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The Rulings of Ramadhan
Accoiuing to the Way of the Best of Nankinu
Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim
By
Abu Ammai


The Islamic Infoimation Centie Biistol
Stapleton Roau Eastville
Biistol BS PA
Telephone
infoislamicinfoimationcentiecouk
wwwislamicinfoimationcentiecouk
Registeieu Chaiity Numbei
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Content
Tianslatois Intiouuction
The Blesseu Nonth of Ramauan
Fasting Buiing Ramauan
Types of Fast
The Sighting of the New Noon Bilal
Things Bislikeu anu Those Not Bislikeu Whilst Fasting
Things Which Invaliuate The Fast But Bo Not Requiie Atonement Kaffaiah
Things Which Invaliuate the Fast anu Requiie Kaffaiah
Those Not 0bligeu to Fast
The Recitation of the 0uian anu its Etiquettes Auab
Taiawih
The Numbei of Rakahs foi Taiawih
Spiiitual Retieat Itikaf
Types of Itikaf
The Night of Powei Laylat al0aui
The Bescenuing of the Angels
Knowleuge of Laylat al0aui
Witnessing Laylat al0aui
The Zakat of Eiu alFiti
The Bay of Eiu alFiti
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Besciiption of The Piayei on Eiu alFiti
The Nysteiies of Fasting
Epilogue

In the name of Allah the Nost Neiciful anu Compassionate
All piaise is uue unto Allah Loiu of the Woilus anu Sustainei of each anu
eveiy atom in existence Exalteu is Be above all that is associateu with Bim
Theie is none like unto Bim anu Be is the All Beaiing All Seeing Be is the
Knowei of the Inneimost Seciets anu the most hiuuen thoughts of men Be is
the Light of the Beavens anu the Eaith Anu I beai witness that oui mastei the
Beloveu of Allah Nuhammau Allah bless him anu give him peace is Bis
seivant anu messengei Be was sent with the Religion of Tiuth to make it
manifest ovei all othei ieligions Be was sent as a witness a biingei of glau
tiuings a wainei a callei to Allah by Bis leave anu as a luminous lamp Nay
the peace anu blessings of Allah Nost Bigh be showeieu upon him anu upon
his family anu upon his wives anu his companions one anu all Anu may the
meicy of Allah be upon those who followeu him of the Tabiin anu theii
stuuents anu those who follow in theii footsteps biting onto theii way with
theii molais
To continue this is a biief outline of the matteis peitaining to the blesseu
month of Ramauan its viitues anu the iulings which Allah Nost Bigh has
commanueu us with The iulings of Islamic Sacieu Law Fiqh in this woik aie
taken fiom the Banafi school of Islamic juiispiuuence Nauhhab This woik
has been compileu fiom Bauai alSanai by Imam alKasani anu alFatawa al
Binuiyyah two majoi woiks of Banafi fiqh The Banafi school establisheu by
Imam Numan bin Thabit moie commonly known as Abu Banifah Nay Allah
be well pleaseu with him u AB is one of the foui schools of Islamic
0ithouoxy Ahl alSunnah walIamaah the othei schools being the schools of
Imam alShafii u AB Imam Nalik u AB anu Imam Ahmau u
AB
The iulings of a paiticulai mauhhab aie changeu anu alteieu ovei time as
new eviuence anu unueistanuings emeige each time iefeiiing to the oiiginal
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piinciples usul by which the mauhhab was laiu uown Allah Nost Bigh
commanus us in the 0uian
Ask those who iecall if you know not
Suiat alNahl Ayah
It is this Bivine Commanu that we follow when leaining the shaiiah anu
passing its knowleuge on to otheis meaning that we ietuin to what the
classical scholais have auheieu to ultimately ietuining to the piimaiy souices
of shaiiah the 0uian anu sunnah Nay Allah iewaiu all those who spent
theii time anu iesouices on the tianslating anu checking of this woik
Nay Allah inciease them in Love foi Allah anu Bis Nessengei Allah bless him
anu give him peace anu giant them tawfiq seeking Allah alone We piay that
Allah Nost Bigh accepts oui effoits anu that Be giants us tawfiq to woiship
Bim with sinceiity anu Ikhlas Anu Allah Nost Bigh alone giants success
Anu all piaise is uue unto Allah Peace anu blessings be upon oui mastei
NuhammauAllah bless him anu give him peace anu upon his family anu
companions one anu all
BashaiatIanjua
Shaban AB
The Blesseu Nonth of Ramauan
The month of Ramauan is a month of giace anu blessing 0pon aiiival of this
blesseu month Allah Nost Bigh causes Bis blessings anu foigiveness to
uescenu upon the one who gives this month its iights Ramauan is the month
in which Allah Nost Bigh showeis Bis blessings upon oui homes anu upon
those who entei the mosques especially the Bouse of Allah the Kabah
Buiing Ramauan the Neicy of Allah Nost Bigh falls upon us like iain falling
fiom the clouus
0ne can liken the viitue of Ramauan with chaiity which is of two kinus The
fiist kinu is wheie one gives chaiity to someone whom one meets along the
stieet oi on the path The seconu kinu is likeneu to one who visits anothei
with the intention of giving chaiity Ramauan is likeneu to the lattei wheie
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Allah Nost Bigh causes Bis blessings to uescenu upon the ummah of the
Blesseu Piophet Nuhammau Allah bless him anu give him peace It is uuiing
this time that little effoit has the ability to eain high iewaius no mattei
wheie one is be it in the Sacieu Piecinct in Nakkah oi in ones home
Allah Nost Bigh is the cieatoi of all things Be cieateu each yeai month uay
anu houi In the same way that Allah Nost Bigh has elevateu the status of the
Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace ovei the whole of cieation anu
the status of the Kabah ovei othei places of woiship Be has elevateu anu
iaiseu the month of Ramauan ovei all othei months This is entiiely the will of
Allah Nost Bigh anu a manifestation of Bis 0mnipotent Powei anu Bivine
Will
Allah Nost Bigh chose to ieveal Bis 0ncieateu Speech the 0uian in this
blesseu month to Bis final anu Nost Beloveu Piophet Nuhammau Allah
bless him anu give him peace Allah Nost Bigh says in the 0uian
The month of Ramauan is the month in which the 0uian was sent uown a
guiuance foi the people anu cleai veises of guiuance anu a ciiteiion
Suiat alBaqaiah ayah
Imam alTabaii wiites that Wathilah Allah be well pleaseu with him
naiiateu that the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The Sciolls of Abiaham weie ievealeu on the fiist night of the month of
Ramauan the Toiah was ievealeu on the sixth of Ramauan the Bible on the
thiiteenth anu the 0uian was ievealeu on the twentyfouith of Ramauan
Be also wiites that Ibn Abbas Allah be well pleaseu with him saiu
Allah causeu the 0uian to uescenu to the heaven of this woilu on Laylat al
0aui anu then when Allah wisheu to ieveal anything fiom it Be ievealeu it
Anu that is what is meant by Bis Woius veiily We have ievealeu the 0uian in
Laylat al0aui
Tafsii alTabaii by Imam alTabaii suiat al0aui
Allah Nost Bigh says in the 0uian
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0 you who believe fasting has been piesciibeu foi you as it has been
piesciibeu foi those befoie you so that you may attain unto piety
Suiat alBaqaiah Ayah
Imam alTabaii wiites that 0atauah Allah be well pleaseu with him saiu in
iefeience to this ayah
The month of Ramauan has been piesciibeu foi the people as it was
piesciibeu foi those befoie them Allah has piesciibeu the fast of thiee uays of
each month befoie ievealing the fast of Ramauan
Tafsii alTabaii by Imam alTabaii suiat al0aui
Fasting uuiing the month of Ramauan is obligatoiy anu is uone solely foi Allah
Nost Bigh In a hauith quusi Allah Nost Bigh says
Eveiy action of the son of Auam belongs to him except the fast It is Nine anu I
iepay him foi it
Nuslim
Theie can be neithei false pietension noi showing off on the pait of the one
who is fasting If one is offeiing piayeis giving zakah making pilgiimage oi
any othei foim of woiship otheis can see ones woiship but fasting is
uistinguisheu by the fact that only Allah Nost Bigh can see who is fasting anu
who is not
The polytheists may peifoim vaiious acts of woiship foi theii false gous to
please them They may make vows to them make tawaf aiounu them tiavel
foi them anu fight in theii names Bowevei they uo not fast foi them noi has
it evei been iecoiueu that they fasteu foi them Inueeu it is cleai that the fast
of Islam is the fast of the Tiuth
Bafiz alAsqalani quoting fiom Imam al0uitubi mentions the following
hauith
The bankiupt peison is he who shall come on the Bay of Iuugment with
piayei chaiity anu fast but he hau also swoie at anothei peison beat
anothei anu consumeu the wealth of anothei Bis goou ueeus will be taken
fiom him anu the othei peison will take his goou ueeus Anu when his goou
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ueeus aie no moie befoie what is uue upon him has been paiu he takes fiom
theii bau ueeus They will be thiown at him Then he will be flung into the
Fiie
Be continues to says that theie is a naiiation fiom by Abu Buiayiah Allah be
well pleaseu with him in which Allah Nost Bigh says
All actions aie atonement except foi fasting Fasting is foi Ne anu I iewaiu it
Fath alBaii by Bafiz alAsqalani Book of Fasting
It can be concluueu that Allah Nost Bigh loves the fast of a Nuslim as it is a
means foi him to become moie awaie anu feaiful of Allah Nost Bigh
Fasting Buiing Ramauan
Abu Buiayiah Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei
of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
When Ramauan aiiives the gates of Paiauise aie openeu the gates of Bell aie
closeu anu the uevils aie chaineu
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Be Allah be well pleaseu with him also naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Whomsoevei fasts the month of Ramauan with faith seeking iewaiu fiom
Allah his past sins will be foigiven
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
It has also been naiiateu by Abu Buiayiah Allah be well pleaseu with him
that the Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Allah Nighty anu Najestic says Eveiy action of the son of Auam belongs to
him except the fast It is Nine anu I iepay him foi it Fasting is a piotection
When one of you has a uay of fasting he shoulu then speak neithei obscenely
noi too louuly anu if someone seeks to cuise him oi fight with him let him
say I am fasting By Bim in whose hanu is the soul of Nuhammau the smell
of the mouth of the one who fasts is moie uelectable to Allah than the scent of
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musk The one who fasts has two joys in which to uelight when he bieaks his
fast he iejoices anu when he meets his Loiu he iejoices in his fast
Nuslim
Sahl bin Sau Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of
Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
veiily theie is a gate in Paiauise which is calleu alRayyan Those who fasteu
will entei it on the Bay of Iuugement anu none shall entei it except them It
will be saiu Wheie aie those who fasteu They will come foiwaiu anu none
shall entei it except them When they have enteieu the gate will be closeu anu
none shall entei it except them
Bukhaii anu Nuslim

Fasting is to iefiain fiom things that bieak the fast with the intention of
woishiping Allah Nost Bigh The levels of the fast aie thiee
to simply iefiaining fiom foou anu uiink anu othei things which invaliuate
the fast
in auuition to above to piotect ones eyes eais tongue anu all othei
paits of the bouy fiom uisobeuience to Allah Nost Bigh
anu in auuition to anu above to uevote oneself entiiely to Allah
Nost Bigh thiough iepentance woiship anu abstinence fiom all that uistiacts
one fiom Allah Nost Bigh
Allah Nost Bigh iewaius each level of fasting accoiuingly
Fasting uuiing Ramauan is obligatoiy foi eveiy onewho
a is Nuslim
b has ieacheu pubeity
c is sane
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u is capable of beaiing the fast
e anu if female is not in the peiiou of menstiuation oi postnatal bleeuing
nifas
0ne must make the intention to fast foi each uay one fasts
Types of Fast
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace useu to fast on Nonuays anu Thuisuays
Tiimiuhi anu Nisai
Abu 0atauah Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of
Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu The fast of thiee uays of each
month anu that of one Ramauan to anothei is a peipetual fast I seek fiom
Allah that the fast of the uay of Aiafah may atone foi the yeai befoie it anu the
yeai aftei it I seek fiom Allah that the fast of the uay of Ashuia may atone foi
the yeai befoie it
Nuslim

The obligatoiy faiu fasts aie
the fasts of Ramauan
the fasts which one is obligeu to makeup qaua
The intention must be maue uuiing the night piioi to uawn
The iequiieu wajib fasts aie those which one has voweu to peifoim If one
has set conuitions at the time of making the vow they must be fulfilleu foi
example making a vow to peifoim ten fasts in Nuhaiiam This means that
one can fast any ten uays in Nuhaiiam as this was not specifieu when making
the vow
The iecommenueu mustahabb fasts aie
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the uay of Ashuia th Nuhaiiam combining it with a uay befoie oi
aftei it
the th th anu th of each lunai month
Nonuays anu Thuisuays
the uay of Aiafah th BhulBijjah
anu the fiist six uays of Shawwal
The intention foi the above can be maue befoie noon of the uay of fasting
The slightly uislikeu makiuhtanzihi fasts aie
fasting the uay Ashuia th Nuhaiiam alone without combining it with
fasting a uay befoie oi aftei it
the uays helu special by those of othei ieligions if they uo not coinciue with
uays which one habitually fasts
anu the uay of Aiafah th BhulBijjah foi a pilgiim at Aiafah
The seveiely uislikeu makiuhtahiimi fasts aie the two Eius
The Sighting of the New Noon Bilal
Abuullah Ibn 0mai Allah be well pleaseu with them both naiiateu that the
Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Bo not fast until you see the new moon anu uo not bieak fast until you see it
But if theie is clouu ovei you count in full
In anothei veision he Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The month consists of twentynine nights but uo not fast until you see it ti
the new moon anu if the weathei is clouuy then complete thiity nights
Bukhaii anu Nuslim

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In the 0niteu Kinguom it has been obseiveu many times that communities aie
split ovei the mattei of which uay Ramauan falls anu also the uays of Eiu
which aie uays of iejoicing foi us not uisagieement anu conflict The authoi
intenus in sha Allah to sheu some light on this mattei as it affects each one of
us anu is a cause of tiibulation fitnah Anu Allah alone giants success
The hauiths state that we shoulu juuge the appioach of the lunai months by
seeing the new moon In the 0niteu Kinguom the new moon is extiemely
uifficult to see uue to the stieet lighting anu the countiys high latituue As it is
not possible to see the moon fiom the 0niteu Kinguom one must follow
anothei city in theii iuling iegaiuing the Bilal Theie seems to be two paities
who make the uecision of the Bilal foi the 0niteu Kinguom Regents Paik
Nasjiu Lonuon anu the Sunni RuyatBilal Committee Biimingham Regents
Paik Nasjiu follows 0mm al0uia in alBijaz What is piesently calleu Sauui
Aiabia in its uecision on Bilal The Sunni RuyatBilal Committee uoes not
follow 0mm al0uia The uiffeience between these two councils is the ieason
why theie is moie than one stait uate of Ramauan anu consequently moie
than one Eiu uay
Kuiayb Allah bless him anu give him peace iepoiteu that 0mm Faul
uaughtei of Baiith sent Faul to Nuawiyah Allah be well pleaseu with him
who was in Syiia Faul saiu
I aiiiveu in Syiia anu uiu what she neeueu of me It was theie in Syiia that
the month of Ramauan commenceu I saw the new moon on Fiiuay I then
came back to Nauinah at the enu of the month Abuullah bin Abbas Allah be
well pleaseu with him askeu me saying When uiu you see it I saiu We saw
it on the night of Fiiuay Be saiu Biu you see it youiself I saiu Yes anu the
people also saw it anu they obseiveu fast anu Nuawiyah also obseiveu the
fast Abuullah bin Abbas Allah be well pleaseu with him saiu But we saw it
on Satuiuay night so we shall continue to obseive fast until we complete
thiity fasts oi we see it ti the new moon I saiu Is the sighting of the moon
by Nuawiyah not valiu foi you Be saiu No this is how the Nessengei of
Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace has commanueu us
Sahih alNuslim by Imam Nuslim Book of Fasting
The above hauith is useu as eviuence to piove that it is possible foi the moon
to be sighteu at two uiffeient places at uiffeiing times This means that the
stait of Ramauan anu the uates of the two Eius can vaiy acioss the woilu
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which gives iise to the possibility of moie than one Bilal each one being
coiiect
Imam alNawawi alShafii has noteu that the scholais have saiu that if the
uistance between two cities is small like that of Baghuau anu Basiah anu the
moon is sighteu in eithei one of them the Bilal will be one If the uistance is
fai like that of Baghuau anu Nakkah anu the climate of both cities is similai
the same iuling applies as foi two cities which aie close togethei But if the
climate is uiffeient the Bilal of one city will be inuepenuent of the othei
The 0niteu Kinguom anu alBijaz aie fai apait anu the climate is totally
uiffeient theiefoie the Bilal of alBijaz is inuepenuent of the Bilal of the
0niteu Kinguom Foi this ieason the Sunni RuyatBilal Committee has chosen
to follow the Bilal of Noiocco as it is the closest Nuslim lanu to the 0niteu
Kinguom
Accoiuing to the Banafi school if the sky is cleai the Bilal must be witnesseu
by a gioup of Nuslims so the testimony of a single witness is not acceptable If
the sky is clouuy then a single upiight Nuslim witness suffices The
ieasoning being that if only a single peison witnesseu the new moon on a
cleai night he must have been mistaken because in such a situation otheis
woulu have seen it too
When the uecision of Bilal is given by 0mm al0uia anu theie is only a single
witness it is not accepteu by the Sunni RuyatBilal Committee as it uoes not
meet the iequiiements accoiuing to the Banafi school
Anothei ieason foi the Sunni RuyatBilal Committee iejecting the uecision of
0mm al0uia is that theie have been some cases when the iuling of 0mm al
0uia has contiauicteu the obseivatoiy finuings on the basis of the
impossibility of having sighteu the moon
The situation is complicateu anu can be iesolveu with the help of Allah Nost
Bigh We must stiive foi the solution to this to biing unity to the Nuslims of
the 0niteu Kinguom anu the iest of the woilu What is calleu foi is foi heaus
of vaiious Nuslim communities to gathei anu ueciue on this issue in the light
of the hauith of Kuiayb Allah be well pleaseu with him anu what the
classical scholais have stateu Nay Allah giant us success in this anu to ietuin
unity to the Nuslims unuei the bannei of the sunnah of the Piophet Allah
bless him anu give him peace
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Things Bislikeu anu Those Not Bislikeu Whilst Fasting
Anas Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Take the pieuawn meal foi veiily in the pieuawn meal theie is a blessing
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Sahl Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The people will iemain on the coiiect path as long as they hasten to bieak the
fast
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Abu Buiayiah Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei
of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The one who uoes not iefiain fiom falsehoou anu acting in accoiuance with it
Allah has no neeu foi him leaving his foou anu uiink
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Be Allah be well pleaseu with him also naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Nany a fasting peison gets nothing fiom his fasting but thiist Nany a man
stanuing foi woiship gets nothing fiom his stanuing but sleeplessness
Baiimi

It is uislikeu whilst fasting
to taste oi chew anything
to exaggeiate in iinsing the mouth anu in uiawing the watei into the
nostiils
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to iinse the mouth unnecessaiily
to keep saliva togethei in the mouth then to swallow it
not to eat oi uiink anything between fastuays wisal
to keep silent all uay until night when theie is no neeu to
to make useless talk
to uelay the pieuawn meal suhui to such an extent that one feais that the
fast has alieauy begun
anu to meiely taste toothpaste anu the like
It is not uislikeu uuiing the fast
to chew something foi a small chilu in oiuei to help the chilu eat
foi a woman to taste foou if she feais hei husbanu
to use a toothstick miswak oi a toothbiush without toothpaste
anu to line the eyes with kohl even if its taste is felt in the thioat
Things Which Invaliuate The Fast But Bo Not Requiie Atonement Kaffaiah
Each of the following invaliuates the uays fast but uo not iequiie Kaffaiah
to be foiceu to eat oi uiink
to swallow a moisel stuck in ones teeth if moie than the size of a chickpea
to use so much watei in iinsing out the nose anu mouth in ablution oi the
puiificatoiy bath ghusl that some ieaches the stomach pioviueu that one
iemembeis that one is fasting
to open ones mouth anu foi something to entei into the thioat
to eat something which is not uesciibeu as foou foi example eggshells
pioviueu that it is not ones habit to eat these things
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to swallow iain acciuentally
to swallow ones teais aftei allowing them to uiip into ones mouth
to allow anything foi example oil oi watei to entei the bouy thiough
natuial openings foi example the nose eai eyes oi piivate paits
the appeaiance of menstiual oi postnatal flow
to eat oi uiink while sleeping foi a peison who habitually walks in theii
sleep
to intentionally vomit at least a mouthful oi to unintentionally vomit anu
then to swallow it back even though a little
anu to take intiavenous injections oi uiips The fast iemains valiu if one
eats oi uiinks absentminueuly
The fast is not invaliuateu if one inhales floui oi uust suspenueu in the aii oi
has a wet uieam If a fly oi similai insect enteis into the thioat the fast is not
invaliuateu If an elueily peison bieaks theii fast one shoulu not ieminu
them

Things Which Invaliuate the Fast anu Requiie Kaffaiah
Abu Buiayiah Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu
We weie sitting with the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace when a
man came to him anu saiu 0 Nessengei of Allah I am unuone Be askeu
What is the mattei with you Be ieplieu I slept with my wife while I was
fasting The Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace askeu Can you finu
a slave to fiee Be ieplieu No Be askeu Can you fast two consecutive
months Be ieplieu No Be askeu Can you feeu sixty pooi people Be
ieplieu No The Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu Sit
uown anu waiteu foi a while As we weie theie a laige basket aiak
containing uates was biought to the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him
peace Be askeu Wheie is the questionei Be ieplieu I Be saiu Take this
anu give it in chaiity The man saiu To the one moie neeuy than me 0
Nessengei of Allah By Allah theie aie no inhabitants of a house between the
two lavaplains of Nauinah which aie moie neeuy that the inhabitants of my
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house Then the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace laugheu till his
canine teeth weie visible anu saiu Feeu youi family
Bukhaii anu Nuslim

Kaffaiah is only iequiieu if one eats uiinks oi sleeps with ones wife
intentionally uuiing a fast of Ramauan The Kaffaiah consists of fieeing a
Nuslim slave oi if not possible then to fast the uays of two consecutive
months If this is not possible then the Kaffaiah is to feeu sixty neeuy people
Those Not 0bligeu to Fast
The following aie not iequiieu to fast
those who aie ill such that fasting woulu woisen uelay iecoveiy fiom oi
cause consiueiable haim 0ne must be auviseu by a qualifieu Nuslim uoctoi
oi know fiom peisonal expeiience
those who aie tiavelling moie than miles If a tiavellei takes it upon
himself to fast it is valiu but he shoulu not enuangei himself by it
unnecessaiily
someone who is foiceu to bieak the fast by an enemy
a woman who is bieast feeuing a baby oi is piegnant anu appiehenus haim
to heiself oi hei chilu
someone who has excessive hungei oi thiist meaning likely to cause ueath
oi illness
anu someone whom fasting exhausts because of auvanceu yeais oi having
an illness fiom which he is unlikely to iecovei Such a peison must give the
amount equal to the zakat of Eiu alFiti in chaiity foi each uay misseu
Although the above aie not obligeu to fast they must makeup each uay
misseu being an exception
The Recitation of the 0uian anu its Etiquettes Auab
www.al-adaab.org 17

0thman Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of
Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The best amongst you is the one who leains the 0uian anu teaches it
Bukhaii
Abuullah bin Nasuu Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the
Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Whomsoevei iecites a lettei fiom the Book of Allah has a iewaiu Anu the
iewaiu is like ten iewaius I uo not say Alif Lam Nim is a lettei But Alif is a
lettei Lam is a lettei anu Nim is a lettei
Tiimiuhi
Abuullah bin Ami Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the
Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
It will be saiu to the one who is uevoteu to the 0uian Recite anu ascenu anu
iecite slowly as you useu to iecite slowly in the woilu Foi veiily youi aboue is
at the last ayah which you iecite
Abu Bawuu anu Tiimiuhi
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
The one who iecites the 0uian fluently will be in the company of the obeuient
anu noble angels Anu the one who iecites the 0uian haltingly anu with
uifficulty foi him theie is a uouble iewaiu
Bukhaii anu Nuslim

0ne shoulu not touch the 0uian except in a state of iitual puiity When
beginning to iecite one shoulu seek iefuge in Allah Nost Bigh fiom the
accuiseu Bevil anu say the Basmalah 0ne shoulu give ones eyes theii shaie of
looking at it by ieauing fiom a copy of the 0uian as opposeu to ieciting fiom
memoiy alone 0ne shoulu not caiiy a copy of the 0uian in a place wheie it
www.al-adaab.org 18

may become uamageu oi into the lavatoiy 0ne shoulu not iecite it alouu ovei
anotheis iecitation of it so as to spoil it foi him anu make him iesent what he
heais making it as if it weie some kinu of competition 0ne shoulu not
inteiiupt anotheis iecitation of the 0uian his making Remembiance of Allah
uhiki oi leaining oi teaching ieligious knowleuge even with Salams 0ne is
peimitteu to iecite the 0uian whilst walking oi on a jouiney To memoiise
any pait of the 0uian anu then to foiget it is seveiely uislikeu to such an
extent that it is almost foibiuuen haiam 0ne shoulu not place anything on
top of the 0uian noi shoulu one place it on the flooi but iathei one shoulu
place it on an elevateu place in fiont of oneself 0ne shoulu maintain the oiuei
of the vaiious suiahs when ieciting it If the pages of the 0uian become woin
oi toin they shoulu be buiieu in a clean place foi example a giaveyaiu oi put
into clean flowing watei
Taiawih
It is iecommenueu to peifoim taiawih which consists of twenty iakahs see
uiscussion below of gioup piayei on each night of Ramauan 0ne finishes
each paii of iakahs with Salams If one has misseu the taiawih with the gioup
one shoulu peifoim it alone It is an emphasiseusunnah sunnahmuakkauah
to iecite the 0uian much piefeiably completing its iecitation twice once
alone anu once with the gioup uuiing taiawih The 0uian shoulu be ieciteu
slowly anu cleaily so that each woiu is pionounceu coiiectly
The Numbei of Rakahs foi Taiawih
Imam alTiimiuhi wiites
The majoiity of the scholais naiiate fiom 0mai anu otheis that the taiawih
piayei consists of twenty iakahs
Iami alTiimiuhi by Imam alTiimiuhi Book of Salah
Bafiz Ibn Taymiyyah wiites
It has been pioveu that 0bay bin Kab useu to offei twenty iakahs with the
people in the 0iyam of Ramauan Auuing to them thiee moie Nany of the
scholais have saiu that this is the sunnah as the emigiants anu the Nauinan
helpeis useu to stanu with him anu they uiu not object to it
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Najmu alFatawa by Bafiz Ibn Taymiyyah unuei Naza al0lama fi
miquaiqiyam Ramauan
0aui alShawkani wiites that Imam Nalik naiiateu
0mai Allah be well pleaseu with him oiueieu Abu alRahman Ibn al0aii to
leau the piayei with twenty iakahs
Nayl alAwtai by 0aui alShawkani chaptei of Taiawih
Imam Abu alRaqqaz bin Bumam Bafiz Abu Baki Ibn Abi Shaybah anu Imam
alBayhaqi have all wiitten conceining the mattei of the taiawih They have
all saiu that uuiing the caliphate of 0mai anu Ali Allah be well pleaseu with
them both the Imams weie oiueieu to piay twenty iakahs of taiawih
Nusannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah Nusannaf Abu alRazzaq anu alSunan alKubia
by Bafiz Abu Baki Ibn Abi Shaybah Imam Abu alRaqqaz bin Bumam anu
Imam alBayhaqi iespectively unuei 0iyam Ramauan
0ffeiing twenty iakahs of taiawih has been the piactice of the Imams of the
two sacieu piecincts of Nakkah anu Nauinah
The eviuence foi the taiawih consisting of eight iakahs is given by the hauith
of Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei wheie she says that the Piophet
Allah bless him anu give him peace useu to offei thiiteen iakahs of piayei
at night both uuiing Ramauan anu outsiue of it This hauith anu similai ones
have ieacheu us via appioximately foui chains with small vaiiances
The scholais of Ahl alsunnahwalIamaah have stateu that these hauiths iefei
to the night vigil Tahajjuu 0ne ieason foi this is that Aishah Allah be well
pleaseu with hei was askeu conceining the night piayei of the Piophet Allah
bless him anu give him peace The only mention of the woiu Ramauan in
this hauith comes fiom a naiiatoi calleu Saiu bin Abi Saiu alNakbuii Also
when these hauiths weie iecoiueu they appeaieu in the chapteis iegaiuing
Tahajjuu Anothei point which is woith mentioning is that if this hauith iefeis
to the taiawih it must also mean that taiawih shoulu be offeieu both in
Ramauan anu outsiue of it as the hauith states
Fiom this one can concluue that this hauith anu similai ones can only iefei to
Tahajjuu anu not to the taiawih
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Spiiitual Retieat Itikaf
Abu Buiayiah Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu
The 0uian was piesenteu to the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace
once each yeai But it was piesenteu twice in the yeai in which he passeu
away Anu he useu to make spiiitual ietieat foi ten nights anu twenty in the
yeai in which he passeu away
Bukhaii
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu
The sunnah foi one who is in Itikaf is not to visit the sick noi attenu a funeial
piayei noi touch ones wife noi go out foi any neeu except when theie is no
alteinative to it Theie is no spiiitual ietieat except with fasting anu theie is
no spiiitual ietieat except in a congiegational Nosque
Abu Bawuu
Abuullah Ibn 0mai Allah be well pleaseu with them both naiiateu that
when the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace maue Itikaf his
beuuing oi beu was spieau foi him behinu the Pillai of Repentance ti a
pillai in the Nosque of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace
Abu Bawuu

Spiiitual ietieat Itikaf means to iemain in the mosque with the intention of
uevoting oneself to Allah Nost Bigh It is a means by which one can uiaw
neaiei to Allah Nost Bigh The one who makes the intention foi Itikaf tuins
away fiom the life of this woilu anu seeks the Neicy anu Foigiveness of Allah
Nost Bigh Imam Ata alKhuiasani has saiu that the one whom peifoims
Itikaf is like the one who humbles himself in piostiation befoie Allah Nost
Bigh anu vows not to lift his heau until he is foigiven
The Itikaf is a communal sunnah that is if a single peison fiom a community
peifoims it the sunnah has been fulfilleu but if not a single peison has
peifoimeu it the sunnah iemains unfulfilleu Foi men it must be peifoimeu
in the mosque but foi women this is uislikeu Rathei they shoulu peifoim it
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in an aiea of the house which has been setasiue foi piayei musalla The
mosque in which Itikaf is valiu is that in which the five uaily obligatoiy
piayeis aie offeieu in a gioup The Itikaf of a woman becomes invaliu if the
signs of menstiuation appeai

Types of Itikaf
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu that the Piophet Allah
bless him anu give him peace useu to make Itikaf uuiing the last ten uays of
Ramauan until Allah Nost Bigh took his soul Then his wives continueu to
make Itikaf aftei he passeu away
Bukhaii anu Nuslim

Theie aie thiee types of Itikaf oi spiiitual ietieat
the wajib Itikaf which one has voweu to obseive
theemphasiseusunnah sunnahmuakkauah Itikaf which is obseiveu
uuiing the last ten uays of Ramauan
anu the iecommenueu mustahabb Itikaf which is obseiveu when one
enteis a mosque with the intention of uevoting oneself to Allah Nost Bigh
alone even foi a shoit peiiou
Someone who makes Itikaf Nutakif continues to ieceive iewaiu until he
leaves the mosque When obseiving the wajib Itikaf one must fast anu make
Itikaf foi as much as one oiiginally intenueu to peifoim when making the
vow Foi the sunnahmuakkauahItikaf one must stait the Itikaf befoie the
sunset piayei maghiib of the th uay of Ramauan anu must complete it on
seeing the new moon of Eiu alFiti
The Nutakif is not peimitteu to leave the mosque foi any ieason except
answeiing the call of natuie making wuuu ghusl anu the like Leaving the
mosque foi a woiluly neeu invaliuates Itikaf Theie is no haim in eating oi
uiinking in the mosque A woman who obseives Itikaf in hei home is not
peimitteu to leave the place which has been fixeu foi Itikaf in the same way
that a man is not peimitteu to leave the mosque
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Itikaf is a spiiitual ietieat so one shoulu busy oneself with spiiitual woiks
foi example ieciting the 0uian peifoiming piayeis especially those which
one must makeup anu leaining Islamic Sacieu Law shaiiah 0ne shoulu also
keep oneself fai away fiom vulgaiity anu useless speech
The Night of Powei Laylat al0aui
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
Seek Laylat al0aui in the ouu numbeieu nights among the last ten of
Ramauan
Bukhaii
Abuullah Ibn 0mai Allah be well pleaseu with both of them naiiateu
Nen fiom amongst the Companions of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give
him peace weie shown in a uieam that Laylat al0aui was in the last seven
nights The Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu I
see that youi visions iegaiuing the last seven agiee So whomsoevei seaiches
foi it let him seaich foi it in the last seven
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Aishah Allah be well pleaseu with hei naiiateu
I once askeu 0 Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace what
shoulu I say if I have knowleuge of which night is Laylat al0aui Be ieplieu
Say these woius 0 Allah thou ait foigiving loving foigiveness So foigive
me
Ahmau Ibn Najah anu Tiimiuhi
0baua Ibn alSamit Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the
Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace went out to infoim
the people about Laylat al0aui ti its uate but theie was a uispute between
two Nuslims The Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu I came
out to infoim you about Laylat al0aui its knowleuge has been taken away
anu maybe it was bettei foi you Now look foi it in the th th anu th
www.al-adaab.org 23

Bukhaii
Anas Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
When Laylat al0aui appeais uabiiel uescenus with a company of angels who
piay foi eveiyone who is making the Remembiance of Allah Nighty anu
Najestic whethei stanuing oi sitting
Bayhaqi

It is a gieat blessing that the 0uian was fiist ievealeu on this night This is the
night on which all uecisions aie maue meaning that eveiything foi the yeai is
copieu fiom the pieseiveu tablet alLawh alNahfuz anu then uistiibuteu
among vaiious angels
The Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace once mentioneu some
uevotees fiom the chiluien of Isiael Among them theie was one who spent a
thousanu months in continuous stiuggle in the path of Allah Nost Bigh
jihau Also among them weie foui uevotees who spent eighty yeais in the
woiship of Allah Nost Bigh such that not even a single moment was wasteu in
uisobeuience The Companions of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him
peace on heaiing this weie amazeu The angel uabiiel then came with the
chaptei of the 0uian calleu The Night of Powei suiat al0aui which
containeu the piomise that whomsoevei spenus the whole night of Laylat al
0aui in woiship will be iewaiueu as if he spent moie than a thousanu months
in the woiship of Allah Nost Bigh
It has been mentioneu that the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace
saw that the lifetimes of the pievious nations weie veiy long anu he became
sau at the fact that his ummah woulu not be able to unueitake as much
woiship as the othei nations 0n this angel uabiiel uescenueu anu ievealeu
suiat al0aui anu gave the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace the
goou news that the ummah of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him
peace has been honouieu with a blesseu night in which one nights woiship
will be woith moie than the woiship of a thousanu months
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Tafsii Ibn Kathii Tafsii al0uitubi anu Ruh alNani by Bafiz Ibn Kathii
Imam al0uitubi anu Imam alAllusi alBanafi iespectively unuei suiat al
0aui
The Bescenuing of the Angels Knowleuge of Laylat al0aui
Bafiz Ibn Kathii mentions this athai naiiation vaiious foims of this have
also been mentioneu by Ibn Abi Batim anu Imam al0uitubi Kab Nay Allah
be well pleaseu with him naiiateu
veiily the Lote Tiee siuiat alNuntaha is on the boiuei of the seventh
heaven wheie it aujoins Paiauise on the boiuei of the bieezes of this woilu
anu the next Its height is in Paiauise anu its shoots anu bianches aie below
the Thione 0pon its bianches theie aie angels woishipping Allah Nighty anu
Najestic no one knows theii numbei except Allah Nighty anu Najestic Theie
is an angel in even the smallest of places The place of uabiiel 0pon whom be
peace is in the miuule of it ti the tiee uabiiel is calleu upon by Allah to
uescenu each Laylat al0aui with the angels who inhabit the Lote Tiee Each
angel is given meicy anu compassion to pass on to the believeis The angels
uescenu with uabiiel on Laylat al0aui when the sun sets 0n Laylat al0aui
the angels aie founu eveiywheie eithei piostiating oi stanuing making
supplication foi the believing men anu believing women But they uo not go
wheie theie is a chuich a synagogue places of fiiewoiship an iuol a village
iubbish uump a house in which theie is a uiunkaiu a place in which theie is
an intoxicant a house in which an iuol has been set up a house in which theie
is a hanging bell a lavatoiy oi a place in which theie is householu iubbish
They spenu theii night theie making supplication foi the believing men anu
the believing women anu uabiiel shakes the hanu of each anu eveiy believei
The maik of this is that the believeis skin shiveis his heait becomes tenuei
anu his eyes watei Foi veiily this is fiom the hanushake of uabiiel
Whomsoevei says on Laylat al0aui Theie is no gou but Allah thiee times
Allah will foigive him with one ti utteiance anu Be will save him fiom the
Fiie with anothei anu aumit him into Paiauise with anothei
Those listening to him askeu 0 Abu Ishaq when it is saiu in tiuth Kab al
Ahbai saiu
www.al-adaab.org 25

Is he who says Theie is no gou but Allah on Laylat al0aui othei than
tiuthful By Bim in whose Banu my soul is inueeu Laylat al0aui is upon the
uisbelievei anu the hypociite as if it weie a mountain on his back
The angels continue in this way until uaybieak The fiist to ascenu is uabiiel
who ascenus until he is in fiont of the uppeimost hoiizon Be then spieaus out
his wings Be has two gieen wings which he uoes not spieau out except in that
houi the iays of the sun uiminish uabiiel then calls angel upon angel anu
ascenus The light of the angels anu the light of the two wings of uabiiel
combine togethei the sun iemains bewilueieu that uay uabiiel anu those
with him aie maue to stanu between the eaith anu the heavens of this woilu
in supplication seeking meicy anu foigiveness foi the believing men anu the
believing women anu foi the one who fasteu Ramauan with belief seeking
iewaiu Anu uabiiel makes supplication foi the one who tells himself that if he
lives until the next Ramauan he will fast Ramauan foi Allah
When the evening comes the angels entei into the heaven of this woilu anu
sit in ciicle upon ciicle gatheiing with the angels of the heaven of this woilu
They ask them conceining man aftei man anu woman aftei woman They talk
about them until they say What has soanuso uone anu how have you founu
him this yeai They say We founu soanuso last yeai in this night uevoting
himself in woiship but we finu him this yeai in innovation We founu soanu
so in innovation but we finu him now in woiship They stop seeking
foigiveness foi the foimei anu continue to seek foigiveness foi the lattei
They say We founu soanuso anu soanuso making the Remembiance of
Allah anu we founu soanuso bowing anu soanuso in piostiation anu we
founu soanuso ieciting the Book of Allah
Theii uay anu night continue in this mannei until they ascenu to the seconu
heaven In each heaven they spenu a uay anu a night until they stop at theii
place at the Lote Tiee The Lote Tiee says to them 0 my inhabitants tell me
about the people anu name them to me foi veiily I have upon you a iight anu
I love him who loves Allah They enumeiate anu give accounts of men anu
women by theii names anu the names of theii fatheis Paiauise uiaws neai to
the Lote Tiee saying Infoim me of what youi inhabitants fiom amongst the
angels have infoimeu you of Paiauise then says Nay the Neicy of Allah be
upon soanuso man anu soanuso woman 0 Allah hasten them unto me
uabiiel who ieaches his place ti at the Lote Tiee befoie the iest of the
angels is inspiieu by Allah to say I founu soanuso in piostiation so foigive
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him Anu he will be foigiven uabiiel heais the caiiieis of the Thione saying
Nay the Neicy of Allah be upon soanuso man anu upon soanuso woman
anu may Bis foigiveness be upon soanuso uabiiel says 0 Loiu I founu
Youi seivant nameu soanuso which I founu last yeai upon the sunnah anu
in woiship but I founu him this yeai innovating a new act anu he has tuineu
back on that which You have commanueu him with Then Allah says 0
uabiiel if he makes iepentance thiee houis befoie ueath I will foigive him
Then uabiiel says Piaise be to You my gou You aie moie meiciful than all of
Youi cieation anu You aie moie meiciful with Youi seivants than Youi
seivants aie with themselves Then the Thione that which is aiounu it anu
the veils tiemble The heavens anu that which is in them say Piaise be unto
Allah the Nost Neiciful
Whomsoevei fasts the month of Ramauan telling himself that when he bieaks
fast aftei Ramauan he will not uisobey Allah will entei Paiauise with neithei
questioning noi account
Tafsii Ibn Kathii by Bafiz Ibn Kathii suiat al0aui
Imam Fakhi alBin alRazi wiites conceining the woiu of Allah Nost Bigh
Theiein angels anu the Spiiit uescenu by the leave of theii Loiu that fiom
this it is known that the angels incluuing uabiiel seek the peimission of Allah
Nost Bigh to uescenu to the Eaith 0n being gianteu peimission they
uescenu fiom the heavens Fiom this it is pioveu that the angels long to meet
the ummah of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace When they
aie gianteu peimission they uescenu in laige numbeis A question is iaiseu as
to why they woulu long to meet the likes of us sinful people When the angels
ieau the Pieseiveu Tablet they ieau about the goou ueeus of the Nuslims but
oui bau ueeus aie hiuuen fiom them
alTafsii alKabii by Imam Fakhi alBin alRazi unuei suiat al0aui
At this time the angels uncontiollably sing piaises of Bim who has maue the
goou ueeus appaient anu has hiuuen the bau ueeus At this the angels know
of the gieatness of this ummah anu they long to meet the seivants fiom
amongst them
Knowleuge of Laylat al0aui
www.al-adaab.org 27

Allah Nost Bigh has hiuuen the tiue knowleuge of Laylat al0aui so that
people woulu go in seaich of this blesseu night anu spenu as much time as
possible in Bis woiship If piecise knowleuge of this night weie uiscloseu
people woulu stiive foi moie woiship on a single night alone Anothei ieason
coulu be that if this night weie to be uiscloseu the one uisobeuient to Allah
Nost Bigh woulu ieceive a gieatei punishment foi peisisting in the act of
uisobeuience even on Laylat al0aui
Bafiz alAsqalani mentioneu foityfive iepoits conceining the uate of Laylat
al0aui with eviuences fiom amongst the Companions Allah be well pleaseu
with them all those who stuuieu unuei the Companions tabiin those who
stuuieu unuei the tabiin tabi alTabiin anu the scholais of the biogiaphy
siiah of the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace Nay Allah be well
pleaseu with one anu all of them Bue to the length of these accounts they
cannot be mentioneu heie
Theie is some uisagieement both amongst the companions anu the scholais
of the ummah conceining the exact night of Laylat al0aui It is believeu by
some that this night is on the twentyseventh of Ramauan anu this is the most
common view Imam Abu Banifah has saiu that the night changes each
Ramauan 0aui Abu Yusuf has saiu that Laylat al0aui can be in any one of the
nights of the yeai Imam alShafii has saiu that this night is founu in the fiist
night of the last ten uays of Ramauan Imam Nalik anu Imam Ahmau have saiu
that this night is in the last ten uays of Ramauan Anu so on anu so foith
Fath alBaii by Bafiz alAsqalani chaptei on Laylat al0aui
The Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace was given knowleuge of
exact night of Laylat al0aui as illustiateu in the hauith naiiateu by 0baua
Ibn alSamit anu iecoiueu by Imam alBukhaii see above
Imam alBukhaii iecoius a naiiation of Abu Salamah wheie he mentions that
the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu that he hau been shown
Laylat al0aui but he hau been maue to foiget its uate The Piophet Allah
bless him anu give him peace then saiu that it is in the ouu nights of the last
ten
Sahih alBukhaii by Imam alBukhaii chaptei on Fauaillaylat al0aui
www.al-adaab.org 28

Bafiz alAsqalani mentions that Ibn 0yaynah saiu that the knowleuge of
Laylat al0aui was known by the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him
peace anu that its knowleuge was only iemoveu foi that yeai alone
Fath alBaii by Bafiz alAsqalani chaptei on Fauaillaylat al0aui
0ne can concluue that the Piophet Allah bless him anu give him peace hau
knowleuge of Laylat al0aui but it was iemoveu foi a single yeai alone anu
then ietuineu the following yeai Anu Allah knows best
Witnessing Laylat al0aui
Bafiz alAsqalani wiites conceining Laylat al0aui
It is saiu that one sees all things in piostiation that theie is iauiant light in
eveiy place even in uaik aieas anu that one heais the Salams oi speech of the
angels It is also saiu that its maik is that the supplication of the one who has
witnesseu it is accepteu Imam alTabaii has noteu that all of the above aie
not necessaiy anu that it is not a conuition that one sees oi heais anything
foi it to have taken place
Fath alBaii by Bafiz alAsqalani chaptei on Fauaillaylat al0aui See also
Nayl alAwtai by 0aui alShawkani chaptei on Fauaillaylat al0aui
Imam Baui alBin alAyni has mentioneu that Imam alTabaii has heaiu this
fiom a whole community of people
Even touay we heai of such accounts uisplaying the 0mnipotent Powei of
Allah Nost Bigh The authoi has peisonally heaiu an account fiom a biothei
in Ealing Lonuon Buiing Ramauan the family weie busy in the woiship of
Allah Nost Bigh anu one fiom amongst them went to get a uiink fiom the
kitchen 0pon opening the tap milk began to flow 0theis weie calleu to
witness this gieat event anu they uiank fiom the sweet milk They thankeu
anu piaiseu Allah Nost Bigh foi the blessing they hau ieceiveu This
uemonstiates that Allah Nost Bigh chooses whom Be wills fiom Bis seivants
to uisplay Laylat al0aui
The Zakat of Eiu alFiti
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Abuullah bin 0mai Allah be well pleaseu with them both naiiateu that the
Nessengei of Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace maue the zakat al
Fiti as a sa ti a unit of measuie of uates oi a sa of bailey obligatoiy upon
the slave anu fieeman male anu female young anu olu fiom among the
Nuslims Anu he Allah bless him anu give him peace commanueu foi it to be
given befoie leaving foi the piayei
Bukhaii anu Nuslim
Ibn Abbas Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of
Allah Allah bless him anu give him peace maue the zakat alFiti obligatoiy as
a puiification of the fast fiom empty anu obscene talk anu as foou foi the pooi
Abu Bawuu

The zakat of Eiu alFiti is iequiieu wajib fiom eveiyone upon whom the
zakat is obligatoiy Someone obligateu to pay the zakat of Eiu alFiti must
also pay it foi eveiy peison he is obligeu to suppoit such as his wife anu
family Those who aie not obligeu to fast must still give the zakat of Eiu al
Fiti even if they have not fasteu It is iecommenueu to give the zakat of Eiu
alFiti befoie peifoiming the Eiu piayei
Foi Nuslims living in the west it is best to give the zakat of Eiu alFiti at the
beginning of Ramauan The ieason being that chaiitable oiganisations must
be given time to make aiiangements foi the funus to be uistiibuteu to the
neeuy in time foi the Eiu celebiations

The Bay of Eiu alFiti
Anas Allah be well pleaseu with him naiiateu that the Nessengei of Allah
Allah bless him anu give him peace saiu
When the uay of theii Eiu appeais meaning the uay of theii bieaking fast
Allah is piouu of them befoie Bis angels anu says 0 Ny angels what is the
iewaiu of the seivant who has fully accomplisheu his woik They say 0 oui
Loiu his iewaiu is that he is paiu his wage in full Be says Ny angels Ny
male seivants anu Ny female seivants have uone what I have maue obligatoiy
upon them then they came out hastening to supplication By Ny Bonoui
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uieatness ueneiosity Exalteu Position anu Sublime Natuie of Ny Rank I will
suiely iesponu to them Then Be says Retuin I have foigiven you anu
changeu youi sins into viitues Then they ietuin foigiven
Bayhaqi

The peifoimance of the Eiu piayei is iequiieu wajib fiom those whom the
Iumah piayei is iequiieu
The following aie iecommenueu befoie offeiing the Eiu piayei
tiimming ones haii
cutting ones nails
peifoiming the puiificatoiy bath ghusl
weaiing peifume
uiessing in ones best clothes
giving the zakat of Eiu alFiti
eating something sweet foi example an ouu numbei of uates
coming eaily aftei the uawn piayei on foot
ietuining home by a uiffeient ioute than one came
anu being joyful anu showing happiness with one anothei
Besciiption of The Piayei on Eiu alFiti
Befoie the actual Eiu piayei it is customaiy foi the imam to make a
tianslation of that which will be incluueu in the two seimons following the
Eiu piayei The Eiu piayei consists of two iakahs 0ne staits by making the
intention to offei the piayei as a wajib piayei then one must make the
opening takbii iaising ones hanus to the level of the eais The thana shoulu
then be ieau with the hanus below the navel Then thiee takbiis will be maue
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0ne must iaise ones hanus to the level of the eais each time Aftei each of
these takbiis ones aims shoulu be placeu at ones siues except the thiiu
aftei which one places them below the navel The Fatihah is then ieciteu
followeu by anothei suiah The piayei continues like an oiuinaiy two iakah
piayei until the suiah following alFatihah is ieciteu in the seconu iakah
Aftei this suiah one must make thiee moie takbiis each time iaising ones
hanus to the level of the eais then leaving ones hanus at ones siues Then
aftei anothei takbii one shoulu move into the iuku position The piayei
continues until the final Salams like an oiuinaiy two iakah piayei Aftei the
two iakahs aie completeu the imam gives two seimons khutbah like those
of Fiiuay piayei 0ne must listen to the seimons attentively
0ne shoulu not offei any nonobligatoiy piayeis between the uawn piayei
faji anu the Eiu piayei If one cannot join the Eiu piayei but wishes to offei
salat alBuha one shoulu uo so aftei the Eiu piayei has been offeieu If one
has misseu the Eiu piayei one shoulu offei foui iakahs foi salat alBuha If
one has misseu any of the takbiis of the fiist iakah one shoulu join the
piayei make them up by oneself then continues the piayei with the imam If
one has misseu any iakahs but still joineu the piayei one must make them
up aftei making the takbiis in the coiiect places
The Nysteiies of Fasting
A Nuslim who keeps the fast intenus to please Allah Nost Bigh anu appioach
Bim by its means Also one seeks the Foigiveness of Allah Nost Bigh Fasting
has many benefits some of which can be seen cleaily otheis aie hiuuen 0ne
can ieceive benefit both in this woilu anu the next fiom ones fasting
The following summaiy contains some points which Imam aluhazali Allah
be well pleaseu with him mentions in his book alIhya
When one fasts eating uiinking anu sleeping with ones wife is not
peimitteu iesulting in an inciease in ones spiiitual stiength as the physical
stiength is uiminisheu
When one iefiains fiom eating uiinking sleeping with ones wife anu fiom
committing acts of uisobeuience to Allah Nost Bigh one puiifies ones
woiship making it like that of the angels Refiaining fiom the uesiies of this
woilu in this way is not founu in any othei foim of woiship making fasting
unique
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When one is hungiy oi thiisty anu faces uifficulty one is tiaineu to have
patience with what Allah Nost Bigh has oiuaineu foi one iiua bi qaua Allah
When one is hungiy oi thiisty one can feel empathy foi those who
constantly suffei the pangs of hungei anu thiist uue to theii poveity anu the
like
Bungei anu thiist pievents one fiom committing acts of uisobeuience to
Allah Nost Bigh
Bungei anu thiist kills piiue anu aiiogance as one is ieminueu of how much
one can eat so as to be consiueiate of otheis
Fasting incieases ones unueistanuing anu intelligence
The equality of all Nuslims befoie Allah Nost high is shown to us as each
anu eveiy Nuslim must fast iiiespective of whethei one is iich oi pooi
Waking eaily befoie uawn foi the pieuawn meal anu bieaking ones fast
piomptly aftei sunset makes one moie punctual
Ihya 0lum alBin by Imam Abu Bamiu aluhazali chaptei on The Nysteiies
of Fasting
The ieason as to why one must fast is not uue to the afoiementioneu benefits
but iathei the only tiue anu ieal ieason is because fasting is the Bivine
Commanu of Allah Nost Bigh 0ne obeys the Commanu of Allah Nost Bigh to
seek Bis Bivine Pleasuie iiua The sinceie Nuslim intenus fasting as a foim
of woiship anu as a means of uiawing neaiei to Allah Nost Bigh Whethei oi
not the wisuom of a Bivine Commanu can be seen has no effect on his
willingness to woiship his Loiu with sinceiity anu Ikhlas
Epilogue
This is the enu of the woik entitleu The Rulings of Ramauan I piay that this
woik is of benefit to the ieauei giving an inciease in taqwa anu knowleuge to
act upon anu woiship Allah Nighty anu Najestic coiiectly I ask you to piay
foi this neeuy slave of Allah Nighty anu Najestic anu seivant of the ummah of
the Best of Cieation Nay Allah showei Bis blessings upon Bis Chosen 0ne his
family anu companions The goou of all that has been stateu is fiom Allah Nost
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Bigh alone anu the eiiois aie fiom myself the authoi I ask you to piay foi
my foigiveness anu steaufastness in the Bin Nay Allah Nost Bigh giant us
success in leaining knowleuge foi Bis sake anu piactising it foi Bis sake Nay
Allah Nost Bigh giant us the peifections of faith anu the ability to stay in the
company of Bis iighteous seivants Anu all piaise is uue unto Allah Loiu of
the Woilus anu Be alone giants success


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