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Allah Intends every Facility for you
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Date Added : 21-02-2024

Allah Intends every Facility for you

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Allah the Almighty has made fasting during the days of Ramadan, the month of goodness and blessings, an obligation and standing in prayer during its nights a voluntary act. It is a great month reflecting the essence of Islam, faith, forgiveness and redemption from Hellfire. In this month, morals ascend, and souls purify, rising above desires and trivial matters. The believing fasting person transcends worldly life with all its temptations and deceits.

 

Fasting is not just abstaining from food, drink, and desires, nor is it a burden of excessive hardship. Islam came to achieve human happiness and not to make things difficult for people beyond their capacity. Allah says in the Quran: "Ta, Ha. We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed." (Ta-Ha, 1-2). Fasting is a relationship with Allah filled with Ihsan (kindness), patience, and refinement. Allah says in the Quran regarding fasting: "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship." (Al-Baqarah, 185).

 

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saw one of his noble companions fasting excessively while traveling and not taking the concession to break the fast, he asked: "What is this?" They said, "He is fasting." So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "It is not righteousness to fast while traveling." (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Hamzah ibn Amr al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying, "O Messenger of Allah, I am a man who fasts continually. Should I fast while traveling?" He (the Prophet) said: "Fast if you wish, and break your fast if you wish." (Sahih Muslim).

 

Narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would sometimes fast while traveling, and sometimes he would break his fast. So, those who broke their fast worked energetically, while those who fasted were weaker in their work. Upon seeing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The ones who have broken their fast today have gained the reward." (Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim).

 

Indeed, the manifestations of ease in fasting are numerous, and its avenues are diverse. Allah, the Most High, said about fasting: "A limited number of days." (Al-Baqarah, 184). These limited days pass by quickly, but their rewards remain significant. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, except fasting. It is for Me, and I shall reward for it." (Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim).

 

Indeed, among the manifestations of facilitation in fasting is that Allah, the Most High, obligated it upon those who are capable of fasting, while granting permission for the sick and travelers to break their fast during the days of Ramadan, with the requirement to make up for the missed days afterward. Allah says {What means}: "But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days." (Al-Baqarah, 184). For those who are unable to make up for these days, Allah, the Most High, says {What means}: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." (Al-Baqarah, 286). A Muslim should give expiation for each day missed, as stated by Allah: "But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day)." (Al-Baqarah, 184).

 

Among the manifestations of facilitation in fasting is that Allah, the Most High, overlooks the mistake of anyone who eats or drinks unintentionally while fasting, and He considers their fasting to be valid and accepted. It is a mercy from Allah and a form of sustenance provided by Him. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully while fasting, let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink." (Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim). 

 

Additionally, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims to delay the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and hasten the breaking of the fast (iftar), in compliance with the command of Allah, out of mercy for the Muslims, and to make it easier for them. The Prophet also discouraged continuous fasting without a break (wisaal) as it burdens the body and weakens one's strength. The purpose of fasting is to elevate the individual, purify their soul, and train them to obey Allah, not to exhaust or harm oneself. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Partake in suhoor, for in suhoor, there is blessing." (Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim). He also said: "People will remain in goodness as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast." (Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim).

 

In conclusion, Islam is a realistic religion that considers facilitation and alleviation of hardship in its obligations and legislations. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on congregational prayer performed outside the mosque, and is it a condition that it be performed in a mosque in order to attain the full reward?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not a condition for attaining the reward of congregational prayer that it be performed in a mosque; however, a Muslim should still be keen to perform his prayers in the mosque, so as not to miss out on immense reward. This is due to the virtue of the mosque and of spending time there (i‘tikāf), the typically larger number of worshippers present, and the additional reward gained through walking to and from the mosque. On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever purifies himself in his house, then walks to one of the houses of Allah to fulfill one of the obligations Allah has prescribed, one of his steps will erase a sin, and the other will raise him a degree [in status]." (Related by Muslim)
Whoever misses congregational prayer at the mosque should still strive to pray in congregation at his workplace, or together with the members of his household. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to include others in the reward of one`s sacrifice?

 

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible for the person offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) to include others in the spiritual reward of the sacrifice. However, it is not permissible for multiple people to jointly share the purchase price of a single sheep or goat, unless one person gifts the money to the other.
 
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (6/137) by Al-Khatib al-Shirbini:
 
"If a person includes someone else in the reward of his sacrifice and slaughters it on his own behalf, it is permissible."
 
It should be carefully noted that including someone else in the reward of one's sacrifice is completely distinct from offering a sacrifice on behalf of someone else. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible to participate in an Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Regarding the sacrificial offering (Udhiyah), if it is a sheep or a goat, it only avails for one person. However, if it is a cow or a camel, it avails for seven people. It is permissible for the seven participants to have different intentions; for example, some may intend the sacrifice (Udhiyah), some the ’Aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn), and others may simply intend to obtain meat.
 
It is stated in Hashiyat Qalyubi ‘ala Sharh al-Mahalli (Vol.4/P.256) and in Bushra al-Karim (p. 706):
 
"If one slaughters a camel or a cow on behalf of seven... it is permissible. Likewise, it is permissible if some of them intend their seventh for meat, and others intend their seventh for ’Aqiqah." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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