Fiqh of Fasting

By Shaykh Omar Subedar

Definition of Fasting

Fasting (saum) is technically defined as ‘to refrain from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset with an intention.’

Who is obliged to fast during Ramaźhän?

The Ramaźhän fasts are obligatory on every Muslim who is sane, mature and is aware of its obligation. Allah says;

• O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. [2:183] 
• So whoever sights [the first moon of] the month, he must keep its fast. [2:185]

A person is not obliged to fast during Ramaźhän if he is ill or travelling. He shall make up for the missed fasts at a later date. Allah says, “So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up].” [2:184]

• It is recommended for a traveller (i.e. one who is undertaking a journey of more than 77 km and does not intend to stay at a particular destination for more than 14 days) to fast provided fasting will not have a negative impact his health while he’s travelling.
• A pregnant women and a nursing woman are excused from fasting if they fear that fasting will have a negative impact on their health or their child’s health.
• People who are extremely elderly and frail and do not possess the strength to fast along with people with chronic ailments that prevent them from fasting will give a fidya (ransom) of 1.6kg of wheat or 3.2kg of barley to a poor person or pay its value in cash per fast. No one can fast on behalf of another person.
• Children should be encouraged to fast but not forced.

Prerequisites for Ramaźhän fasts

1. To make the intention to fast. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Deeds are solely dependent on intentions.” [Bukhäri; 1]

• If a person abstains from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse throughout the day yet he does not make the intention to fast, he will not be considered a fasting person.
• When making an intention one is not required to verbally express it rather making it in the heart is more than sufficient.
• The intention for fasting should be made the night before. If however one fails to do it he has up to midday to make it.

2. To be free from menses or postpartum bleeding.

• Being pure from the state of major ritual impurity is not a prerequisite for fasting.

3. To be free from things that would nullify the fast.

 Recommended activities for fasting

1. To have the pre dawn meal (suhoor). The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Have the pre dawn meal, for verily there are blessings in the pre dawn meal.” [Abu Däwōd: 2359]
2. To delay the pre dawn meal until shortly before dawn.
3. To be haste in breaking the fast immediately after sunset. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Three things are amongst the attributes of the Messengers;

                                I.            To break the fast immediately (after sunset)

                              II.            To delay the pre dawn meal

                           III.            To place the right hand over the left hand during the prayer. [Ţabränë]

4. To occupy ones time in worship (ìbäda)

Disliked actions when fasting

1. To chew on something
2. To taste something for no reason
3. To collect saliva in ones mouth and then swallow it in order to quench ones thirst
4. To engage in any sexual activity that would lead one to engaging in sexual intercourse. If however a person is confident that such activities will not take him to that extreme then it is permissible.
5. To engage in sinful acts such as backbiting, slandering, quarrelling etc.
6. To do something that would weaken one from fasting such as cupping, giving blood etc.

Things that break the fast due to which a person is obliged to make up the fast and give expiation (kaffära)

1. To deliberately break the fast by eating, drinking or engaging in sexual intercourse for no acceptable reason.
2. To in take medication
3. To swallow the saliva of one`s spouse

A person will be excused from the expiation (kaffära) if he becomes severely ill on the very day he broke his fast or a woman gets her menses on the very day or gives birth to a child on the same day and begins to experience post partum bleeding.

If however a person embarks on a journey on the same day he deliberately broke his fast he shall not be excused from the expiation (kaffära). 

The expiation (kaffära) is;

• To fast for 60 days consecutively. If a person is unable to do this, he may;
• Feed 60 people 2 meals
• Feed one poor person two meals a day for 60 days
• Give 60 poor people 1.6kg of wheat or its equal value in cash 
• Give one poor person 1.6kg of wheat or its equal value in cash every day for 60 days

Things that break the fast due to which a person must simply make up for the broken fast

1. To eat something that is not considered food ex. paper, dough, flour etc.
2. To be forced to eat, drink or have sexual intercourse.
3. Taking an enema or inserting medicinal drops into the nostrils.
4. Putting eardrops in the ear.
5. To accidently swallow water when rinsing the mouth.
6. To deliberately vomit a mouthful, or to swallow vomit after vomiting a mouthful or less than a mouthful unintentionally.
7. To eat or drink deliberately after eating or drinking accidently thinking that the fast was broken by eating or drinking accidently
8. To have sexual intercourse intentionally after having it accidently thinking that the fast was broken by doing it accidently.
9. To engage in other forms of sexual activity that result in ejaculation.
10. To smoke or to inhale second hand smoke.
11. To break the fast due to intense hunger or thirst.
12. To eat something stuck between ones teeth that is the size of a chickpea or larger.
13. To break the fast before sunset while assuming the sun has set.

Things that do not break the fast

1. To eat, drink or have sexual intercourse forgetfully.
2. Having a wet dream.
3. To vomit unintentionally or vomit less than a mouth full deliberately.
4. To gather saliva in the mouth and swallow it.
5. To take an injection or give a blood test
6. Applying surma (kohl) to the eyes.
7. Applying oil to the body or hair.
8. Having water enter the ear holes while taking a bath or shower.
9. Cleaning the ears out with a Q-Tip
10.  To swallow something stuck between the teeth that is smaller than a chickpea.