Sunday,Aug 23 2009, 09:34:51 AMFASTING IN THE MONTH OF SHA'BAN

FASTING IN THE MONTH OF SHA'BAN

The Prophet (pbuh) used to fast till one would say he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say he would never fast. I never saw the Prophet fasting for a whole month except the

month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Shaban.(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 190)

The Prophet (pbuh) has told us not to fast one or two days before Ramadan as we need to keep our physical and spiritual strength to make the most of this blessed month.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day."

(Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, No.138, Muslim, Book 006, Number 2382)

We should try our best to keep some fasts in Shaban.

The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have asked one of the Companions “Did you fast in the middle of Sha'ban?” The Companion replied, “No”. Thereupon the Prophet (pbuh) said: “If you did not observe fast, then you should observe fast for two days”.

THE WISDOM BEHIND FASTING

Fasting in Ramadan is not merely physically restraining from the obvious food and drink, but the total commitment of the servant's body and soul to the letter and spirit of fasting.

1) The fast of the self, means to be free from all carnal desires.

2) The fast of mind is avoiding thoughts about things other than Allah (SWT).

3) The fast of the hand is not touching/taking what does not belong to it.

4) The fast of the nose means not sniffing or smelling unlawful things.

5) The fast of the feet is not going places where sinful acts are propagated.

6) The fast of the eye is to prevent it from seeing forbidden things.

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be mindful of their chastity; this will be most conducive to their purity. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be

mindful of their chastity, and not display their charms (in public) beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof, hence let them draw their head-covering over their bosoms”. (Al-Qur’an 24:30-31)

7) The fast of the tongue is guarding against lying, backbiting, slandering, reviling, abusing others, cursing, indecent conversation, swearing and false evidence. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe”.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “"Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"

(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127)

8) The fast of the ears is not to listen to idle talk, gossip, lyrics and notes that contain obscene and indecent things. Listening to Al-Qur’an bears the fruit of faith, guidance, light and prosperity. It fills the heart with wisdom, tranquillity,

intimacy and contentment. It is a source of protection from the dangerous, deviant and sinful thoughts.

9) The fast of the heart means casting out from it the love of worldly things and by emptying it of all corrupt material such as, false beliefs, evil suggestions, filthy intentions and degenerate thoughts.

 

 

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”

(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49)

The believer’s heart abstains from pride and egotism as these traits breaks its fast. Egotism is when the individual sees himself as perfect and better than others. The cure for this self-importance is to look at one’s faults and shortcomings, thousands of sins and misdeeds that one has committed, wrongs that one has done and forgotten, but knowledge of which are with Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “do they, perchance, envy other people for what God has granted them out of his bounty?” (Al-Qur’an 4:54)

The heart of the believer fasts and abstains from envy as envy lowers righteous deeds and stops its progress toward Allah (SWT)

AVOIDANCE OF THINGS THAT CONTRADICT SPIRIT OF FASTING

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “Eat and drink (freely), but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful!” (Al-Qur’an 7:31)

Some people who fast waste money on meals both at the beginning and the breaking of the fast in Ramadan. They prepare food enough for a crowd of people consisting of numerous dishes. Then, at the end of this, they only eat a

little and throw the remainder into the refuse. This is contrary to the great teachings of Islam.

There are other people who fill the stomach with delicious foods at “Sehri”, so that one does not feel hungry until “Iftaar”. When opening their fast, they indulge in excessive eating and drinking. This however, defeats the purpose of

fasting, one of which is to empty the stomach of all contaminated material by reducing the intake of food.

Many people spend their fasting hours sleeping. As a result it seems as if they did not fast. The wisdom of fasting is that the one who fasts should experience pangs of hunger and savour thirst in order to gain the pleasure of Allah (SWT).

There are also people who make no effort to do good by giving charity. They do not honour their tables by allowing others to break their fast with them.

WHAT DOES AND DOESN’T BREAK THE FAST

The Prophet (pbuh) said:” Neither vomiting, nor emission, nor cupping breaks the fast.” (Abu Dawud, Book 13, Number 2370)

There are certain things that break a person’s fast, the most obvious being those things that are explicitly forbidden during fasting, i.e. eating, drinking, sexual relations and during menstruation, for females. However, if one eats something forgetfully, then this fast does not have to be made up:

The Prophet said, "If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154)

In terms of applying medicine, there is nothing which prevents us from using such as long as it is not entered through the mouth or nose:

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "I have a complaint in my eyes, so may I apply collyrium while I am fasting?" He replied, "Yes." (Tirmidhi Hadith 2010)

A certain degree of affection is allowed between spouses as this Hadith shows:

'A'isha reported, “The Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss me while observing fast and who among you can control his desire as the Prophet (pbuh) could control his desire.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2438)

However, the Prophet (pbuh) did report the following Hadith:

A man asked the Prophet (pbuh) whether one who was fasting could embrace (his wife) and he gave him permission; but when another man came to him, and asked him, he forbade him. The one to whom he gave

permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth. (Abu Dawud, Book 13, Number 2381)

WHAT A SICK MAN DOES WHEN FASTING

There are some situations when a person can break their fast.

"If a man succumbs to an illness which makes fasting very difficult for him and exhausts him and wears him out, he can break his fast. (Muwatta, Book 18, Number 18.15.41)

FASTING WHILST TRAVELLING

Hamza bin 'Amr Al-Aslami asked the Prophet, "Should I fast while travelling?" The Prophet replied, "You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 164)

Fasting whilst travelling is optional, so there is no sin on the one who chooses not to fast whilst on a journey if they feel that it will weaken them. Allah (SWT) has allowed man not to fast, whilst travelling because He knows that his slaves may not be able to cope.

Anas reported “We were with the Prophet (pbuh) on a journey. Some of us had been observing the fast and some of us had not been fasting. We got down at a place on a hot day. Most of us had the cloth for shelter.

There were also those amongst us who sheltered themselves against the rays of the sun with the help of their hands. The observers of the fast fell down (on account of weakness). Those who had not observed it got up

and pitched tents and watered the mounts. Thereupon the Prophet (pbuh) said “The breakers of the fast have taken away the reward today”.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2484)