Fasting
| 4/2/2008 Return to top |
Q003: Salam Please provide the answer to these questions urgently: When does one need to make niyyat(intention) of Nafl Fast? Is there any difference between niyyat(intention) of Nafl fast and fast of Ramadan? If one makes niyyat(intention) in the night to perform Nafl fast but in the morning he decides not to fast and starts eating and drinking, will this man be obliged for Qada for such a fast decision? Regards, |
| 11/15/2003 | A003: Dear Brother Assalam Alaikum When you fast fardh, such as Ramadan, you have to make your niyyah (Intention) any time before Fajr (dawn). But when you fast nafl (Optional), it is OK to make it at any time before noon. Yes, in Nafl you can change your mind and eat. Allah knows best. Sincerely, Yours, Imam Farooq Aboelzahab |
| 4/2/2008 Return to top |
Q002: Salaam Alaikum Imam Aboelzahab, I'm ashamed to say this but I deliberately broke my fast 1 or 2 times during Ramadan. I read somewhere that if I do that, I have to fast for 60 consecutive days for each day I broke my fast. I understand that what I did was wrong and have to pay the price for it but every Sunday my family eats lunch at my grandmother's house and they are going to ask me why I am still fasting even though Ramadan is over. This is the tricky part, I also read somewhere that when someone sins, they are not supposed to tell people that they sinned, and repent to Allah, and keep it between yourself and Allah. I can just tell them that I deliberately broke my fast and this is what I have to do, but what if they asked me what I did? For one, I don't feel comfortable telling them what I did, and two (if what I read is true) I am not supposed to tell them what I did. Could you give me your opinion on this? Thank you so much. May Allah reward you for all of your deeds. Wa-Salaam |
| 11/15/2003 | A002: Dear Brother Assalam Alaikum May Allah forgive you for that, but Ramadan is not over yet. You should stand for what you believe in, and do not go with the family in eating. Yes, you can go with them but to excuse yourself from eating. If it is so hard for you to do so then repent to Allah, and try to make up by being more obedient to Allah. We pray to Allah to forgive you. I am not quite sure if your family fasts? Are they Muslims? If not then maybe you have been under a kind of pressure to do what you have done. It is Ok to tell me about your sin so I can guide you as much as I can, but you need to repent to God, and you have to make up for these two days after Ramadan and to give some charity if you can. I appreciate your sincerity and honesty. Yours, Imam Farooq Aboelzahab |
| 11/12/2003 Return to top |
Q001: Assalamu Alaikum Imam Farooq, One of my peers brought up an interesting question to me the other day: What do Muslims do during the month of Ramadhan in parts of the world like Alaska or Scandanavia where they occasionally experience days with 24 hours of sunlight? Or extended hours of darkness? Fasting rules are defined in the Quran as abstaining from food or drink during the daylight hours. Is there any exception for such a circumstance mentioned in the Quran? Sincerely, Aishah |
| 11/12/2003 | A001: Assalam Alaikum Dear Aishah, I hope that you are doing fine with Ramadhan. Muslims who are living in parts of the world where they have very extended daylight hours, that could be close to 24 hours, have to observe fasting a period of that day equal to the daylight hours of the closest country to them that has a normal day and night cycle. In other words, their day of fasting can not be the 24 hours, but a time similar to the closest country that has a day and night cycle. Thank you for a very important question. Yours, Imam Farooq Aboelzahab |