A Guide to Ramadan and Fasting

A guide to
RAMADAN AND FASTING
DR. MUSHARAF HUSSAIN
AND
DR. ABIA AFSAR-SIDDIQUI
1
THE VIRTUES OF RAMADAN
RAMADAN (literally meaning heat and dryness in Arabic) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar entirely devoted to committed ibadah (worship) including sawm (fasting). Fasting during the month of Ramadan was first prescribed in the second year of Hijrah:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
You who have iman! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you so that hopefully you will have taqwa. (2:183)
فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْةٌ
...Any of you who are resident for the month should fast
it. (2:185)
Table of Contents
1. The Virtues of Ramadan
1
2. The Rulings on Fasting
7
2.1 People Exempted from Fasting During Ramadan 2.2 The Essentials of Fasting
7
10
2.3 The Etiquettes of Fasting
11
2.4 Actions that Invalidate the Fast
13
2.5 Acts that do not Invalidate the Fast
16
2.6 Qada (Restitution)
20
2.7 Fidyah (Ransom)
21
2.8 Kaffarah (Atonement)
22
3. The Essence of Fasting
24
24
4. Salat at-Tarawih and Qur'an
29
5. The Last Ten Days of Ramadan
34
6. The End of Ramadan
7. Other Obligatory and Optional Fasts, and Fasts that are Forbidden
43
48
About the book
A GUIDE TO RAMADAN AND FASTING is a concise yet comprehensive guide covering all aspects of Ramadan and Fasting. It outlines the fiqh of fasting (including sunnah, mustahabb and nafl fasts), Salat at-Tarawih, I'tikaf, Sadaqat al-Fitr and Eid, giving the rulings of the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali madhahib. As well as these practical matters, the spiritual aspect of Ramadan is also highlighted.
ISBN 978-1-84200-079-3
Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd
Unit 4, The Windsor Centre,
Windsor Grove, London SE27 9NT. www.taha.co.uk
9781842 000793>