What can nullify our fasting during Ramadan?

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim

Praise be to Allaah.

Quran, Ramadan and the aMuslimaSalam my dear muslima..

As the crescent moon is sighted…
And the holy month of Ramadan begins…
May Allah bless you with happiness
and grace your home with warmth & peace.
Marhaban Yaa syahrur Ramadhan (month of Ramadan). Marhaban syahrul Maghfirah (month of forgiveness). Marhaban syahrul Qur’an (month of Qur’an). Marhaban Yaa Syahrul Ibadah (month of worship to Allah).

The holy month of Ramadan falls during the long and hot days of July this year. In Jeddah, Fajr time (morning prayer), the sound of adzan at 4.20 am and the maghrib time at 7.10 pm. So around 15 hours to be fast during day light.

Every Muslim knows that fasting in Ramadan is obligatory.  But we can make fasting in Ramadan both easier and more spiritually rewarding. Fasting is a great act of worship for the Muslim which he performs by neglecting his desires to please his Lord and hopes for His Reward. It just common sense that the one who would not give up desired things except that it would be for something more desirable. In this case the pleasure of Allah is the most sought after desire.

It is very important for the eventual acceptance of any act of worship to do it solely for the pleasure of Allah. If you want to fast sincerely for Allah, Allah will make fasting easy for you during the entire month.

“Every deed of the Son of Adam is for himself, except fasting – it is for Me (Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala), and I shall reward it.” [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah].

Illustration by AA Sumadri
Illustration by AA Sumadri

There are some actions can break our fasting, so beware while fasting from dawn until sunset during Ramadan. Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations; and also keeping one’s ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet and all other organs free from sin, in some interpretations they also refrain from swearing.

For example, once a person has committed such a mistake and realizes that it is still daytime, he must immediately refrain from eating or drinking. If he continues eating or drinking then his fast would be nullified. Nothing nullifies or breaks the fasting if done in a state of forgetfulness because Allah says:

……… رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ…….

“Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or fall in to a mistake” (Al-Baqarah: 286).

The Prophet (Shalallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “He or she who forgot that they were fasting and then eat and drink, then let him or her continue their fasting because it is Allah Subhanahu wa Taala who gave them that food and drink”.(Reported by al-Bukhaari,Fath, no. 1933). According to another report, He does not  have to make the fast up or offer expiation  (kafaarah).

Having sexual intercourse with his/her spouse is one of the worst ways of deliberately terminating one’s fast. If this occurs then one must pay a Kafarah, or expiation

Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says:

…… فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ

“… So now have sexual relationships with them (your wives) and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)” (Al-Baqarah: 187).

Drawing out blood and Hijamah (cupping) can break the fast. Hijamah is something that is done by means of needles or razors to make holes in the skin in order to get bad blood out of the body. The Prophet (Shallallahu ‘alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “The one who gets the blood out of his body and the one doing this for him have both broken their fast”.

Menstrual or post-natal bleeding is where blood is discharged by a woman as part of the menstrual period or during the time immediately following pregnancy. As soon as this blood is discharged, even if it was just one second before sunset, then that days’ fasting is rendered null and void.

Intentionally vomiting will nullify one’s fast. If one vomits unintentionally then this would not nullify the fast because the Prophet (Shalallahu ‘alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “He who vomits unwillingly does not have to make up for it (his fast), but he who vomits intentionally must make up for it”.

O muslima… Fasting in Ramadan is a unique opportunity to develop spiritually and gain strength and control over ourselves, our egos, the nafs, purifies the mind, body and spirit, leading to greater clarity, sensitivity and health.

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and expectation [of reward], his previous sins are forgiven him.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i]

May Allah accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and guide us all to the Straight Path. May Allah bless us all during Ramadan, and throughout the year, with His forgiveness, mercy, and peace, and bring us all closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and to each other.

Allahumma Aamiin.

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