THE OBLIGATION OF FASTING

In the name of Allaah, the most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Fasting is an obligation, which Allaah prescribed on every Muslim5 that is sane and has reached the age of puberty. Allaah says:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, in order that you may attain Taqwaa." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 183]

The specified time when it becomes obligatory is the month of Ramadaan of every year. Allaah says:
“The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind and a clear proof for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadaan), then he must observe the Fast (that month)." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 185]

Fasting in the month of Ramadaan is one of the pillars of Islaam. The Prophet, sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: “Islam is built on five things: (1) Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, (2)Establishing the Prayer, (3) Giving the Zakaat, (4) Performing Hajj, and (5) Fasting in Ramadaan.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

So whoever breaks his fast intentionally in the month of Ramadaan without a valid Islamic
excuse, he has destroyed one of the pillars of Islaam and stepped into the realm of great danger. 

The person who is fasting abstains from food, drink and sexual intercourse with his wife intending6 worship by that – from dawn until sunset. So when the sun sets, all of these things become permissible for him.

5 The word “Muslim” includes both male and female.
6 The place for the intention is the heart, so it should not be pronounced (on the tongue).

Allaah says:
“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of Fasting. They are a covering for you and you are a covering for them.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]

And Allaah says in the same ayah: “And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night). Then complete your fast until the nightfall." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Verily, all praise is due to Allaah, we praise Him, we ask for His help and we seek His
forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allaah from the evils within ourselves and the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides, there is no one that can lead him astray. And whomsoever is led astray, there is no one that can guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah – He is alone and with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger.

To proceed: Fasting is one of the aspects of worship that is done entirely for Allaah, in which a Muslim responds to the rulings of his Lord – the One, the Only – by abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse with his wife during the day, believing that this abstaining is obedience to Allaah. So he renews his covenant with Allaah through this fast, confirming that the only reason for his existence in this life is to actualize complete servitude to the One who created him and all that exists – the One who says in His Book:
“I have not created the Jinn and Mankind except that they should worship Me.” [Surah
Adh-Dhaariyaat: 56]

This is the absolute servitude with its complete and comprehensive understanding, which is displayed in the servant’s responding to the Way of his Lord and the Laws of his Creator in every small and big matter from the affairs of his life, whether in knowledge (belief) or action (sayings and doings). Allaah says:
“Say: ‘Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And that was what I was commanded (with) and I am the first of the Muslims.’” [Surah Al-An’aam: 162-163]

This servitude – with the previously mentioned understanding – is seen at times in the prostration of the person praying, and at times it is seen in the hunger and thirst of the one fasting. It is seen at times in the supplication of a distressed person when he turns away from calling the people, towards calling Allaah. At other times, it is seen when the pilgrim, making Hajj, throws pebbles in one of the stations of (Hajj) and in a woman’s covering of her body and adornment. And sometimes it is seen in the consummation of the marriage between a young Muslim male and female, so that it could be a means for lowering their gazes and protecting their private parts. And at times it is seen in the Islamic punishment that is established by the ruler on a person that has committed adultery or theft. It is seen when someone removes an obstacle from the road or when a man who has money, which he is obligated to pay Zakaat on, gives his due Zakaat. It is seen at times when the wife obeys her husband and behaves well with him, and at times in the obedience and good treatment of a child to his parents. And sometimes it is seen in showing compassion and affection to an orphan, and at times it is seen in giving water to a thirsty dog, etc.

Indeed these things show the greatness of this Religion, which many, many people are ignorant about:

“This is the (true) straight Religion, but most men know not.” [Surah Yusuf: 40]
 

With this understanding and from this description of greatness, I will extend my humble words on Fasting and Its Rulings , hoping that Allaah accepts it and that the Muslims answer to it (by acting on it) as well as benefit from it. And I ask Allaah that he rectify the condition of the Muslims by it and that He return them to the truth. Indeed Allaah has power over that and is able to do it. I put my trust in Him and to Him I repent.

Auto Biography of the Author

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SHAIKH USAAMAH AL-QOOSEE

My Name and Lineage:
Usaamah Ibn 'Abd-il-Lateef Ibn Mahmood Al-Qoosee Al-Hajaajee

My Family Lineage:
It traces back to Abul-Hajaaj Al-Aqsaree, whose name was Yusuf Ibn 'Abd-ir-Raheem Ibn Ghazee Al-Qurshee. May Allaah free him of the polytheistic and innovatory practices that occur at his gravesite.

My Birth:
I was born in the morning of the Day of 'Arafah in 1373H (7/8/1954) in Cairo, Egypt.

My Upbringing:
I was born in Egypt, in the Muski area in Shiyaadah Al-Munaasarah2 behind Daar Al-Kutub. And I was brought up in the house of my mother's father for the period of a year. Then my father moved to a residence in the Hadaa'iq Al-Qubbah area. This is where I grew up and spent the length of my youth, adolescence and early adulthood. During this time, I pursued my general grade-levels studies in the Nuqraashi School, which have the pattern of primary level (6 years), then secondary level (3 years), and then high school level (3 years). Thereafter, I obtained entrance into a college for medicine in the University of 'Ain Shams, where I remained for five years studying medicine. During this period in time, I learned Tajweed from some of my colleagues at school, and I memorized what I was able to of the Qur'aan. The Correct Path of
Islaam was not wholly clear to me at that time due to the large amount of Hizbees (partisans), activists, Takfeerees, Sufis and so on that were around me. Then I received the opportunity to make 'Umrah along with my classmates on a college trip, during the month of Ramadaan in 1397H (1977 CE). So this served as the start of my search for knowledge and my being guided to the path of the Salaf As-Saalih.

My Search for Knowledge:
In Makkah, I met some students of knowledge from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. In turn, they introduced me to some of the scholars and mashaayikh, and I began to understand that there was something called talab-ul-'ilm (Seeking Knowledge). So I attended some classes in the Haram at Makkah, taught by Shaikh Badee'-ud-Deen Ar-Raashidee As-Sindee, the Muhaddith of the land of Sind, may Allaah have mercy on him. I also visited his house and his library, which was filled with remarkable books and non-printed manuscripts. After Ramadaan, I moved to the city of Madeenah and there I met Shaikh Abee 'Abd-ir-Rahmaan Muqbil Ibn Haadee Al- Waadi'ee, may Allaah preserve him, the Muhaddith of the lands of Yemen. At that time, he was studying in the advanced-levels section in the Islaamic University of Madeenah. And he was 1 This is how Adh-Dhahabee mentioned it in his book Siyar A'alaam An-Nubalaa (pg. 23-148) and he described him as being the "Big One", the "Zaahid."
2 This is an area within the Muski location.
3 This is a famous landmark in Egypt, where people used to sell books, hence its name Daar Al-Kutub
(Place of the Books). Now it is mostly reserved for administrative offices.
Fasting and Its Rulings by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qoosee
6 www.al-manhaj.com
very close to finishing his treatise on the two books "Al-Ilzaamaat" and "At-Tatabbu'" of Imaam
Ad-Daaraqutnee, may Allaah have mercy on him. I began to attend his classes on the book
Jaami' At-Tirmidhee, but it was as if I was hearing mysterious words and riddles!
Then I traveled to Qaseem and there I met the Shaikh, the Haafidh, the Muhaddith of the lands of
Najd, 'Abdullaah Ad-Duwaish, may Allaah have mercy on him. And I attended some of his
gatherings in his home in the city of Buraidah. I was amazed by his abstinence (of this world) his
humbleness, his diligence, his striving and his patience with seeking and acquiring knowledge (by
reading and studying). This was such that he almost lost his eyesight (because of his studies)
while in the prime of his youth, and it was to the extent that when I saw him I imagined he was
much older than me, whereas he was my same age. At that time, he was memorizing the Six
Books (of the Sunnah) 4 completely with their chains of narration and their texts. And he was at
the point of completing his memorization of the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad. And at the same
time, he was studying Imaam Muslim's introduction to his Saheeh. Meanwhile, I was amazed
and overcome at what I saw and heard. I could not get myself to believe that such a person
existed in our world. After this, I returned to Madeenah and Makkah and there I would frequent
the classes of our Shaikh, Shaikh Muqbil at his house in Madeenah time after time.
During the time I spent in Saudi Arabia, I resolved on making two decisions, of which only one
of them came through. The first was to abandon continuing my studies in the field of medicine
and to instead preoccupy myself with studying the Islaamic sciences. And the second was to stay
permanently in Madeenah, the city of Allaah's Messenger, but this did not come through. So I
returned to Egypt in 1398H (1978 CE) because Saudi Arabia did not grant me the iqaamah
(residential status) to remain there. Nevertheless, I did not go back on my other resolution to
study the Islaamic sciences, especially since I had gotten a taste of its sweetness during that year.
I also forgot to mention that while making Hajj that year, Allaah enabled me to meet the Shaikh,
the Imaam, the Muhaddith of the lands of Shaam, rather the Muhaddith of the whole world,
Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee, may Allaah have mercy on him, several times in both
Makkah and Madeenah. This included one time in which I saw him face to face at the place
where he was staying in Madeenah. This was during the month of Thul-Hijjah, 1397AH. I had
seen him before about a year or two ago - I don't recall now - when the Shaikh came to Egypt for
purposes of giving Da'wah, due to which he gave a number of lectures. However, I was far away
from him, sitting in the back of the masjid, and I was not able to get a good look at him. Also,
another thing that my Lord blessed me with that year I made the Islaamic Hajj was that I
memorized much of the Qur'aan, such that I completed a month of memorizing and I had
memorized close to eight (8) ajzaa (parts) of the Qur'aan in a month.
After returning to Egypt, I married and then moved to Yemen towards the end of the year 1399H
(1979 CE), when news reached me that our Shaikh, Abu 'Abd-ir-Rahmaan (Muqbil Ibn Haadee)
returned to his country of Yemen. So I traveled to him along with my wife, and I stayed with him
for almost a complete year drinking from his fountain of knowledge, night and day. And I would
4 Such as Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, Saheeh Muslim and the Sunans of An-Nasaa'ee, At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah
and Abu Dawood.
Fasting and Its Rulings by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qoosee
7 www.al-manhaj.com
not separate from him except when I had to sleep at night. This was the happiest year of my life,
in which I accompanied the Shaikh for almost a complete year, seeking to study Saheeh Al-
Bukhaaree under him. And he (Shaikh Muqbil) agreed to this, so this was the beginning of the
class, which the Shaikh continued to teach after many years, even after my journey from Yemen
to Egypt in 1405H (1985).
During this year, I would attend all of the Shaikh's classes - the class on Tafseer Ibn Katheer after
Fajr, the class on Jaami' At-Tirmidhee in the forenoon, the class on Sunan Abee Dawood after
Dhuhr, the class on 'Aqeedah At-Tahaawiyyah with its explanation by Ibn Abee Al-'Izz and the
explanation of Qatr-un-Nadaa of Ibn Hishaam from after 'Asr to just before Maghrib. Then there
was a class on Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree between Maghrib and 'Ishaa, and a class on Saheeh Muslim
after 'Ishaa. And apart form this, I would research hadeeth from the books of the Sunnah in the
Shaikh's library in between these classes every time I got the chance to do so. And I would ask
the Shaikh on what I found difficulty with concerning chains of narration, narrators and the
ahaadeeth. After the year's end, some people from the neighboring towns, close to the area of the
Shaikh, came requesting for one of his students to go and teach them and their children. The
Shaikh selected me for this task, so I traveled to their town called Wadi Al-Kunaa, and I stayed
with them for the length of five years, teaching and acquiring what knowledge of the Islamic
sciences I could from my studies of the Books of the Sunnah and my research with them.
I returned to Egypt in 1405H (1985). During the time I had spent in Yemen, which was six years
in total, I wrote a book about the Adhaan. I finished transcribing it into printable form when I
reached Egypt and the book was printed in 1408H (1987). During this time, I was already back in
Cairo, learning, teaching and spreading this blessed Salafee Da'wah as much as I was able to.
In Ramadaan of 1418H (1999), I made 'Umrah and during this time, I met Shaikh Rabee' Ibn
Haadee Al-Madkhalee, may Allaah preserve him, in Madeenah. Also, my Lord blessed me by
allowing me the ability to see Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen in the Haram (Ka'bah) of
Makkah, who was teaching a class on the second floor. Then, my Lord added to my blessing by
allowing me to meet with Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn 'Abdillaah Ibn Baaz in his office in Makkah.
This was a private meeting that was held on the evening of the 26th day of Ramadaan, after 'Asr to
just before Maghrib. This was the first time that I saw the Shaikh and the last time, may Allaah
have mercy on him. On this trip, I also met the noble brother, Shaikh 'Alee Ibn Hasan Al-
Halabee for the first time, also in the Haram. And I also met the noble brother Dr. Baasim Ibn
Faisal Al-Jawabirah and the noble brother, Dr. Khaalid Ibn 'Alee Al-'Anbaree.
Then Allaah enabled me to make another 'Umrah in the month of Rajab 1420 H, during which
time I met many scholars and students of knowledge. Among them was Shaikh 'Abdul-Muhsin
Ibn Hamd Al-'Abbaad Al-Badr, who I saw in his classes and I also visited him in his home in
Madeenah. Also, there was the noble shaikh, Faalih Ibn Naafi' Al-Harbee and Shaikh Dr.
Ibraaheem Ibn 'Aamir Ar-Ruhailee, who invited me for dinner with him, where I also met with
Shaikh Dr. Saalih As-Suhaimee. During this journey, I also met with the noble brother 'Abdul-
Malik Ibn Ahmad Ramadaanee Al-Jazaa'iree in Madeenah. Then in Makkah, I visited our
Shaikh, Rabee' Ibn Haadee Al-Madkhalee and there I met Shaikh 'Umar Bazmool. I also attended
the classes of Shaikh Saalih Al-'Abood and Shaikh Husain Aali Shaikh in the Prophet's Mosque.
Fasting and Its Rulings by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qoosee
8 www.al-manhaj.com
And when in Makkah, I attended the classes on Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree given by Shaikh
Wasiyyullaah 'Abaasee.
During my trips to the United States, I met Dr. Saalih Ibn Ghaanim As-Sadlaan, Shaikh Saleem
Al-Hilaalee, and Shaikh Muhammad Musa Nasr.
From the people of knowledge whom I met in Egypt were Shaikh Muhammad 'Alee 'Abdur-
Raheem, rahimahullaah, the previous president of Jamaa'at Ansaar As-Sunnah Al-
Muhammadiyyah in Egypt, and also Shaikh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdil-Wahhaab Ibn Marzooq Al-
Bannaa, may Allaah preserve him.
Allaah also blessed me to meet many people of knowledge and students of knowledge, other than
those mentioned above and who carry the Da'wah in the east and the west, the amount of which I
cannot account for due to their large number. And Allaah is sufficient for me and for them, and
He alone is the One who guides to the Straight Path.
My Books:
The Book of Adhaan
Fasting and Its Rulings (which is the present book before you)
Guard your Covenants
Written by Abu Haatim Usaamah Ibn 'Abdil-Lateef Al-Qoosee at the beginning of Rabee'-ul-
Awwal 1421H at the request of the brothers in charge of SSNA

FOREWORD

FOREWORD

Verily all praise is due to Allaah, we praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of our selves and the evils of our actions. Whoever Allaah guides none can lead him astray and whoever is led astray, none can guide Him. I testify that there is no god that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone and with no partner. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and final messenger.

To Proceed:

The book before you is a translation of a small pocket-size booklet written by Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qoosee, which was given the title "As-Siyaam wa Ahkaamuhu" (Fasting and Its Rulings). We embarked on the project of translating, formatting and printing this book in the English Language for the month of Ramadaan (December 2000). Two thousand copies of this book were printed by the second week of Ramadaan and over a thousand were distributed for free. A portion of the remaining books were sold to some local bookstores to raise funds, while a few remaining copies stayed with us for our records. During that same month of Ramadaan, we made this book available over the Internet as a free downloadable book in PDF (Acrobat) format. By the Grace of Allaah, many Muslims downloaded the book and benefited from it greatly. 

We have taken the original book and reformatted it so that it can be better viewed over the Internet as well as from its downloaded file. Some of the changes we made were replacing certain fonts for others, adding headings for each section, dividing sections up into their own pages, and providing a Table of Contents that links to each section chosen. We have also added the author's autobiography to add to the benefits of this book.

Lastly, as with all of our e-books, we provided front and back covers, so that our Readers may assemble their books at their own convenience and store it in their libraries along with their other Islaamic books. Lastly, we hope that this book serves as a source of benefit for the Muslim ummah and that it is a cause for them to be guided to the truth and to the way of worshipping Allaah correctly. We also ask Allaah that He place this noble work on the scale of good deeds of all those who were involved in its production and distribution. We hope that everyone that reads this can pass it on to their Muslim brothers and sisters, whether by printing them a copy or giving them the book file, so that they too can partake in the benefit.

Written by:
Isma'eel Alarcon
For The Salafi Society of North America
On April 9, 2001

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword

An Autobiography of Shaikh Usaamah Al-Qoosee

Introduction

The Obligation of Fasting

Taqwaa: The Wisdom Behind Fasting

The Rulings of Fasting

Some Things a Fasting Person is allowed to do

Recommended Acts in Fasting

The Last Ten Nights of Ramadaan

The 'Eid Prayer and Zakaat-ul-Fitr

Some Authentic Ahaadeeth about Fasting

Some Weak Ahaadeeth about Fasting

A Fatwa on Determining the Beginning and End of Ramadaan

Published on-line by www.al-manhaj.com
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The Salafi Society of North America
(temporary address)
87-63 125th Street
Richmond Hill, NY 11418
USA

URL: www.al-manhaj.com
E-mail: info@al-manhaj.com
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The following document is an on-line book publishing of www.al-manhaj.com. This
book was formatted and designed specifically for being placed on the Web and for its
easy and convenient distribution. At the time of this e-book publishing, we are not aware
of any other book similar to it, in terms of its translation from its original Arabic source.
Since this book was prepared for free on-line distribution we grant permission for it to be
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specific request is sent to the publishers and permission is granted.

Fasting (Ramadan)

FASTING & ITS RULINGS

Written by

Shaikh Abu Haatim Usaamah Ibn ‘Abdil-Lateef Al-Qoosee
 

Translated and Edited by
 

Abu Sumayyah Muhammad Khan
&
Abu Maryam Isma'eel Alarcon

Background

The religion Islam is based on five basic principles those are frequently called as the bases or foundations of it. This foundations are Faith (Kalima or Iman), Prayer (Salaat), Fasting (Roza or Ramadan), Pilgrimage (Hajj) and Pure Due (Zakaat). In this blog we accumulate the detail possible idea of these foundations consequently. Our source and citations are mainly The Islamic Bulletin (San Francisco, CA) whose URL is www.islamicbulletin.org. I believe that my effort of giving you the core functions of Islam bring a good result to both you and me. Thank you.

-Syed Ashraful Ferdous