Welcoming Ramadan

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What is the ruling on a suitor (khāṭib) going out alone with his fiancée before the marriage contract is concluded?

It is unlawful for a suitor, prior to the marriage contract , to do anything that would be unlawful for any non-maḥram man — including touching his fiancée, being secluded with her (khalwah), or seeing her without her complete sharī‘ah-compliant covering — even after the recitation of al-Fātiḥah (This is a cultural custom to seek Allah's blessing (barakah) and mark mutual consent) and the family's approval [of the engagement]. This is because the engagement, without the formal marriage contract, does not render unlawful matters permissible. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses cash reaching the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah), and then uses part of it to purchase gold before the ḥawl (lunar year) is complete — must he pay zakāh on all of it [combined], or only on the remaining cash, excluding the gold?

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

Gold acquired for hoarding and saving is subject to zakāh once it reaches the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for Zakah) — when combined with any cash held — and once a full ḥawl (lunar year) has elapsed over it. The starting point for calculating this ḥawl is the ḥawl of the paper currency [used to purchase it], which had already reached the niṣāb and was then used to purchase the gold.

It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.78): "As for someone who sells silver in exchange for gold, or vice versa, zakāh remains obligatory upon it, since he builds [the calculation of] its ḥawl upon [the ḥawl established at the time of] the original transaction [i.e., when the wealth was first acquired]."

This has already been explained in detail in Fatwa No. 2670 — please refer to it.

And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Does using a wet miswak while fasting break the fast?

A fasting person should ensure that the miswak is dry when using it.

However, if the miswak is slightly moist but does not release any liquid when squeezed, then its use does not break the fast.

Is it permissible for someone who is unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, due to his own poverty?

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

It is not permissible, nor does it fulfill the obligation, for a sick person who is currently and permanently unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, since it is a financial obligation owed by him, established as a standing debt upon him — much like any other debt he owes. If he were to pay it to himself, it would not thereby be discharged. So if he cannot find [anyone eligible to] pay it to, it remains a standing obligation upon him, and is not thereby waived. If Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, later grants him wealth, it becomes obligatory upon him to pay it out to the poor and needy.

Imam al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "There is no difference in the obligation of the fidyah between the wealthy and the poor person; its benefit lies in its remaining established as a standing debt upon the poor person [until he is able to pay it] — and this is the more correct position (al-aṣaḥḥ), as indicated by the wording of ar-Rawḍah and its source text." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.174]

Accordingly: it is not permissible for a Muslim to pay the fidyah to himself while he remains poor. If the sick person is poor, he is not obligated to pay the fidyah immediately, and it remains a standing debt upon him until a time when he has sufficient means and wealth. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

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Welcoming Ramadan

Author : Dr. Ibrahim Ejjo

Date Added : 23-07-2025

Welcoming Ramadan

Allah has ordained fasting in Ramadan for Muslims, making it one of the pillars of Islam and recording its obligation in numerous verses of the Qur’an—ensuring its ruling remains eternal, just like this divine Book. Allah says {what means}: "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety." [Al-Baqarah /183]. And He, the Almighty, says {what means}: "The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever sights the month, let him fast it." [Al-Baqarah /185].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) counted fasting Ramadan as a pillar of Islam, a foundation of the religion, and one of the greatest acts of worship drawing one closer to the Lord of the Worlds. He (peace be upon him) said: "Islam is built upon five (pillars): testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakah, performing Hajj, and fasting Ramadan." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Allah has gathered immense goodness in this month. Among its virtues is that "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Thus, the sincere believer and the devout Muslim welcomes Ramadan with high determination and overwhelming joy. Ramadan holds a special place in the hearts of the righteous—it is the greatest month in goodness, the most beneficial, and the most exalted in status. It is the month of obedience and worship, the month of blessings and divine mercy—the month in which Allah revealed the Qur’an as guidance and a clear criterion for mankind.

A believer welcomes it with sincere and pure repentance, through which Allah erases sins, elevates ranks, and replaces misdeeds with good deeds: "O you who believe, turn to Allah in sincere repentance." [At-Tahrim /8]

A believer welcomes Ramadan by being steadfast in performing prayers on time and maintaining congregational prayers, for "The prayer to prayer is an expiation for what is between them." And whoever is consistent in prayer, it will be a light, salvation, and proof for them on the Day of Judgment.

A Muslim welcomes Ramadan with the resolve to fast—an act that purifies souls from sins, trains them in patience (which is half of faith), and prepares them for hardships and trials.

A believer welcomes Ramadan with the determination to recite the Qur’an, reflect upon its verses, and understand its rulings—for it is the Qur’an that reforms beliefs, rectifies morals, purifies souls, and enlightens minds. Allah says [what means]: "There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book." [Al-Ma’idah /15].

A Muslim welcomes Ramadan with the commitment to regularly perform Taraweeh and night prayers (Qiyam al-Layl), for it is the practice of the righteous and the path of the God-fearing. Allah says {what means}: "They used to sleep but little at night, and at dawn they would seek forgiveness." [Adh-Dhariyat /17-18]. Moreover, He says {what means}: "Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord in fear and hope." [As-Sajdah /16]

The scholars of Tafsir (The exegesis or interpretation of the Quran) explain that this refers to night prayer—when the worshipper leaves their bed and family, abandoning sleep and comfort, turning to Allah in fear and hope, faith and devotion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Thus, every Muslim should prepare themselves to welcome this noble guest and great month.

We ask Allah to grant us the ability to fast and stand in prayer during it and to make us among those He frees from the Fire. All praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for the young woman to turn the suitor down if she had no feelings for him?

Yes, it is permissible for her to do so.

"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.

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.

Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to recite the Quran from the computer without actually touching the Quran?

It is not permissible for a woman in her menstrual period, or in postpartum to recite the Quran, even by heart, or without actually touching the Quran itself. Recitation itself is what is prohibited on her regardless of how it is done. However, it is permissible for her to surf through the Quran by her eyes, or to recall it in her head without uttering the words. There is no harm for her to look at the Quranic verses on the computer without touching it, or to utter the words as this is called looking not reciting or reading.