Monday, May 18, 2015

A few rulings pertaining to Fasting in the month of Sha`baan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. It is Mustahab (preferred) to Fast as many days as possible in Sha`baan:

`Aaishah رضي الله عنها reported: “The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not observe voluntary Saum (Fasting) so frequently during any other month as he did during Sha`baan. He observed Saum throughout the month of Sha`baan.”

Another narration it is: “He صلى الله عليه وسلم observed Saum during the whole month of Sha`baan except a few days.” [Saheeh al- Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

**********

Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: “Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to observe (voluntary) Fast till one would say that he would never stop Fasting, and he would abandon Fasting till one would say that he would never Fast. I never saw Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadhaan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha`baan.” [Saheeh al- Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]


۩۞۩


2. To make up for the missed Fasts of the previous Ramadhaan in Sha`baan:

Abu Salamah reported: I heard `Aa'ishah رضي الله عنها as saying: “I had to complete some of the fasts of Ramadhaan, but I could not do it but during the month of Sha`baan due to my duties to the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم or with the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم.” [Saheeh Muslim]

**********

`Aaishah رضي الله عنها narrated: “(During the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) I would not make up what was due upon me from Ramadhaan except in Sha`ban, until the Messenger of Allaah died.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (783) and it is “Hasan”]


۩۞۩


3. It is disliked to delay the making up of the missed Fasts of the previous Ramadhaan without a valid excuse:

Allaah has given the one who missed some Fasts because of a legitimate excuse until the following Ramadhaan to make up those fasts, but the Muslim should not use this as an excuse to delay making them up, because he may be faced with some need or changes that make it too hard for him to make them up or prevent him from doing so, especially women who may become pregnant, or be faced with menstruation and Nifaas (postpartum bleeding).

The reason `Aaishah رضي الله عنها delayed to observe her missed Fasts of previous Ramadhaan was because of her duties to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم or with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. She رضي الله عنها said that: “she would not be able to make them up”, meaning: the delay was not deliberate.

Shaikh Muhammad Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله was asked: What is the ruling on one who delays making up missed Fasts until the next Ramadhaan comes?

He رحمه الله replied:

“Delaying making up missed Ramadhaan Fasts until the next Ramadhaan comes is not permissible according to the most well-known scholarly opinion, because `Aaishah رضي الله عنها said: “I would owe Ramadhaan Fasts and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha`baan.” This indicates that there is no concession after the second Ramadhaan. If a person does that with no excuse, then he is sinning, and he must hasten to make up those fasts after the second Ramadhaan. The scholars differed as to whether he must also feed the poor or not. The correct view is that he does not have to feed the poor as well, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days} [Surah al-Baqarah (2):184]

Thus Allaah did not enjoin anything on people in this situation apart from making up the missed fasts.”

[Majmoo` Fataawa Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen, Vol. 19, question no. 357]


۩۞۩


4. Those who did not Fast in the first 15 days, should not fast in the last 15 days of Sha`baan:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “When a half of Sha`baan remains then do not fast until Ramadhaan.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (1651) and the wordings are his, Sunan al-Tirmidhee (738), and Sunan Abu Dawood (2337) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

It is not permissible to fast during the second half of Sha`baan, and that is either Makrooh or Haraam, except for the one who has the habit of fasting regularly or who is continuing after fasting during the first half of Sha`baan. And Allaah knows best.

After reporting this Hadeeth, Imaam al-Tirmidhee said: “According to some of the people of knowledge, this Hadeeth refers to the case of a man who is not Fasting, and when part of the month of Sha`baan remains, he starts Fasting for the sake of the month of Ramadan.”

Q: I read in Saheeh Al-Jaami` Hadeeth no. 397, verified by al-Albaanee and reported by al-Suyootee no. 398, which he ranked as Saheeh on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “When the first half of Sha`baan is over, do not fast until the advent of Ramadhaan.” There is also another Hadeeth reported by al-Suyootee no. 8757, ranked as Saheeh and verified by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jami` no. 4638, on the authority of `Aaishah رضي الله عنها that she said:  “The most beloved of months for him صلى الله عليه وسلم to fast in was Sha`baan, which he used to join with fasting in Ramadhaan.” How can we reconcile the two Ahaadeeth?

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله: In the Name of Allaah, and all praise be to Allaah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to fast the whole of Sha`baan except for a few days, as authentically reported from the Hadeeth of `Aaishah and Umm Salamah رضي الله عنهن. As for the Hadeeth that prohibits Fasting after the middle of Sha`baan, it is Saheeh, as ranked by the knowledgeable brother, Shaikh Naasir al-Deen al-Albaanee. What is meant is that it is not permissible to start Fasting after the first half of Sha`baan is over. If a person fasts most or all of the month, they will be acting upon the Sunnah (of the Prophet). May Allaah grant us success!

[Majmoo` Fataawa of Shaikh Ibn Baaz (15/385)]


۩۞۩


5. It is not allowed to Fast a day or two before Ramadhaan:

Narrated that Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not anticipate Ramadhaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]


۩۞۩


6. It is not allowed to Fast on the Day of Doubt:

`Ammaar bin Yaasir رضي الله عنهما said: “Whoever Fasts on the day concerning which there is a doubt, has disobeyed Abu al-Qaasim (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).” [Sunan Abu Dawood (2334), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (686), Sunan Ibn Maajah (1645) and Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (2188) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

**********

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Start Fasting (for Ramadhaan) upon seeing the crescent (of Ramadhaan), and stop Fasting (for Ramadhaan) upon seeing the crescent (of Shawwaal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see the crescent of Ramadhaan), then complete thirty days of Sha`baan.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

And Allaah is the One Who grants success.

No comments:

Post a Comment