Part I:
RAMADHAN THE MONTH OF MERCY
Dr.
M.Haris Z Deen
With the advent of the new moon ushering in the solar month of
Ramadhan on the 7th or 8th of July this year, Muslims all over the world
will commence the ritual of fasting. In the context of the Islamic
religion fasting is not just a ritual. It is a religious duty enjoined
on those entering the fold of Islam. As much as observing the compulsory
prayers, giving the compulsory Zakath tax and undertaking the journey to
the Holy City of Mecca for performing Haj, fasting is required to be
observed with equal reverence because it is an act of worship. The
Arabic word for this act of worship is SIYAAM and the person who
undertakes the fast is called a SA’AYIM. In the context of the religious
fast these two words do not signify mere abstention from food and drink,
but also complete abstention from evil thoughts and actions and harmful
acts towards others (including animals and plants).
I wish to deal with the issue of the Muslim Fast in two or three
parts as the subject is extensive and needs explanations as elaborative
as it is extensive. In this First Part I intend to deal with issues of
God’s ordainment for fasting and the contentious matters concerning the
commencement and conclusion of the Ramadhan Fast.
The ever Merciful Allah says in His Holy Book:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the
pious)………….”.
Allah in His absolute Mercy does not wish hardships on His creations.
Therefore Allah says in the foregoing verse of the Quran that this
fasting is not peculiar to Muslims only. It had been ordained on people
who followed other Prophets prior to Allah sending the last and seal of
the Prophets. The Jews are required to fast for sixty days during
Passover and a strict observance of the fast on the day of atonement
(Jeremiah 36:6), also see the Fast (Acts 27:9)
Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai
receiving the law from God (Exodus 34:28). King Jehoshaphat called for a
fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites
and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3). In response to Jonah's preaching, the
men of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Prayer and
fasting was often done in times of distress or trouble. David fasted
when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12).
Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem
was still in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4). Darius, the king of Persia, fasted
all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel
6:18).
Christians are required to fast for 40 days during the period of lent
and the New Testament records fasting in different situations. Anna
"worshipped night and day, fasting and praying" at the Temple (Luke
2:37). John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast (Mark 2:18). Jesus
fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew
4:2). The church of Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent Paul and
Barnabas off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3). Paul and
Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders
in the churches (Acts 14:23). Thus the Quran explains that fasting is
not a new act imposed upon Muslims. For Muslim Allah continues in the
same verse quoted above as follows:
“…………(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, 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, (i.e. an old man, etc.),
they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every
day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And
that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." (2:183-84)
While there are no difficulties about the number of days for the Fast
and the times between which abstention from food and some other
permitted acts on other times are forbidden, there are controversies,
confusion and contradiction with respect to commencement and conclusion
of the Fast.
The Month
The month prescribed for the compulsory Fasting is the ninth month in
the Islamic Lunar Calendar called in Arabic Ramadhan (Quran 2:185).
However, unlike the days in the Julian Calendar, the days in a Lunar
month can differ from year to year, but the difference is never more
than one day – that is the lunar month in either 29 days or 30 days
depending on the cycle of the moon (Quran 55:5, 10:5, 36:39-40).
According to the Islamic Calendar months are to be counted by new moons
(Quran 2:189, 10:5). Allah in His absolute wisdom clarifies in the Quran
that when someone sights the crescent of the month (of Ramadhan) must
commence the fast as follows:
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong).
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the
month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a
journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made
up) from other days. (Emphasis mine). Thus sighting of the moon for
commencement of the fast is not just from Ahadith but contained in the
Quran as cited herein.
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things
difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of
days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you
may be grateful to Him" (2: 185).
In authentic Ahadith in Imam Malik’s Muwatta and the two Sahihs
Bukhari and Muslim, it has been reported on the authorities of Ibn Umar
(RA) and Ibn Abbas (RA). I cite these Ahadith with the full chain of
narration in order to avert any controversy as to authenticity:
1. Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi‘ from ‘Abd Allah bin
‘Umar that the Messenger of God once mentioned Ramadan and said: "Do not
begin the fast until you see the hilal and do not break the fast until
you see it. If it is obscured from you (ghumma ‘alaykum), fa aqduru la
hu." (Muwatta).
In explanations of the transliterated Arabic words (fa aqaduru la hu)
in the above Hadith, Islamic Scholars derive an interpretation from the
Quran itself that it can mean a set limit (Quran 77:22-23, 6:96) or
evaluate or estimate or measure (Quran 6:91). Applying either meaning to
the stated words, Ulemas interpret this as if the crescent moon cannot
be seen by being obscured by cloud, dust etc. then calculate or estimate
the length of the month of Ramadhan or restrict the month to twenty nine
days.
2. Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah related to us: Abu Usamah related to us:
‘Ubayd Allah related to us from Nafi‘ from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger
of God once mentioned Ramadan, made a gesture by his hands and said: "A
month is like this and this and this,” folding his thumb the third time.
Then he said: “Start fasting when you see it and end fasting when you
see it. If it is obscured from you (ughmiya ‘alaykum), fa aqduru la hu
thalathin (count for it 30 (days)). (Muslim)
3. Zuhayr bin Harb related to us: Isma‘il related to us from Ayyub
from Nafi‘ from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of God said: "A month
rather (innama) is 29 days. Do not begin the fast until you see it and
do not break the fast until you see it. If it is obscured from you, fa
aqduru la hu. (Muslim)
4. Hajjaj bin al-Sha‘ir related to me: Hasan al-Ashyab related to us:
Shayban related to us from Yahya who said: Abu Salamah informed me that
he heard Ibn ‘Umar say: I heard God’s Messenger say: “A month is
twenty-nine (days).” (Muslim 13/11)
5. Abu al-Walid related to us: Shu ‘bah related to us from Jabalah
bin Suhaym who said that I heard Ibn ‘Umar saying that the Prophet said
(showing his ten fingers thrice): "The month is like this and this" and
left out (khanasa) one thumb the third time (Bukhari 3/132)
The above authentic citations from the Holy Quran and Ahadith
unequivocally establishes the requirement for sighting the crescent moon
of the month of Ramadhan at the end of the 29th day of the previous
month Sha’ban. If the moon has not been sighted due to haze, cloud, dust
storms etc., then complete thirty days of Sha’ban and commence the fast
for Ramadhan irrespective of whether the crescent moon is sighted or
otherwise. Similarly, after observing the fast for 29 consecutive days
look out for the birth of the new moon of the succeeding month Shawwal
and if the moon is similarly obscured by cloud, haze, storms etc., then
complete thirty days of fasting and celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid.
This is simple clear and concise, but then why is the controversy and
confusion? There is no evidence that such confusion or controversy
existed during the life time of the Holy Prophet (Sal.,) or during the
period of the Thabi-een, or Thabi-ith-Thabieen (the successive
generations of followers of the Holy Prophet (Sal) footsteps, with
connections to the one who had been with the Prophet (Sal) or immediate
companions. They followed what was stated in the Quran and by the
Prophet (Sal) and did not go further. Therefore to understand the nature
and extent of the controversy let us analyse another Hadith from Sahih
Muslim, which will shed some light.
Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah related to us: Ghundar related to us from
Shu‘bah: (Also, related to us Muhammad bin al-Muthanna and Ibn Bashshar;
Ibn al-Muthanna said: Muhammad bin al-Ja‘far related to us Shu‘bah
related to us) from al-Aswad ibn Qays who said: I heard Sa‘id ibn ‘Amr
bin Sa‘id (say) that he heard Ibn ‘Umar report from the Prophet who
said: “We are an unlettered people. We neither write nor calculate. A
month is thus and thus and thus, folding his thumb the third time and a
month is thus and thus and thus (not folding his thumb the third time),
that is, (ya‘ni) 30 (days).
Holy Quran
Opponents of the requirement of moon sighting and proponents of the
Nujoomi calculation method quote the above Hadith in support of their
opposition or proposition. They use the terms “We are an unlettered
people. We neither write nor calculate……..” to relate the Hadith to a
particular period of time. That is the period during the lifetime of the
Holy Prophet (Sal) and the Thabieen, the immediate followers of the
Prophet (Sal). They argue that in the context of this Hadith, the people
were illiterate at the time the Prophet (Sal) said this (NaoozuBillah)
and did not know astronomical calculations and also did not have the
means to verify. However, it is submitted that they cannot argue against
the Quranic statement cited at the beginning of this section where God
commands the faithful to “Fast when you see it” meaning the moon. (Allah
Knows Best).
Having read translations of the Holy Quran by renowned scholars and
the 9 volumes of Sahih Bukhari, 4 volumes of Sahih Muslim, and Imam
Malik’s Muwattha, I could not find any support for differing from the
Quran and the Ahadith’s in respect of sighting the new moon with the
naked eye or completing the month in question as thirty days (when the
moon is not visible). I will conclude this part by citing the following
Ahadith by Abu Hurairah (RA) in Sahih Muslim and Bukhary:
1. Yahya bib Yahya related to us: Ibrahim bin Sa‘d related to us from
ibn Shihab from Sa'id bin al-Musayyab from Abu Hurayrah that the
Messenger of God said: "When you see the new moon, start fasting, and
when you see it, end fasting. But if it is obscure for you, fast for 30
days sumu thalathin yawman." (Muslim)
2. ‘Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah related to us: Muhammad bin Bishr al-‘Abdi
related to us: ‘Ubayd Allah bin ‘Umar related to us from Abu Zinad from
al-A‘raj from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of God mentioned the hilal
and said: "When you see it, start fasting, and when you see it, end
fasting. But if it is obscure for you, and if it is obscure for you,
count 30 (fa ‘uddu thalathin)." (Muslim)
3. ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Sallam al-Jumahi related to us: al-Rubay‘, that
is, Ibn Muslim related to us from Muhammad (who is Ibn Ziyad) from Abu
Hurayrah that the Prophet said: "Start fasting on seeing it, and end
fasting on seeing it, and if it is obscure for you, complete the number
(akmilu al-‘adad)." (Muslim 13/2/18)
4. ‘Ubayd Allah bin Mu‘adh related to us: My father related to us:
Su‘bah related to us from Muhammad bin Ziyad who said: I heard Abu
Hurayrah saying that the Messenger of God said: "Start fasting on seeing
it, and end fasting on seeing it, and if the month is obscure for you,
count 30 (fa ‘uddu thalathin)." (Muslim 13/2/19)
5. Adam related to us: Shu‘bah related to us: Muhammad bin Ziyad
related to us saying: I heard Abu Hurayrah say: The Prophet said or, (I
heard him say) Abu al-Qasim said: "Start fasting on seeing it, and end
fasting on seeing it, and it is obscure for you, complete thirty days of
Sha‘ban (fa akmilu‘idda Sha‘ban thalathin)." (Bukhari 3/133)
Insha Allah, Part two will appear next week
Email:
[email protected] |