Category Archives: Practice
Ramadan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
Poem to Welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan
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Ramzan Ke Kya Khoob Nazare Hain
 Behold the Beauty of the Month of Ramadan
 by
HAZRAT SAYED MAZHAR RABBANI QADARI
 Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
Jaago ke sahr waale mushtaaq tumhaare hain
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
Wake up, for they long for you: the pious people of dawn
***
 Mushtaaq malaaik hain Muslim ki ziyarat ke
Rizwaan bhi sha’iq hai darwazeh pe jannat ke
Hooron ki nigahoon main pur kaif ishaare hain
Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
The angels long for the vision of the Muslim
Waiting anxiously at Heaven’s door is its guard Rizwaan
The maidens of heaven make joyful gestures with their gaze
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
***
Pehle se kahin zyada lazzat hai ibadat main
Sajdon main halawat hai pur kaif tilawat hai
Firdos-e-nazar har dam Quran ke sipare hain
Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
 So much more pleasure in the worship of our Lord
Prostration is sweet and joyous the recitation of Quran
The chapters of the Holy Quran always reminding us of Paradise
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
***Â
Ikraam ki baarish hai millat ki fiza’on par
Anwaar machalte hain Muslim ki adaaon par
Udhte hue har jaanib rehmat ke ghubaare hain
Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
 The rain of generosity falls on the canopy of the Ummah
Blessings desirous to descend upon the Muslim, pleased with their actions
The clouds of mercy float around in every direction
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
***
Jazbaat-e-ata’at par aasaar-e-javani hai
Bulbul ki zabaan par bhi naghmat-e-Qurani hai
Phir shola figan dil main mazhab ke sharare hain
Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
 The passion of obedience is at the full spring of youth
On the tongue of the nightingale is also the song of the Quran
Again the spark of religion kindles in our hearts
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
***
Kafi hai yeh do naghme ek hashr uthane ko
Ikhlaas ke do sajde bakhshish ke sahare hain
Dekho maahe Ramzan ke kya khoob nazaare hain
The poem of Mazhar is to wake up the fasting person
These two verses are enough to succeed at Hashr [Day of Judgment]
Two prostrations of sincerity are enough for salvation
Behold the beauty of the month of Ramadan!
******
The above poem was written in Urdu by the respected Hazrat Sayed Mazhar Rabbani Qadari and submitted to IECRC by his diligent student Sister Zarin R. Shaikh Qadari of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Sister Zarin is an active member in her community imparting religious education. She can be reached at zarrobah@gmail.com.
The English translation was rendered by IECRC Staff.
The Purest of Lineage: A Convert’s Story of Honor and Degree (Part I of II)
February 1, 2004 / Dhul Hijjah 1424
Volume 1, Issue 4
The following is a story of a convert to Islam who is soon to find that her purpose in life is more than just being married in a noble family. With all the trials that inter-cultural marriages create, this mother is to face the greatest trial of her life. This is a story of sacrifice and honor – a story that highlights the fact that not only those born in Islam can be raised to the highest of degrees and honor, rather Allah Almighty bestows these attributes upon whomever He chooses. This story highlights the importance of embracing those who come into the fold of Islam by those already in it.
I was born in England but my soul was lost. My culture, my surroundings, day and night, everything was a stranger to me. I was not sure what I wanted. From a very young age, I used to wait for a handsome Arab prince who would sweep me off my feet and take me away on his horse to a distant land in a castle where no one could see me except him. Yes, I was living in Newcastle, England waiting for some stranger. Then, one day, a friend took me to a party where people from all cultures were invited. It was there that I met Asif, a young man from Punjab, Pakistan. He belonged to a huge closely-knit, feudal and deeply religious Syed family (descendents of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)). One day, Asif proposed. In complete awe I thought to myself, “Perhaps God has gifted me for my modesty.â€Â We married without delay and I was called Maryam thereafter.
After I recited the Kalima Shahadah (the oath that a convert takes before entering the faith of Islam), I faced tremendous opposition. After a few months we discovered that a baby was on its way. It was the happiest time of my life. Allah blessed us with a beautiful girl. Asif named her Sana (which means ‘to glorify’) and said, “My daughter was born to glorify Allah.â€Â We had three sons after Sana. We were living our lives according to the ways prescribed by Allah and His Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him). Our life was an example of Paradise on Earth.Â
One day Asif’s mother suffered a stroke and he needed to return to Pakistan immediately. His father was a true Muslim who sacrificed his years for Islam. It was this that gave me the encouragement that his family would accept me as their daughter-in-law. It was about the same time that the truth of Islam penetrated my heart and I accepted Allah and His Beloved Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) from my innermost core. In these days Asif felt increasingly helpless and sorrowful. I thought to myself, “If we were true to our belief, then why was it that we had to hide our marriage?â€Â Maybe Asif didn’t want to lose his family. One day Asif’s elder brother Zahid came to take us back. He said that they were aware of the marriage and that now we should go back because Asif’s mom was ill and she wanted to see the all kids. So we moved to Pakistan. Sana started wearing the Chadar (a long shawl that is wrapped in a manner to cover the body and hair) and started learning to read the Qur’an from a Maulana (a religious scholar). When my father-in-law sat with Sana and talked about the Qur’an, many questions arose in my heart: Had Allah chosen me for this task? What is the purpose of my life? I started reading many books and my father-in-law taught me about the Qur’an, Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Islam. He was a complete book in his being. One day, my mother-in-law died from a heart attack and after a few days my father-in-law also died and this beautiful chapter of my life was closed forever.
My kids, especially Sana was the most learned about Islam. She was true to her belief and would be praised by everyone who met her. Our life was peaceful, but I was living a lie. The truth was that, despite all my hard work, I was not able to adapt to the culture and traditions. My God-given freedom was snatched from me. Sometimes I used to wish that I had wings to fly back to my own country. Asif felt this in me and promised that as soon as the time was right, he would send me to England. I knew that he was true to his word. I was not sure of the reason, but every time we intended to go back something would happen and we couldn’t go.
Sana had grown into a young lady by now. I wished from the bottom of my heart that someone in my in-laws would ask for her hand in marriage. All of their sons were mature and stood on their own two feet, but why was it that none of them could see Sana? Asif wanted his daughter to be the pride of this family but this was Pakistan, and not England where I could have looked for a husband for my daughter or she could have found one herself. England was a non-Muslim country, but this was Asif’s own country. Then why was he so worried? In this country, every other home had girls who would go out with boys, dating and shopping and free to enjoy. But all of this was unlawful for a daughter of a converted mother from England. My husband was much concerned about her well being, but no one else cared. All that the in-laws wanted was to find the opportunity to catch my daughter or myself doing something wrong. That would give them a chance to reject us. This worried me day and night. I started reading my father-in-law’s books, which he wrote and that gave me comfort.
It was a cold winter night when my sister-in-law’s daughter got married. There was a strange racket in the house. When I came outside into the porch, I started watching Sana and the other girls applying Henna. Standing next to the window, I overheard a discussion. A lady was asking my sister-in-law about her son, who was old enough to marry and if she had anyone in mind for him. She replied, “Not yet, I don’t know what has happened to all the good, modest girls. It seems that all the television girls have stepped into our homes. They all look like models.” The women asked, “Why Baji? What about Sana? She is beautiful, modest, homely, and knows all the responsibilities? I wish I had a son…” “Stop it!†said my sister-in-law, “I’m warning you that if you ever took Sana’s name… Sana for my daughter-in-law! God forbid!” The lady then said, “Why Baji, she is our family girl…” “I told you to be quiet! Don’t you know that her mother is an Englishwomen! She doesn’t even know the difference between pure and impure. That I will have English blood in my lineage, God forbid, No Way!!!” said my sister-in-law. “But Baji, Sana is your own blood!” exclaimed the woman. “Please put an end to this topic right here and now and remember that this discussion should never enter the ears of Abid. He already talks about Sana all the time” said my sister-in-law. “Baji, I only brought this up because I felt that there isn’t any better girl than Sana. She is a family girl and she will stay within the family and I know that Asif doesn’t want her to marry out of the family. He asked me to find out what was the opinion of his sisters about Sana.” “OK, OK, why don’t you marry her with your own brother?” said my sister-in-law. “If only my brother was up to the mark, he is not even close to her in character,” said this lady. “Yeah I know, these are just excuses. Is she the only one left for us? If you cared so much about her then why don’t you look for someone for her so our honor can remain in tact,” answered my sister-in-law.
My God! These words entered my ears like hot lava. Unaware of this conversation, Sana looked at me, smiled and called, “Come on mama, let me put Henna on your hands”. I wanted to burn the whole house and break everything. What did I not do for this family’s honor? What was deficient in Sana that she couldn’t be the daughter-in-law of this family? My whole body was shaking like an earthquake. I couldn’t breathe. I felt as if I was a boat, which was about to reach the shore but was suddenly pulled back in by a whirlpool. In this state I complained to Allah “O Allah, You know what’s hidden in our hearts, You are my witness that I believed and followed You from the depth of my heart at a time when I was brought up in a non-Muslim surrounding, but still had complete belief in You. I believed that You created every human being for some purpose. If my purpose was to remove a noble Syed away from base and lowly activities while he had everything, to marry him and protect him from a sinful life, then what is the purpose of my life now? I am in Pakistan and his family is not accepting his kids because I was an Englishwomen? Now what is it that’s stopping me from returning to my country? O Allah, show me the right way.”  I felt as if I was surrounded by thick fog and I lost every sense of existence and sanity. I was not sure what to call this state.  My life had changed forever and little was I to know about the trials that my family was about to face and the honor that Allah, by the rank of his Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him), had in store for me!                                 Â
(To be continued …)
 The above story, authored by Ms. Farida Abbass was extracted from Pakeezah Magazine (Pakistan) and translated from Urdu by Fatima Sharaaz Qadri, a founding member of IECRC Sacramento and mother of four young children.
