The blessed month of Ramaḍān is a time of worship and righteous deeds. However, during this month, many misnomers and false practices exist. The following is a compilation of common doubts and misconceptions corrected and clarified by Islamic scholars.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Shaykh Aḥmad al-Najmī (رحمه الله) stated: "Hence, if a man praises the people of the Sunnah and he loves them, then he is from them, and if he praises the people of innovation and he loves them, then he is from them.”
Source: Irshād al-Sārī pg. 377. Translated by: Musa Shaleem Mohammed
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Are you pleased with yourselves that you are callers to falsehood, defending falsehood and its people?
Are you pleased with yourselves that you are greatly respected amongst the people of shirk and bidʿah, whilst it is obligatory to boycott and free yourselves from their likes, seeking closeness to Allāh (by way of this)?
Are you pleased with yourselves, that you follow the legislation of one prone to error whilst abandoning the legislation of the infallible [i.e. Muḥammad (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)], despite Allāh’s testification of his infallibility? Allāh mentions:
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ (٣) إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ (٤ Nor does he speak of [his own] desire.(3) It is not but a revelation revealed.(4) [Surah al-Najm, 54:3-4]
Are you pleased with yourselves that you are followers of other than the path of the believing Mūwaḥidīn, whilst you recite the statement of Allāh (Subḥānahū wa-Taʿālá)? Allāh says:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger [(Muhammad, ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)] after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell — what an evil destination. [Sūrah al-Nisāʾ, 6:115]
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
On the authority of Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه): the Prophet ﷺ said: When Allāh intends good for His servant, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, but when He intends evil for His servant, He withholds (the punishment) from him until he appears on the day of judgement.
Shaykh Aḥmad al-Najmī: We are informed in this narration that the servant may be afflicted with calamities and disasters, and he may assume that it is because Allāh hates him while this is not the case. Rather, it may be that Allāh loves him and He wants to afflict him with tribulations so that he may come on the day of judgement with his sins alleviated.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #22
[Q]:What is the ruling on the healthy individual who intentionally eats or drinks during the day in Ramaḍān?
[A]:It is not permissible for a healthy individual to eat or drink intentionally during the day in Ramaḍān. From one angle, he must abstain from food and drink for the remainder of the day. From the other angle, he must make up for it.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #10
[Q]:Do sins break the fast? And is it mandatory upon the sinner to make up his broken fast due to his sinning?
[A]: Sins vary, and the sins which don't break the fast reduce the reward of the fasting person. However, there are sins that break the fast, such as masturbation, committing adultery and things similar to that—we ask Allāh for forgiveness and wellbeing. There is absolutely no doubt that those things break the fast.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #20
[Q]:Do the caretakers of the one who was incapable of fasting and died during the month of Ramaḍān feed a poor person on his behalf [for every day that was missed after his death for the remainder of the month]? [A]:It is not necessary for his custodians to feed a poor person on his behalf [for every day that was missed after his death for the remainder of the month].
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #21
[Q]:What is the ruling on [the fast of] the individual who fell asleep while he was in a state of impurity and when the aẓān was sounded for the Fajr prayer he was still asleep?
[A]:His fast is valid, and upon him is to make ghusl.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #18
[Q]:Six years ago, a man had intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramaḍān and hasn't paid the penalty; therefore, what is upon him now?
[A]:His situation must be investigated. It is not permissible to procrastinate the penalty; rather, it is mandatory upon him to pay it. If it were that he was incapable of fasting two months consecutively, then he must resort to feeding people. As for if he was capable, it is then compulsory upon him to fast.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #17
[Q]:There is a sick person who hasn't fasted for two years; thus, should someone fast on his behalf or should people be fed on his behalf? [A]:People should be fed on his behalf.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #19
[Q]:What is the recompense for the old man who is incapable of fasting? Is a poor person fed everyday during the month of Ramaḍān or is it sixty people?
[A]: A poor person is fed everyday. As for feeding sixty poor people, then this is done in the issue of ẓihār, and it is not [the penalty] intended for Ramaḍān. The safest thing to do is to feed ten poor people after [the first] ten-days have passed, then when [the second] ten-day interval has passed, feed ten more poor people, and similarly, the final ten-day interval.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #12
[Q]:Is it incumbent upon the fasting person to break his fast at sunset?
[A]: It is not incumbent [upon him to break his fast], but it is recommended, due to the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ): "Thus, whoever practiced continuous fasting [al-wiṣāl], let him carry it on until suhūr time [i.e. the following day]." [Reported by al-Dāramī.]
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #15
[Q]:What is the ruling on spending the latter part of the nights of Ramaḍān engaged in recreation?
[A]:This is wasting time. It is an opportunity to perform act of worship since the people are engaged in prayer, recitation [of the Qurʾān] and the revision of knowledge during that time, while some are spending it playing football and games. Thus, this is wasting time without a doubt. Furthermore, they sleep until just before Maghrib supposedly missing the Fajr, Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr prayers; hence, this is a calamity, what a grave calamity!
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #5
[Q]:What is the ruling on swallowing saliva?
[A]: Swallowing saliva doesn’t break the fast, even if it is gathered [in his mouth] then swallowed, because it is something which is from the interior of his body. [Also,] it is unavoidable, like swallowing dust.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #9
[Q]:What is the ruling on the fasting person kissing in Ramaḍān?
[A]: Certainly, I have dealt with this issue, and I said that there is no problem with this if the kiss is from an elderly man whose desires are weak and a kiss doesn’t stir it up. [Likewise,] there is no problem with this in the case where there occurs [from him] something from desires since it is very minimal. However, the youth whose desires are stirred up by a kiss, it may be that this kiss leads to something further; hence, it is obligatory upon him to not do it.
Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Source: Fatāwá al-Ṣiyām pg 36. Translated by: Musa Shaleem Mohammed
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #7
[Q]: What is the ruling of the one who loses consciousness while fasting?
[A]: The one who loses consciousness is of two types:
[1] If the loss of consciousness is temporary, such as one day, a few days or that which is like that, then this resembles sleep. [2] If the loss of consciousness is for a long period, such as a month or two, then [the individual who experiences] this is like the insane individual whose pen is lifted (i.e he's unaccountable).
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #16
[Q]:What is the ruling on using tablets solely in the month of Ramaḍān to prevent [the onset of] menses in order to fast the entire month?
[A]:Allāh has allowed women to break their fast during the days of their menses and postnatal bleeding, and indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." They asked: "What is deficient in her intelligence and religion?" He said: "As for her deficiency in intelligence, then verily, Allāh has made the witness of two women equal to that of one man. As for her deficiency in her religion, then certainly, she remains for days without fasting or praying.” [Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.]
Therefore, Allāh has allowed the woman to break her fast during the days of her menses and postnatal bleeding. Consequently, it is not necessary for her to take tablets in order to fast the entire month, bearing in mind that these tablets —which a lot of women take— have a negative effect upon the woman, hence, it is necessary for her to avoid them.
In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Faṭwá Series for Ramaḍān 2016 - featuring selected faṭāwá by Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyá al-Najmī (رحمه الله).
Faṭwá #8
[Q]: Am I exempt from fasting if I leave for my job which is 90 kilometers from my house?
[A]: Yes, this distance meets the requirement of the travel distance [i.e. it meets the requirement for a person to be considered a traveller]; [hence,] it is permissible for you to do that, even if the means [of travel] are easy and its medium are numerous. This is a concession from Allāh. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'It is charity which Allah has given to you, so accept His charity.' [Reported by Muslim.]
