Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī: “Know that a believer combines himself in the month of Ramaḍān between 2 Jihād (against) his Nafs; Jihād in the day upon fasting and Jihād in the night upon Qiyām (voluntary prayer) so whoever gathers between these 2 Jihād and fulfills (what) is of their rights, will be sufficed with a reward which is without any account (i.e unlimited).”
‎
‎● [لطائف المعارف ص ١٧١]

Fasting in Ramaḍān Whilst Leaving Off the Prayers | Sh. Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn Raḥimahullāh

[Q]: What is the ruling on one who fasts in Ramaḍān while leaving off the prayers?

[A]: The one who fasts while leaving off the prayers, then his fasting will not benefit him. It will not be accepted from him and he has not removed the obligation [of fasting] from himself [i.e. his fasting will not be counted]. Rather, he is not requested to fast as long as he leaves off the prayers because the one who does not establish the prayers is like the Jew or Christian, what if a Jew or Christian fasted, will it be accepted from them? It will not!

So we say to this individual: Repent to Allāh, establish the prayers and fast. Indeed Allāh accepts the repentance of the repentant one.

● [فتاوى في الصيام، الكتاب: ٤٨]

A Series of Reminders About The Month of Ramaḍān - No.22

What Is Obligatory Upon The Pregnant Or Breastfeeding Woman Regarding The Fast

Sh. Ibn Bāz رحمه الله stated: "Fasting is obligatory upon the pregnant and nursing woman unless it is difficult for them to do so, and it is legislated for them to beak the fast. Also, it is incumbent upon them to make up the fast they broke, just like the sick person or traveller.

A group of scholars from the Salaf were of the position that they feed a poor person and not make up the fast, just like the elderly man or woman. However, what is correct is that they are like the temporarily sick individual and traveller who break their fast and then make it up. It has been authentically narrated from the Prophet ﷺ from the hadīth of Anas Ibn Mālik what proves that they are akin to the temporarily sick or travelling person."

This hadīth referred to was narrated by Abū Dāwud (2408), al-Tirmidhī (715), al-Nasā'ī (2315) and Ibn Mājah (1667) with the wording: "Verily, Allāh has removed half of the prayer and fasting from the traveller, and fasting from the pregnant woman and nursing woman."

● [الاختيارات الفقهية ص ٢٢٢]

The Penalty for Having Sexual Intercourse During the Day in Ramaḍān | Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī Raḥimahullāh

[Q]: Six years ago, a man had intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramaḍān and hasn't paid the penalty; therefore, what is upon him now?

[A]: His situation must be investigated. It is not permissible to procrastinate the penalty; rather, it is mandatory upon him to pay it. If it were that he was incapable of fasting two months consecutively, then he must resort to feeding people. As for if he was capable, it is then compulsory upon him to fast.

● [فتاوى الصيام للشيخ أحمد بن يحيى النجمي ص ٦٠]

The Penalty for the Sick Person Who Is Unable to Fast | Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī Raḥimahullāh

[Q]: There is a sick person who hasn't fasted for two years; thus, should someone fast on his behalf or should people be fed on his behalf?

[A]: People should be fed on his behalf.

● [فتاوى الصيام للشيخ أحمد بن يحيى النجمي ص ٦٠]

Translation: Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without measure.

Commentary: The patient ones are those who fast.

● [تفسير القرطبي ٣٩:١٠]

Q. Does the blood which comes out from between the teeth by mistake break ones fast or not? And if it was due to other than the individual himself – meaning from another person who hits him by mistake?

Answer:

The scholars of the Lajnah ad-Daa-imah said:

❝The blood that comes out from between the teeth does not break the fast, whether it comes out by itself or due to a person’s having struck it.❞

● [Fataawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Daa-imah, (10/267)]

A Series of Reminders About The Month of Ramaḍān - No.23

Taking Account Of Ourselves In Ramaḍān

Sh. Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله إيمانه said: "We should take account of ourselves over the last ten days that have passed. How did we spend it? Did we preserve them by being obedient of Allāh? And did we benefit from them?

Thus, whoever was proficient [in maximising his benefits] during them and preserved them, upon him is to increase [his efforts] and to complete the remainder or the month [in the same manner that he started it]. And whoever fell short and was lazy during them, upon him is to make tawbah and go capitalise on whatever remains from this month before he misses out on all of it and he does not acquire anything."

● [مجالس شهر رمضان المبارك ص ٤٦]

Eating Something Out Of Forgetfulness

Sh. Ibn al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله: “If the fasting person eats out of forgetfulness then indeed his fast is VALID, this (ruling) is same be it Ramaḍān or outside it for Allāh says: ‘Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error..’ • [al-Qur’ān 2:286].”

● [فتاوى نور على الدرب ٣٢٤]

Worship May Be Difficult In Long Days Of Fasting & Requires Patience, So Learn To Be Patient This Ramaḍān ⁩

Prophet ﷺ stated in the Hadith collected by Muslim [223]:

"...Prayer is light, and Charity is a proof and Patience is illumination..."

Sh. Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله إيمانه mentioned: "The obligatory and supererogatory prayer are light in the face, hence you find darkness in the face of those who are negligent of the prayer, as for those who guard their prayers then you find light and illumination in their faces.

Giving in charity is a proof upon the truthfulness of a person's Eemaan, since no-one will be generous with their wealth except a believer.

Patience is illumination, and it is 3 types:

1. Patience Upon Obedience to Allah.

It is binding upon the servant to persist upon worship even if it is difficult upon him, since worship is not easy. It requires patience. The one who prayers 5 times every day and the night prayer requires patience. As for the one without this type of patience he will not end up continuing with worship.

2. Patience in Staying Away from Ḥarām.

No doubt desires and the ḥarām are desired by the individual, however a servant remains patient and refrains from them and does not be misled by the great numbers of people who are following those desires and performing the ḥarām.

3. Patience upon Difficulties of the Decree.

A believer remains patient if difficultly overcomes him in his wealth, or in his own self (health etc..), or in his family or relatives. He does not become upset and depressed, rather he is content and patient upon the decree of Allāh."

● [المنحة الربانية ص ١٩٢/١٩١]

The Validity of the Fast of the One Who only Prays in Ramaḍān | Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī Raḥimahullāh

[Q]: What is the ruling on the fast of a man who only prays in Ramaḍān?

[A]: It is as though he did not pray and fast.

● [فتاوى الصيام للشيخ أحمد بن يحيى النجمي ص ٤٧]

A Series of Reminders About The Month of Ramaḍān - No.24

The Purpose Of Fasting

Sh. 'Alī Ibn Yaḥyā al-Ḥaddādī حفظه الله إيمانه said: "The purpose of it is not torture by deprivation of food and drink, for Allāh is not in need of us and our worship. Rather, it's purpose is the nurturing of [one's self] upon taqwā, to the point that the fasting person acquires what Allāh has promised the God-fearing from the pleasures of this world and the next."

● [استقبال شهر رمضان]

Upon the authority of Abu Hurairah [رضي الله عنه] who said:

❝Dates are a blessed form of Sahoor for the believer.❞

[Collected By Abu Daawood, (No. 2345) | Sh. Al-Albani: ‘Saheeh’]

A Series of Reminders About The Month of Ramaḍān - No.25

The One Who Openly Engages In Things That Nullify The Fast Is To Be Censured

Sh. Ibn Bāz رحمه الله stated: "Whoever sees a Muslim drinking or eating during the day Ramaḍān, or engaging something else that breaks the fast due to forgetfulness or intentionally, it is obligatory to censure/reproach this individual."

He also stated: "The traveller is not permitted to outwardly engage in things that nullify the fast amongst residents who do not know his circumstance. Rather, what is obligatory upon him is to conceal this so that he is not accused of consuming what Allāh has prohibited him from and that he does not encourage someone else to do so."

● [الاختيارات الفقهية ص ٢٢٧]

The Ruling on the Fasting Person Kissing in Ramaḍān | Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī Raḥimahullāh

[Q]: What is the ruling on the fasting person kissing in Ramaḍān?

[A]: Certainly, I have dealt with this issue, and I said that there is no problem with this if the kiss is from an elderly man whose desires are weak and a kiss doesn’t stir it up. [Likewise,] there is no problem with this in the case where there occurs [from him] something from desires since it is very minimal. However, the youth whose desires are stirred up by a kiss, it may be that this kiss leads to something further; hence, it is obligatory upon him to not do it.

● [فتاوى الصيام للشيخ أحمد بن يحيى النجمي ص ٣٦]

Prophet ﷺ said: "There is a gate in Jannāh called ar-Rayyān and only those who observed fast shall enter through."

● [صحيح البخاري ١٨٩٦]

A Series of Reminders About The Month of Ramaḍān - No.26

Ifṭār Entails The Consumption Of Something Light

Shaykh Muḥammad Amān al-Jāmī رحمه الله stated: "It is also observed that many people have dinner [immediately] after the [Maghrib] adhān and they do not suffice with having fresh dates and water for Ifṭār. Rather, they have dinner, which leads to the delaying of the Maghrib prayer.

It is necessary that Ifṭār entails the consumption of whatever is possible from fresh or dried dates or a sip of water, followed by the prayer, then dinner.

● [التعليق على زاد المعاد]

Al Bassaam رحمه الله said: "Fasting increases mercy and people AWARE of the pain suffered by those less fortunate."

● [‎تيسير اللام ٣١٣/١]

Prophet ﷺ said: "Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance.

● [صحيح مسلم ١١٥٣]

Understand The Importance Of The Tarāweeḥ Prayer

Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever prays during Ramadan with Eeman and seeking reward (from Allāh) his past sins will be forgiven."

Shaykh Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ al-'Uthaymīn رحمه الله mentioned: "O Muslims! Indeed the Tarāweeḥ prayer is a worship and not just (robotic-type) movements and actions that the person doesn't know what he's saying or doing. The point is worshipping Allāh, not enumeration of the Raka'at (counting them down).

Consider the example of the Prophet ﷺ in his usual night prayer, 'Āisha رضي الله عنها reported that the Prophet ﷺ would stand in prayer at night until his feet would become swollen.

So I said to him: "Why do you do this O Messenger of Allāh and Allāh has already drove in your past and future sins?"

He said: "Should I not be a grateful servant?"

● [صحيح البخاري ١١٣٠، صحيح مسلم ٢٨٢٠]

Shaykh Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ al-'Uthaymīn رحمه الله said: "So the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes pray the majority of the night, and sometimes half the night, and sometimes a third of the night.

We can say that He ﷺ would stand in prayer 7 hours approximately (since that is just under 2/thirds based upon a 12 hour night, and he would sometimes pray for under 2/3 of the night.

● [شرح رياض الصالحين ٧٠/٢]