As the month of Ramadan approaches, many are interested in answers to questions about how to fast correctly, how to fast during the month of Ramadan, etc.
In this article we decided to talk about the rules of fasting during this Holy month for Muslims.
Fasting in Islam is abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse during the day, or more precisely from the time of dawn until sunset. After sunset, all of the above prohibitions are lifted until the next morning, and so on every day throughout the month of Ramadan.
A believer must have a sincere intention to fast for the sake of the pleasure of Allah Almighty, that is, no one should fast for another purpose, for example, for the sake of losing weight or following medicinal diets.
The morning meal time is called Suhoor, and breaking the fast in the evening is Iftar.
How to hold Uraza correctly for a girl
For young girls there are a number of their own rules for observing Uraza. Firstly, a girl is supposed to fast from the moment she reaches puberty, that is, with the onset of her period. As a rule, this happens at the age of 12-15 years. Before this age, girls usually do not fast.
Secondly, girls should not accept advances from boys during fasting, because this is a sin. You shouldn’t even allow thoughts about some kind of love relationship.
Thirdly, if a girl’s menstruation began during fasting, then she should wait until it is completely over, and then start fasting and praying. Before the prayer, we already talked about how we do not allow “dirty” women, that is, those women who are menstruating.
Why keep Uraza in the month of Ramadan?
Fasting on Uraza helps atone for sins that were committed during the year. Ramadan is 30 or 29 days (depending on the lunar month) of strict fasting. During this period, Muslims should set aside time for donations, almsgiving, reflection, contemplation and all kinds of good deeds. However, the main task of every believer is not to drink water or eat food from dawn to dusk. Unlike the Orthodox fast (Assumption or Great), during which it is forbidden to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, during Uraza it is allowed to eat any food in moderation.
The main activity of Muslims during Ramadan is prayer. Before sunrise, each believer makes a niyat (intention) to observe the Uraz, and then eats food 30 minutes before dawn and prays. Prayers during the holy month are held in mosques, where Muslims come with their children or at home with relatives and neighbors. If a believer is in other latitudes during the month of Ramadan, then, according to the Hanafi madhhab (teaching), he reads the obligatory morning prayer according to Meccan time.
Breaking the fast in Ramadan, prayer or dua after iftar
In the evening, immediately after sunset, when it completely disappears over the horizon, you need to break your fast. If you have dates, you can use them; if not, then you can just use water.
After breaking the fast, read the following dua (can also be done in Russian):
«Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya aamantu wa aleykya tawakkaltu wa 'ala rizkykya aftartu. Fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddamtu va ma akhhartu.”
“O Allah, I fasted for Your pleasure, believed in You, relied on You and broke my fast using Your gifts. Forgive me for past and future sins, O All-Forgiving One!”
The time of breaking the fast is considered the moment when the prayer of a believer is accepted and therefore it is advisable at these moments to turn to Allah Almighty with any dua or request, and you can ask Him in any language. After prayer you can eat.
Fasting and its virtues in Islam
The times of Suhur and Iftar (the latter corresponds to the time of Maghrib prayer) for cities in Russia and the CIS for the current year 2022 are presented in a special section of our website “Namaz times”.
Fasting (uraza, ruza) is one of the pillars of Islam, therefore its observance is mandatory for Muslims.
Usually, by Muslim fasting, the average person understands abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours. In fact, this concept is much broader: it includes voluntary refusal not only from eating food, but also from committing any sins committed with the eyes, hands and tongue, as well as from certain actions. While in a state of holding a prayer, the believer must clearly realize that he is doing this for the sake of his Creator, and not have any other intentions.
In Islamic faith, depending on the time of observance and significance, there are two types of fasting: obligatory (fard) and desirable (sunnat).
The first is observed en masse by Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, which has incomparable benefits for people. In His Scripture, Allah advises us:
In the month of Ramadan, the Qur'an was revealed - true guidance for people, clear evidence of right guidance and discernment. Whoever this month finds among you must fast (2:185)
A huge reward awaits those who adhere to the prayer during the blessed month, and severe punishment will certainly follow for leaving it without a good reason. Proof of this is the following statement by the Grace of the Worlds of Muhammad (s.g.w.): “Whoever observes fasting during Ramadan with faith and hope for the reward of the Almighty will have his previous sins forgiven” (hadith cited by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
In 2022, Ramadan will last from April 13 (the first day of fasting) to May 12 (see calendar):
Ramadan 2022
However, the Lord did not make observance of the prayer obligatory for all people.
Who doesn't need to post:
1. People who are not Muslims
An important condition for observing the Uraza is that a person professes Islam. For others, fasting is not required. At the same time, this does not mean that for days spent without fasting during the months of Ramadan, every person, regardless of his religion, will not have to answer to the Almighty on the Day of the Great Judgment.
2. For minors
Uraza is considered mandatory for adults. It is necessary to understand that this means coming of age from an Islamic point of view, which does not occur at the age of 18, as is customary in most countries of the world, but during puberty, which occurs differently for each person.
3. Mentally incompetent
Mental capacity is listed among the conditions for obligatory fasting. In other words, a person who is not of sound mind has the right to refrain from observing this pillar of Islam.
4. To everyone who is on the go
It is not necessary for those people who are on the road, that is, travelers, to keep their spirits up. It should be noted that, according to Sharia, travelers are considered to be people who have traveled more than 83 km from home and their journey lasts no more than 15 days.
5. Physically ill people
People who suffer from any disease that requires constant use of medications, or that threatens severe ailments and pain, even threatening their life if they follow the fast, are exempt from its necessity.
6. Pregnant
Women who are carrying a child and fear for the life of their unborn child have the right not to fast during the month of Ramadan.
7. Nursing women
Women who breastfeed their babies may also not fast.
8. Women during menstruation and bleeding caused by childbirth
During the menstrual period and during postpartum bleeding, women, according to Sharia, are in a position of ritual defilement, as a result of which non-compliance with the prayer is allowed and, moreover, necessary. If pregnant and lactating women have the right to fast, then on these days it is better for women to abstain.
9. Unconscious people
Believers who remain unconscious for a long time, for example, in a coma, are, for obvious reasons, also freed from the uraza.
In situations where a person misses one or more days of fasting for the reasons listed above, he must make up for them later, when the reason that gives the right to non-fasting is eliminated, for example, when the traveler returns home or the person comes out of a coma. Believers who are unable to keep up the prayers throughout the year, for example due to illness, must feed one needy person for each missed day. If this is also difficult for a person in material terms, because he himself is one of those in need, then he is completely freed from this obligation.
A desirable fast is one whose observance is desirable, but is not obligatory on Muslims. For observing such a fast, the believer is entitled to a reward, but for abandoning it there is no sin.
Days when it is advisable to keep your spirits up:
- Day of Araf - for fasting on this day, the Lord can forgive a person for the sins he has committed over 2 years. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) explained: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah serves as atonement for sins committed over the past and future years” (hadith from Ibn Majah and Nasai).
- Day of Ashura - those who fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram erase all sins for the previous 12 months. The Messenger of Allah (s.w.w.) admonished his ummah: “Fasting on the Day of Ashura serves as atonement for the sins of the past year” (hadith cited by Muslim). However, Shiite theologians assure that it is undesirable to keep a fast on this day, since on this date the grandson of the Final Prophet (s.g.w.), Imam Hussein, who is especially revered by Shiite Muslims, was martyred.
- The first 9 days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah - this can be found mentioned in the hadith: “Fasting in the first days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to one year of fasting” (Ibn Majah).
- The month of Muharram - Eid in this forbidden month is considered Sunnat. After all, the Prophet Muhammad himself once said: “After Ramadan, the best month for fasting is the month of Allah - Muharram” (hadith cited by Muslim).
- The month of Sha'ban is another month during which it is advisable to fast. In the lunar calendar, it comes before Ramadan. In the hadiths from Bukhari there is a mention that the Final Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) was zealous in observing the fast in the month of Sha'ban, except for some days.
- 6 days of the month of Shawwal are also desirable for fasting. Shawwal follows the Holy month of Ramadan. “If someone completes the fast of Ramadan and adds six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, he will receive the same reward as if he had fasted the whole year” (hadith from Muslim).
- Uraza every other day , or the fast of the Prophet Daoud (a.s.), who kept the Uraza every other day and which, as the Grace of the Worlds Muhammad (s.g.w.) said, “is the most beloved fast for Allah” (in accordance with the hadith from Muslim).
- 3 days in the middle of each month - The Prophet (s.g.w.) instructed: “If you want to fast in the middle of the month, then fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th days” (at-Tirmidhi).
- Every Monday and Thursday - it was on these days that the Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) regularly observed the fast. “The affairs of people are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday,” he said. “And I want my affairs to be presented while I am fasting” (hadith reported by at-Tirmidhi).
Times of fasting in Islam
It is known that in Islam fasting is observed during daylight hours. The countdown starts from dawn. In the Holy Book of Muslims you can find the following verse:
Eat and drink until you can distinguish a white thread at dawn from a black one, then fast until nightfall (2:187)
The fasting person should stop eating in the morning (suhoor) before the time of Fajr prayer (usually 30 minutes).
Once one of the ascetics asked the Prophet Muhammad (s.g.w.) about what time period should be between suhoor and azan for morning prayer, to which he replied: “As much as is necessary to read fifty verses” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).
The end of fasting time (iftar) comes at sunset and coincides with the time of evening prayer. In this case, after fasting, the believer should first break his fast and then begin prayer.
At the end of Suhur, the following dua (niyat) is read:
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ إِلَ ى الْمَغْرِبِ خَالِصًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Transcription: “Nauaitu an-assumma sauma shahri Ramadaan min al-fajri il al-Maghribi haalisan lilLyahi tya'aala”
Translation: “I intend to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset sincerely for the sake of Allah.”
Immediately after breaking the fast - at iftar - the dua is pronounced:
لَكَ َى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ فَاغْفِرْلِى يَا غَفَّارُ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ م َأ اَخَّرْتُ
Transcription: “Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa 'ala rizkykya aftartu faqfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”
Translation: “O Allah! For Your sake I kept the fast, I believed in You and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”
Actions that disrupt the mood
1. Intentional eating and smoking
If a fasting person consciously ate or drank something, or lit a cigarette, then his prayer on that day will not be accepted. But if he ate something not intentionally, for example, out of forgetfulness, then in this case the person should stop eating or drinking as soon as he remembered his fast, and he can continue to keep the fast - such a fast will be considered valid.
2. Intimacy
After sexual intercourse, the fast is broken. Similar consequences apply to kissing lips on lips, as well as ejaculation due to conscious stimulation (masturbation).
3. Instillation of medicine into the nose and ears
Uraza becomes invalid as soon as a person uses special medications used for instillation into the nose and ear canal if they get into the larynx. At the same time, injections made into a vein or muscle, as well as eye drops, do not break the fast.
4. Swallowing liquid when gargling
When fasting, you must be careful when gargling for medicinal purposes or just to moisten it - getting water inside will invalidate your fast. Swimming in a pond and taking a bath in a state of excitement is permissible, but you should be careful about the penetration of liquid through the sinuses, throat and ears.
5. Use of medical inhalers
During fasting, the use of inhalers should be avoided if possible.
6. Intentionally inducing vomiting
If the person holding the fast intentionally caused vomiting, then his fast is considered broken. If the vomiting did not occur by the will of the person, then the fast remains valid.
7. Menstruation
In a situation where a woman menstruates during daylight hours, she should stop fasting. She will need to make up this day after her period ends.
Benefits of fasting
This pillar of Islam carries many advantages for believers who observe it.
Firstly, the eid is capable of leading a person into the Gardens of Eden, which can be confirmed in the biography of the Prophet (s.g.w.): “Truly, in Paradise there is a gate called “Ar-Rayyan”, through which people will enter on the Day of Judgment fasting people And no one will enter through this gate except them” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).
Secondly, fasting will serve as an intercessor for the Muslim on the Day of Judgment: “Fasting and the Quran on the Day of Judgment will intercede for the servant of Allah” (hadith from Ahmad).
Thirdly, uraza entails forgiveness of sins, as mentioned earlier.
In addition, all requests of a believer who observes fasting will be accepted by the Almighty. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: “A person who fasts never rejects his dua while breaking his fast” (Ibn Majah).
Tips for Beginners
It is now difficult to overestimate the importance of a 30-day fast for human health. Even science has proven that by fasting, the human body is cleansed of excess weight, salts, bile, under-oxidized metabolic products, and breathing is normalized. The experience of centuries shows that Uraza is the most effective method of getting rid of various chronic diseases: allergies, gallstones, osteochondrosis and migraines. During fasting, defense mechanisms are enhanced, the immune system is stimulated, and the aging process is delayed.
Beginners need to know that during this month all sorts of excesses are excluded, and there are special rules for the intake of food and liquids. Immediately after sunset, the fasting person eats only light food, and a couple of hours before dawn - a dense meal. Such food is considered godly, and therefore serves for the forgiveness of sins. At the evening meal, it is advisable that a mullah or a person who knows the Koran well be present; he will read surahs and talk about the deeds of God. Small talk is not prohibited during the evening breaking of the fast.
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Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women to fast?
Women in the postpartum period or during menstruation do not observe Uraza - this is confirmed by the corresponding Sunnahs. As for pregnant and nursing mothers, they can completely or selectively refuse fasting at their own discretion, especially if they are afraid for their or their child’s health. As for making up for a missed post, the woman makes this decision on her own.
Without complete ablution
Sometimes, for some independent reason, a woman does not have a complete ablution, and the fast has already begun. For example, menstruation ended at night, or marital intimacy took place, or the spouses overslept the morning meal. This should not bother a woman in any way, because complete ablution and observance of Uraza are in no way interconnected with each other. Ritual purity is needed only for performing namaz.
When do you get your period?
According to the rules of Islam, during menstruation, Uraza must be interrupted in any case, regardless of marital status and age. Prayers and namaz are not performed, since the woman does not have ritual purity. According to the rules, the missed days of fasting at the end of Ramadan must be made up one to one in a row or in a breakdown at the discretion of the Muslim woman. But the woman does not make up for missed prayers.
What to do if it’s hard to keep Uraza in the heat
When the month of Ramadan falls in the summer heat, it is very difficult for Muslims to keep Uraz, because on hot days thirst increases, and refusal of water can negatively affect human health. Moreover, during a 30-day fast, it is forbidden not only to drink, but even to rinse your mouth, because drops of water can get into the stomach. In this case, Islam gives some concessions for pregnant women, children, travelers, the elderly and seriously ill people.
Fast one day or with breaks every other day
If a Muslim woman has serious illnesses, for example, diabetes, pancreatitis and others, then she can keep Uraza not every day, but every other day. Fasting is not so much abstinence from food and water as it is the promotion of spiritual growth and purification of thoughts. But if a woman can keep Uraza with such diseases, then she should eat fresh raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, not overeat, and not throw on food at the holiday of breaking the fast of Eid al-Fitr, when Ramadan ends.
Video
When a woman holds Uraza for the first time, long before the onset of Ramadan, she needs to prepare herself for the fact that this is not a hunger strike, but a great joyful holiday, so that there is a feeling of a cheerful event. It should be remembered that the fasting person receives a reward, which during Ramadan multiplies all the good deeds of a person. And for violating Uraza without a good reason, a Muslim woman will have to pay the needy a certain amount and make up for the missed day with any day of fasting. Watch the video for advice for women starting to keep the Uraz:
Fasting in RAMADAN: a month WITHOUT WATER?
Uraza Rules
Who should fast?
Muslims all over the world look forward to Ramadan as it is a time of inner peace and well-being.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory for every adult Muslim, male or female, who has reached puberty, is of sound mind, and not ill or traveling.
An illness may be a temporary illness from which a person expects a quick recovery. Such a person should not fast on the days of his illness, but he or she should fast later after Ramadan to make up for the missed days. Those who are sick with an incurable disease and do not expect improvement in their health are also allowed not to fast, but they must pay fidya, that is, give a day's food for each missed fast to a needy person. In lieu of food for one day, you can also give an equivalent amount to a needy person. Women are not allowed to fast during menstruation or postpartum bleeding, but must make up the fast later after Ramadan. Pregnant women and mothers nursing babies may also consider delaying the fast until a later time when they are able to do so.
Sharia travel is any journey that takes you at least 48 miles or 80 kilometers away from your city of residence. Travel should be for a good cause. During Ramadan, frivolous travel that could cause one to miss the fast should be avoided. If possible, you should try to change your travel plans during Ramadan to be able to fast, and avoid traveling unless necessary. A traveler who misses fasting in Ramadan must make up the missed days as soon as possible after Ramadan.
Fasting according to the Sunnah
- Take suhoor (pre-dawn meal). This is the Sunnah and there is great reward and blessing in accepting Suhoor. The best time for suhoor is the last half hour before dawn or the time of morning prayer.
- Have iftar (breakfast) immediately after sunset. Shariah considers sunset to be sunset when the disk of the sun goes below the horizon and completely disappears.
- During fasting, refrain from all false conversations and deeds. Don't quarrel, argue, argue, use bad words or do anything that is prohibited. You should try to discipline yourself morally and ethically, in addition to getting physical fitness and discipline. You should also not show off your post by talking too much about it, or showing dry lips and an empty stomach, or showing bad character. The person fasting should be a pleasant person with good humor and good humor.
- During fasting, do charity and do good to others, increase your worship and recitation of the Qur'an. Everyone should try to read the entire Quran at least once during the month of Ramadan.
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Things that invalidate the prayer
You must avoid any action that may invalidate your post. The things that invalidate the fast and require Qadaa (compensation for these days) are the following:
- Eating, drinking or smoking intentionally, including ingesting any non-nutrients by mouth or nose.
- Intentionally induce vomiting.
- The onset of menstrual or postpartum bleeding even at the last moment before sunset.
- Intercourse or other sexual contact (or masturbation) that results in ejaculation (in men) or vaginal discharge (orgasm) in women.
- Eating, drinking, smoking or having sex after Fajr (dawn), mistakenly believing that the time for Fajr has not yet arrived. In the same way, perform these actions before Maghrib (sunset), mistakenly believing that it is already Maghrib time.
Sexual intercourse is prohibited during fasting. Those who engage in this must perform both qadaa (completing the fast) and kafara (atonement by fasting for 60 days after Ramadan or by feeding 60 poor people for each day the fast is broken in this way). According to Imam Abu Hanifa, intentional consumption of food and/or drink during fasting also entails the same qadaa and kaffarah.
Things that do not break the fast
Using miswak to brush your teeth does not break your fast.
During fasting, the following is permissible:
- Taking a bath or shower. If the water is swallowed involuntarily, the fast is not broken. According to most jurists, swimming is also permitted while fasting, but diving should be avoided because it will cause water to enter the stomach from the mouth or nose.
- Wearing perfume, wearing contact lenses, or using eye drops.
- Give injections or take a blood test.
- Using a miswak (dental stick) or toothbrush (even with toothpaste) and rinsing your mouth or nostrils with water, as long as you don't overdo it (to avoid swallowing water).
- Eating, drinking or smoking unintentionally, i.e. forgetting that a person was fasting. But you need to stop as soon as you remember and continue fasting.
- Sleeping during the day and wet dreams do not break the fast. Also, if someone had sexual intercourse at night and was unable to perform ghusl (wash) before dawn, he or she can start fasting and perform ghusl later. Women who stop menstruating at night can begin fasting even if they have not yet performed ghusl. In all these cases, ablution (ghusl) is necessary, but fasting is valid even without ablution.
- Kissing between husband and wife is allowed during fasting, but one should try to avoid it so as not to do anything that is prohibited during fasting.
Time to fast
People who have decided to fast for the first time in their lives do not know where and how to look at the time to keep the fast, what time to close in the morning, what time can they eat, how many days to keep it, is it possible to keep the fast on Friday.
To accurately determine the time, you can use the prayer times of a specific locality. They usually indicate the time of completion of Suhoor in the morning, and the time of breaking the fast (sunset) coincides with the time of Maghrib prayer (Akhsham).
Fasting should be maintained throughout the month of Ramadan, including on Fridays. It is wrong to fast only for three days at the beginning, end or in the middle, as some ignorant people say, but it is necessary to keep the fast throughout the entire month.
We recommend reading → Congratulations on the holiday of Eid al-Adha
Purpose of Uraza
Chapter 2 verse 183 of the Quran says: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn taqwa (piety).”
Taqwa is a very important spiritual and ethical term in the Quran. It is the sum of all Islamic spirituality and ethics. It is a quality in the life of a believer that makes him or her constantly aware of God. A person who fears God loves to do good and avoid evil for the sake of God. Taqwa is piety, righteousness and God consciousness. Taqwa requires patience and persistence. Fasting teaches patience, and with patience one can rise to the high position of piety.
The Prophet (SA) said that fasting is a shield. It protects a person from sin and lustful desires. When Jesus' disciples asked him how to cast out evil spirits, he reportedly said, "But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21).
According to Imam Al-Ghazali, fasting produces in a person a semblance of the divine quality of samadiyya (freedom from want). Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim viewed fasting as a means of freeing the human spirit from the clutches of desire, thereby allowing moderation in the carnal self to prevail. Imam Shah Waliullah Dahlawi (d. 1762 CE) viewed fasting as a means of weakening the bestial and strengthening the angelic elements in people. Maulana Maududi (d. 1979 CE) emphasized that annual fasting for a full month trains the individual and the Muslim community as a whole in piety and self-restraint.
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