The Book of Siyam (Fastings)

By Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno

Teacher at Dar-ul-Hadith Al-Khairiyah, Makkah Al-Mukarramah

(Taken from "The Pillars Of Islam And Iman And What Every Muslim Must Know About His Religion”, Translated by: Research & Compilation Department Dar-us-Salam Publications, Copyright and Published by Dar-us-Salam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alhamdulillah, Brother Abdul-Malik Mujahid, the General Manager of Dar-us-Salam Publications, has given us permission to include this book together with other very useful books on Islam according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah in the Islamic electronic books and CD-ROMs WEFOUND is developing for the World Islamic Service for Developing Outstanding Muslims (WISDOM) International Islamic Learning Program. May Allah reward the author and the publisher for this service to Islam.)



Benefits of Siyam (Fastings)

Allah the Almighty said:

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may achieve Taqwa.” (V. 2:183)

(Taqwa is translated sometimes as piety, sometimes as consciousness of Allah, sometimes as fear of Allah. It is derived from the word Wiqayah for “Shield” and the connection is explained by scholars: To shield yourself from Allah’s wrath by hurrying to do what He ordered you and by strictly avoiding what He has prohibited).

And the Prophet (pbuh, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Saum (fasting) is a shield (or a screen or a shelter) from Hell-fire.” (Agreed upon)

1. He (pbuh) also said:

“Whoever observed fasting in Ramadan with perfect faith and seeking reward, he will have his previous sins forgiven.” (Agreed upon)

2. “Whoever stood to pray (Tarawîh) in Ramadan with perfect faith and seeking reward, he will have his previous sins forgiven.” (Agreed upon)

You should know, my fellow Muslims, that Allah has made fasting obligatory, and it is an act of worship, and it has many benefits, among them:

1. Fasting gives the digestive organs a rest, causes the body to get rid of accumulated wastes which are detrimental to health. It strengthens the body and is beneficial for the treatment of many diseases. It also presents an opportunity for smokers to break their addiction since they cannot smoke during the day.

2. Fasting is a training for the self, getting it used to good deeds, discipline, obedience, patience and sincerity.

3. The fasting person feels his equality with all his fasting brethren; he fasts with them and breaks fast with them, and he experiences the general Islamic unity, and he experiences hunger which should make him sympathize with his brethren who are hungry and needy.



What You Are Required to do in Ramadan

We should realize that Allah made Saum (fasting) obligatory on us as a way for us to worship Him: and for the fasting to be acceptable and beneficial, we should observe the following conditions:

1. Guard the Salât; unfortunately many fasting persons neglect Salât which is a pillar of the religion and abandoning it is an act of disbelief.

2. Be well-mannered: beware of disbelief and cursing the religion, and treating people badly, using the fast as an excuse; fasting is to train the self not to ruin the manners, and disbelief puts a Muslim outside of the religion.

3. Do not use foul or harsh language, even while joking, as it will spoil (the reward of) the fast. Listen to the statement of the Prophet (pbuh):

“If one of you is fasting, he should not use obscenity that day nor shout; and if someone speaks abusively or wants to fight with him, he should say: ‘Verily I’m fasting, verily I’m fasting’”.(Agreed upon)

4. Take advantage of fasting to give up smoking, which causes cancer, high blood pressure and other diseases; try to make a firm conviction to leave it by night as you left it by day. Save your health and your money.

5. Do not overeat at the time of breaking the fast, as the benefit of fasting is cancelled and it is not healthy.

6. Do not waste your time by going to movies or watching television.

7. Do not stay up so late at night that you are not able to wake up for Sahűr (the predawn meal) or Salât-ul-Fajr, and take your duty on early morning. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“O Allah, bless my Ummah in their early mornings (acts).” (Ahmad and Tirmidhi)

[Ummah is sometimes translated as nation, or community of believers, or followers. Each Prophet had an Ummah that he was sent to. The word Ummah is usually used for the people who believed in the Prophet].

8. Increase spending in charity, on relatives and the needy, visit your relatives, and make peace with those with whom you have had disputes.

9. Increase your remembrance of Allah, and recitation of Qur’ân and listening to it, and contemplation of its meanings. Act on it and attend the beneficial discussions in the mosques, and practise I'tikâf in the Masjid at the end of Ramadan (this is Sunnah).

10. Read the pamphlets on fasting to learn its rules, for instance, if you ate or drank, forgetting that you were fasting, it doesn’t break the fast (but you have to stop immediately as soon as you realize what you're doing); another example: A person who became Junub at night (because of intercourse, for example), and he doesn’t get a chance to perform a Ghusl (bath) before the appearance of dawn, that doesn’t prevent him from fasting; he just has to perform the Ghusl and offer Salât and go ahead and observe Saum (fast).

11. Be mindful of the fast of Ramadan, and get your children used to it when they are able to endure it, and beware of breaking the fast without a valid excuse. Whoever does so must repent for that and make up for that day, and whoever has intercourse with his wife during the daytime of Ramadan he has to expiate the sin. He must free a slave if he’s able to do so. If not, he should fast two months continuously (60 days without missing a day); and if he can’t do that, he should feed 60 poor persons one meal.

12. Beware, my Muslim brothers, from breaking the fast of Ramadan without excuse. And beware of doing so openly in front of people. Because breaking the fast is audacity with Allah, and disrespect for Islam, and shamelessness among people. And you should realize that the one who doesn’t fast, doesn’t really have an ‘Eid (festival) because the ‘Eid is the occasion of great happiness for those who completed the fasts and hope their worship to be accepted.



Ahadith on the Virtues of Fasting

Virtues of Ramadan:

1. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“When Ramadan starts, the doors of heaven are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up.” And in another version: “When Ramadan starts, the doors of Paradise are opened.” And in another version: “The doors of mercy are opened.” (Agreed upon)

2. In a version reported by Tirmidhi:

“And a caller calls out: 'O you who crave the good, come on! And O you who crave evil, abstain! And Allah has certain people whom he frees from the (Hell) Fire every night until Ramadan ends.'” (Declared Hasan by Albâni in the Mishkât)

3. Allah the Almighty says:

“Every good deed of the son of Adam is multiplied in reward 10 to 700 times except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will grant the reward for it, he leaves his passion and his food for My sake. The fasting person has two moments of happiness: One moment when he ends his fasting for the day (Iftâr) and the other when he meets his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). And the smell which issues from the mouth of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the smell of musk (fragrance).” (Agreed upon)

Guarding the tongue:

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:

“Whoever do not abstain from deceitful speech and actions, Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink.” (Bukhari)

Ending the fast (Iftâr), supplication, and the predawn meal (Sahűr):

1. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“When one of you breaks the fast, he should do so with dates, because it is blessed. If he couldn’t get dates, then (break your fast with) water, because it purifies.” (Tirmidhi).

2. The Prophet (pbuh) used to say at the time of Iftâr:

“O Allah I kept the fast for You, and with Your sustenance I am breaking (my fast). The thirst is gone, and the veins replenished, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills,” (Abű Dâwűd)

3. And the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“The people will continue to be in welfare as long as they hurry to Iftâr (break fast after the sun sets).” (Agreed upon)

4. And the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Take Sahűr before dawn, for verily in the Sahűr there is blessing”. (Agreed upon)



Voluntary Fasting

The Prophet (pbuh) used to encourage fasting in the following days:

1. Six days in Shawwal (the month after Ramadan); the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it up with six days in Shawwâl, it is as if he fasted the whole (year).” (Muslim)

The scholars said that the reward of the good deeds are multiplied by ten. 30 x 10 = 300 + [6 days x 10] = 360 which is slightly longer than a lunar year, and next Ramadan he will fast again so it is as if he fasted his whole life.

2. Fasting the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of ‘Arafah (the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah) (for those who are not performing Hajj); the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah expiates two years of sins, last year’s and next year’s and fasting on the tenth of Muharram (‘Aashura) expiates the previous year’s (of sins).” (Muslim and others)

“Milk was sent to the Prophet (pbuh) while he was giving his sermon on the day of Arafah and he drank from it.” (Agreed upon)

3. Fasting on the day of ‘Aashűra, along with one day before it, or one day after it. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Today is the day of ‘Aashűra, and its fasting is not mandatory on you, and I am fasting, so whoever wants should fast, and whoever wants should break his fast.” (Agreed upon)

And he (pbuh) said:

“If I live till the next year, I will fast definitely on the 9th (the day before ‘Aashűrâ).” (Muslim)

(This shows that it is preferable to fast an extra day along with the tenth, preferably the ninth, but, if not possible, then the 11th).

4. Fasting most of the month of Sha‘bân.

“Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) used to fast most of Sha‘ban.” (Agreed upon)

5. Fasting Monday and Thursday. The Prophet (pbuh) mentioned that:

“The deeds of the worshippers are presented before Allah on Monday and Thursday, I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” (Nasa’i)

He (pbuh) was asked about fasting on Monday, he said: “That is the day I was born and the day (the first Revelation) was sent down on me.” (Muslim)

6. Fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th of every lunar month. One of the Sahâb’ah (may Allah be pleased with them)said:

“The Prophet (pbuh) instructed us to fast three days of every month, the 13th, 14th, and 15th.” (Nasa’i and others)



Things which Break the Fast

The things which break the fast are of two categories:

A- What breaks the fast and requires only to make up for it (Qadâ).

B- What breaks it and requires to make up for it (Qadâ), and also to perform an act of expiation (Kaffârah).

A- What requires Qadâ only:

1. To eat and drink, knowingly and intentionally.

2. To induce vomiting intentionally, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Whoever induced vomiting must make up for (the fast).” (Hâkim and others)

3. Menstruation and post-partum bleeding. Even if the bleeding starts just before the sun sets, that day’s fasting must be repeated.

4. Ejaculation, either by masturbation or any other method of ejaculating short of intercourse, whether the cause was kissing the wife, or hugging her, or by use of the hand, etc. This nullifies the fast but requires Qadâ only.

B- What requires Qadá and Kaffarah both:

As for that which requires both Qadâ (repeating) and Kaffârah (expiation), it is only sexual intercourse and nothing else, in the opinion of a great number of scholars. The expiation is to free a slave, or to fast two lunar months in succession without missing a day, or to feed sixty poor people. Some scholars say the obligation is in that order, i.e. first one should free a slave; then, if that’s not possible, to observe fast; then, if that’s not possible, to feed the poor. (The man and the woman are both equal for their act and both must make expiation).



Things which do not Spoil the Fast

1. To eat or drink forgetfullly or mistakenly, or due to another person’s threats and compulsion. There is no necessity for Qadâ or Kaffârah. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Whoever forgot while he was fasting and ate or drank he should complete his fast, for it was Allah Who fed him and gave him to drink”. (Agreed upon)

And he (pbuh) said:

“Allah has laid off for my Ummah (the burden of) mistakes and forgetfulness and what they are forced to do against their wills”. (Tabarani).

2. Unintentional vomiting. The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“One who happened to vomit while fasting, there is no Qadâ on him.” (Hâkim).



I'tikaf (Seclusion in the Masjid) is Part of the Religion

1. According to Shari‘ah, I‘tikâf means staying in the Masjid (mosque) with the intention of drawing himself closer to Allah.

2. All the scholars agree that it is Mashrű‘ (a legitimate part of Islâm) because:

“The Prophet (pbuh) used to stay in the Masjid, the last ten days of Ramadân until he died, then his wives used to do the same after him.” (Agreed upon)

3. I‘tikâf is of two kinds: Supererogatory (Masnűn) and Compulsory (Wâjib).

The Masnűn kind is what a Muslim does voluntarily, in order to get closer to Allah and to follow the Messenger (pbuh) and it is especially recommended during the last ten days of Ramadân.

The Wajib I‘tikâf is what a person makes compulsory upon himself by a vow (Nadhr).

4. The time to begin I‘tikâf:

“The Prophet (pbuh), if he intended to perform I‘tikâf, used to pray Fajr, then enter the area he set aside for I‘tikâf in the Masjid.” (Agreed upon)

5. Necessary conditions for practising I‘tikâf: The person should be Muslim, having reached the age of discernment, purified from Janaba and menses and post-partum bleeding.

6. The basic element of I‘tikâf: Staying in the Masjid with the intention of getting closer to Allah.

7. What is permitted to do while in I‘tikâf:

a) Going out from the place of I‘tikâf to bid farewell to his family.

Combing his hair, shaving his head, clipping his nails, cleaning his body, perfuming, and wearing the best of clothing.

c) To go out of the Masjid for pressing necessities like using the toilet, or to eat and drink, if no one brings him food.

d) It is permitted to eat and drink and sleep in the Masjid with the proper care taken to maintain its cleanliness.

8. Etiquettes of I‘tikâf: ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

The Sunnah for one in I‘tikâf is not to leave the Masjid to visit the sick, nor to attend a burial, nor to touch a woman nor to have s** with her, and not to leave the Masjid except for unavoidable need; and there is no I‘tikâf without fasting; and there is no I‘tikâf except in a Masjid where Jumu‘ah (Friday prayer) is established.” (Baihaqi and Abű Dâwűd)

9. Things which nullify I'tikâf:

a) Leaving the Masjid without need, intentionally.

Losing one's rationality through insanity or drunkenness.

c) Menstruation and post-partum bleeding.

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