Ramadan Questions and Answers by Sheikh Muqbil bin Hadee (rahimahullahu Ta’la)

Question 1: Is it obligatory that a person makes their intention to fast (at the beginning of everyday) of the month of Ramadan, or is it sufficient to have one intention for the full month, and when should one make their intention to fast?
Answer: The Prophet (sallahu alahee wa salem) said: “Verily all actions are by their intentions, and everyone will have what he/she intends”. This is a proof of the obligation of having an intention in every action. So what is apparent is that a person must intend to fast every individual day. This does not mean that one says: I have intended to fast on such and such day in Ramadan. Rather, what is meant is that he holds the intention (inwardly). So in fact, one getting up for suhoor (food eaten before the entering of fajr), this is considered an intention to fast, and one abstaining from food and drink, is also considered an intention to fast. As for the hadeeth: “Whoever sleeps without intending to fast, there is no fast for him”, this is a weak hadeeth. It is from the category of muttarib (a hadeeth reported in many different ways, all having the same strength, so none of them can outweigh the other), even if some scholars consider it to be hasan (acceptable), what is correct is that it is a muttarib (weak) narration.
Question 2: Are there any specific words for intending to fast, and is it permissible to make the intention audibly, are there any specific supplications to be said when breaking ones fast, (if so) does one say these supplications audibly?
Answer: There are no specific words for intending to fast. What is correct is that a person does not verbally intend any form of worship, even in the affair of Hajj. Those who have mentioned that a person makes his intention for Hajj audibly, have not brought a proof for this except what is mentioned from the individual (sahabee) that said: Oh Allah, I am answering your call on behalf of Shubrumah. This statement: ..on behalf of Shubrumah..” can be understood that he is performing the Hajj for Shubrumah, and Hajj means to intend, and it can also mean that he is making the intention on behalf of Shubrumah, and in this case it is said what was mentioned to him by the Messenger -sallahu alaahe wa saleem-.As for supplications, from the people of knowledge are those that hold this narration to be authentic: “The thirst has passed, the veins are fed and the reward is established by the permission of Allah” But what is apparent is that there is no specific authentic supplication. Although there is an authentic narration: “Verily there is an answered supplication for the fasting person at the time of the breaking of his fast” (Based on this) one should supplicate to Allah seeking His forgiveness and asking from Him a cure, and other then that from your needs.
Question 3: If a person wakes up after fajr during the first days of Ramadan and eats, but he does not know that this day is Ramadan, then later he is informed, is it upon him to fast or not?
Answer: Yes, he must fast and he is not in blame because he thought that it was still night, so he should fast and his fasting is correct and accepted.
Question 4: If a person doubts the entering of Ramadan, can he fast the day before it?
Answer: In the Hanbalee school of thought you have some that hold this opinion, but what is correct is that he does not fast. This is due to what is authentically reported from the Messenger (sallahu alaahe wa saleem), he said: “Do not proceed Ramadan with the fasting of a day or two” and it is also reported on ‘Ammar bin Yaseer that he said: “Whoever fasts the day of doubt (one day before Ramadan), then he has disobeyed Abu Qasim (The Messenger) sallahu alaahe wa saleem. So what is correct is that one does not fast. The Messenger -sallahu alaahe wa saleem- also said: “Fast upon seeing it (crescent of Ramadan), and break your fast upon seeing it (crescent of Shawal). If you are prevented from seeing it (clouds, fog, etc.), then complete thirty days of Shaban”. So there is nothing (of doubt) after this clarification.
Question 5: If a person sleeps before the time of breaking the fast and does not wake until after fajr the next day, is it upon him to continue his fast or can he break it?
Answer: Upon him is to continue his fast. This took place with Al Qaees bin Simrah (companion of the Messenger). It used to be (in the beginning of Islam) that if a person slept at night before eating (breaking of fast), they were not allowed to eat until the following night. (Al Qaees bin Simrah) used to work, (one day) he returned to his wife and asked if there was food present. She responded in the negative and said; but I will go and get some for you. Upon returning she found him sleeping, she said; you have lost out! Later the following day, after working for some time he passed out. After this, the following verse was revealed by Allah: {It is permissible for you to approach your wives at night, they are a covering for you and you a covering for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He forgave you and pardoned you. So now have (physical) relations with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread} surah al baqarah:187
Question 6: If a person is eating sahoor and he hears the athan (call to prayer), is it upon him to remove what is in his mouth, or does he eat it?
Answer: He does not remove what is in his mouth, but he should not eat anything after that, except (he can) drink water. This is due to what is reported in the Sunan of Abee Dawud on the authority of Abu Huraira -radiyallahu anhu- that the Messenger -salaahu alaahe wa saleem- said: “If the athan is called while one of you still has a drinking vessel in his hand, then let him take his need (from the vessel).” Therefore, there is no sin on the one that hears the athan and drinks, with the condition that the water is in his hand.
Question 7: Is there anything authentically reported informing of the merits of a person dying in this month, and this shows the piety of the deceased?
Answer: There is something reported, but it is not authentic
Question 8: What is the ruling on a pregnant female who breaks her fast in Ramadan in fear of her baby or a female who is breastfeeding and fears for her child?
Answer: The scholars disagree in this regard. From them are those who hold the opinion that she must make up the fast. Others hold that she must make up the fast and make an expiation. Others hold that she does not make up the fast, but instead she makes the expiation. And others hold that neither making up the fast nor an expiation is upon her. They (the last opinion) use as a proof the hadeeth of Anas bin Ka’b al Kalbee. In this hadeeth Anas came (as a traveler) to the Messenger -sallahu alaahe wa saleem- and the Messenger ordered him to eat. He replied: I am fasting. The Messenger then said: “Do you not know that Allah has dropped half the prayer for the traveler and He also dropped the fasting for the pregnant and breastfeeding female” They use this as a proof to say that she neither makes up the fast, nor does she pay an expiation. But what is apparent and more correct in my opinion, is that she must make up the fast, without the expiation and there is no reward in an expiation (due to the fact that it’s not obligatory). So it’s upon her to only make up the fast due to the statement of Allah: {So whoever is ill or on a journey, then upon him is to make up other days} surah al baqarah:184
Question 9: What is the ruling on a female who receives her menses a few mintues before breaking her fast?
Answer: It is upon her to make up that day of fasting if the caller of the athan calls the athan at the correct time. But if the sun sets and she receives her menses thereafter, but if the caller of the athan does not call to prayer except in the manner of the She’at, after the sky has become dark, then her fast is accepted that day and she does not have to make it up.
Question 10: What is the ruling on a woman who breaks her fast during Ramadan due to child birth?
Answer: She makes up the fast
Question 11: What is the ruling of a woman who broke her fast a day or two before childbirth due to the appearance of a portion of blood?
Answer: If only a portion of blood appeared, then this is considered the blood of nifas (blood of childbirth), and she must make up the days.
Question 12: What is the ruling for a person who breaks his fast due to a continuous illness over a period of several years?
Answer: If the doctors have diagnosed that this illness will not be cured; and verily Allah is the one who cures, and it’s possible someone is sick and the doctors conclude that this illness will not be cured, then the person becomes cured by Allah, the Highest and Exalted. But if it is concluded that this illness will not be cured, then there is no problem for this person, they should feed a poor person a day based, on the statement of Allah: [and it is upon the one who can fast (with difficulty), to feed a poor person (each day)} surah al baqarah:184. Anas bin Malik, upon becoming old, used to feed a poor person everyday.
Question 13: What is the ruling on using the following things during the day in the month of Ramadan:
- the siwak
- tooth paste
Answer: As for using the siwak made from roots, then there is no problem is doing this, even if it is green. As for tooth paste, I would advise that this is left off during the month of Ramadan. I do not have a proof that informs that the usage of tooth paste breaks the fast, but (if one does decide to use it) he/she should be very careful that it does not enter the stomach. The Messenger -salaahu alaahe wa saleem- said:
“… and perform the istinshak (pulling the water into the nose during abulution) strongly, except if one is fasting” This is because, if one is fasting, it is feared that the water will enter into the stomach.
Translator: There are over 30 more questions. InshAllah, we hope to be able to translate them within the next 5 days. Also, the questions asked to the scholars this week will also be sent within the next 5 days inshAllah.
Questions taken from Sheikh Muqbil’s books at the following link:
http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=338841
Mustafa George
Ruwais, United Arab Emirates