SURATUL-KAFIRUUN

TRANSLITERATION:
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
1. Qul yaa-ayyuhal-kaafiruun
2. Laaa'budu ma t'abuduun
3. Walaaa antum 'aabiduunamaaa'bud
4. Walaaa anaa 'abidummaa 'abattum
5. Walaaa antum 'aabiduuna ma a'bud
6. Lakum diinukum waliyadiin.

TRANSLATION:
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful
1. Say: O you unbelievers!
2. I worship not what you worship,
3. Nor do you worship what I worship.
4. Nor will I worship what you worship
5. Nor will you worship what I worship.
6. You have your religion and I have mine.

LESSONS:
1. The surah teaches us that there is no compulsion in religion.
2. It teaches us that as Muslims we should be firm with our faith in Allah
3. It tells us that Muslims should not join the unbelievers in their worship so that
he can satisfy them.
4. It teaches us that unbelievers are not ready to give up their false religion.
5. It teaches freedom of religion.

THE HOLY BOOKS

The Holy Books or Holy Scriptures are the messages of Allah revealed to mankind
through the prophet s. Many of these books were sent by Allah but the Qur’an
tells us about five of them by name. They are:

1. As-Suhuf: This was revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (A.S)

2. Az – Zabuur: This is the book revealed to prophet Dawud (A.S)
3. At – Tawrah: The book contains the messages revealed to Prophet Musa (A.S.)
4. Al – Injil: This book contains the messages revealed to prophet ‘Isa (A.S.)
5. Al – Qur’an: This is the Holy book that contains the messages revealed to
mankind through prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). This book contains the
summary of all the previous Holy books.
It is one of the articles of faith in Islam to believe that all the Holy Books are
divine and that the prophet that brought them were sent by Allah to mankind.
According to the Qur’an, prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is the final messenger.
Therefore, Qur’an is also considered to be the final Book of Allah relevant for
all times to come.

Al Hadithu-Saadis
Anin -Nu’maan ibn Bashir radiyallahu ‘anhuma qala: samitu Rasulallahi sallallahu
alayhi wasallam yaquul:
“Innal-halaala bayyinun wainnal haraama bayyinun wabaynahuma umuurun
mushtabihaatun laaya’alamuhuuna kathirun minannass.Famanittaqash shubuhaati
faqadistabra’a lidiinihi wairdihi wamanwaqa'a fish-shubhaat faqadwaqa'a fil
haraami kara'I yar'ah awlal-himaa yuushiku anyarta’afiih. Ala waInna likulli maliki
himaa alla wainna himayallaahi mahaarimuh. Ala wainna fil-jasadi mudgatan, idha
s
aluhat salahal-jasadu kulluhu. Waidha fasadat fasadal-jasadukulluhu, alaa
wahiyah-qalb”.
Rawaahul-Bukhaariyyu wa Muslim.
TRANSLATION
On the authority of Al-Numan bin Basheer (may Allah be pleased with both of
them) who said: I heard the messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) say :
"Verily what is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear and between them
there are ambiguous matters about which not many people know. Therefore, he
who avoids ambiguous matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his
honour, but he who falls into ambiguities may fall into that which is unlawful, like
a shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, willing to graze therein. Truly every
king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah's sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the
body there is a lump of flesh which if it is sound, the whole body is sound and
which if it is diseased, the whole body is diseased as well. Indeed it is the heart."
Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim

AS-SAWM - FASTING

As-Sawm is an Arabic word which means fasting. Fasting is abstinence from

eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse from dawn till sunset with the
intention of showing submission to Allah’s command.

According to Qur’an chapter 2:183, Allah commands the Muslims to fast when He
says:

“O you who believe fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those
before you”.

Types of fasting
There are two major types of fasting in Islam. They are:

i. Obligatory fasting
ii. Voluntary fasting

Obligatory Fasting:is the fasting that is compulsory for every adult and healthy
Muslim. Examples of obligatory fasting are:

1. Ramadan
2. Kaffaarah, e.g., Nadhr- Fasting for vowing.

Voluntary Fasting: Voluntary fasting is the fasting recommended for people who
can afford it. It attracts rewards from Allah, but it is not compulsory. Examples of
voluntary fasting include:

1. Three days in every month: 13th, 14th, 15th

2. Two days in a week: Monday and Thursday
3. Fasting on the day of Arafat
4. Fasting on one’s birthday.

People exempted from fasting.

Although, fasting in the month of Ramadan is made compulsory for the Muslim
by Almighty Allah, it is for those who have reached the age of puberty and
healthy both in body and mind. The following people are exempted from
fasting:

1. A sick or weak person

2. A traveler
3. A pregnant woman
4. A menstruating woman
 5. A nursing mother.
6. An aged person.

It should be noted however that the exemption is not absolute. The above-
mentioned people are required to pay back the lost days when they are healthy
or when they are back from journey except the aged ones who will pay by
feeding the needy throughout the days of Ramadan.

RAMADAN FASTING

Ramadan fasting is a compulsory fasting in Islam. Like other type of Fasting, it is

the abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse from dawn
till sunset with the intention of showing submission to Allah’s command. Ramadan
is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and fasting in all the days of Ramadan
which are either 29 or 30days is compulsory for all Muslim adults, male or female.

According to the Holy Qur’an chapter 2:183, Allah commands the Muslims to fast
Ramadan when He says:

“O you who believe fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those
before you”.

The institution of fasting was established by Allah for the Muslims two years after
the Muslims migration to Madinah and since then Muslims have been observing it
annually all over the world. According to Qur'an chapter 2 verse 184, Allah
{SWT} gives relief to those who are unable to fast due to some certain
unavoidable reasons to leave fasting during the month but should make up for the
missing days after the month.
As earlier stated, eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse are not allowed during
the days i.e., between dawn (fajr) and sunset (maghrib). In Islam fasting is an act of
worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of obedience and closeness to Allah
(SWT).

Muslims eat the Sahuur before fajr and commence fasting after fajr until Maghrib
(sunset) and break the fasting with IFTAAR at sunset. Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
advised the Muslims to break their fast with fruits, he specifically recommended
dates as the best fruit to end the fast and if date is not available, they should drink
water.

Muslims also perform certain nawaafil (voluntary prayers) known as Taraawih

throughout the nights of Ramadan. Also, Zakatul-Fitr is given to the poor on the
eve of Eidul-Fitr. Eidul-Fitr is the festival to mark the end of Ramadan fasting, this
comes up annually on the 1st day of Shawaal

ZAKATUL-FITR

Zakatul-Fitr is the alms given to the poor at the end of Ramadan fasting. This is to
make the poor enjoy Idul-Fitr and celebrate with other Muslims. Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) said; “Give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of yourself and each person
that is being fed by you.” He explained further that the fast of a capable adult
Muslim is hanging between the heavens and the earth until Zakatul-Fitr is given
out.
The food items from which zakatul-fitr is given include the followings; rice, beans,
corn, garri, millet, wheat, dates, barley, or any other food that is eaten within the
community.

The amount of food to be given as zakatul-fitr is four MUDDS of the given food
item. One Mudd is equivalent to a handful of the two hands of an adult Muslim put
together. Zakatul-Fitr should be paid not later than the morning of Idul-Fitr