About the Madrassah

About the Madrasah
Information & Guide
This Year's Report
Staff
Picture Gallery

Library

Islam & Religion
Aqeedah [Beliefs]
Deviated Belief
General
History & Biography
Adaab [Character]
Death & Inheritance
Family Affairs
New Muslims Stories
Salaat & the Musjid
Zakaat & Charity
Ramadan & Fasting
Hajj & Qurbani
Business
Rasulullah [s.a.w]
Health & Medicine
Du'aa / Supplications

Darul Hadith

Articles
Q & A
Weekly Hadith
Adopt a Sunnah

Darul Iftaa

Business Masaail
Death and Inheritance

Adaab

Aqeedah [Beliefs]
Salaat [prayer]
Zakaat & Charity
Family
General

Social Department

Q & A

Other Links

Jumu'ah Guidelines
Miscellaneous Articles
Al-In'aam Newsletter
Bookstore
Recommended Websites
 

Rules for Ramadan
by Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (r.a)
Translated by Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abassoomar

 

Questions and Answers

1) In Saudi Arabia, if Ramadān commences one or two days before South Africa..?

Q. In Saudi Arabia, if Ramadān commences one or two days before South Africa, a person who commences his Ramadān in S.A. and spends ‘Eidin Saudi Arabia would fast only 28/29 days. Similarly, if a person commences his Ramadān in Saudi Arabia and upon returning to S.A. before Eid, if the moon is not sighted after the 29th fast, he would have fasted 31 days. What must be done in such situations?

 A. In the first situation, if Ramadān commenced in Saudi Arabiatwo days before South Africa, the person should make Eid with the people in Saudi Arabia and later make-up for one fast. In the second situation, he must keep the 31st fast and make Eid with the people in South Africa. (Ahsanul Fatāwa vol.4 pg.433)

And Allāh Ta’ala Knows Best.
Muftī Ebrahim Desai

2) One of my friends has a problem with his kidneys

Q. One of my friends has a problem with his kidneys. He only has one kidney. This means he has to drink lots of water, does he still have to keep the fasts during Ramadān?

A. This depends on the seriousness of your friend’s condition. If it is possible for him to fast without adversely affecting his health, then he should fast. However, if fasting will aggravate his condition and there is fear of his condition deteriorating, then he should not fast. He will compulsorily be obliged to make qadāof the missed fasts. It will be advisable for him to wait until such a time of the year when the days are short, thus, facilitating easiness in keeping the qadā. However, if this is also not possible and he has no hope of recovering his health, then he should pay the Fidyah for every missed fast.
(Tahtawi, pg.564)
Muftī Ebrahim Desai

3) I am diabetic ..

Q. I am diabeticand thinking about becoming a Muslim. I am prone to fainting. Can I take bloodtests to monitor my sugar during Ramadān?

A. Shari’ah (laws of Islam) are balanced and have taken into consideration different circumstances.

If a person is ill to such an extent that he will faint due to fasting, then he will be excused
from fasting. Such a person may give Fidyah(compensation) for not fasting. However, taking blood tests during fasting is permissible and that does not invalidate the fast.
(Ahsanul Fatawa, vol.4 pg.435)

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

4) Chewing gum breaks the fast

Q. Does chewing gum breakthe fast?

A. If chewing gum gives out a juice, then that will breakthe fast.
(Tahtawi, pg.559)

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

5) The procedure of Ghusl Janaabah while fasting  

Q. During Fast,If it is necessary to take Ghusal-e-Janabat then what will be the method because we cannot gargle during the fast. I have heard that gargling is a must in ghusl-e-janabat?

A. You are permitted to rinse the mouth whilst fasting. However, extra care should be taken to ensure that the water does not reach the throat.

Rinsing the mouth lightly is sufficient for Ghusl.

(Tahtawi, pg.56)
 

6) The use of toothpaste

Q. Is it permissible to brush your teeth with toothpastewhile fasting during Ramadān?

A. One should not use a toothbrush and toothpaste during the fast. One should rather use a Miswāk. However, if somebody did use toothpaste, but nothing went down the throat, the fast is not broken. However, it should not be done in future.[1]

Moulana Imrān Vawda

7) Why is brushing with toothpastenot allowed?

Q. I was wondering if brushing with a miswāk is allowed (which has a taste to it), why isn’t brushing with toothpaste allowed?

A. It is permissible use a miswākwhile fasting. To use toothpastein the state of fasting is Makrūh (disliked). The minimum taste in the miswāk is unlike the strong taste in the paste. Furthermore the paste is a solid substance and liquidifies more in the mouth thereby having the potential of going down the throat.

(Ahsanul Fatawa, vol.4 pg.439)
Muftī E. Desai

8) Is it permissible for me to use the inhalerduring fasting?

Q. I am an asthmapatient. Is it permissible for me to use the inhaler during fasting? The inhaler contains salbutamol (liquid medication). If it is not permissible, what should I do when I get an asthma attack during fasting?

A. Since the inhaler contains a medication(salbutamol), the use of it in the state of fasting will invalidate the fast. We advise you take medication at the time of Sehrī to avoid an asthmaattack. However, should you get the attack during fasting, if there is no adequate alternative which does not breakthe fast, you may use the inhaler and make-up for that fast later (make Qadā).

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

9) Nose bleeding

Q. Sometimes little bloodcomes out from my nose. Will this breakmy fast?

A. Bleeding from the nose does not invalidate the fast.

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

10) Applying of lipstick

Q. Will the applying of lipstick break the fast? Please specify which types of make up do so.

A. Lipstick and make up do not breakthe fast. However, you should consider two issues:
a) Many of these products contain Harām and impure ingredients. In such a case, it will not be permissible to use such a make up.
b) Many such products prevent water from reaching the skin. In such a case the Wudū or Ghusl performed with such make up will not be valid.

Nevertheless, the fast is not broken.
(Ahsanul Fatawa, vol.4 pg.434)
Moulana Imrān Vawda

11) Applying lip balm or Vaseline

Q. Are you allowed to put anything on your lips during fasting, such as lip balm or Vaseline to prevent burning?

A. It is permissible to use a lip balm in the state of fasting.

Muftī E. Desai

12) Experiencing Menses for the first time in Ramadan

Q. If a girl starts her period for the first time in Ramadān, what should she do?

A. The Fuqaha have cited the following explanation for the above masalah.
A girl who attains puberty (during the day of the days of Ramadān) now becomes eligible for fasting. Since her condition of menses
will not permit her to keep her fast, she should at least act like a fasting person. Similar would be the case of a mature woman who experiences her menses whilst fasting. i.e. she would act like a fasting person.

A woman who has her menses prior to the fasting day commencing is not eligible in Shari’ah to fast. Therefore, Shari’ah does not instruct her to act like a fasting person. (Hidayah Vol.1 Pg.225)

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

13) Menstruation while fasting

Q. If a female starts menstruating while fasting, how should she conduct herself? What if she stops menstruating during fasting?

A. If her mensescommenced while fasting, she can eat (not in public). If her menses stopped while fasting, she should abstain from eating, drinking, etc. but (in both instances) make up for the day by keeping a Qadāfast after Ramadān. (Ālamgiri vol.1 pg.214; Rashidiyyah)

14) Gynecology examination

 Q. Will a gynecology examinvolving a vaginal ultrasound breakmy fast during Ramadan?

A. The infertility testing through vaginal ultra sound does not invalidate the fast.[2]

Muftī
Ebrahim Desai

15) Water entering the vagina whilst fasting

Q. Can water enter the vagina whilst fasting?

A.  Water entering the vagina nullifies the fast. (Hāshiyah Tahtāwi p.g 557)
Muftī Ebrahim Desai

16) Contraceptives in Ramadan

Q. If a woman is on a contraceptive, can she continue to use it so as not to miss fasts in Ramadān?

A. If an unmarried female is on a contraceptive for medical reasons, she may continue its use as that will be of dual benefit to her, medical as well as
to be able to fast. If she does not have to take it for medical reasons then it is advisable for her not to do so as that is disturbing the natural cycle which may have health implications.

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

17) Tarāwīh in sets of 2 or 4?

Q. Can Tarāwīh be prayed in sets of 4 instead of 2?

A. Tarāwīh salāh must be performed in units of two rak’āts and not four rak’āts.

Muftī E. Desai

18) Tarāwīh while reciting from the Qurān

Q. Is Tarāwīh valid if the  Imām recites from the Qurānin his hand?

A. According to the Hanafi Madhab, it is not permissible to look into the Qur’ān and recite in Salāh. (Ahsanul Fatāwā part2 pg.445)

Muftī Ebrahim Desai

19) No kaffārah for breaking a qadāfast

Q. If one breaks a qadāfast, is there kaffārah for breaking that fast?

A. There is no Kaffārah for breaking a Qadāfast. Kaffārah is only for breaking a fast in Ramadān without a reason acceptable in Shari’ah.

 Muftī Ebrahim Desai

 20) No kaffārah for breaking nafl fasts

Q. Does one have to do kaffārah for nafl fasts if,
a) the fast was broken for no reason,
b) it was broken with a valid reason i.e. being sick?

A. In both instances (a and b), only Qadāand no Kaffārah is necessary. (Tahtāwi pg.377)

And Allāh Ta'ala Knows Best
Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulānā Harūn Abasoomar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADĪTH

CHECKED AND APPROVED:

 Muftī Ebrahim Desai

21) Unnecessarily breaking nafl fasts

Q.  Sometimes when I am keeping a nafl fast like the fast of Shawwal and someone offers me food early in the day, I break the fast and keep it later. Is this bad?

A. This act should be refrained from as it is Makrūh to do so. (Shāmi vol.2 pg.328 - 329). Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah t reports that Rasulullah r said, ‘When any of you are invited (for meals) he should attend. If he is not fasting he should partake of the meals and if he is fasting he should make du’āfor that person.’ (Sahih Muslim)

Moulānā Muhammad ibn Moulānā Hārūn Abasoomar

[1] See pg.14

[2] On condition there is no insertion of any object into the vagina.

Sayyidunā Abū Ayyūb al-Ansāri t reports that Rasūlullāh r said:

"Whoever observes the fast of Ramadān and thereafter follows it up with six fasts in Sahawwāl , it would be as if he fasted throughout the year"

 (Sahīh Muslim, hadīth:2750 )

N.B. These fasts could be observed collectively or individually.

(Tahtawi, pg.640)

 

Forward

Factors that invalidate the fast

Factors that make the fast Makruh but do not nullify it

Those factors that neither nullify the fast nor do they render it makruh

Factors that excuse a person from fasting in the month of Ramadan

The Qadā (Missed) Fasts

Sehri (Early morning meal)

Iftar (Meal after fasting)

Tarāwīh

I’tikāf

Laylatul Qadr

The method of performing ‘Eidsalāh

Questions and Answers