Fasting on the month of Ramadhan

The fourth pillar of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadhan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar.

The Muslim intends to fast  and abstains everyday from drinking, eating or practicing sex till sunset during this month. He fasts starting before dawn of the first day of Ramadhan until the end of the month, fulfilling by that action the commandments of Allah, and seeking His pleasure.

Fasting has innumerable benefits. When  a man refrains  from lust, abstains from eating and drinking for the sake of Allah, he does this only for one purpose: that is to obey Allah, worship Him and imbue his heart with god-fearing.

Fasting has also innumerable hygienic, economic and social benefits which are perceived only by those who perform it with strong belief and sincere faith. The Qur’an states:

*O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may be god-fearing.

*The month of Ramadhan, in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proof of guidance and the criterion (of right and wrong ), whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and who so is sick or on a journey let him fast for the same number of other days. Allah desires for your ease; He desireth not hardship for you, and He desireth that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you and that you may be thankful. Qur’an (Surat Al Bakarah 183 – 185)

According to the rules of Qur’an and prophetic traditions, it is permissible for a sick man, a man travelling on the journey, a menstruating woman, or a confined woman not to fast, but to make up for what they missed.

Foster-mothers and pregnant women are also permitted to break their fast if fasting will harm them or their babies, but they should compensate this fully by fasting other equal days. If a man drinks or eats absent-mindedly while fasting, he should get out what is still in his mouth as soon as he remembers that he is fasting. In this case his fasting is not broken. This is a privilege with which the Muslim nation has been endowed:-Allah forgives sins committed by mistake, forgetfulness, or by compulsion.

Invalidation of fasting that has to be made up for:

If he drinks or eats something or have a sexual intercourse thinking it is already sunset or not yet fajr time and discovers the opposite, he has to make up. But some scholars say he hasn’t to make-up.

Here’s evidence.

Allah said: “… there is no blame on you if ye make mistake therein: (What counts is) the intention of hearts: And Allah is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 33:5)