Ramadan Dialogue

Q. Some people in my home country do not begin the Ramadan fast according to their country; they follow Saudi Arabia. They do the same with the Eid and mark it on the same day as in Saudi Arabia, while people at home may be still fasting. Please comment.

A. These people are well meaning. They think that Islam is practised in its best form in Saudi Arabia and they want to follow it. But their practice is wrong because it does not have a solid basis. If we were to extend their practice to its logical conclusion, we should offer prayers according to the timings in Saudi Arabia, rather than our own timings. Thus, we should import Saudi calendars and follow the timings indicated in them. Similarly, we should fast the same number of hours as fasting is indicated in Saudi Arabia. This is easy nowadays, because of satellite television. We can always watch the time in Saudi Arabia and follow it. Needless to say, no one will agree to this although some logical argument could be presented in its support, such as the unity of all Muslims.


Yet the practice of all Muslims is that each locality has its own timings. The difference in prayer time between Jeddah and Dammam, at the two coasts of Saudi Arabia is around an hour. No one suggests that it should not be observed. In fact if it is not observed, we run the risk of having our prayers rendered invalid.


The difference in starting Ramadan has always been known, and the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions accepted it. Abdullah ibn Abbas asked someone who had travelled from Damascus to Madinah about the day they started Ramadan.


When he was informed of the day, he mentioned that the people of Madinah sighted the moon on a different day. People asked him whether he would defer to the sighting in Damascus since it was the capital city of the Muslim state at the time, but he said: “Each have their own sighting.” This is a clear answer to those people by the Prophet.

Q. I plan to do my Umrah during Ramadan. I have one question about the sa’ie. Since the sa’ie between the two hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah commemorates Lady Hagar’s search for water for her son and herself, why is it that men do the running between the two hills while women walk? It was Hagar who ran here and there until the water of Zamzam gushed between the child’s feet.


A. It is true that when Lady Hagar searched for water, she was running here and there, hoping to discover something. However, the purpose of the sa’ie is not to commemorate her action in full. Otherwise, what she did would have been clearly marked and we would have been told in plain terms that this is the reason why it is included as a ritual of the pilgrimage and the Umrah.


These rituals are done because God wants us to conduct the pilgrimage in this way. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered the pilgrimage, he said to his companions: “Learn your rituals from me.” At no point did he say this ritual is a commemoration of this or that act. It is scholars who pointed this out, linking each ritual to an act of a great believer who demonstrated full submission to God. Moreover, the jogging during the sa’ie is only symbolic. It is for a very short distance, while Hagar was running in the sort of frenzy that characterizes a desperate woman fearing for the life of her young child. She definitely did not walk the rest of the distance, but was running at full speed. We need to demonstrate calmness when we offer worship, and this is what is demonstrated in the sa’ie.

Q. Does lying, cheating and acts of dishonesty nullify a person’s fast during the month of Ramadan?


A: If we read the Qur’anic verse, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint” (2:183), then we will know that one of the prime objectives of fasting is to control the prompting of the lower passions. Allah stands in no need of the fasting of one who fails to give up his acts of dishonesty during this month. The Prophet (Pbuh) said, “He who does not refrain from lying and from (all forms of) ignorance; Allah cares little for his refraining from eating and drinking”. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: “Fasting is a shield, so when one of you is fasting, he should not indulge in foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting”.It is indeed a great pity that many do not take heed of the lessons and wisdom of fasting. Their fasting in fact becomes reduced to merely starving themselves for the day. We cannot, however, say that their fasting is nullified. That decision we have to leave to Allah. But we can say with certainty that their reward for fasting is greatly diminished.

Q: How can we start introducing the month of Ramadan to our kids who might not be in the age of fasting yet?

(Member of the Fiqh Council of North America )

A: The best way is talk to them first about the blessing and importance of the month of Ramadan. There are many hadiths on this subject that you can use. Encourage them to fast using examples of the companions of the Prophet (Pbuh) and talk about the great reward Allah grants for fasting people. It is reported in a hadith that the companions used to make toys for the children to keep them busy while fasting so they don’t think about food. So you should train them to fast regularly. Even with little children who are still under age, they could start by fasting few hours, to half a day, until they could tolerate fasting the whole day.

Q: How important is it to have Suhur (the pre-dawn meal) before commencing the daily fast?

A: Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (Pbuh) said, “Eat a Suhur, for there are blessings in it.” The reason why it is regarded as blessing is that it strengthens the fasting person, makes him more energetic, and makes the fast easier for him. It would suffice to have a small portion of food, or simply a sip of water. Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri reported that the Prophet said, “The pre-dawn meal is blessed, so do not neglect it even if you only take a sip of water. Verily, Allah and the angels pray for those who have pre-dawn meals.”


You should delay the pre-dawn meal as the Prophet said, “My nation will always retain some goodness as long as they hasten to break their fast and delay eating the pre-dawn meal.”

Q. Is it permissible to use the miswak stick to clean the teeth while fasting? Are we allowed to take a shower to cool the body in daytime during Ramadan?


A: It is permissible for the fasting person to use a tooth stick, called miswak. There is no difference if he used it at the beginning or the ending of the day or even during the day itself. At-Tirmidhi affirms that: “Shafi did not see anything wrong with using a tooth stick during the beginning or ending of the day”. The Prophet (Pbuh) would use his miswak while fasting. In a country like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where you live, or anywhere, where the summer heat is intense, one often feels like sitting in cool water in order to soothe the body from the heat. Abu Bakr ibn Abdurahman reported from a number of companions that they had seen Allah’s Messenger pour water over his head while he was fasting due to thirst or extreme heat. This is related by Ahmad, Malik and Abu Dawud with a Sahih chain. In the two Sahih of Bukhari and Muslim, it is related from Aisha that the Prophet would rise in the morning on a fasting day and then would perform ghusl (bathing).

Q: In the month of Ramadan, specially at the time of Iftar, many dishes are prepared. Is this act not an extravagance and waste?


A: Eating of Halal (lawful) dishes and inviting others to eat that those food is lawful. Better alternative will be to make others eat the food, especially those who are deserving. Extravagance either in the form of Iftar party or on any other occasion is not permissible. A very few eatables may be kept ready for Iftar to keep oneself away from committing the sin of excessive spending. The very aim of observing fasting is to attain Taqwa and also eating less. Unfortunately for us Muslims, Ramadan has become a month of not less eating, but consuming more and more! Needless to say that to spend excessively on any occasion, we are committing wrong from both worldly point of view as well as from the point of view of religion.

Whenever the month of Ramadan comes near, Muslims get divided into two groups. The majority starts fasting and celebrates ‘Eid with their local community. This group follows a major local organization such as the Islamic Society of North America, which is a well-established organization in North America. But the other group, which is a minority, always creates a division and disunity within the community and follows Saudi Arabia (or its own mother country) in starting and ending their observation of the holy month. For the sake of the unity, don’t you think the Muslim community should unite and start and end fasting on the same day? Which opinion do you strongly prefer: to stick with your local community or to follow another country that is far from you?


First of all, we would like to state that Muslims should strive and do their best to achieve their unity in all aspects, not only in the beginning and end of Ramadan and celebrating the Eids. It is against the spirit of Islam to see Muslims in the same country divided in their rituals and their Islamic dates and events. The Islamic spirit is against division and disunity. That is why Muslims are not allowed to hold two congregational prayers in one mosque at the same time.


Muslim scholars have differed regarding the following issue: if the new moon is sighted in one region or country, ought the people of other regions to follow this sighting or follow their own sighting? The preferable view is that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow this sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night.


However, if this unity cannot be achieved nowadays, then Muslims in each country must be united and start fasting on the same day. The dilemma of Muslims in the West is that they are divided between their locality and their countries of origin. Some are inclined to follow their countries of origin or major Muslim centers like Saudi Arabia. This, in fact, causes division among Muslims living in the West and they fail to achieve the least level of unity regarding their Islamic dates and events. Moreover, this causes Muslims problems with the authorities in these countries and deprives them from some of their rights. For instance, Muslims cannot demand the day of Eid as a day off if they do not agree on a certain day. We should be keen and strive to achieve the unity of Muslims regarding the beginning and end of fasting and all other rituals. We should not lose hope in achieving this goal or removing the obstacles in its way.


However, it is to be stressed that anyhow if we fail to achieve the unity of the whole Muslim nation, we should at least be keen to achieve the unity of Muslims in each country. It is not acceptable at all that Muslims of one country or city be divided among themselves and differ regarding the beginning of the fast so that some of them start fasting on one day while the others do not observe the fast on that day.


It is agreed upon that the decision of the ruler or the people in authority and charge of Muslims affairs lifts the differences in disputable matters. Therefore, if the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country (such as Dar al-Iftaa [House of Fatwa], Supreme Court, or Presidency of Religious Affairs) announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in such region should follow its decisions, as it is obedience in goodness even if the decision differs with other countries.


In light of the above mentioned facts, Muslims are to achieve unity among themselves. They are to follow their own recognized authorities in order to achieve this goal. It is also the duty of Muslim organisations to reach an agreement on this issue in order not to cause disunity and division among Muslims.

Q. Except fasting from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, is it expected too much from a new convert?

(Writer and Speaker in the UK and Egypt)

A. I am not sure how recently you embraced Islam, but if you are very new, then it is important not to try and do too much all at once. If this is your first Ramadan, allow the fasting to be your main concern and do not get too worked up about what to say and when. The fasting will be quite enough to cope with. If you feel you are coping well with the fast as the month goes on, you can then add extra prayers. (If you already know these in Arabic, then feel free to use them). Your first fast, though, will be quite an achievement and at the end of each day’s fast, thank Almighty Allah and rejoice that you have fasted for His sake.

Q. How can we be consistent in the level of worshipping all through Ramadan as we always start very active and then the spirit goes down.


A. You are right, even the least religious among us can be fired with enthusiasm at the start of Ramadan, vowing to do all the things they have fallen behind on during the course of the year, yet after the initial enthusiasm has gone, many people fall back on their good intentions. This is why it is very important to be realistic with our goals for Ramadan. For someone who perhaps misses the five prayers regularly, it is too much for him to vow to say the five daily prayers and then add Tarawiyah prayers in the mosque and then get up in the middle of the night to pray.... and so on. Without being over-ambitious with our goals, we should all try to concentrate first of all on the fast and the prayers. If we can manage both of these, then add extra challenges that will help to renew our faith, like reading books about Islam and reciting more of the Quran.

Q. I don’t think I can live for 16 hours without coffee. What can I do in Ramadan?

A. You will be surprised! If, like me, you drink several cups of coffee as soon as you get up in the morning and then carry on in the same mode throughout the day, then Ramadan will come as a shock to the system. The body will crave to get what it wants. But precisely one of the reasons for fasting is to tell the body that it is not in control and that it can’t have what it wants whenever it wants it. We read in the Qur’an:


“O Ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you That ye may learn Self-Restraint.” (Al-Baqarah 2:183). You will find that after the first few days when you feel it is more than you can bear to go without coffee, it will become easier and easier. You will surely manage! There are many in the world who won’t have coffee not only in Ramadan but any time. In fact, there are people whose fast will not end with the sunset prayer, because they will starve to death that day. Thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves helps us to put our own comforts and needs into perspective.

One of the most valuable instrument of character-building is ihtisab or self-appraisal and self-criticism. We must try to criticise or appraise ourselves and we should be as honest, as frank, and as ‘cruel’ to ourselves as we can. In appraising our behaviour we should be harsh on ourselves while being lenient with others. The best method of self-criticism is to devote just two or three minutes, before going to bed each day for evaluation. Make it a habit; a conscious effort. Review our day so as to know how we spent it. Evaluate how we have spent our time, our money, the talents and resources that God gave us, the responsibility that has been entrusted to us. Assess each aspect of our life. Where we have succeeded offer shukr or thanks to Allah. Where we have failed, make istighfar or repentance. This is the best form of self-criticism.

Source: “Instruments of Character Building” - Khurshid Ahmad.