As-salam Alaikum waramotullai, wa barakatuh!
The kindness of Allah cannot be overemphasised when one ponders on the blessings in the act of eating sahur during Ramadan. For almighty Allah (SWT), it is not enough blessings that He provides us with food on our table, but He further blesses anyone who wakes up in the first rays of dawn to eat the same food for sahur.
The Prophet (s.a.w) was reported by Anas to have said: “Eat something for sahur even if it is a date. For there is in it barakah.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Isn’t it great that Allah is rewarding us for eating?
The prophet taught his companions and by extension, every Muslims that they should begin their fasting by taking something. It does not necessarily have to be heavy meal. In fact, overeating negates the spirit of fasting. It is advised to wake in the pre-dawn period to appropriately kick-start fasting by eating sahur among other things. Eat moderately even as you remember those who could not afford a meal for that purpose.
Some people have asked whether there is need to wake up for sahur if one has nothing to eat. What is, however, appropriate is to wake up, carry out other activities of the Ramadan night and when it is time for sahur, get some water to drink. In it, there is barakah.
It should be noted that there is no sin in not waking up for sahur if it was not done on purpose, and the inability to take sahur does not vitiate fast.
Again, another common argument now is the appropriate time for sahur. Brethren, sahur is not breakfast and should not be treated in like manners. While breakfast is the dawn meal, sahur is pre-dawn meal.
Much as we know that the night is free for eating and drinking, Allah has described the time for the end of sahur as indicated in Quran 2 vs. 187: “...eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread.” The prophet also said: “Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum makes his call to prayer. He does not make it until the break of dawn.” (Al -Bukhari) Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man whose incident with the Prophet is the subject of Quran 80. The famous Bilal making his first, then Ibn Umm Maktum.
Ibn Umm Maktum making his last call to prayer before Subhi. We could discern from the above injunctions that in this part of the world, the break of dawn starts some minutes past five. Be that as it may, scholars have advised that sahur should be taken between 4:45 and 5:15am. Next time you are eating sahur, be rightly guided. RamadanKereem!
Showing posts with label Ramadan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramadan. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Illness and concessions for breaking fast
By Haroon Balogun
A minor headache for example with no other conditions may not in many instances constitute a situation where a person can use the flexibility of the injunction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be used as an excuse for not fasting.
Some of the conditions for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows:
Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed because of fasting.
Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes unbearable with fasting.
“The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point when he is unable to fast.
Rather our companions said: The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to bear.” (Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is no difference of opinion among us concerning that. (Al-Nawawi – Al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic illness that causes great pain and difficulty or that is unbearable. You cannot say because you want to keep the fast and cause great harm to yourself. It depends on the individual and the nature of illness. Almighty allah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His commandments.
‘A’ishah (r.t.a) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin. If it was a sin he would be the furthest away from it. (al-Bukhari (6786) and Muslim (2327)
Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or people who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states: “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184)
The concession on pregnant and nursing women is slightly different, if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they have to pay pack after delivery or when it is convenient for them before the next Ramadan. Most women mix up these issues and go on to feed the poor to replace their fast.
No sound Muslim is permanently exempted from fasting unless the aged and the terminally sick persons. The pregnant woman or nursing mother still have the opportunity to fast at a later date. Ibn ‘Abbas (r.t) said: Concession to feed the poor refers to old men and old women who cannot fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day. —– Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4505.
May Allah accept it and reward us abundantly.
A minor headache for example with no other conditions may not in many instances constitute a situation where a person can use the flexibility of the injunction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be used as an excuse for not fasting.
Some of the conditions for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows:
Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed because of fasting.
Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes unbearable with fasting.
“The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point when he is unable to fast.
Rather our companions said: The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to bear.” (Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is no difference of opinion among us concerning that. (Al-Nawawi – Al-Majmoo’, 6/261)
This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic illness that causes great pain and difficulty or that is unbearable. You cannot say because you want to keep the fast and cause great harm to yourself. It depends on the individual and the nature of illness. Almighty allah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His commandments.
‘A’ishah (r.t.a) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin. If it was a sin he would be the furthest away from it. (al-Bukhari (6786) and Muslim (2327)
Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or people who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states: “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184)
The concession on pregnant and nursing women is slightly different, if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they have to pay pack after delivery or when it is convenient for them before the next Ramadan. Most women mix up these issues and go on to feed the poor to replace their fast.
No sound Muslim is permanently exempted from fasting unless the aged and the terminally sick persons. The pregnant woman or nursing mother still have the opportunity to fast at a later date. Ibn ‘Abbas (r.t) said: Concession to feed the poor refers to old men and old women who cannot fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day. —– Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4505.
May Allah accept it and reward us abundantly.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Why fasting is prescribed unto you?
Glory be unto Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We thank Him for His grace and mercy having to witness another Ramadan. Whosoever Allah guides cannot be misled and whoseoever Allah misleads cannot be guided. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah with no associate and Muhammad is His prophet. May the peace and blessings continue to abide with Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
Allah has assigned to us the season of goodness in which the rewards for good deeds are not only in multiple folds but also the bad deeds are blooted out. In it, there are opportunities for repentance and forgiveness. Whoever uses the time to purify himself will be spiritually cleansed; he will attain success in this world and hereafter. That is one of the blessings of Allah in the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a pillar of Islam in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed. In the month, we have a night that is better than a thousand months. It means fasting in Ramadan is equvalent to fasting in 10 months. This is also not to mention the blooting out of sins of a repentant Muslim.
It is a period of worship during the day and better part of the night. We were created to worship Him alone. Obedience to His ordernances is as important as worshipping Him. One of the greatest act of worship is fasting in the month of Ramadan as He commanded us in Quran 2: 183-185.
But why do we have to fast? According to the above verses of the Qur’an, Allah enjoined us to fast so that we can gain piety (taqwa). Any one who is able to gain more taqwa will intensify in other acts of worship; will shun or think less of this material world; will always do what is good, kind to people irrespective of class or creed and will gain nearness to Allah. That is the quintessence of fasting.
In doing this, we also need to know what we should do and what we should refrain from in this glorious month.
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless. Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of ignorance or sheer negligence.
One of the virtues of fasting reported in an authentic hadith is that Allah has chosen for Himself and will reward without measure is fasting. “Except for fasting whihc is for my sake, I will reward greatly.” Fasting is one of the greatest deed Allah required from us even with promise that the supplication of a fasting person will not go unanswered.
The fasting person will also have the privileged of intercession by his fast on the day of judgement. A sahee hadith says: “O’ Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so, let me interceed for him.”
Fasting is also a strong protection and a fortress that keeps a person safe from hell fire. One hadiths clearly says that whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, allah will move his face from a distance of seventy years from fire.
Allah has assigned to us the season of goodness in which the rewards for good deeds are not only in multiple folds but also the bad deeds are blooted out. In it, there are opportunities for repentance and forgiveness. Whoever uses the time to purify himself will be spiritually cleansed; he will attain success in this world and hereafter. That is one of the blessings of Allah in the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a pillar of Islam in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed. In the month, we have a night that is better than a thousand months. It means fasting in Ramadan is equvalent to fasting in 10 months. This is also not to mention the blooting out of sins of a repentant Muslim.
It is a period of worship during the day and better part of the night. We were created to worship Him alone. Obedience to His ordernances is as important as worshipping Him. One of the greatest act of worship is fasting in the month of Ramadan as He commanded us in Quran 2: 183-185.
But why do we have to fast? According to the above verses of the Qur’an, Allah enjoined us to fast so that we can gain piety (taqwa). Any one who is able to gain more taqwa will intensify in other acts of worship; will shun or think less of this material world; will always do what is good, kind to people irrespective of class or creed and will gain nearness to Allah. That is the quintessence of fasting.
In doing this, we also need to know what we should do and what we should refrain from in this glorious month.
Fasting is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless. Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of ignorance or sheer negligence.
One of the virtues of fasting reported in an authentic hadith is that Allah has chosen for Himself and will reward without measure is fasting. “Except for fasting whihc is for my sake, I will reward greatly.” Fasting is one of the greatest deed Allah required from us even with promise that the supplication of a fasting person will not go unanswered.
The fasting person will also have the privileged of intercession by his fast on the day of judgement. A sahee hadith says: “O’ Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so, let me interceed for him.”
Fasting is also a strong protection and a fortress that keeps a person safe from hell fire. One hadiths clearly says that whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, allah will move his face from a distance of seventy years from fire.
Ramadan commences tomorrow
By Ishola Balogun, Abdallah el-Kurebe & Bashir Adefaka
Following the non-sighting of the new moon yesterday, Muslims in Nigeria have been asked to complete the 30 days of Sha'ban today and begin the 1434 A.H Ramadan tomorrow, Wednesday.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar made the declaration yesterday, while speaking with Vanguard in Sokoto.
The sighting of the moon for the commencement of the month of Ramadan is the traditional starting point ordained by Allah in the Holy Qur'an.
The Sultan said: "It is correct to say that since the new moon has not been sighted anywhere till now, Muslim should complete Sha'ban tomorrow (today) and begin fast on Wednesday July 10."
By this development, the 1434 A.H commences tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Sheikh Seifudeen Olowooribi urged Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan period to pray for peace in all regions of the country.
Imam Olowooribi added that fasting Muslims can positively affect the insecurity situation in the country through their fervent prayers in the holy month.
Following the non-sighting of the new moon yesterday, Muslims in Nigeria have been asked to complete the 30 days of Sha'ban today and begin the 1434 A.H Ramadan tomorrow, Wednesday.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar made the declaration yesterday, while speaking with Vanguard in Sokoto.
The sighting of the moon for the commencement of the month of Ramadan is the traditional starting point ordained by Allah in the Holy Qur'an.
The Sultan said: "It is correct to say that since the new moon has not been sighted anywhere till now, Muslim should complete Sha'ban tomorrow (today) and begin fast on Wednesday July 10."
By this development, the 1434 A.H commences tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Sheikh Seifudeen Olowooribi urged Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan period to pray for peace in all regions of the country.
Imam Olowooribi added that fasting Muslims can positively affect the insecurity situation in the country through their fervent prayers in the holy month.
Monday, 8 July 2013
Niger govt bans sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca
By Wole Mosadomi
Minna—Niger State Government, yesterday, placed embargo on the sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, even as it advised intending pilgrims against stealing or borrowing money for the exercise.
Similarly, the government directed the state pilgrim Board to allocate 90 per cent of the available seats for freshers.
Speaking at the flag off of sale of grains to members of the public in Minna ahead of the Ramadan fasting governor Babangida Aliyu, said the step became necessary because of the number of seats allocated to the state for this year hajj.
He insisted that holy pilgrimage to Mecca should not be seen as a jamboree but as a religious obligation, saying “Already the Customs and Immigrations have been directed to screen the passports of all intending pilgrimage to screen out those who have performed the journey in the past and allow the first timers to go and where necessary introduce balloting for all intending pilgrim to give room for fairness and equity.”
He warned local government chairmen in the state not to bribe traditional rulers and politicians with hajj seat at the detriment of freshers, who had no god fathers to lobby for them.
On the sale of the grains to the public, the governor said it was a deliberate attempt to make it coincide with the Ramadan season to allow the poor purchase food items at a cheaper rate, nothing that it had been observed that prices of food stuff usually went up during festivities.
To this end, he said 10,000 tonnes of assorted grains had been purchased at over N25million and would be sold to the less privileged at subsidised rates.
According to him, 25kg of rice would be sold for N3,500 as against N5,000, 100kg of maize would be sold for N5,600, 100kg of beans would be sold for N14,000, 100kg of millet for N7,000, while Guinea corn would cost N6,300,.
Minna—Niger State Government, yesterday, placed embargo on the sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca, even as it advised intending pilgrims against stealing or borrowing money for the exercise.
Similarly, the government directed the state pilgrim Board to allocate 90 per cent of the available seats for freshers.
Speaking at the flag off of sale of grains to members of the public in Minna ahead of the Ramadan fasting governor Babangida Aliyu, said the step became necessary because of the number of seats allocated to the state for this year hajj.
He insisted that holy pilgrimage to Mecca should not be seen as a jamboree but as a religious obligation, saying “Already the Customs and Immigrations have been directed to screen the passports of all intending pilgrimage to screen out those who have performed the journey in the past and allow the first timers to go and where necessary introduce balloting for all intending pilgrim to give room for fairness and equity.”
He warned local government chairmen in the state not to bribe traditional rulers and politicians with hajj seat at the detriment of freshers, who had no god fathers to lobby for them.
On the sale of the grains to the public, the governor said it was a deliberate attempt to make it coincide with the Ramadan season to allow the poor purchase food items at a cheaper rate, nothing that it had been observed that prices of food stuff usually went up during festivities.
To this end, he said 10,000 tonnes of assorted grains had been purchased at over N25million and would be sold to the less privileged at subsidised rates.
According to him, 25kg of rice would be sold for N3,500 as against N5,000, 100kg of maize would be sold for N5,600, 100kg of beans would be sold for N14,000, 100kg of millet for N7,000, while Guinea corn would cost N6,300,.
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