Important Ramadān, Fasting and Moonsighting

questions to the Scholar, the Sheikh, Dr Sālih Al-

Fawzān
abukhadeejah.com/important-ramadan-fasting-and-moonsighting-questions-to-the-scholar-the-sheikh-dr-salih-al-
fawzan

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid 14 May 2017

Source: Sharh Akhsar Al-Mukhtasarāt fil-Fiqhi ‘alā Madhhab Al-Imām Ahmad Ibn
Hanbal, explanation of Shaikh Al-Fawzān; Audio part 24, dated: 1428AH/2/16. The
following is a series a questions and answers with this noble scholar:

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Q 1: The mention of moral (non-material) violations that corrupt or invalidate the fast as
is mentioned in the definition of fasting which include sins such as backbiting and tale-
carrying – The fact that moral violations are mentioned in the definition of fasting, does
that that mean that the fast is invalidated by them?

A: These are moral violations meaning that they reduce the reward of the fast – or they
can completely invalidate the fast so that there is no reward for the one fasting. So these
[sins] are violations in meaning. They reduce the reward, or nullify the reward. So this is a
moral violation. As for physical violations (eating, drinking, etc), then they invalidate the
fast, and one is obligated to make it up [with qadā]. As for moral violations (lying,
backbiting, tale-carrying etc) that invalidate the fast, then one does not make up the day
because he did actually fast.

Q 2: In the book, kashf al-Mukhadarāt li Sharhi Akhsar al-Mukhtasarāt it states: “If a

traveller knows that he is to arrive home tomorrow, then it is cited textually that he must
fast.” Is this saying correct?

A: Yes, this will be discussed later. If he knows that he will be home tomorrow then it is
upon him to fast because the following day will not be a whole day of travelling – he will
not be a traveller for the whole day. So he is obligated to fast. As for his saying: “then it is
cited textually”, then textually means from Imām Ahmad so when it is said “textually”
here, then it means it from Imām Ahmad (rahimahullāh).

Q 3: The one who took a vow (nadhr) to fast every Monday and Thursday, then he was
unable to do so – does he have to expiate just once for breaking the oath, or for every
Monday and Thursday?

A: Meaning he took a vow to fast the whole of his life like that? Then if he vowed to do
that and broke his vow then he must expiate for every Monday and Thursday he does not
fast. However if it was not for the whole of his life, or he is unable then the obligation falls
away from him and the vow comes to an end due to his inability to fulfil it, due to the
saying of the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬: “There is no fulfilling a vow in disobedience to Allah
and nor for that which son of Adam is incapable.”

Q 4: A person fasts the optional fast: a day fasting and leaves the next day and fasts the
day after that, and again leaves the day after, and he continues like this. So his fast will
coincide with Friday or Saturday. So is it allowed to fast either of them on their own?

A: Yes, if this fasting is from his habit, that he fasts the fasting of Dawūd (‘alaihis-salām),
then he can continue with it, even if it happens to be on a Friday or a Saturday. As for
Saturday then there is no sound evidence that prevents one from fasting it on its own. As
for Friday, then there is evidence forbidding fasting it on its own – but that is only if it is
singled out and fasted upon. But here that is not the case, rather this is a continual fast of
one day on and one day off.

Q 5: If one travelled during the daytime in Ramadān and he knows that he will reach his
destination before the sun sets, what is better for such a person?

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A: What is better for him and safer is that he fasts. If his journey is by an easy means of
travel such as an airplane, then it is better that he fasts.

Q 6: If a child fasts the day, and then he attains puberty in the middle of that day. Does he
have to make up that day, or is that obligatory fast counted and rewarded for him?

A: If the excuse that allows one not to fast is removed, then he withholds for the rest of the
day and he makes up that day. And from that category is the child who becomes an adult
in the day.

Q 7: Is to be said that the astronomical calculations that are to be used for the
confirmation of the new moon of the month, and that is also the case for the five daily
prayers…

A: As for the five daily prayers, then they are witnessed and seen by the viewing of the sun
– when it reaches midday, it is seen; when it sets in the evening, it is witnessed. When the
twilight-redness disappears, it is witnessed by sight obligating the Ishā prayer; when Fajr
appears, it is witnessed. These are all matters seen and witnessed. They do not require
calculations, except in situations or locations where it cannot be witnessed and seen,
when the sun is concealed. So these timetables are a sign or an indication of the entry
times of the prayers.

Q 8: For those people living in places where the Sun does not set. Are they to resort to
calculations? And how are they to pray? Are they to pray in accordance to the times of
prayer of the land closest to them?

A: The case of these people has been put to the Committee of Major Scholars and an edict
was issued with respect to them. So if they experience within 24 hours, night and day
[visibly], then they can eat and drink in the night, and they must fast in the day. So if they
have in a 24 hour period both night and day, then they must fast, even if it is a short time-
period. They are to fast in the day, and break their fast in the night. However, if within a
24 hour period, they do not have a night and day passing through it, then they must rely
on the timings of the closest land to them that has a distinct day and night within a 24
hour period – and they are to follow them [in prayers and fasting]. And they are to follow
the timings of that land in their fasting and their breaking of the fast – i.e. follow the
timings of the land closest to them that experiences both night and day within a 24 hour
period.

Q 9: What is the meaning of the hadeeth of the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬: “We are an ummah
[wherein many] do not read or write, so the month can be 29 and can be 30
days.” Can it be understood from this narration that one can refer to calculations for
determining the start of months?

A: No. What is understood from this hadeeth is that the month can sometimes be 29 days
and sometimes 30 days when seeking out the new moon of the month.

Q 10: If a person fasts the optional fasts but during the day he forgets and eats or drinks
something. Is his fast still valid?

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A: Yes. That is the case even if it was an obligatory fast, not just an optional one. Even if
that occurred in Ramadān, that a person eats or drinks forgetfully, his fast is sound and
valid. The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said: “One who forgets, and so he eats or drinks, then let
him complete the rest of his fast for it was Allah who gave him food and
drink.”

Q 11:The six days of the optional fasts in Shawwāl and the fast on the day of Arafah, do
they require an intention to be made from the night before?

A: No. Optional fasts, all of them, they do not require an intention from the night before –
with the condition that one has not eaten or drunk or participated in anything that would
nullify a fast from the beginning of Fajr till he intends to fast the optional fast.

Q 12: The one who is incapable of fasting and he does not have wealth to feed a poor
person for each fast missed with the prescribed fidyah. What is upon him?

A: It remains a responsibility upon him to discharge. An expiation is a debt that must be

paid – so even if someone else pays it on his behalf as an act of generosity or that a
guardian pays it their behalf, then it is considered as paid and discharged.

Q 13: If a trustworthy person sights the moon in Saudi Arabia, is fasting therefore
obligatory upon the people of Yemen, Kuwait and Bahrain or are they to look to the
differences that occur in the rising of the moon in the different regions/lands of the earth.

A: Yes one pays attention to and looks to the differences that occur in the rising of moon
in the different lands. So if the lands share the same rising of the moon due to their
proximity, then they are obligated to fast together on the same sighting. However if the
moon-rising differs between the lands, then each lands seeks out its own sighting.

Q 14: As it relates to the new moon for the beginning of month of Dhil-Hijjah and the
standing at ‘Arafah in that month, does one still look towards the differences in the rising
of the moon between the lands?

A: Yes. Likewise for the fast of day of ‘Arafah (for those not at Hajj). As for the standing at
Arafah, in that there is no differing because that is upon the sighting of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. One is to act upon the sighting of Saudi Arabia. That is because those
performing Hajj follow the sighting here in Saudi Arabia. So if the sighting of the new
moon is confirmed in Saudi Arabia, then that is followed for those making Hajj and for
those standing at Arafah with the rest of the Muslims. However, if the intent is the other
regions of the earth and how they are to fast the day of Arafah? Are they to fast based
upon the sighting in Saudi Arabia? We say: No , they are to fast based upon their own
sighting.

Q 15: The one who leaves for open country or the wilderness for a picnic or a visit, and his
journey falls short of 80km, does he still shorten his prayer?

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A: If he intends to travel and intends his travel to extend 80 km or more, this is the one
who is considered a traveller. As for the one who leaves out and he does not know where
he is stopping or where he is going, this one is not a traveller.¹

Q 16: In these times there is no abandoned spoils or war booty, so can the household of
the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬receive Zakāt instead?

A: It upon the Muslim ruler to look into their case.

Q 17: The one who abandoned fasting in Ramadān for many many years, and he doesn’t
know the number of Ramadans he missed, then he repents for that. What is now upon
him?

A: If it is not possible to ascertain the number of missed fasts, then repentance suffices
him. If he is not able to estimate the number, or make a reasoned judgement then the
repentance is sufficient. However, if he is able to estimate the number he’s missed upon
what is most probable, then making those fast up based upon that estimate would be
sufficient alongside feeding a poor person for each day missed.

Q 18: Is it correct for a person to fast the whole of Ramadān based upon a single
intention?

A: No. Each day is a distinct act of worship so the intention is made before Fajr for each
day. The meaning of intention is that you intended to fast that day. By virtue of you taking
the pre-dawn meal (suhoor), this proves that you’ve made an intention [for that day]. The
place of the intention is in the heart so if you got up for suhoor or sat to eat the suhoor,
then that is proof that you had an intent [to fast].

Q 19: Do the fasts of expiation (kaffārah) necessitate an intention from the previous
night?

A: Yes. The intention from the night before is required for every obligatory fast, whether it
be a fast that is an origin from the Sharee’ah [such as fasting Ramadān] or whether it be a
vow, etc. They all require an intention from the night before.

Q 20: If a person travels in the month of Ramadān so as to take advantage of the

allowances (the rukhus) so he can eat and drink, is that allowed for him?

A: No. If he travelled so he could break his fast in Ramadān or for the purpose of
shortening the prayer, that is not allowed for him to do, because this is trickery and
deception so as to avoid the obligations, so it is not allowed.

Q 21: The one who intends to travel, then is it obligatory upon him to withhold from
breaking his fast until he has left the town?

A: Yes. So long as he remains in the town, he has not travelled, he is a resident. So when
he leaves the town, he has began his journey.

Q 22: What is the ruling of giving one’s zakāt to one’s paternal uncles?

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A: There is no harm in that since they are not obligatory recipients of his
maintenance/provision.

Q 23: A person upon whom fasting is obligatory who finds that it is a day of fasting – then
he is obligated to fast for the rest of that day and withhold, and then to make up that day
as well. So he has been obligated to fast that day and then another day. How can we
obligate that upon him, when the only thing obligatory him is just one day of fasting?

A: What is obligatory upon him is just one day of fasting, and that is the qadā he makes up
for that day. As for the rest of that first day he fasted, then that was as a sign of respect for
the day of fasting, in reverence of it. The people are all fasting, and you are eating? The
people may think you are a traveller. What is better is that you withhold along with the
people.

Q 23: The person who is unconscious for a long time – is he to make up (qadā)?

A: Yes. If the time period is short, three days for example, then he makes up those days.
He makes up the fasts and the prayers. If the time of unconsciousness is long, due to an
accident, such that he bereft of his senses, in a coma, then the obligations are lifted from
him, and he begins his obligations from new – if Allah brings him cure, he starts his
obligations from new.

Q 24: The one who is unconscious for the whole day or one who falls into insanity for the
whole day in Ramadān – is that the same as the one who sleeps through the whole day?

A: No. The sleeping person’s senses remain intact. He is not like the insane or the
unconscious person. The sleeping person’s intention remains intact. He is not like the one
who falls unconscious, because the unconscious one does not have his senses.

Q 25: What is the ruling upon singling out Friday for giving in sadaqah?

A I do not know of this affair of singling out Friday with sadaqah. I do not know.

Q 26: If none of the men have seen the new moon for the start of the month of Ramadān,
but a woman did see it, is the sighting of a just one woman sufficient? Is it taken?

A: Yes, it is taken. The sighting of one woman who is trustworthy is accepted. This is
something stated by the scholars and jurists.

End.

‫ﻛﺘﺎب أﺧﺼﺮ اﻟﻤﺨﺘﺼﺮات ﻓﻲ ﻓﻘﻪ اﻹﻣﺎم أﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺣﻨﺒﻞ رﺣﻤﻪ اﷲ‬

‫ﺗﺄﻟﯿﻒ اﻟﺸﯿﺦ اﻟﻌ ﱠ‬
‫ ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﻘﺎدر ﺑﻦ ﺑﺪران رﺣﻤﻪ اﷲ‬:‫ﻼﻣﺔ‬
‫ ﺻﺎﻟﺢ ﺑﻦ ﻓﻮزان ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪاﷲ اﻟﻔﻮزان ﺳﻠﻤﻪ اﷲ‬:‫ﻼﻣﺔ‬ ‫ﺷﺮح ﻣﻌﺎﻟﻲ اﻟﺸﯿﺦ اﻟﻌ ﱠ‬

Note:
¹ Abu Dawood reports a chapter heading:

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‫ﻛﺘﺎب ﺻﻼة اﻟﺴﻔﺮ‬

َ ‫ﺼ ُﺮ ْاﻟﻤ‬
‫ُﺴﺎ ِﻓ ُﺮ‬ ِ ‫ﺑﺎب َﻣﺘَﻰ ﯾُ ْﻘ‬

“The Book of Prayer upon a Journey. Chapter: When does a traveller shorten
his prayer?”

َ ‫اﻟﺼ‬
،‫ﻼ ِة‬ ‫ﺼ ِﺮ ﱠ‬ َ َ‫ﺎل َﺳﺄَْﻟ ُﺖ أَﻧ‬
ْ ‫ﺲ ْﺑ َﻦ َﻣﺎﻟِ ٍﻚ َﻋ ْﻦ َﻗ‬ َ ‫ َﻗ‬،‫ َﻋ ْﻦ ﯾَ ْﺤﯿَﻰ ْﺑﻦ ﯾَ ِﺰﯾ َﺪ ْاﻟ ُﻬﻨَﺎﺋِ ﱢﻲ‬،‫ َﺣ ﱠﺪﺛَﻨَﺎ ُﺷ ْﻌﺒَ ُﺔ‬،‫ُﺤ ﱠﻤ ُﺪ ْﺑ ُﻦ َﺟ ْﻌ َﻔ ٍﺮ‬
ِ َ ‫ َﺣ ﱠﺪﺛَﻨَﺎ ﻣ‬،‫ﺎر‬
ٍ ‫ُﺤ ﱠﻤ ُﺪ ْﺑ ُﻦ ﺑَ ﱠﺸ‬
َ ‫َﺣ ﱠﺪﺛَﻨَﺎ ﻣ‬
. ‫ُﺼﻠﱢﻲ َر ْﻛ َﻌﺘَ ْﯿ ِﻦ‬
َ ‫اﺳ َﺦ – ُﺷ ْﻌﺒَ ُﺔ َﺷ ﱠﻚ – ﯾ‬ َ َ‫ﺎل أَ ْو ﺛ‬
ِ ‫ﻼﺛَ ِﺔ َﻓ َﺮ‬ ٍ َ‫ﻼﺛَ ِﺔ أَ ْﻣﯿ‬
َ َ‫ﯿﺮ َة ﺛ‬
َ ‫اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ إِ َذا َﺧ َﺮ َج َﻣ ِﺴ‬ ‫ﻮل ﱠ‬ُ ‫ﺎن َر ُﺳ‬ َ ‫ﺲ َﻛ‬ ٌ َ‫ﺎل أَﻧ‬َ ‫َﻓ َﻘ‬

‫ﺻﺤﯿﺢ اﻷﻟﺒﺎﻧﻲ‬

“Narrated Yahyā ibn Yazeed al-Hunā’ī: I asked Anas Ibn Mālik about the shortening of the
prayer while travelling. He said: When the Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬went out on a
journey of three miles or three farsakh (the narrator Shu’bah doubted which), he
would pray two rak’ahs.”

No. 1201. Al-Albānī declared it to be saheeh.

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