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Ask About Ramadan, Fasting & Last 10 Days (Live Fatwa)

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

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

Thursday, Jun. 23, 2016 | 17:00 - 19:00 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.  

As-salamu alaikum. My question is regarding painting/drawing. I have been painting for 3 years now and I am aware that imitating the creation of Allah is haram and I have abstained from doing that, Alhamdulillah, but I need clarification regarding certain aspects of that since usually the answers I get are very vague. Please, note that I am not trying to nitpick in anyway I just would like to know the clear boundaries. So, I don't cross them. Is drawing/painting of silhouette of humans/animals without any distinct features except for the outline, aliens or beings that don’t exist and are based on human imagination (like Tom and Jerry) and anime like cartoon characters that are not an exact resemblance of actual humans/animals and the like, permissible? Jazak Allah khair.



In so far as Shari`ah prohibited making images it was because of its association with shirk or worship of deities besides Allah. Once it is free of such associations, there is no reason to prohibit it. This is the principle eminent scholars have used in allowing photography or taking videos, etc. all of these today are powerful mediums; they have no association with shirk.

Once we take this into account, the issue becomes clear.

I remember when I was studying at the Islamic University of Madinah there was almost a consensus among Saudi scholars that photography is haram and the eminent Shaikhs never allowed for their pictures to be taken.

However, once they realized there is no connection between photography and shirk, they allowed it, and their pictures were published in the magazines, etc.

It is worth remembering that Allah tells us in the Qur’an that the Prophet Sulayman employed workers to carve statues and things. Of course, he was not doing it for idolatry.

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In light of this, you need to ask yourself: why am I doing it? Are you doing it for communication and education purpose? If that is the case, I see no reason why you should be inhibited. Muslims today should decide whether they use such powerful mediums of communication or leave it to Satan and his troops to enlist them for promoting vice and corruption.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used poetry as a powerful medium to raise the word of Allah, although, it had been generally used for wrong purposes by the pagans.

For details, you may refer to my answer on photography here.


Is it necessary to make the intention for fasting every night?



Intention is an integral element for the validity of every act of worship, including prayer and fasting. It is intention that distinguishes an act of worship from a custom or mechanical habit. Therefore, we can never overestimate the role of intention.

Having said this, however, I must also point out, the question arises whether there is need to do it every night. A person who is waking up for suhur is already doing it to prepare himself for fasting. Therefore, some eminent scholars have ruled, it is not essential to make the intention to fast every night in Ramadan; rather it is sufficient to make the intention to fast the whole month of Ramadan. I would endorse this view as there is no textual evidence to require us to formulate the niyyah on a daily basis in Ramadan.


Salamu alaykum, dear Sheikh. I would like to know if it is OK to break the fast due to exams, especially that the day will be long (about 18 hours).



You are not allowed to break your fast because of exams. In fact, many find it easy to concentrate while fasting. So, perhaps you should try to visualize the spiritual benefits of fasting and turn to Allah to give you the stamina and strength. You may be able to endure rigors of fasting and thus succeed in giving exams.

Having said this, however, let me also point out that if you find yourself exhausted and dehydrated due to long hours of fasting, you are allowed to break it and make up for the day later.


What does the Bible say about Christian fasting?



Allah says in the Qur’an, “O you who believe, fasting has been enjoined upon you as it was enjoined on nations before you so that you may nurture taqwa (mindfulness of Allah).” (Qur’an:2: 183).

The Qur’anic statement can be readily confirmed even by a casual reading of the Bible: Let me cite here some verses from the Bible:

New International Version

“Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant–the Ten Commandments.”

Jesus also fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert – this is commonly known as the Temptation of Christ.

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Here is another reference from the Bible (New International Version):

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempteda by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Since Jesus came to a milieu where religious rituals had been reduced into mechanical legalistic acts, his main focus was on directing the attention  of the believers to embrace the true spirit of fasting; hence we hear him preach to those who observe the fast not to make show of their actions; rather consider fasting as a means of pleasing God: Therefore, we read in Mathew:

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18).

This is not different from what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah says: Fasting is for Me (it is between Me and My servant); I am the One who determines the rewards for it.”


It is noticed that many people take fasting as an excuse for being harsh and impatient. They say that they behave so because they are in bad mood due to lack of food and drink. Is it a good excuse?



Fasting can never be used as an excuse for bad behavior. Rather, fasting proper is supposed to keep a person patient, composed and forgiving. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has enjoined us to keep our cool and refuse to be provoked and walk away from all provocative situations saying: “I am fasting, I am fasting.” He said, “When one of you is fasting, let him not indulge in foul speech or sinful activities; if anyone insults or rebukes him, let him (not retaliate and) say: I am fasting; I am fasting.” (Muslim)