Meaning of
al-Qadaa (atonement) and its Rulings:
Al-Qadaa is making up missed fasts of Ramadaan with similar number of
fasts on
days other than Ramadaan.
It is not obligatory to make al-Qadaa immediately after Ramadaan.
Al-Qadaa for
the missed fasts of Ramadaan may be delayed until the next Ramadaan as
is known
from Aa'isha (radhi allahu anha), who relates, "It used to be that I had
days to
make up for Ramadaan and I would not be able to do so except in Shabaan
(the
month before Ramadaan)." [Saheeh al-Bukharee (4/166) and Saheeh Muslim
(no.
1146)]
Al-Hafidh (rahimahullah) says in al-Fath (4/191), "The (above) Hadeeth
contains
proof for allowance of delaying al-Qadaa of missed Ramadaan fasts
unrestrictedly, with or without any excuse."
Although, it is better to hasten in making up the missed fasts than to
delay
them, since this falls under the general command of hastening to do good
deeds
and not delaying them, such as the saying of Allah in the Qur'aan, "And
march
forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for
Paradise
as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for al-Muttaqoon (the
pious)." [Soorah al-Imran, (3): 133]
It is also not obligatory to make up the days together (i.e. one
immediately
after the other). Allah, the Exalted, says, "The same number (of days
which one
did not fast must be made up) from other days." [Soorah al Baqarah (2):
185]
Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said, "There is no harm if one fasts them
separately." [(mu'allaq) Saheeh al-Bukharee (4/189)] See,
Taghleequt-Ta'leeq
(3/186)] And Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) said, "One may fast them
together
if he wishes." [(saheeh) Daaraqutnee, al-Irwa (4/95)]
However, it is not permissible to postpone al-Qadaa fasts until after
the next
Ramadan without a legal excuse like, continuous illness, nursing
mothers, etc.
If one does not make al-Qadaa of the missed fasts until the next
Ramadaan, then
he should make al-Qadaa and feed a poor person for each day. Abu
Hurayrah (radhi
allahu anhu) narrates concerning a person who falls sick and thus breaks
his
fast and does not make al-Qadaa of his missed fasts until the next
Ramadaan
arrives, "He should fast the present Ramadaan, and then make al-Qadaa
for the
missed fasts of the previous Ramadaan and feed a poor person for each
missed
fast. [Reported by Daraqutni]
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Guidelines concerning Things that Break the Fast
On the following page, are mentioned things, which nullify the fast. All
of
them, apart from menses and nifas, only invalidate the fast if three
conditions
are met:
= The person was aware of the ruling and not ignorant of it. If he does
not know
the ruling then it does not break his fast, because Allah says: "And
there is no
sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard
to what
your hearts deliberately intend." [Soorah al-Ahzab (33): 5]
= The person did it knowingly and not out of forgetfulness. The Prophet
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said: "My Ummah is forgiven for mistakes and
forgetfulness and
for what they are forced to do." Similar is the case of the person, who
does
something that breaks the fast, thinking that it does not break the
fast.
= The person did it by choice and not due to force. The Prophet
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said: "My Ummah is forgiven for mistakes and
forgetfulness and
for what they are forced to do." See, Fatawa Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen (vol.
1, p.
508)
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Eating and Drinking Intentionally: It is well known that fasting
is
abstaining from eating and drinking, therefore, if one eats or drinks
deliberately and in full consciousness, he is obliged to make al-Qadaa
for the
sin he committed. However, he, who eats or drinks accidentally or out of
forgetfulness or is forced, nothing is required from him.
The Prophet
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said, "If one of you eats and drinks out of
forgetfulness,
then let him complete his fast (maintain his fast for the rest of the
day) for
it was indeed Allah, Who gave him food and drink." [Saheeh al-Bukharee
(41135)
and Saheeh Muslim (no. 1155)] Thus, while eating or drinking, if one
remembers
that he is fasting, he must immediately stop and spit out any food still
present
in his mouth and continue his fast.
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) said, "Allah has excused for my Ummah mistakes, forgetfulness
and
what they are forced to do." [(Saheeh) ad-Daraqutnee (4/171) from Ibn
Abbas]
Anything that Comes Under the Same Heading as Eating and Drinking also
invalidates the fast. This includes two things,
1. Transfusion of blood to the fasting person invalidates the fast
because blood
is formed from food and drink.
2. Nourishment via needle as in the case of a drip or injections
intended for
nourishment or substitute for food will render the fast invalid.
Vomiting Intentionally: Whoever vomits deliberately by sticking
his
finger in his throat, pressing his stomach, deliberately smelling
something
nasty or persisting in looking at something that makes him vomit, has to
make
al-Qadaa.
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, "Whoever
has an
attack of vomiting, then no atonement is required of him, but whoever
vomits
intentionally then let him make atonement for it." [Abu Dawood (2/310),
at-Tirmidhee (3/79), Ibn Majah (1/536) and Musnad Ahmad (2/498). Its
isnaad is
saheeh as Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in Haqeeqat as-Siyaam (p.
14).]
Menstruation and Post-Natal Bleeding, When a woman begins to
menstruate (haid)
or begins afterbirth bleeding (nifas) during the fasting hours of
Ramadaan,
whether it is at the start of the fast or a moment before sunset; her
fast is
nullified. She must make up for that day and the rest of the days until
she is
pure again, and if she were to continue fasting during her days of
menstruation,
it would not count, for the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, "Is it
not that when she gets her period, she does not pray or fast?" [Saheeh
al-Bukharee (304)]
The order of al-Qadaa is known by the following Hadeeth in which a woman
asked
Aa'isha (radhi allahu anha), "Why is it that the menstruating woman has
to make
up her fasts but not the prayers?" She (radhi allahu anha) said, "We
were
ordered to make up the fasts and were never ordered to make up the
prayers."
[Saheeh al-Bukharee (4/429) and Saheeh Muslim (no. 335)]
Blood that Invalidates Fasting
= If the blood comes out as a result of a person's action or choice
and its
amount is large and has an effect on the person's body, then this
invalidates
his fast (such as donating blood). One should make up that day (so as to
avoid
an area of scholarly dispute and be on the safe side and be sure that he
has
fulfilled his obligation).
= If the blood comes out as the result of a person's actions or choice
and its
amount is small and it does not harm the person, then it does not
invalidate the
fast, such as the small amount of blood that is taken for testing.
= If the blood comes out as a result of no deliberate action, such as an
accident or nosebleed or an injury to any part of the body, the fast is
still
valid even if the amount of blood is large.
= If the blood that comes out as a result of no deliberate action and is
of such
a large amount that the person becomes weak and unable to fast, then it
is
permissible for him to break his fast and he should fast another day to
make up
for it.
= The blood of menstruation (haid) and post-natal bleeding (nifas)
invalidates
the fast for the women, she must make up for that day and rest of the
days until
she is pure again. See, Fatawa Islamiyyah, 2/132 and al-Lajnah
al-Daa'imah
li'l-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wa'l-Ifta, 10/263
FATAWA
The Ruling on Using Pills that Postpone Menstruation Period
"It is preferable for a woman to keep to her natural cycle and to
accept
that which Allah has decreed for her, and not take any medicine to
prevent her
period. She should accept what Allah has decreed for her of not fasting
during
her period, and make up those days later on. This is what the mothers of
the
believers and the women of the Salaf used to do." Fatawa al-Lajnah
al-Daimah
(10/151)
Note: It has been medically proven that these means of preventing
menstruation are harmful and many women have suffered menstrual
irregularities
as a result.
I did not Fast Ramadaan, Without any Physical Excuse
Allamah Ibn Baz (rahimahullah) replied, "It is necessary upon you to
make up
that month in which you did not fast, while, at the same time, repenting
and
seeking Allah's forgiveness. You must also feed a poor person for every
day the
amount of half a sa' of the staple food of dates, rice or other such
foods, if
you have the ability to do so. If you are poor and do not have the
ability to do
so, then there is nothing upon you besides the making up of the fast."
'Fatawa
on Fasting, Zakaat and Taraweeh,' Published by Darussalam
