FATAWA

Question: What are the main pillars of fasting?

Answer: Fasting has two essential elements that must be fulfilled for it to be valid and acceptable. They are:

1·- The intention: Allah instructs in the Qur'an "And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion." (Al-Qur'an 98:5) Intention needs not be spoken out.

II - Abstaining from those acts that break the fast: This point is based on the Qur'anic verse: "Eat and drink until the white thread of the dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the night. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall." (Al-Qur'an 2:187)

Fasting is a type of worship that draws one closer to Allah. The fasting person must be on guard against any act that may cause him to lose the benefits of his fast. Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet, salla Allah­u alaihe wa sallam, said: "Allah does not need the fast of one who does not abandon false speech or acting according to his false speech." Related by Bukhari.

Question: What is the ruling concerning a person who fasts Ramadan but does not perform the obligatory prayers?

Answer: The obligatory prayers are the most important pillar of Islam after the Shahada. Whoever does not perform them because of laziness or carelessness is, according to the strongest scholarly opinion, a Kafir. Hence his deeds such as fasting, sadaqah, or others are not accepted. Allah says: "And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did in this life, and We shall make them like floating dust scattered about." (Al-Qur'an 25:23) Such a person should repent truly, start praying and must do all the other obligations of Islam during Ramadan and by the will of Allah he will taste the sweetness of the prayers and of the obedience to Allah. Indeed, when a person sincerely repents to Allah, Allah will forgive his sins. Allah says: "And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes and does righteous deeds, and then remains constant in doing them." (Al-Qur'an 20:82)

Question: What is the ruling concerning a person who keeps eating and drinking after hearing the Athan (call for prayer) of Fajr in Ramadan?

Answer: A believer should abstain from any of the things that break the fast, including food and drink, when hearing the Athan of Fajr, whether fasting is obligatory in Ramadan or for Nather (when a person makes a promise to Allah to fast for some days if a certain thing occurs) or Kaffarah (atonement). Allah says: "And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread, then complete your fast till the nightfall." (Al-Qur'an 2:187)

So when a person hears the Athan of Fajr, if he knows that the Mu'athen (person making Athan) makes Athan of Fajr prior to the exact time of Fajr, then none can still eat and drink until he is sure that the exact time of Fajr has started. If one is not sure, then he should better be on the safe side and stop eating and drinking. Alhasan ibn Ali said: "I memorised from the Messenger of Allah, salla Allah­u­alaihe wa sallam: Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt." Hadith Hasan Sahih by Tirmithi.

Question: What is the Islamic ruling in the matter of rinsing the mouth while a person is fasting, and does this action break the fast?

Answer: If a person rinses his mouth with water while performing ablution or while brushing his teeth and some drops of water reach his stomach unintentionally, his fast is not broken. However, a person should be careful in avoiding such a thing especially when there are some people who exaggerate in rinsing their mouth.

Also, it is worth noting that the usage of a tooth­brush or a tooth­stick (Miswak) does not break the fast. The Prophet, salla Allah­u alaihe wa sallam, used his Miswak to brush his teeth while fasting. If some blood comes from the teeth while brushing, then one should rinse it with water and this will still not break his fast. However, tooth paste should be avoided because part of it may easily reach the stomach.

Question: What is the ruling concerning a fasting person who eats or drinks forgetting that he is fasting or due to a mistake; or one who takes an injection through the skin because he is sick?

Answer: In such cases, a person's fast is not broken. The reason is that he did not intentionally mean to eat or drink but he did it due to forgetfulness or due to a mistake (eg if he thought that dawn "Fajr" has not come). Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, sallah Allah­u­alaihe wa sallam, said "Whoever forgets he is fasting and eats or drinks, he is to complete his fast, as it was Allah who fed him and gave him something to drink." This shows how merciful the Almighty Allah is to his servants and that Allah will never hold anyone for what is committed due to forgetfulness. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet, salla Allah­u alaihe wa sallam, said: "Allah will not hold anyone of this nation responsible for what is done in error, forgetfulness or under coercion." This Hadith is related by Ibn Majah, At­Tabarani and Al­Hakim.

For a sick person who is required to take a medicine via an injection under the skin (e g penicillin), such a person is not considered to have broken his fast and he does not need to refast "make up." However, if the injection contains nourishment, then it would break the fast. The reason is that the purpose of this type of injection is to nourish the body by food and hence it is considered as an act of drinking or eating except that instead of passing through the mouth the food will pass into the body through the vein. Allah knows most. (From The Friday Report)