A  C  K  N  O  W  L E D  G  M  E N  T
This book  is  dedicated  to Allah  the  Most  High Whose  guidance,
help  and  grace  was  instrumental  in  making  this  humble  work  a
reality.  I  would  like  to  express  my  sincere  appreciation  to
everyone  who  helped  in  the  achievement  of this  book.  I  would
like  to  thank  in  particular  my  sincere  brothers:  Nadeem Ahmed
who  read the  entire first draft of the book. Brother Dr. Ali Ahmed
provided  fresh  perspectives  and  fine  editorial  counsel.  I  am
indebted  to  my  Shaikhs  for  their  technical  and  scholastic  inputs.
I  am also  in  debt to  Dr. Faiad  Chairman  of Rhyl  Islamic  Cultural
Centre  and  Dr.Vilijan  for  their  constant  moral  support  during
the  course  of writing  this  book.  I  would  also  like  to  thank  the
teachers  of Rhyl  Educational  Institute  for  their  continued  moral
support,  willingness,  assistance  and  tolerance.  I  want  to  express
my  appreciation  to  every  person  who  contributed  with  either
inspirational  or  actual  work  with  this  book.
Finally,  I  am  grateful  to  all  brothers  who  have  made  generous
participation  in  this  book.  Special  thanks  and  appreciation  goes
also  to  Dr.  Khalid  Master  the  president  o f the  Islamic  Society  at
Liverpool  University  for  his  technical  and  moral  support.  I  pray
to Allah  that  He  rewards  each  one  a  great  reward.
Narrated  Abu  Hurairah
(Peace  be  upon  him),
Allah’s  Messenger
(Peace
and  Blessing  of Allah  be  upon  him)
Said:
“When a person dies, his deeds cease (are stopped) except three
(l) Deeds of continuous charity, (2) Written knowledge with which
mankind gets benefit, (3) A righteous pious son or Daughter who
begs Allah to forgive his/her parents'
  (Muslim

 Introduction

2.  Ramadan the fasting m onth
5
3. The  evidence  o f Ramadan
9
4. Characteristics  o f fasting
13
5. The obligation o f fasting
...........
15
5.1. Upon w hom  is fasting obligatory?
..........
16
5.1.1. Muslim
1 6
5.1.2. Ballgh
(Puberty or Adulthood)
1 6
5.1.3.  A’qil and At Tamyeez
(Sane and Discretion)
............
1 7
5.1.4. Qadir
(Physical fitness)
    17
5.1.5. Muqim
(Resident: not in a state of travelling)
..........1 g
5.2. Upon whom  is fasting inapplicable?
.........
18
5.2.1. A non-Muslim
(Kafir)
    18
5.2.2. A mad person
(the insane)
..........18.
5.2.3. Children
(non baligh)
....
.
....
^
Q
5.2.4. Women during the menstruation or    ..........19
of post childbirth state
6
. The fundamental elements  o f fasting
.........
21
6.1 .The intention
    21
6.2.  Refraining from eating, drinking and
.........
23
anything that nullifies the fast from dawn
to sunset
VII
6.3.  Abstention from sexual relations
.........
23
from dawn to sunset
7. The underlying principles of fasting:
.........
25
Why do we fast?
8
.  General recomm endations o f fasting
.........
29
8.1. Having Pre-Dawn meal (Suhoor)
.........
29
8.2. Breaking the fast hastily
.........
32
8.3. Breaking the fast with fresh/dry dates
.........
33
or water
8.4. Supplication at the time of breaking
.........
33
the fast
8.5. Using the Siwak (tooth stick brush)
.........
34
8.6. Patience in obeying Allah
.........
34
8.7. Safeguarding the fast (i.e. guarding the
.........
34
limbs from what Allah has forbidden)
8.8. Not being excessive in food and drink
.........
36
9. Excellence o f fasting
.........
39
9.1. Fasting is a means to develop Taqwa
.........
39
9.2. Fasting is a means of seeking nearness to
.........
41
Allah the Mighty
9.3. Fasting is a means of attaining Allah’s
.........
41
forgiveness
9.4. Following the practice of the Prophets
.........
44
9.5. Getting a unique reward from Allah
.........
45
9.6. Fasting is a protection against sexual
.........
4 6
VIII
desires
9.7. Fasting distances a person from the fire
.........
47
9.8. Fasting causes a person to enter Paradise
.........
48
9.9. Fasting causes a person to enter
..........49
Ar-Rayyaan
(a gate of Paradise)
9.10. Fasting is a means of the acceptance    ..........50
of supplication
9.11. Fasting is a means of intercession on
.........
53
the Day of Judgement
9 .1 2 .
 Fasting is also a means of Kafarah
(expiation)
................
5 4
10. Warning for those who leave fasting
..........59
during Ramadan
11. Desirable Acts in Ramadan
..........
61
11.1. Benevolence and Generosity
    61
11.2. Offering night prayers
(Taraweeh)
..........62
11.3. Recitation/Studying the Qur’an
..........65
11.4. Seclusion in a mosque
(I’tikaf)
..........69
11.5. Seeking Laylatul-Qadr
(the Night of Decree)
..........72
11.6. Performing Umrah
    74
12.
Permissible  acts while  fasting
    79
12.1. Brushing the teeth
    79
12.2. Taking a bath or cooling oneself with    ..........79
water, etc.
12.3.  Washing the mouth or the nose with
......
79
water without gargling
12.4. Using perfumes
    80
IX
12.5. Blood-letting or donation for medical
.........
80
purposes
12.6.  Taking injections or medicine having
......
80
no food value
12.7.  Tasting food on the condition that it   ..........80
does not reach the throat
12.8. Applying Kohl or eye-drop
.........
81
12.9. Dental filing, extracting or scaling teeth
.........
81
1 2 .1 0 .
 Kissing or embracing
(wives)
for one
.........
8 1
who has the ability to control desires
12.11. Swallowing things which are not
.........
82
possible to avoid
12.12. Having food in the mouth when Fajr
.........
82
is beginning
12.13. Eating or drinking something
.........
83
unknowingly or being forced to do so
12.14. Discharge Of Semen
(as a result of thinking,
.........
83
or a wet dream)
12.15. Being sexually defiled at the time of Fajr
.........
84
12.16. Unintentional vomiting
(by itself)
.........
84
12.17. Bleeding by itself such as nose-bleeding
.........
84
or extraction of tooth
13.Those  permitted  to  break the  fast
................
8 5
(but  who  must pay  a “fidyah”  (ransom)  for  not  fasting)
13.1.The elderly persons
.........
85
X
13.2.  Physical disability
.........
86
14.
Those  permitted  to  break the  fast
.........
87
(but who  must  make  up  the  days  for  not  fasting)
14.1. A traveller
..........87
14.2. Women during the period of menstruation
.........
88
or of the post childbirth state
14.3. The Pregnant and breast-feeding women  ..........88
14.4. A person having a sudden illness
..........89
15. Actions which nullify the fast with
..........91
atonement
(Qada)
15.1. Deliberate vomiting
    91
15.2. Bleeding of menstruation or after
.........
91
childbirth
15.3. Taking injections or drugs that are used
.........
92
instead of food
15.4. Letting anything in the month intentionally
........
92
15.5. Ejaculation of sperm
    92
15.6. Breaking of fast under exceptional conditions
......
92
16.  Actions which nullify the fast
........
95
with  expiation
16.1. Sexual interaction
    95
17.
Educating children in Ramadan
    99
18.
Zakatul-Fitr
   103
19.
Eid prayer and Eid  celebration
   105
19.1. Definition of Eid
   105
19.2.  The night preceding the Eid:
.......
108
XI
What to do on Eid Night?
19.3. Preparation for Eid prayer
(Salami Eid)
.......
108
19.4. Going out to the place of prayer
.......
109
19.5. How to perform Eid prayer
   112
19.6. Khutbahtul-Eid: The Address of the Eid
.......
113
19.7. After Eid prayer
   114
19.8. During the Month of Shawwal
   115
20. Conclusion
     117
21. Bibliography
   119

 With the advent of another Ramadan, a mixture of feelings overwhelm the hearts of Muslims all over the world. The hearts are full of hope, based on trithful promises and glad tidings given by Allah and his Messenger, of great bounties and endless bliss.