Those who are travelling are given the option of fasting or not. Those who choose not to
fast during their journey must make it up after reaching their destination. This applies
to all types of travel; for business, for personal reasons, or due to one's job (i.e. long
distance haulers).
Actions That Affect One's Fast
In Islam, there are specific guidelines that must be followed for the fast to be valid.
Sometimes, however, these guidelines may be violated unknowingly. Examples of these are
given below:
Actions That Do Not Nullify One's Fast
Eating or drinking something by mistake, without one's knowledge (i.e. he is asleep or
unconscious), or being forced to do so. In the words of Allah:
O our Lord, account us not if we forget or commit mistake. (2:286)
...except he who was forced (to commit against what Allah has ordained) and he is
satisfied of the belief in his heart. (16:106)
But there is no blame on you, if ye made a mistake there in. (What counts is) intention
of your hearts.(33:5)
As seen in the above verses, one's intention is critical. Thus, if a person forgets
momentarily that he is fasting and eats or drinks something, his fast will no be broken,
provided he did not do so intentionally. This is also true for one who believes that the
sun has set or that the sun has not yet risen and so begins to eat. His mistake is not
held against him if he believed sincerely that the fast was already over or had not yet
begun. An unintentional swallowing of water while gargling or discharge of semen while
sleeping are also viewed as not violating one's fast.
Actions That Nullify One's Fast
There are several actions that nullify immediately one's fast. Among these are the
following:
- Engaging in sexual intercourse during the daylight hours during the month of Ramadan. If
a person is guilt of this, he or she has to compensate for it by fasting in addition to
freeing a slave. If he cannot do this, he must fast for sixty consecutive days. If this
also not possible, he must feed sixty poor people who are hungry.
- Engaging in any activity that excites one to the point of causing a discharge of semen,
such as self-gratification, caressing, hugging, kissing, and so on.
- Eating or drinking anything. This also includes smoking and the consumption of other
items that are not really considered food items. (i.e. chewing gum or tobacco).
- Taking injections or dietary drugs used as food or drink substitutes. These are held to
be just as good as the items they are meant to replace and are treated accordingly.
Injections that have no food value are permitted, regardless of whether they are
intramuscular or intravenous and whether or not they can be tasted.
- Post-childbirth menses and bleeding.
- The forced emission of blood through cupping or similar means. If one bleeds due to a
normal event (i.e. a nose bleed or having a tooth extracted), his fast is considered as
unaffected, for the blood that is emitted is done so naturally. This is also true of
vomiting.
Rules Of The Fast
- A person can state his intention to fast while he is ritually impure. After he has
performed the necessary aboutions, he may begin his fast for the day. This must all be
done before daybreak, when the daily fast starts.
- A woman coming out of her menses or child-birth bleeding before dawn must fast, even if
she washes herself after dawn.
- It is permissible for a fasting person to apply ornaments, lotions, perfumes, and
similar items to his head or body while he is fasting. However, he should avoid inhaling
the smoke given off by burning incense. The use of ointments or medicine for medical
reasons (i.e. tooth extraction, eye-drops, ear-drops) is also allowed, even if they can be
tasted.
- Brushing one's teeth a siwak ( this is a twig from a certain kind of tree found
in the Middle East and widely available in Muslim communities). The prophet said that it
is desirable to use a siwak while fasting.
- A fasting person can cool himself with water, an air conditioner, or similar methods.
- It is permissible to use sprays designed to relive the pressure of asthma or similar
afflications that cause difficulty in breathing.
- It is allowed to wet one's lips or rinse the inside of one's mouth with water without
gargling.
- It is desirable to delay slightly the pre-dawn meal and to hasten to break the fast at
sunset. This is in accordance with the practice of the Prophet, whose actions serve as
models for the pious Muslims to imitate. The fast is usually ended by eating several dates
or, if dates are not available, by drinking some water. If no permitted food or drinks is
available, the individual should simply make intention to break the fast and then actually
do so as soon as he finds something that is permissible to eat or drink. For example, he
cannot break his fast by eating pork or drinking alcohol, as these foods are prohibited in
all circumstances, with the exception of those that are life-threatening.
- While he is fasting, he should make a greater effort to draw closer to Allah by
increasing his level of adherence to what Allah has asked of him.
- One who is fasting should also perform his obligations and abstain from that which is
prohibited. He should offer his daily prayers on time and in congregation (if it is
obligatory upon him) and avoid lying, backbiting, deceiving someone, dealing in
interest(usury), or indulging, either mentally or physically, in that which is prohibited.
The prophet said:"One who does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is
not in need of his leaving his food and drink."
Zakat Al-Fiter
Zakat al-Fiter, which is part of the fast of Ramadan, is characterized by the following
elements:
- It consists of approximately 2.5 kilograms (slightly more than one pound) of rice,
wheat, dates, or similar food or items.
- It is not proper to give the Zakat al-Fiter in the form of money, clothes, or any other
non-food items. However, one school of Islamic law-the Hanafites-say that one is allowed
to give the Zakat al-Fiter in monetary form if he wishes to do so.
- It must be given on the day of Eid, which is known as Eid al-Fiter, and signifies the
end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. It can also be paid one or two days before Eid
al-Fiter.
- It cannot be given after the Eid prayer, unless one has a valid reason for such a delay.
- It should be given on behalf of every Muslim whether male or female, adult or minor.