Rules of Fasting For whom fast is Farḍ? Like Ṣalāĥ, the fasts of Ramadan are also Farḍ for every mature and sane Muslim man and woman. It is stated in Durr-e-Mukhtār that fasts were declared Farḍ on 10th Sha’bān two years after Ĥijraĥ. (Durr-e-Mukhtār ma’ Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 330, vol. 3) Reason of fasts becoming Farḍ Most of the acts in Islam remind us of faith-refreshing Islamic and historical events. Running between Ṣafā and Marwaĥ reminds us of Sayyidatunā Ĥājiraĥ’s walking and running between these two mountains seven times in search of water for her son Sayyidunā Ismā’īl. Allah liked this act and declared it Wājib for all those who perform Hajj and ‘Umraĥ to imitate her in order to keep this act alive. Likewise, the Holy Prophet spent some days of Ramadan in seclusion in the cave of Ḥirā where he used to refrain from eating during the day and worship Allah at night. In order to keep the memory of this blessed act of His Beloved and Blessed Rasūl alive Allah made it Farḍ for us to fast in Ramadan. Fasts of the Prophets The people of the previous Ummaĥs also fasted but their manner of fasting was different from ours. According to narrations, Sayyidunā Ādam would fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th dates. (Kanz-ul-Ummāl, pp. 257, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24188) Sayyidunā Nūḥ used to fast every day. (Sunan Ibn Mājaĥ, pp. 333, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 1714) Sayyidunā ‘Īsā would fast every day and would never miss even a single fast. (Kanz-ul-Ummāl, pp. 304, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24624) Sayyidunā Dāwūd used to fast on alternate days. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 584, Ḥadīš 1189) Sayyidunā Sulaymān used to fast on the first three, the middle three and the last three days of every month. (Kanz-ul-Ummāl, pp. 304, vol. 8, Ḥadīš 24624) Fast and the Holy Quran will intercede Fasts and the Holy Quran will intercede for the Muslims on the Day of Judgement. The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kin has stated, ‘The fast and the Holy Quran will intercede for people on the Day of Judgement. The fast will say, ‘O Merciful Allah! I prevented him from eating and satisfying his desires during the day, accept my intercession in his favour.’ The Holy Quran will say, ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night, accept my intercession for him.’ Their intercessions will be accepted.’ (Musnad Imām Ahmad, pp. 586, vol. 2, Hadīš 6637) Does man fall ill due to fast? There is a general misconception that a person falls ill as a result of fasting but this has nothing to do with reality. A’lā Ḥaḍrat has stated in Al-Malfūẓ (part 2, page 143), ‘Once I saw my respected father Sayyidunā Maulānā Naqī ‘Alī Khān in my dream a few weeks before Ramadan; he said, ‘Son, you will fall severely ill in the following Ramadan, but be careful, you should not miss even a single fast.’ As my father predicted, I did fall severely ill in Ramadan but I did not miss even a single fast. Allah granted me good health by the blessing of fasts. The Noble Prophet has said, (Fast; you will get healthy).’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšūr, pp. 440, vol. 1) Fast improves health Sayyidunā ‘Alī has narrated that the Prophet of Raḥmaĥ, the Intercessor of Ummaĥ has said, ‘Allah sent a revelation to one of the Prophets of Banī Isrāīl commanding him to inform his Ummaĥ that if anyone fasts a day for My pleasure, I will grant him good health and reward him greatly.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, pp. 412, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3923) Swollen stomach Dear Islamic brothers! the foregoing Ḥadīš makes it clear that fast not only improves our health but also provides us with an opportunity to get great reward. The scientists of the present age have also accepted this fact. Therefore, professor Moore Palid of Oxford University has stated, ‘While studying Islamic books, I was astonished to know that Islam has given a great gift to its followers in the form of fasts! I also felt like fasting, so I began to fast in conformity with Islamic method. My stomach was swollen for quite a while; surprisingly, I felt an obvious reduction in pain as a result of fasting for just a few days. Therefore, I kept on fasting and recovered from my illness within a month.’ Astonishing discoveries A priest from Holland, Alf Gaal, has stated, ‘I made several patients suffering from diabetics, heart and stomach diseases fast continuously for thirty days. Resultantly, the diabetes of the diabetics came under control, the heart patients felt a decrease in their fear and breathing problems, and the condition of the stomach patients improved the most.’ Sigmund Freud, a psychologist, has also accepted the fact that fast is an excellent cure for physical stress, depression and mental disorders. Team of researchers According to a newspaper report, a team of researchers and doctors from Germany, England and America came to Pakistan in Ramadan. They chose Bāb-ul-Madīnaĥ Karachi, Markaz-ul-Auliyā Lahore, and the city of Muḥaddiš-e-A’ẓam Sardarabad (Faisalabad) for their research. The report issued by the researchers after the surveys concluded that the Muslims suffer relatively less ear, nose and throat (E.N.T.) illnesses as a result of ablution (Wuḍū) they make prior to their daily Ṣalāĥ they offer in abundance in the month of Ramadan. The Muslims also get less stomach, liver, heart and nerve problems as they eat less due to fast. Excessive eating causes illnesses Dear Islamic brothers! Fast does not cause any illness at all, in fact, people fall ill in Ramadan in consequence of eating oily and fried things at the time of Saḥarī and Ifṭār. Further, many people eat and drink different things every now and then at night. Therefore, one should avoid excessive eating in Ramadan. At Saḥarī, one should not eat so much food that he ends up burping all day and does not feel any hunger and thirst at all. In fact, the enjoyment of fast lies in bearing thirst and hunger. Extremely hot weather, dry lips and extreme hunger! If only this condition would remind us of the sweet heat and cool sunshine of Madīna-tul-Munawwaraĥ! And, if only it would remind us of the extremely heart-rending incident of Karbalā where the flowers of Prophet’s garden were brutally trampled under feet on the scorching desert. Imām Ḥussaīn and his companions sacrificed their lives for Islam in the state of extreme thirst, hunger and helplessness. When we feel even more hunger, if only the thought of the blessed stone our Beloved Rasūl tied to his blessed stomach would remind us of his hunger. Dear Islamic brothers! We should fast in such a way that evokes the memories of our Beloved and Blessed Prophet, his companions and other saints. Ya Rab of Mustafa ! Make us honour Ramadan according to Sharī’aĥ and Sunnaĥ, make us fast, offer Tarāwih, recite the Holy Quran and offer Nafl Ṣalāĥ in abundance, and accept our worships and forgive us with Your grace and mercy. Amin! Talib-e-Dua , Raja Atif Raza Naqasbandi {Admin}
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 23:27:32 +0000
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