Things that Break One’s Fast (QAZA & KAFFARAH)

August 31st, 2008

Things That Break One’s FAST

Things that break one’s fast are of two kinds. Some make only Qaza necessary, whilst others make both Qaza and Kaffaarah compulsory.

* QAZA: To keep one fast in place of the one that breaks, or is broken intentionally.
* KAFFARAH:To keep one fast after another for sixty days continuously.

However, if a person is unable to keep these 60 Rozas, for some valid reason, e.g. continuous sickness, then one has the option of choosing from one of the following four:

Feed sixty poor people to their fill for two meals, or
Feed one poor person two meals a day, for sixty days; or
Give 60 poor persons 3 1/2 lbs (approx. 1.6kg) of wheat or its value in cash or food grains; or
Give to one poor person not less than 3 1/2 lbs. of wheat, rice or food grains, etc. to its value of cash for sixty days.

Things That Break One’s Fast But Make Only Qaza Wajib:

1. Anything put by force into the mouth of fasting person.
2. Water goes down the throat whilst gargling, conscious of one’s fasting.
3. To Vomit mouthful intentionally or to return vomit down the throat.
4. Swallowing intentionally a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not used as food or medicine.
5. Swallowing something edible, equal to or bigger than a grain of gram which was stuck between the teeth. However if it is first taken out of the mouth and swallowed it will break the fast whether it is smaller or bigger than that size of a gram.
6. Putting oil into the ear.
7. Inhaling snuff into the nostrils.
8. Swallowing the blood from the gums if the color of the blood is more that the fast is broken, to eat and drink again.
9. To eat and drink forgetting that one is fasting and thereafter thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink again.
10. To eat and drink after Subha Sadiq or to break the fast before sunset due to a cloudy sky or a faulty watch, etc., and then realizing one’s fault.

N.B: Any fast other than a Ramadan one, whether broken intentionally or with a good and valid reason, makes only Qaza Wajib. There is no Kaffarah for breaking any fast besides that of Ramadan.

Things That Make Both Qaza & Kaffarah Wajib

1. Eating, drinking or breaking the fast in any other manner, e.g., smoking etc., without a valid reason, will make both Qaza and Kaffarah necessary.
2. Applying Surma into eye or rubbing oil on the head and then, thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink intentionally.
3. To drink any kind of medicine intentionally.

(Note: Injection is permitted with condition ask Scholars for more details.)

Things That Do Not Break The Fast

1. To eat or drink something unintentionally
2. A mosquito, fly or any other object going down the throat unintentionally.
3. Water entering the ears.
4. Dust or dirt going down the throat.
5. Swallowing one’s own saliva.
6. Taking an injection.
7. Applying of Surma (kohl) into the eyes.
8. Taking a bath to keep cool.
9. Rubbing oil onto the body or hair.
10. To vomit unintentionally.
11. Applying itr or perfume. It is not permitted to inhale to smoke of Lobaan or Agar Batti whilst fasting. It is also not permitted to smoke cigarettes or inhale its smoke.
12. Brushing the teeth without tooth paste or powder. e.g., using a Miswaak, etc.
13. A dream which makes Ghusl Waajib (necessary) does not break the Rozah.

People Exempted From Fasting in RAMADAN

1. Sick people when their health is likely to be badly affected by fasting. They should make up the loss, a day for a day, when they recover after Ramadan.
2. A musafir, (one who is undertaking a journey of more than 77 kms and does not intend staying more than 14 days at his destination). However, it is better for him to fast in Ramadan than keep Qaza later, provided the journey is not a tiresome one.
3. If it is feared that hunger or thirst will lead to death, it is permitted to break one’s fast.
4. It is Wajib to keep Qaza of a Nafl fast that was broken before completing it.

Fidya for Fast (Compensation):

* A mosquito, fly or any other object going down the throat unintentionally
* A very old person who does not have the strength to fast or a very sickly or diseased person who has no hope of recovering after Ramadan, should given Fidya for each fast missed in Ramadan.
* The Fidya for a fast is similar to that of a missed Fardh or Wajib Salaat, i.e:
i) To give 3 1/2 lbs = approx. 1.6 kg of wheat OR .. 7 lbs = approx. 3.2kg of barley
ii) OR… the equivalent of the above in cash.

If, however an old or sick person gains strength or recovers after Ramadan, he must keep the missed number of fasts and whatever was given as Fidya will be a reward for him from Allah Ta’ala.

No one is allowed to fast for another (sick or fit) person.

N.B: Children should be encouraged to fast, but should not be forced to complete the fast up to sunset if they are unable to bear the hunger or thirst.

Ramadan Tips: Get max reward in this month

August 29th, 2008

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

RAMADAN TIPS

Clean up the time:

a) Telephone: Try to minimize your chat on the telephone. If you are used to chat with your friends on a regular basis, try to make it short. Share the importance of this month & devote yourself for Ibaadah in order to get the maximum reward in this month.

b) Cooking: Try to cook something simple during Ramadan as this is a month of Ibaadah & Quraan, not a month of food. There are some husbands who push their wifes to cook different varieties of food & sisters have to spend their time in the kitchen. If its very necessary, keep a tape of Quraan in the kitchen & listen to it while you are busy in Kitchen, or keep your toungue moist with the Zikr. [Try to find out some short cut & tips to prepare the food quickly]

C) Shopping: Try to do the Eid shopping NOW. The last ten days of Ramadan when we have to be doing more Ibaadah & spend our time in doing good deeds, most of the muslims are busy in doing shopping for Eid & their kids. Sisters! These ten days, we has to exaggerate ourself in doing more ibaadah & to catch Laila-ul qadr. Try to make this Ramadan a very different from all the previous ramadaans.

D) Dinner Party/Iftaar: Iftaar parties during ramadan are getting very common now. This is the Month for you sisters. we have the rest of the full year to do parties & to get socialize. Indeed its a great reward to break someone’s fast but try to give food to people who are needy & poor. The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said, Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person. (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3/171; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/451).

E) Sleeping: Cut less the time of sleep during this month. Its a month of Ibaadha, doing good deeds. Who knows this could be our last ramadan. try to reduce your sleeping hours. Its only one month & then you can get back to your normal routine.

F) Computer & Internet: this is my personal request.I am spending lot of time on the internet, though visiting Islamic sites & checking & sending emails. Try to spend less time on the internet.Now when we have cleaned up a big amount of time, lets schedule it for Ibaadhah.

1) Fard: Pray the Obligatory salah on time with Khushoo. Get yourself ready as soon as the salah comes in. Make duaa to Allah to give you Khushoo. & try to get rid of all the thoughts & waswaas that comes in the mind. Think of that you are standing infront of your LORD the Almighty.

2) Sunnah: If you are already praying the 12 sunnah, continue them & add the 2 rak’ah of sunnah after Zuhr. [making them 14 altogether].The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said, Whoever maintain 4 rak’ah before Zuhr & 4 rak’ah after zuhr, Allah will make the fire Haram on that person” [Ibn-Majah]4 rak’ah before Asr: The prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said, “may Allah have mercy on him who prays 4 rak’ah before Asr”. [Tirmidi]Salah Al-Duha: Increase the no. of Rak’ah if you are already in a habit of praying salah al-Duha.

3) Qur’aan: Ramadan is the month of Quraan. Try to schedule it all the moments you have. If you are working, try to keep a pocket size Quraan with you & read it whenever you get the time,like, coffee break, lunch break, etc. Try to read with reflection. Read slowly in a beautiful voice & reflect on its meaning. Try to read this time, with translation & tafseer.

4) Traweeh & Qiyaam-ul-lail: Try to read the traweeh in the mosque where the Imaam is doing long Qiyaam.

5) Tahajjud: Try to get up little earlier to pray 2 rak’ah & make duaa. Its the best time for making duaa & acceptance of duaa.

6) Du’a: Write all the duaa you want to make for yourself, your children, family or any duaa that you want to make. Each day try to focus on duaa, & keep on repeating it throughout the day & at times when the duaa is accepted. Make duaa to Allah to give you Ikhlaas, khushoo, make duaa that you catch lailat-ul-Qadr. make duaa for the whole Ummah. [repeat the duaa that are important to you,during the last ten days of Ramadan]

7) Zikr: Select one zikr for a day & focus on it daily, reflecting on its meaning & thinking about its reward. [get the Duaa book "Hisn-ul-muslim or hisn-ul haseen from any store]

Charity: Try to give as much charity as you can, as the reward gets more during the month of ramadan. Give food to the poor & needy people & help those in need.

9) Last 10 days: Double & triple the amount of Ibaadah you are doing during the last ten days of Ramadan. Sleep less & worship more.. pray as much as you can & make a lot of duaa.Sisters and brothers! let us get ready to make this Ramadan different than all the previous ramadans. Do as much as you can & inshaAllah Allah will help you.

Ameen

Do remember us in your Duas.