month as a whole.
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