He travelled during Ramadaan to a country where the people started Ramadaan on a different day If I started fasting in my country then travelled to another country where they started fasting one day after us. Shall I continue with the Muslims there and fast the 31st day?. Praise be to Allaah. What matters when a person started fasting in one country and finished fasting in a country to which he travelled, is that if the total number of days that he fasted was twenty-eight, then he must make up one day, because the lunar month cannot be less than 29 days. If he has already fasted thirty days but the people in the country to which he has travelled still have one more day to fast, for example, then he must fast with them so that he may break the fast with them on the day of Eid, and offer the Eid prayer with them. They work in difficult jobs such as smelting metals What is the ruling of Islamic sharee’ah on the situation of workers who work in exhausting jobs, especially in the summer months. I can give you an example of those who work with furnaces for smelting metals. Is it permissible for them not to fast in Ramadaan?. Praise be to Allaah. One of the basic facts of Islam, which no Muslim has any excuse for not knowing, is that fasting the month of Ramadaan is obligatory upon each person who is accountable, and it is one of the pillars of Islam. So every person who is accountable must strive to fast it in order to fulfil the obligation that Allaah has enjoined upon him, hoping for His reward and fearing His punishment, without forgetting permissible earnings in this world and without preferring this world to the Hereafter. If there is a conflict between doing the acts of worship enjoined by Allaah and working to earn a living in this world, then he must strike a balance between them so that he will be able to do both. In the example mentioned in the question, he should make the night his time for working to earn his living in this world, and if that is not possible then he should take a leave of absence from his work during Ramadaan, even if that is without pay. If that is not possible then he should look for other work where he will be able to fulfil both duties. His worldly interests should not affect his Hereafter interests. There are lots of jobs and the ways of earning a living are not limited to this kind of difficult work. By Allaah’s Leave, the Muslim will never want for permissible ways of earning a living which will allow him also to do the acts of worship enjoined upon him by Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things” [al-Talaaq 65:2-3] If we assume that he cannot find any work other than that mentioned, which causes him hardship, then he should flee for the sake of his religion from that land to another land where it will be easy for him to fulfil both his religious and worldly duties, and where he can cooperate with other Muslims in righteousness and piety, for the earth of Allaah is spacious. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “He who emigrates (from his home) in the Cause of Allaah, will find on earth many dwelling places and plenty to live by” [al-Nisa’ 4:100] “Say (O Muhammad): O My slaves who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism), be afraid of your Lord (Allaah) and keep your duty to Him. Good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world, and Allaah’s earth is spacious (so if you cannot worship Allaah at a place, then go to another)! Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning” [al-Zumar 39:10] But if he cannot manage to do any of these things and he is forced to do the kind of difficult work mentioned in the question, then he should fast until he feels that he cannot bear to continue fasting, and then eat and drink enough to keep him going, then he should refrain from eating and drinking. And he has to make up the missed fasts on days when it is easy to fast. And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. Who is the person of good character whose statement about sighting the moon may be accepted? I read that in order to prove that the new moon of Ramadaan has been sighted, it is sufficient for one trustworthy person of good character to see it. The question is: who is that person of good character? Praise be to Allaah. In Arabic, the word ‘adl (translated here as person of good character) means upright or straight; its opposite is crooked. In sharee’ah terminology it means the one who fulfils the obligatory duties and does not commit major sins, or persist in committing minor sins. What is meant by fulfilling obligatory duties is things like the five daily prayers. And he does not commit major sins such as spreading malicious gossip and backbiting. As well as being of good character, he must also have strong eyesight, so that his claims may be believed. If he has weak eyesight then his testimony cannot be accepted even if he is of good character, because if he gives testimony even though his eyesight is weak, then he is deluded. The evidence for that is the fact that Allaah has made strength and trustworthiness among the reasons for offering employment to a person. In the story of Moosa and Shu’ayb, one of Shu’ayb’s two daughters said: “O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy” [al-Qasas 28:26 – interpretation of the meaning] And the ifreet among the jinn who was commanded to bring the throne of the queen of Saba’ said: “And verily, I am indeed strong and trustworthy for such work” [al-Naml 27:39] These two characteristics are the basis of every deed, including giving testimony. Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/323. For more information see al-Mawsoo’ah al- Fiqhiyyah, 30/5, Kuwait edition.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 16:54:42 +0000
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