Hazrat Abdullah Bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him – 
) said that whoever in the month of Ramadan keeps fast from the first of Ramadan to the last, gets rid of his sins as if he was just born from his mother’s womb.
The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him – ) said that if anyone fasts the month of Ramadan. Then Allah on the day of judgement will grant him a house of emerald. The house will have 1000 doors and in front of every door there will be a tree. If for 100 years while being mounted one travels under its shade. He still will not be able to come out of it.
For fasting intention is necessary. It is better if one intends like this:
However intention of the heart is enough. To eat Sahree1 is Sunnah, even if one takes one or two mouthful of food. To open fast with a date or water is best. At the time of Iftary (opening fast) read the following dua:
Actions that make the fast invalid and for which Kafara2 and Kazaa3 become necessary:
- To smoke a cigarette or using a smoking pipe (huqa) or otherwise
- To eat or drink purposely.
- To have sexual intercourse.
The kafara2 is to fast continuously for 60 Days or to feed a full day’s meal (morning and evening) to 60 people who are poor and needy.
Things that make the fast Makhruh:
- To chew something without necessity.
- Or to just taste salt and then spit it out.
- To collect saliva (spit) and then to swallow it intentionally.
- To bleed or open a vein.
- To backbite, to lie, to slander or to fight and argue
Things by which fast remains valid:
- To eat or drink unintentionally.
- Without ones control if dust, fly or mosquito goes in ones mouth
- If water goes in the ears
- If one vomits involuntarily
- If the need of gusal becomes necessary due to ones dream (seminal discharge during sleep)
- If vomit comes and return by it self
- To put medicine in the eyes
- To put surma (collyrium; antimony reduced to fine powder for applying to the eyes)
- To clean teeth using muswak (a wooden stick used for cleaning teeth).
Things for which you can leave fast but kazaa3 becomes necessary:
- Patient who does not have the strength to keep a fast or it is absolutely necessary for the patient to take medicine during the day (during fasting).
- A pregnant woman if there is a danger to her or the unborn baby.
- A traveller according to shria at least 48 miles of travelling and if there is no provision for food on the journey.
- A woman in labour (child-birth)
- Very old person who feels extreme difficult in keeping a fast. For every fast missed he should give 1¾ seer4 of wheat to the need and the poor.
Cases where fast can be broken:
- If one gets ill while fasting and there is danger of death.
- or if there is strong probability that the illness would increase
- or if one is extremely thirsty and would die
One can break fast in such cases but should make kazaa3.
meanings of words used
- Sahrymeans waking up and eating as close to fajr time to keep the fast.
- Kafarameans atonement, compensate.
- Kazaameans making up for it later.
- Seer equal 0.9331 kg, in Pakistan, the seer is now considered equal to the kilogram.
Lailatul Qadr (the night of Power)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him – ) said the person who on Lailatul Qadr, bieng a believer, stays awake during the night (qayyam ul lail) with the intention of recieving reward only, his future sins will be forgiven and the person who fasts the month of Ramadan in the state of Imaan (belief) with the intention of reward, his future sins will be forgiven.
(Bukharee Shareef Volume 1 page 425 no. 1755, Tarteeb Shareef page 820)
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him – ) said that when its Lailatul Qadr, Hazrat Gabriel (may Allah be pleased with him) descends with a group (jamah) of angels and for every slave, they send blessing upon him or do dua for his forgiveness, who while standing or sitting down, remembers or worships Allah (Glory be to Him). When it is their (i.e. muslims) day of celebration (Eid ul Fitr), then Allah (Glory be to Him) due to these slaves shows His pride among the angels and says
“Oh My angels! whats is the reward for the slave who completes his work?”
The angels reply
“Oh Our Creator his reward is that he be returned in full.”
Allah (Glory be to Him) says
“Oh My angels! My slave men and My slave women have fulfilled their duty and for praying to Me have left their homes for the mosques. I swear upon My Honour, My Majesty, My Forgiveness, My Generosity, My High Exalteded State and My High Station that I will accept there supplications (Duas).”
and then Allah (Glory be to Him) says
“Oh My slaves! Return to your homes, I have forgiven you and have turned you bad deeds into good deeds.”
The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him – ) said thus the muslims return from the mosques in a state that their sins are forgiven.
(Baihaqee, Mashkat Shareef Volume 1 page 355 no 1983, Tarteeb Shareef page 821-822)
When you find Lailatul Qadr (the night of Power)
The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him – ) said, and when you see the night of Qadr then say
(Aisha Saddiqua – Tarimzi – Nasaee – Ibn Maaja – Hakim (may Allah be pleased with them all) – book: Hassan Hussain page 345 and Tarteeb Shareef page 496)
