By Dr. Gibril Haddad
The Mysteries of Fasting
the Month of Ramadan
THE INWARD CONDITIONS OF FASTING
Imam Ghazzali
There are three degrees of fasting:
1. The fast of the ordinary person.
The
fast of the ordinary person as described above consists of the
abstinence of appetite, sexual intercourse, noise, arguing etc ...
In
addition to the fara'id, obligations of the fast, the seeker may
advance in his practice by observation of the traditions (Sunnah) of the
Holy Prophet, upon whom be peace.
2. The fast of the select few.
3. The fast of the elite.
The Fast of the Select Few
The
fast of the select few is that of keeping the ears, eyes, tongue,
hands, feet together with all the other senses free from sin.
These virtuous people free themselves from sin in six ways:
1.
Refraining from looking at anything that is blameworthy or disapproved.
Jabir, on the authority of Anas related that the Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, said:
"There are five things that break the fast; telling lies, backbiting, telling tales, perjury, covetousness and lustful eyes."
2.
Keeping the tongue free from ranting and raving, lying, backbiting,
tale-telling, obscenity, abusive speech, wrangling, and hypocrisy.
Rather, one should busy oneself with the remembrance and exaltation of
Allah, as well as the recitation of the Holy Koran - this is the fasting
of the tongue.
3. Closing the ears to all that is reprehensible. The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said:
"The backbiter and the listeners are partners in sin."
4.
Constraint of the rest of the senses from sin. Restraining the hand
from evil, curbing the foot for the pursuit of wickedness, avoidance of
questionable foods at the break of the fast.
The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said:
"Many receive nothing from the fast except hunger and thirst."
This
hadith has been explained as referring to the person who breaks the
fast on unlawful food and drink. It has also been explained as referring
to people who abstain from halal food and break the fast on the flesh
of men through illicit backbiting, also, that it refers to the person
who does not keep his senses free from sin.
5.
Over indulgence when breaking the fast, even when the food is halal.
The spirit as well as the secret of fasting is to weaken the flesh which
is satan's tool for turning mankind back to evil.
6.
After breaking the fast, the heart should remain in a state of suspense
between fear and hope as one does not know whether the fast has been
accepted.
"Al
Ahnaf, son of Kays was once told: "You are an old man, and fasting will
make you weak." He replied: "This fast is my preparation for a long
journey. Indeed, to endure the yoke in the service of Allah is easier
than to endure the yoke of His wrath.
The
fasting person who is not truly fasting is the one, who while in a
state of hunger and thirst allows himself every freedom in sin. But the
one who truly understands fasting and its secret knows that whosoever
abstains from food, drink, sexual intercourse but commits all manner of
sins is like the person who, in performing the ablution runs his hand
over one of his limbs thrice, thereby outwardly fulfilling the Law as
far as the limb is concerned, but neglecting the truly important thing
which is the actual washing. Consequently because of his ignorance, his
prayer is rejected.
Whereas,
the one who breaks the fast through eating but observes it by keeping
himself free from sin is like the person who, in performing the
ablution, washes each of the limbs of his body once only. His prayers
are, by the will of Allah, accepted because he has fulfilled the
principal thing in the ablution although he has failed to fulfill its
details. But whosoever does both is like the person who, in performing
the ablution, washes each limb of his body thrice, thereby fulfilling
both the principal purpose of ablution as well as its elaborate details
which constitutes perfection.
The
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him said: "Indeed, fasting
is a trust; let each, therefore, take good care of his trust." When he
recited the verse "Allah orders you all to hand back the trusts to their
owners ..." he raised his hands so that they touched his ears and eyes
and said:
"The
gift of hearing and sight are each a trust from Allah." Similarly, the
gift of speech is a trust, for if it were not so the Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, would not have said: "If anyone disputes
with another and swears at him, let the latter say 'I am fasting, I am
fasting."
It
is clear, then, that every act of worship possesses an outward form and
an internal form - an external husk and internal pith.
The
husks are of different grades and each grade has different layers. It
is for you to choose whether to be content with the husk or join the
company of the wise and learned.
The Fast of the Elite
The
fast of the elite is the fast of the heart from bad thoughts, worldly
worries and anything else that may divert from anything but thoughts of
Allah.
The
Fast of the Elite means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and
worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God, Great and
Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly
matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these
constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world.
Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a
sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with
arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of
trust in the bounty of God, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of
certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To
this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the
intimates of God. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in
words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in
utmost dedication to God, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of
everything other than God, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the
significance of His words: 'Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them
to play in their vain discussions.' [al-An'am,6:91]
Inward Requirements
As
for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It
means keeping all one's organs free from sin and six things are required
for its accomplishment:
1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
A
chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or
reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the
remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He. Said the Prophet, on him
be peace: 'The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on
him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive
from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he
will find within his heart.' Jabir relates from Anas that God's
Messenger, on him be peace, said: 'Five things break a man's Fast:
lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.'
2. SPEAK NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
Guarding
one's tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness,
arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with
remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of
Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue.
Said
Sufyan: 'Backbiting annuls the Fast.' Layth quotes Mujahid as saying:
'Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.' The Prophet, on
him be peace, said: 'Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting
he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or
insults him, let him say: "I am Fasting, I am Fasting!"'
According
to Tradition: 'Two women were Fasting during the time of God's
Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the
day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing.
They therefore sent a message to God's Messenger, on him be peace,
requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on
him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: "Tell them to vomit into it
what they have eaten." One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with
fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so
that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then
the Prophet, on him be peace, said: "These two women have been Fasting
from what God made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what
God, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and
indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they
maligned!"'
3. HEAR NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
Closing
one's ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to
utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God, Great and
Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His
words, Exalted is He: 'Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit
gain.' [al- Ma'idah, 5:42] God, Great and Glorious is He, also said:
'Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and
consume unlawful profit?' [al-Ma'idah, 5:63] Silence in the face of
backbiting is therefore unlawful. God, Exalted is He, said: 'You are
then just like them.' [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him
be peace, said: 'The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.'
4. DO NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
Keeping
all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from
reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time
for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast -- to abstain from lawful
food - only to break one's Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like
this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city.
Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to
reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of
medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to
taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the
lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess.
The
object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Said the Prophet, on him be
peace: 'How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and
thirst!' This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on
unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food,
but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is
unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their
organs from sin.
5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not
to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the
point of stuffing one's belly. There is no receptacle more odious to
God, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful
food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and
abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up
for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a
variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for
Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during
that time than in the course of several other months put together.
It
is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to
check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach
is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is
aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies
and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its
force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant
under normal conditions.
The
spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are
Satan's means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to
cut down one's intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when
not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much
as one would usually take during the day and night combined.
Moreover,
one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the
daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious
of the weakening of one's powers, with the consequent purification of
the heart. One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into
the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and
to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover
around one's heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven.
The
Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this
Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of God, Exalted
is He: 'We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.' [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes
blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to
remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but
God, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the
starting point of it all is cutting down on food.
6. LOOK TO GOD WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After
the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum
between fear and hope. For one does not know if one's Fast will be
accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be
rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be
at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It
is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a
group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: 'God, Great and
Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His
creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won,
while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to
find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends
the victors, and failure the wasters. By God, if the veil were lifted
off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works
and the evildoer with his evil deeds.' In too full of joy to indulge in
idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be
precluded by remorse.
Of
al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: 'You are an
aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.' But he replied: 'By this I am
making ready for a long journey, Obedience to God, Glorified is He, is
easier to endure than His punishment.' Such are the inwardly significant
meanings of Fasting.
Al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship, Edited 12/99
Etiquette of breaking the fast
By Dr. Gibril Haddad
The fast is broken at sunset, and it is termed in Arabic iftar.
It is a time of happiness and refreshment after experiencing the pangs
of hunger and thirst. It is usually broken with dates and in many
cultures a light soup with bread or small side dishes.
Breaking
the fast is followed immediately by the evening obligatory prayer. In
many parts of the world, including the US, breaking fast is observed in
congregation in mosques and homes.
The Prophetic etiquette of breaking fast: three rutabs (moist dates), or else tamr (dry dates), or else water, mentioning Allah, using the right hand, stating the du`a that fasting was for Allah and breakfast with his rizq (provision), and asking Allah aid in fasting, night-prayer, lowering the eyes, and guarding the tongue in Ramadan. The invocation (du`a) upon breaking fast is answered.
The following two du`as should be recited after breaking the fast:
اَللّهُمَّ;لَكَ;صُمْتُ;وَعَلى;رِزْقِكَ;أَفْطَرْتُ;
Allahumma laka sumtu wa `alaa rizqika aftartu
O Allah! For You have I fasted and upon Your sustenance have I broken my fast. [Abu Dawud]
ذ;َهَبَ;الظَّمَأُ;وَابْتَلَّتِ;الْعُرُوقُ;وَثَبَتَ;الأَجْرُ;إِنْ;شَاءَ;اللهُ;
Dhahab az zamaa'u wab tallatil urooqu wa thabat al-ajru Insha-Allah
The thirst has vanished, the veins have been wetted and the reward is established - Insha-Allah. [Abu Dawud]
The
Prophet (s) said: "Whosoever fasts experiences two joys. He is joyful
when he breaks his fast, and is joyful because of his fasting when he
meets his Lord." [Sahih Muslim]
"When evening approaches from this side (east) and the day retreats
from this side (west) and the sun has set, the one who is fasting breaks
his fast." [Bukhari and Muslim]
"Break your fast with a date, or with water because it is pure."
[Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]
[Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]
The
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said: "My nation will
remain in goodness as long as they break the fast as soon as it is
due." [Muslim]
It is offensive and unhealthy to stuff the stomach with food after fasting.
The Prophet (s) said: "Enough for a human being to have luqaymat
(=from 3 to 9 mouthfuls) that prop up his spine and, if he must have
more [in his stomach], then one third of food, one third of water, and
one third of air."
Out
of respect for the mosques and those who attend them among people,
jinn, and angels foods that cause bad breath (such as garlic and
onions), belching and gas should not be consumed.
