IECRC (USA & Canada)

1.     Question: Is a verbal intention (niyyah) required for every fast of Ramadan? Or is one intention enough for the entire month? What if I miss suhoor and was not able to make the intention? Can I still fast?

Answer: An intention is required for every fast of Ramadan just like an intention is required for every obligatory prayer. The intention (niyyah) is from the conditions (shuroot) of obligatory actions such as prayer or fasting. However the intention need not be verbal. It can be in the heart. Waking up for the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) in itself satisfies the manifestation of this intention. If one forgets to make an intention before sleeping the night before, and is not able to wake up for suhoor, then one can make the intention as soon as one wakes up. The general rule is that the intention the next morning should be made before nisf-nahar / zawal (midday / meridian). (However legitimate exceptions exist. For example: A person who has returned very tired from night duty, forgot to make the intention before sleeping and slept through suhoor and woke up after nisf-nahar. He/she can still make the niyyah to fast when he/she wakes up. This is an exception due to the special nature of this situation.)

2.      Question: It is very important for the fasting person to know the medical importance of fasting, besides the spiritual one. Due to lack of preparation for this period, people tend to eat less / more and during inappropriate times. This can be harmful and it does not fulfill the purpose of fasting. What were the eating habits of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) during the Holy month of Ramadan both for Suhoor and Iftar? Could you please suggest a diet program for modern day cuisines that includes the type of food to be consumed in Suhoor, Iftar, dinner and after-Taraweeh snack, according to the food mentioned in Quran and the Sunnah of Our Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his family).  [Question submitted by Brother Abdul Sacoor, Germany]

Answer: Fasting has actually been proven by medical science to be good for health if implemented in the correct manner. It burns off bad fats and cholesterols. The water that one drinks after breaking the fast purifies the liver rapidly. Fasting contributes towards weight loss, helps heal stomach disorders, sharpens one’s bodily responses and signals. The body physique is made more balanced. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) had the perfect body and walked with balanced steps. It is recommended to eat suhoor even if it is one morsel. However, suhoor should not be considered as a way to “stock up” food reserves. It is not recommended to overeat during suhoor. One of the main goals of Ramadan is to teach dependence on Allah (tawakkul) and one should have this attitude in one’s sustenance as well. Most modern day cuisines with their fried and fatty foods are unhealthy. The general rule in Islam is to avoid anything that is harmful to the body and food is no exception. Foods consumed during Ramadan (and the rest of the year) should be light, non-flatulent and healthy. One of the benefits of Ramadan is to train us to become habituated to healthy foods. The healthiest foods of course belonged to the blessed diet of our Beloved Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). This included dates, water, barley, milk and honey in their purest forms. It is recommended to drink milk from animals that have been reared in a natural environment and fed natural, chemical-free foods. And it is best to consume local honey. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) also consumed bread and halaal meat, but in a balanced way.

3.     Question: We are told that smoking breaks the fast. What about second hand smoke (smoke from others smoking), or smoke from some other source such as a fire? Does this break the fast too?

Answer: Second hand smoke does not break ones fast if one inhales it unintentionally. For example, a fasting person at an airport who has to clean out the smoking area will invariably inhale some second hand smoke. However he/she is not accountable for it, unless they linger in the area purposely enjoying it. Smoke from fires does not break one’s fast. Similarly, anything that lingers in the air where someone works and they inhale that (such as a flour mill, etc.) will likewise not break the fast.

4.     Question: Does water entering through the ear break the fast (for example while taking a shower)?

Answer: If water enters the ear unintentionally during bathing or swimming, then it does not break the fast. (Please note that scientifically the eardrum seals off the inner ear and does not allow the passing of anything but air from the outside. However some people have damaged eardrums which could potentially allow some droplets to enter.)

5.     Question: If the fast breaks due to any reason beyond one’s control, can the person eat immediately or must we wait until Iftar time?

Answer: If the fast breaks for any reason, it is obligatory (wajib) to desist from eating and drinking the rest of the day until Iftar time.

6.     Question: We are often told to break our fast at the first “Allahu Akbar” of the Adhan or our fast will become disliked (makrooh). Is this really true and which category of makrooh is it – tahreemi or tanzeehi? After breaking the fast, should we then continue eating during the Adhan and its following dua? Please advise of the best method of doing this so we don’t make our fast makrooh as well as we are not disrespectful of the Adhan. What is the real Sunnah method of breaking the fast?

Answer: It was the Sunnah of our Beloved Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) to place a date in his blessed mouth at the first “Allahu Akbar” of the Adhan. The same would apply to any Muslim country where the Adhan is heard openly because the Adhan signifies the setting of the sun which brings in the time for Maghrib. The mu`adhdhin first breaks his fast and then calls the Adhan. However, in countries where the Adhan cannot be heard, it is better to wait a few minutes from the printed prayer timings to be absolutely sure that the sun has set by looking at the Eastern horizon for the grey-blue-pink strip which is usually visible as soon as the sun sets. The grey strip signifies the night coming in and the pink strip signifies the day going out and blue is the natural color of the sky during the day. In other words, it is better to wait a few minutes to be absolutely sure the sun has set. The fast becomes makrooh tanzeehi if one delays breaking it without any legitimate reason after having certainty that the sun has set. Having broken the fast one can continue eating in a respectful way paying full attention to the Adhan and responding to its words and then making the dua after Adhan as is prescribed in the Sunnah. It was the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) to break his fast with the Sahaba (Companions, may Allah be well pleased with them). One should not be slow in the consumption of the Iftaar lest the Maghrib prayer is delayed. The dinner can precede Maghrib prayer if it does not become a cause of holding up the prayer.

7.     Question: If we have invited guests over for Iftar and that delays our going for Taraweeh, is that permissible? What is more important: performing the ‘Isha/ Taraweeh prayers in congregation at the mosque, or tending to our guests at the house? Is there a difference in ruling here for men and women?

Answer: For men it is very highly recommended to go to the mosque to perform ‘Isha in congregation followed by the Taraweeh prayers. As for women, if it is their habit to do so, then they too should make every attempt to go to the mosque as well (maintaining all the etiquettes of the required Islamic modesty). Listening to the Holy Quran being recited during the Taraweeh prayers is a great act of worship. The guests should be encouraged to go as well. Ramadan is a very special month and its every moment is precious and must be spent in the worship of Allah, The Most Exalted, and the service of His needy creation.

Answers provided by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, Founding Director of IECRC USA and Canada.