Permissible Deeds in Ramadan

In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful. All praises are for Allah, we seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. Assalamu Alaikum! This week, inshaAllah, we will end our discussion on the sunnah and etiquettes of fasting. Thereafter, we would talk about those things that a fasting person is allowed to engage in. We pray to Allah to guide us.

(Continuation) Etiquettes of fasting

• The person who fasts should avoid backbiting, obscenity and lies on pain of losing his reward. As bn Majaah reported, the prophet (pbuh) said: “It may be that such a person gets nothing from fasting except hunger.”

• A fasting person should avoid quiz shows, soap operas, movies, and sports shows, idle gathering, hanging about in the street with evil people and time wasters, driving around without purpose, crowding the streets and sidewalks. One should instead occupy oneself with dhikr (glorifying Allah) and worship. Prayers in congregation should strictly be adhered to. Those fasting should refrain from sleeping all day.

• The month of Ramadan should Sunnah and not be turned into a begging month unless there is absolute need. The well to do should feed the poor, as there is great reward for that.

• A person that fasts should not quarrel or allow himself to be provoked. The prophet (pbuh), as reported by Bukhari, said: “If someone fights or insults you, say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’ By this you display the virtues of Islam in general and fasting in particular.”

• The prophet (pbuh), as reported by Tirmidhi in a hadith, said: “The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than his stomach.” This means that one should not eat too much so that one could perform good deeds.

• Tirmidhi reported in a hadith that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever gives food to someone for breaking his fast will receive a reward equal to his without detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person.” This enjoins all believers to feed those that fast.

• As Bukhari and Muslim reported, generosity is a Ramadan virtue. It could be demonstrated by sharing knowledge, giving money, or using one’s position of authority or physical strength to help others. Ibn Abbas said: “The messenger of Allah (pbuh) was the most generous of people (in doing good). He was most generous during Ramadan…..”

The above are some of the etiquettes of fasting, though not in any way exhaustive.

• The person that needs to break his/her fast to save someone whose life is in danger may do so, but should make up for it later. This could apply when someone is drowning, when fires need to be put out, etc.

• It is permissible for one to kiss, hug, embrace, touch, or repeatedly look at his wife or concubine provided he controls himself. Bukhari and Muslim reported A’isha (wife of the Prophet, pbuh) in a hadith as saying that the Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting, but firmly controlled his desire. Therefore a person that easily gets aroused and cannot control himself or herself is forbidden to kiss or embrace the opposite sex while fasting, as that may lead him/her to break the fast and attract punishment.

• When the day breaks while a person is still in a state of janaba (impurity following sexual intercourse), the person’s fasting is not affected.

• If a person that is fasting has a wet dream while asleep, the person’s fasting is not affected. According to scholarly consensus (ijimaa), he/she must complete his/her fast.

• The emission of wadiy (a thick and sticky substance emitted on sense of physical pleasure) does not break the fast.

• According to a hadith reported by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (pbuh) said that, “whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up for the fast later on; but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up for it.”

• If a person spits out water after rinsing his/her mouth, the fasting is not affected by any moisture or wetness that is left because he cannot help that.

• Nose bleed does not break