Sawm: Fasting General Rules It is appropriate now to explain some rules of fasting, and append to them the specific questions and answers concerning this important Islamic ritual. 1.Among the acts that invalidate fasting is intentionallyeating and drinking. So, if a person who is fasting eats or drinks by mistake (e.g., he forgot that he was fasting) and not intentionally, his fasting is in order and there is no penalty upon him. 2.Among the acts that invalidate fasting of Ramdhãn is intentionally staying in a state ofjanãbatuntil thebeginning of true dawn.So if such a person intentionally remains in that state without performing major ablution(ghusl)until the beginning of the true dawn in the month of Ramadhan, then it is obligatory upon him to refrain from the forbidden things for the remaining of the day. (As a matter of obligatory precaution one should abstain with the intention of “ma fidh dhimma—what is expected of him”.) They should also make up this fast some other day [after Ramadhan] with theintention of “ma fidh dhimma” and also incur the penalty, based on obligatory precaution.If a person is sick and cannot performghuslbecause of his sickness, he should dotayammumbefore true dawn; thereafter, they will be considered to be in a state of ritual purity. Thus, they will be able to fast. 3.Among the acts that invalidate fasting in the month of Ramadhãn is for a woman to remain until true dawn in a state of ritual impurity caused by menstruation(hayz)or post-natal bleeding(nifãs)after it had stopped and while it was possible for her to do major ablution(ghusl). So if she stays withoutghusltill the beginning of true dawn, her situation will be the same as that of the person injanãbatas mentioned above. If performingghuslwas not possible for her, she should take totayammum. 4.It is preferable for the fasting personnot to swallowphlegmthat has reached the mouth, although it is permissible for him to swallow it. Similarly, it is permissible for him to swallow thesalivathat has gathered in the mouth, even in large quantities. 5.Discharge ofsemenduring daytime does not invalidate the fast; and the person should performghuslforjanãbatfor hissalãt. So discharge of semen [during daytime] does not invalidate fasting. 6.Washing the teeth withbrush and toothpastedoes not invalidate the fast as long as the person does not swallow the saliva that has mixed with the toothpaste. However, the lingering flavour or taste of the paste that mixes with the saliva does not affect the fasting. 7.If a Muslim lives in a city that has daylight for six months and night for six months [e.g., thenorthern part of Europe or Canada], it is obligatory for him to move during the month of Ramadhãn to a city with ‘normal’ day and night so that he can start fasting, if not, he should move after that month to fast asqadhã(making up the missed fast).However, if it is not possible for him to move, then he has to pay compensation(fidya)instead of fasting; that means giving 750 grams of food [rice or flour] to a poor person per day. 8.If a Muslim lives in a city where daylight in some seasons is for 23 hours and the night is only for one hour or vice versa, it is still obligatory on him to fast, if he has the ability to do so.But if he is not able to fast, the obligation is forfieted. If it is possible for him to doqadhãlater on [e.g., in other seasons or] by moving to another city, it is wãjib for him to do theqadhã. If he is unable even to do theqadhã, it is obligatory on him to payfidyain lieu of fasting.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 10:30:52 +0000