Ramadan
Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of fasting is to develop the quality of righteousness (taqwa) by abstaining from sinful deeds and by also training ourselves to control our desires.
Allah said: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous. (Qur’an, 2:183)

Fasting is not obligatory on children until they reach the age of adolescence, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The pens have been lifted from three: and he included a child until he reaches the age of adolescence.” Narrated by Abu Dawood,

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said that a child may be told to fast if he is able to do it, so that he may get used to it and it will be easier for him after he reaches puberty. The Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) – who are the best of this ummah – used to make their children fast when they were young.

The kind of sicknesses in which it is permitted to break the fast are the following.

• Intense sickness which will be made worse by fasting
• Fear that recovery will be delayed by fasting
• Fasting will cause intense hardship, even if it does not make the sickness worse or delay recovery.
• The scholars also included those who fear that they may become sick because of fasting.

1. She is strong and active, and fasting does not cause any hardship to her or affect her baby. This woman is obliged to fast because she has no excuse for not fasting. 
2. She is unable to fast because her pregnancy is difficult for her, she is physically weak, or for some other reason. In this case she can break the fast, especially if it will cause harm to her baby – in which case she should break her fast. 

1. Just like the pregnant woman, the same two scenarios apply for the breastfeeding woman:

    

   1. If the woman is not affected by fasting, and fasting is not too difficult for her, and she does not fear for her child, then she is obliged to fast, and it is not permissible for her not to fast. 
   2. If the woman fears for herself or her child because of fasting and fasting is difficult for her, then she doesn’t have to fast, but she must make up the days that she does not fast. 

Allah says, “and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”.

[al-Baqarah 2:185]

If the sickness is permanent and there is no hope of recovery, then you must feed one poor person for each day that you did not fast.

Fasting whilst travelling may fall into three categories: 

1 – If fasting does not cause hardship, then it is preferable to fast. 

2 – If fasting causes hardship, then it is better to break one’s fast. 

3 – If a person will be harmed by fasting or there is the fear that he may die, then fasting becomes haram and he must break his fast. 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever vomits involuntarily does not have to make up the fast, but whoever vomits deliberately let him make up the fast.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi

The ruling depends on whether it was done deliberately or not. If a person vomits deliberately, this breaks the fast and he must make up that day. If he cannot help vomiting, and vomits involuntarily, then his fast is still valid and he does not have to do anything else. 

The prophet (peace be upon him) said “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.” Narrated by al-Bukhari. There is no specific food you must eat for suhoor; it can be anything. However, the prophet preferred to eat dates for his suhoor and encouraged drinking water. It is encouraged to delay suhoor near the time of Fajr. The time for suhoor ends as soon as the time for fajr begins.

It is permissible for a fasting person to take medicine by injection, whether intramuscular or intravenous during the day in Ramadan, but it is not permissible for the fasting person to be given an injection for nourishment purposes during the day in Ramadan, because that comes under the ruling of eating and drinking.

It was narrated in an authentic report from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that Allah said, “I have done that.” And it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for the One Who fed him and gave him to drink was Allah.” (Agreed upon). 

Those who fast but don’t pray, need to ask themselves why they are fasting. If it is just a custom more easily done than prayer, since it is only for one month per year while prayer is every day of the year, it will be thrown back in your face on the Day of Judgment. It is better you pray rather than just fast, as it will be the first thing that we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment.

It is permissible for a man to be intimate with his wife when he is fasting, so long as no intercourse or ejaculation takes place. 

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to kiss and be intimate when fasting, and he was the most able of you to control his desire.” 

Deliberately breaking your fast is a major sin. Whoever breaks his fast on any day in Ramadan, with no legitimate excuse, has committed a grave sin. Whoever repents, Allah will accept his repentance, so he must repent to Allah sincerely, by regretting what he has done in the past and resolving not to repeat it, and must also hasten to make up the day that he did not fast.