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Ask about Ramadan and Fasting

Dr. Muhammad Salama
14 June, 2016

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

Thank you very much for joining us in this Live Fatwa session. We would like also to thank our guest, Dr. Muhammad Salama, for answering the questions directed to him. You will find the answers of your questions below.

Friday, Jun. 17, 2016 | 13:00 - 20:00 GMT

Session is over.
DISCLAIMER
Views expressed by hosts/guests on this program (live dialogue, Facebook sessions, etc.) are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  

A friend of mine, non-Muslim, once asked me: Why you Muslims don’t love life? No wonder many of your nations languish in poverty. Is that true, that we Muslims don’t love life? And why also there are many verses in the Qur’an detesting worldly life, and urging Muslims to shun wealth and worldly enjoyment, why? Isn’t this enough reason and perfect tool for so-called “Jihadists’ recruiting youths to go on suicidal operations, killing non-Muslims, and even Muslims as well? The Qur’an is full of these verses praising the Hereafter and talking negatively about this life (worldly life)…why?



Every human being loves life. This is something we are born with. We have strong inner motives to enjoy its pleasures. Therefore, the divine revelation comes with strong admonitions asserting that this life is not the end of the journey and that people must not be deceived by its fair-seeming pleasures. This emphasis, on the other side, lets the scales become balanced. The balance aimed at is to enjoy the pleasures of this life within the limits prescribed by our Creator keeping in mind that one day we shall meet Him to hold us accountable for all we have done in this world.

In the light of the above conception, we need to read the Qur’an and the prophetic traditions. Islam never asks people to be poor or not to enjoy their life.

In the Qur’an we read what means, “Say [to those who would ban God’s blessings]: Who is it that has prohibited the adornments of God, which He has brought forth for His servants, and the wholesome things of [His] provision? Say [to them]: Such things are [lawful] in the life of this world for those who believe- and they shall be purely so [for them alone] on the Day of Resurrection. Thus do We make distinct the [revealed] signs for a people who [would] know [God’s purpose for creation].” [7:32]

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from poverty and had a number of wives. Many of his Companions were wealthy and rich like Uthman ibn Affan and Abdurrahman ibn `Awf.

Your question reveals unbalanced reading of the Islamic texts and history. When Muslims were committed to the teachings of their religion they were masers in all fields of life and even in science.

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Regarding the current state of Muslims, you need to understand the reasons behind such violent activities. The absence of sound understanding of the religion together with the absence of justice and the sufferings of Muslims around the world, all such reasons and others have driven some Muslims to react violently. And in order to support their point of view they quote verses from the Qur’an and some prophetic statements. But still they also fall in the same trap of unbalanced reading and understanding.

May Allah guide us to understand His words in the best way.

Allah Almighty knows best.

My father has sahur with us and does not eat or drink during the daytime. Once I saw him smoking and was shy to advise him. What should I do?



You need to approach your father gently and remind him of Quranic verses and Hadiths that warn against disobeying Allah and breaking fasting in Ramadan. If you cannot approach him directly, you may let him hear some recordings or send him a message via any means concerning this point as well as concerning the harms and damages of smoking. You may also leave before him some fatwas, booklets or books that talk about these issues.

Also, keep making supplication for him that Allah guides his heart to follow the truth.

Most importantly, never let this derive you to be harsh, rude or ungrateful to him so as not to fall in a grave sin.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Why do you Muslims fast according to your Islamic calendar not the Gregorian one?



A brief comparison between the lunar calendar and the solar one will show you the difference; the lunar calendar is much clearer and easier as the apparent changes in the shape of the moon are noticeable to all people.

Moreover, no human influence may affect the accuracy of this calendar. On the other hand, the solar calendar is complicated and has been subject to great changes over history at the hands of astronomers due to the constant errors in its calculations.

Therefore, in the Qur’an we read what means, “Indeed, the [ordained] number of the months with God is twelve [lunar] months, [as was decreed] in the [Preserved Heavenly] Book of God on the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred- [and] that is the upright religion.” [9:36]

I advise you to search for the history of the Gregorian calendar to see the great changes and amendments that took place in this calendar and nevertheless still not as accurate as the lunar one.

May Allah guide you to the truth.

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Allah Almighty knows best.

During itikaf, I have to go home to wake my family up for sahur. Is this OK?



You can call them by phone to wake them up or set an alarm clock for them. Leaving the mosque for this reason interrupts your i`tikaf.

Allah Almighty knows best.

I broke my fast for many years because of sickness and cannot make up for the missed years or fasting and I cannot feed the poor. What should I do?



Allah SW says in the Qur’an what means, “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for those [who have believed] before you, so that you may be [ever] God-fearing. It is for a specified number of days. But one among you who is sick or is on a journey [shall then fast] the same number of other days.  Yet for those who are [hardly] able to endure it, [and do not fast,] the redemption [for each day] is feeding an indigent person [instead].” [2:183-184]

As you are not able to do either of them, then both options are beyond your capacity and you are not required to do anything, for “God does not task a soul beyond its capacity.” [2:286]

Allah Almighty knows best.

My non-Muslim friend asked me why God tortures people in hell forever. If someone makes mistakes all his life (30 years for example), why does not God punishes him for 30 years only and then admits him in heaven after finishing the thirty years of punishment?



If the person believes in Allah but is punishable for sins he committed, he will either be pardoned (there are many reasons for such pardoning and many will enjoy it) or will receive his punishment according to his sins and then will be admitted to the paradise.

Allah SW says what means, “Indeed, God does not wrong people in anything. But rather, [it is] people [who] wrong themselves.” [10:44]

Allah Almighty knows best.

How could you interpret verse 48 of chapter 8? As far as I know, Satan is chained in Ramadan.



The following could be aspects of interpretation:

 

Perhaps the merit of chaining Satan was not in effect by that time; for that incident took place in the second year of Hijrah.

 

Chaining Satan does not necessarily mean that they have no influence at all. According to a considerable interpretation of such chaining, the meaning is only to weaken their strength and limit their abilities so that they become unable to act as they do outside Ramadan.

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This thus gives a great opportunity for those who want to make benefit from Ramadan. As for disbelievers and ungodly Muslims, they do not enjoy this merit and are easily influenced by the Satan, even in this weak condition.

Allah Almighty knows best.

I heard that some Sufi groups offer 30 rak'ahs in Taraweeh Prayer; is this view correct?



The number of raka`ahs in Taraweeh is not specified. The Messenger of Allah used to pray 11 rak`ahs and sometime 13. The majority of scholars from different schools of Fiqh did not restrict the issue to these numbers. The companions offered up to 20 rak`ahs.

According to other scholars, the raka`ahs could go up to 36 or 39 or less or more. There is no restriction in this regard and one may pray any number of raka`ahs in Taraweeh.

So, there is no problem to pray 30 rak`ahs in Taraweeh Prayer.

Allah Almighty knows best.

When I got my permanent teeth it was brownish because of the medication I used when I was a young child. Later in my twenties dentist recommended to apply a white coating on my front teeth to cover the discolour. I still have the white coating on my front teeth. Is this permissible in islam?



There is no problem in such coating as long as it contains no prohibited materials.

Allah Almighty knows best.

I travel for more than 100 km every day. Should I break the fast?



In principle, yes, you may enjoy the license of breaking fasting for travelling; but you will have to make the days you missed up after Ramadan.

Editor’s Note:

You may be travelling more than that but still do not find difficulty. So, why do you neglect the great reward of fasting? Even if you are allowed to break the fast during the days you travel, and even if it is somehow difficult, doesn’t Allah’s reward deserve struggling?

Assalam-o-Alaikum. I hope that you are fine. I want to ask that is it allowed to ask for help from Prophet Mohammad (SAW)? In many Islamic Nasheeds, I have read the lyrics 'Al-Madad Ya Rasool (SAW)', 'you are the redresser in all befalling and calamities', 'What world will say if I return empty-handed from your house (Madinah)'. These nasheeds are in Urdu. I've just translated it for you. Please, accept my apology if I am saying something disrespectful. My knowledge is limited. These are some questions that come in my mind because according to my limited knowledge it is only Allah who has power over everything. And I must say that I love these nasheeds, but I do not want to follow the things I do not know well. I hope you will answer. Thank you



May Allah bless you for your keenness to keep your beliefs pure. You are absolutely correct. It is Allah Alone who manages the affairs of this universe. No one else, be it an angel, a prophet, or whosoever, can bring benefit or keep away harms except him. Allah SW commands His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to say, “Say [to them]: I do not hold for myself either benefit or harm, except as God so wills. And were I to know the [hidden] unseen, I would certainly increase myself in all that is good, and never would evil touch me. Yet I am only a forewarner [of God’s nearing Judgment] and a bearer of glad tidings [of everlasting delight in Paradise sent] to a people who would believe.” [7:188]

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade us from such exaggerated praises saying “Do not exaggerate in praising me as Christians did with Jesus son of Mary. I am lonely a servant [of Allah]. So, say: The servant and Messenger of Allah.”

Therefore, you should refrain from listening to such exaggerated praises.

Allah Almighty knows best.

I and my husband will carry out artificial insemination soon. Does it invalidate our fasting?



As for your husband, if he has to ejaculate, he has to avoid this in the daytime of Ramadan for this invalidates his fasting. If it is a case of necessity and there is no way to avoid it, then he has to make that day up after Ramadan.

As for you, artificial insemination does not invalidate your fasting; for science has proved that the uterus is isolated from the digestive tract. But still it is better if you can avoid it during the daytime of Ramadan.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Assalamu alaikum. I have so many confusing questions about Abrahamic religions; I’ve asked many times from many sites but didn't get answer yet. Today I’ve found this email id, so I’m glad about that. Please, make me sure about these confusions. JAZAKALLAH U KHAIR Q1. What is the Islamic view behind the Christians' believe on "resurrection of Jesus three days after the crucifixion"? Q2.What is mean by Holy Spirit in Christians' trinity concept? And please explain why in Islamic tradition Jesus is called Ruhullah? What does it mean? Q3. What is the Islamic view behind the Hebrew calendar, which initiates from creation of the world, according to which it is 5776th year of world? Is it right?



Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified. The Quran says what means “However, they did not kill him. Nor did they crucify him. Rather, it was made to appear to them as so” [4:157]

 

To understand the word “ruhullah“, you need to know that is composed of two Arabic words “ruh” which means spirit and Allah. This composition means a spirit created and issued by Allah as we read in the Quran what means, ” Indeed, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only God’s messenger; and [was created by] His word that He cast to Mary; and [was] a spirit [that issued forth by a command] from Him [to be]” [4:171] This composition is like naqatullah(the she-camel that belongs to Allah), which refers to the she-camel of Thamoud. Jesus was described as such, although all human beings have been created by a life-giving spirit, because of the miraculous manner of his conception as he was created directly with that spirit without the regular sexual relation.

 

Muslims do not trust what is mentioned in these scriptures as they have been distorted and manipulated by them. There is no verse in the Quran or an authentic hadith that speaks about this issue.

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So, we just say, “Allah Almighty knows best”.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Hello Dr. Muhammad Salama, I am having peptic ulcer, Candida’s Esophagitis, h-pylori, chronic gastritis and some other severe abdominal pain. I am using medications, but when I started fasting, it is getting very complicated. I am getting very ill, severe abdominal pain. I can barely walk. My stomach hurts very badly; I can even touch it. Sometimes, it gets very bad I have to take to ER (Emergency Room). The doctors are recommending something, but I would like to get some advice from a Muslim scholar. It is not getting better for nearly a year right now. What will you advise me?



Wa alaykum assalamu wa rahmatullah wa rabarakatu

In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving,

May Allah grant you quick recovery and help you overcome the disease.

Brother, Allah SW never intends to make it hard for us.  He says in the Quran what means “God intends for you ease, and does not intend for you hardship.” [2:185] Before this verse, we read also, “But one among you who is sick or is on a journey [shall then fast] the same number of other days. Yet for those who are [hardly] able to endure it, [and do not fast,] the redemption [for each day] is feeding an indigent person [instead].” [2:184] Thus, in your case, you may break fasting and pay the redemption mentioned in the verse, since your illness is chronic.

Allah Almighty knows best.

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