Part 5 of Preparation for the month of The Glorious Quran article series - Completing Missed Fasts2/2/2022 Peace dear brothers and sisters,
How are you all? Are you excited about Ramadan? I am Subhanallah (Glorified be to Allah)! Today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday) may be Rajab 1443 AH inshaAllah (if Allah Wills). The sacred month of Rajab is here and is two months away from the blessed month of Ramadan on the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is developed based on the movement of the moon. Rajab, Shaban and Ramadan are three of the four sacred months chosen by Allah (The Most High): “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].” [Quran, Surah Al-Tawbah (The Repentance), 9:36] Despite the names have not been revealed in the Quran, there is evidence in the following hadith (Saying of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) who stated: “Time has completed its cycle and is as it was on the Day when Allaah created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred, three consecutive months – Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram – and the Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Shaban.” [Hadith, al-Bukhari, 1741, Muslim, 1679] During the month of Rajab, it is an opportunity to do good deeds and prepare further for the blessed month of Ramadan. One of the actions we will discuss this week is making up missed fasts from sunrise to sunset before next Ramadan. Why is this important? Think of it this way: a door is locked, no one can enter unless they have a key. The key, my dear brothers and sisters, is making up the missed days of Ramadan. There are possible reasons why this may have occurred, for instance, this may be due to menstruation (period), feeling sick, pregnancy, breastfeeding or travel to unlock the door of Ramadan. There is an opportunity to do this from after Eid-ul-Fitr before subsequent Ramadan. Allah (The Most High) is Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He said in the Quran: "The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So those of you who witness the month must fast in it. But the one who is sick, or is on a journey (should fast) as much from other days (as he missed). Allah intends (to provide) ease for you and does not intend (to create) hardship for you. All this is so that you may complete the number (of fasts as prescribed) and proclaim the Takbīr of Allah for having guided you, and (so) that you may be grateful." [Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, (The Cow), 2:185] However, some cannot fast despite; making the intention especially the elderly age or people with serious illnesses. The solution is to pay a Fidyah which compensates financially for each missed day of Ramadan. The Fidyah is based upon a volume known as a sa’. There are different measurements for food and liquids given to those in need. According to the scholars, the feeding of one person with half a sa’ per missed fasting day in Ramadan, if the whole month missed 15 sa’s is needed to fulfil. Allah (The Most High) states: “for days few in number. However, should any one of you be sick or on a journey, then (he should fast) several other days (equal to the missed ones); and those who have the strength, (still, they do not opt for fasting,) on them there is a fidyah (compensation), that is, the feeding of a poor person. Then whoever does good voluntarily, that is better for him. However, that you fast is better for you, if you only knew.” [Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, (The Cow), 2:184] Therefore, what practical advice can you do to make up for the missed fasts? This all depends on one’s day-to-day commitment. 1) Try fasting Mondays and Thursdays. Why specifically these days? This is about a hadith by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who said: “Deeds are shown to Allah on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown when I am fasting.” [Hadith, Al-Tirmidhi, 747] 2) Try fasting the three White days of each lunar month. The three days are called the white days because the moon is in full shape at night and the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to fast. Qatadah bin Milhan (may Allah have mercy upon him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) directed us to observe Saum (fasting) on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of the (lunar) month. [Hadith, Abu Dawud, Book 9, 273] 3) Try to fast during Shabaan if you cannot do it in Rajab. It was narrated that Abu Salamah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: I heard ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) say: “ I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadaan and I would not be able to make them up except in Shaban.” [Hadith, al-Bukhari (1849) and Muslim (1146)] One of the scholars, Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “From her keenness to do that in Shaban it may be understood that it is not permissible to delay making them up until another Ramadaan begins.” [Fath al-Baari (4/191] Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, please article serves as a reminder to please make your missed fasts if not done already. I will end this week’s article with this beautiful dua: It was narrated by Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to pray to Allah in the following words: ‘Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha’bana wa ballighna Ramadhan’ “O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).” [Shu’abul-Iman, Hadith: 3534, Ibnu Sunni, Hadith: 660, Mukhtasar Zawaid Bazzar, Hadith: 662, also see Al-Adhkar, Hadith: 549]
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