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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the expiation for perjury?

One who commits perjury should repent, seek Allah`s forgiveness and offer an expiation which is: feeding ten indigent persons, or clothing them, or giving a slave his freedom, but if that is beyond his means then, he should fast for three days. Allah, The Almighty, Says in this regard (What means): "Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful." [Al-Ma`idah/89].

What is the ruling on using snuff, inhaled vapor, or menthol rub (Vicks) during the day in Ramadan?

Using snuff, inhaled vapor, or menthol rub (Vicks) invalidates the fast because these substances enter the lungs through inhalation, and the lungs are considered part of the body cavity (jauf).

Whoever uses them must refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day out of respect for the sacred month and make up for that day after Ramadan.

However, if it is merely a scent and none of its substance reaches the body cavity, it does not break the fast.

Are the mother's maternal and paternal uncles, and the father's maternal and paternal uncles, considered among the unmarriageable kin (Maharim)?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.

A mother’s maternal uncle and her paternal uncle, as well as a father’s maternal uncle and his paternal uncle, are all considered among the unmarriageable kin (Maharim). And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the expiation for perjury?

Perjury is forbidden and one of the major sins that require turning to Allah in repentance, seeking His forgiveness, giving back rights to whom they belong, or seeking their forgiveness, and expiating for that oath.

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Articles

From Etiquettes of Fasting

Author : Mufti Yusuf Abu Hussein

Date Added : 12-03-2024

From Etiquettes of Fasting

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.

Here comes the month of divine generosity and heavenly blessings, here comes the month of Ramadan, the month of goodness and benevolence. How beautiful is its appearance, and how magnificent is its arrival! In it, good deeds are multiplied, sins and mistakes are forgiven, and prayers are answered. It is a station for purifying souls from blameworthy traits and urging them towards obedience. Therefore, a wise and discerning person should not miss out on this month. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! Whoever lives to see Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven..." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad).

In this article, we will discuss some of the etiquettes a fasting person should adhere to:

1-Eagerness for Suhoor and Delaying it: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of having Suhoor (pre-dawn meal during Ramadan) and delaying it until shortly before Fajr. He said, "Partake in Suhoor, for indeed there is a blessing in it." [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim]. He also said, "The Suhoor meal is blessed, so do not neglect it even if one of you just takes a gulp of water. Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who have Suhoor." [Reported by Imam Ahmad].

2-Refraining from Forbidden Speech: During fasting, it's crucial to abstain from prohibited speech such as backbiting, gossip, and lying. Fasting is an act of worship ordained to purify the soul and habituate it to goodness. Ramadan serves as a school whose aim is to graduate the fasting person as righteous, which is the ultimate goal of fasting. Allah says in the Quran, "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-." (Al-Baqarah, 183). The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, " Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions and does not abandon foolishness, Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his FASTING)." (Related by al-Bukhari). He also said, "Fasting is a protection for you, so when you are fasting, do not behave obscenely or foolishly, and if any one argues with you or abuses you, say, 'I am fasting. I am fasting." (Related by al-Bukhari).

3-Showing kindness to fasting people and offering them Iftar: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said, " Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person." (Related by al-Tirmidhi & Ahmad).

4-Increasing charity and generosity in the month of Ramadan: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and his generosity would peak during the month of Ramadan. Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind. [Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

5-Recitation of the Quran: Ramadan is the month of the Quran, during which it was revealed. Allah says in the Quran: " Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." (Al-Baqarah, 185). Therefore, Muslims should increase their recitation and reflection upon the verses of the Quran, especially during Ramadan.

6-Iʿtikaf and Qiyaam during Ramadan, including Taraweeh prayers: It was narrated that the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim]. Additionally, it was his practice during the last ten nights of Ramadan to exert himself in worship, awaken his family, and tighten his waist belt (i.e., devote himself to worship). [Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim].

7-Performing Umrah during Ramadan: It is highly recommended to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Umrah performed in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj." (Reported by al-Bukhari).

8-Hastening the Iftar: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."* *This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done. (Related by Bukhari & Muslim).

9-Avoiding ignorant and foolish behavior, and forgiving: The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: " When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: 'I am observing fast." (Reported by al-Bukhari).

10-Reflecting on the blessing of fasting: It is important for the fasting person to recognize the blessing of Allah upon him by granting him the ability and ease to fast. Many people are deprived of fasting due to various reasons such as death before reaching the age of fasting, physical incapacity, or turning away from it (fasting) due to misguidance.

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on the intention of fasting, where is its place, and when is its time?

The intention is a pillar of acts of worship; it is essential, and worship is not valid without it.

Its place is in the heart, and verbalizing it is recommended so that the tongue reminds the heart. Its meaning is to be determined to abstain from nullifiers of fasting during the upcoming day with the intention of worship and obedience to Allah Almighty. This meaning is naturally present in every Muslim on every night of Ramadan, so there is no need for obsessive doubts. If one says, "I intend to fast tomorrow for the sake of Allah," it removes any doubts.

Its time is from after sunset until before the true dawn.

What is the ruling on forgiving a tenant next month's rent, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh al-māl?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

It does not fulfill the obligation to count the rent owed on a house, or a portion of it, in lieu of zakāh. Rather, it is necessary to first transfer ownership of the zakāh amount to the poor person directly; only afterward may he be asked to pay the rent [from that money].

It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik (p. 112): "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]."

We would also remind [the reader] of the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ: "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him [to harm]. Whoever attends to the needs of his brother, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will attend to his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal him on the Day of Resurrection." (Agreed upon). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on Making up Prayers Missed before Reaching Puberty?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Among the conditions for accountability for one's actions in the Hereafter is taklīf (religious legal responsibility) — meaning, possessing sound reason and having reached puberty. The signs of puberty are: nocturnal emission, menstruation, or reaching the age of fifteen [lunar years].

Whoever missed prayers before reaching puberty is not obligated to make them up, since taklīf did not yet apply to him at that time. Our master, the Prophet ﷺ, said: "The pen has been lifted from three: from the child until he reaches puberty, from the sleeping person until he wakes, and from the insane person until he regains sanity." [Related by Abū Dāwūd]

The method for making up missed prayers and fasts has already been explained in Fatwa No. 2705, and Fatwa No. 876. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I broke my oath and am now obligated to pay the expiation for a broken oath (kaffārat al-yamīn). Would it be valid to fulfill this by inviting the poor and needy to a meal for them to eat from?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

The expiation for a broken oath (kaffārat al-yamīn) is given to the poor (fuqarā') and needy (masākīn), and it must be given in the form of ownership (tamlīk) transferred to them of the required amount — namely, one mudd of the staple food of the locality, or its equivalent monetary value. It isn`t valid to invite the poor or needy to a meal prepared for them to eat from, as this does not constitute "ownership" (tamlīk) but merely "permission to partake" (ibāḥah).

Imam al-Shirbīnī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "What is intended is that ownership be transferred to them; therefore, providing them with lunch or dinner [as a meal to eat from] isn`t valid." [Summarized from Mughnī al-Muhtāj,Vol. 5/P.50]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.