|
Post by Islamic Revival on Oct 18, 2004 2:57:55 GMT -5
As-salam alaikum,
I've been asked some questions by a friend...
1. Is Zakat liable to be paid on a piece of land which they plan one day to build a house on?
2. Does brushing one's teeth invalidate the fast?
3. At Suhur, should one stop eating on hearing the Azaan or when it finishes?
|
|
|
Post by Ebrahim on Oct 18, 2004 5:35:47 GMT -5
1. There is no Zakat on a plot of land.
2. The Prophet commanded his companions to use siwak in cleaning their teeth and continued to use it while fasting. Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi report an authentic Hadith narrated by `Aamir Ibn Rabee`ah. He said: "I have seen the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) using a tooth-stick (siwak) while he was fasting more often than I could count."
It is absolutely fine to brush one’s teeth in the morning with toothpaste while fasting so long as one takes care not to swallow the paste.
If one is cautious and brushes his teeth and out of forgetfulness some traces reach his stomach, he is not sinful, as Allah forgives the mistakes of Muslims that are made unintentionally. Allah, Exalted be He, says: "And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally." (Al-Ahzab 5) And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: "My nations shall not be held accountable for the mistakes they do unintentionally, out of forgetfulness, and under duress."
3. Suhur ends on hearing the Fajr Azan. It is best to try to secure a prayer timetable from the Mosque nearest to you, for the month of Ramadan so that the Suhur meal can be timed and organised to safely end a few minutes before the time for Fajr Prayer.
|
|
|
Post by Islamic Revival on Oct 18, 2004 8:03:41 GMT -5
JazakAllah khair brother for taking the time to respond.
|
|
|
Post by Islamic Revival on Oct 18, 2004 20:52:48 GMT -5
Good Practices When Fasting Adil Salahi, Arab News www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=53058&d=18&m=10&y=2004&pix=islam.jpg&category=Islam The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended certain practices to follow when we fast. We are outlining these in brief: 1. Suhoor: It is unanimously agreed throughout the Muslim world that a meal before one starts his day of fasting is of great benefit, as it makes fasting easier, particularly in overcoming the effects of hunger toward the end of the day. However, if one chooses not to have a meal, no blame is attached to him. Anas quotes the Prophet as saying: “Have a meal before you fast, for suhoor is blessed.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Al-Miqdam ibn Maadikarib reports that the Prophet has said: “Have suhoor, for it is a blessed nourishing meal.” (Related by Al-Nassaie). In both pronouncements, the Prophet describes this meal as blessed. This is because it helps the fasting person to be active and reduces the burden of fasting. This means that having suhoor is a Sunnah, which is fulfilled whether one has a full meal or a light snack. Indeed, it is deemed to have been done even if one takes only a drink of water. Abu Saeed Al-Khudri quotes the Prophet as saying: “suhoor is a blessing. Therefore, do not omit it, even if you only have a drink of water. God and the angels pray for those who have suhoor.” (Related by Ahmad). One may take suhoor at any time from midnight till the break of dawn, although it is preferable that it is delayed. Zayd ibn Thabit, a learned companion of the Prophet, reports: “We used to take suhoor with God’s Messenger before offering our dawn prayers.” Zayd was asked how much time was between the two, and he answered: “As much as it would take to recite fifty verses of the Qur’an.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Amr ibn Maymoon said that the Prophet’s companions used to be the first to break their fast at the end of the day and the last to have suhoor.” (Related by Al-Bayhaqi). If one is in doubt whether dawn has broken or not, one may continue to eat and drink until one is certain. Action may not be taken on the basis of doubt. God has allowed us to eat and drink until we are certain of the break of dawn, not until we suspect that it is due. He says in the Qur’an: “Eat and drink until you can see the white streak of dawn against the blackness of the night. Then resume the fast till nightfall.” (2: 187) A man said to Abdullah ibn Abbas, the Prophet’s cousin who was a scholar of high repute: “I may be having my suhoor when I start having doubts that dawn is due. If this happens, I stop eating.” Ibn Abbas replied: “Eat if you doubt until you are certain.” Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali school of Fiqh, says: “If one is unsure whether dawn is due, he goes on eating until he is certain.”<br> 2. Early Finish: We are strongly recommended to finish our fast immediately when we are certain that the sun has set. Sahl ibn Saad quotes the Prophet as saying: “People will continue to be well as long as they finish their fast immediately after sunset.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). It is strongly recommended to start with a few dates, an odd number of them, and if not then to start with a drink of water. Anas reports that the Prophet used to end his fast with eating a few dates before offering Maghreb prayers. If no dates were available, he would have a few sips of water.” (Related by Abu Dawood and others). Sulayman ibn Amr quotes the Prophet as saying: “If one of you is fasting, let him end his fast by eating a few dates, and if dates are not available, then let him drink some water. Water purifies.” (Related by Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi). This Hadith suggests that it is preferable to end one’s fast in this way before offering Maghreb prayers. When one has finished praying, one may have his meal, unless the food is already served when he starts with eating. Anas quotes the Prophet as saying: “If your evening meal is served, then start by eating before offering Maghreb. Do no hasten to pray before eating.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). 3. A short prayer before ending the fast: Abdullah ibn Amr quotes the Prophet as saying: “As a fasting person is about to end his fast, he is certain to have a prayer answered.” (Related by Ibn Majah). Abdullah used to pray at fast-breaking time: “My Lord! I appeal to you with your mercy which encompasses all to forgive me.” It is also authentically reported that the Prophet used to repeat this prayer: “Thirst is quenched; the veins are watered and the reward is certain, God willing.” He is also reported to say: “My Lord! For your sake I have fasted and with your provisions I end my fast.” Al-Tirmidhi relates that the Prophet said: “Three types of person are certain to have their prayers answered: a fasting person until he ends his fast, and a just ruler, and an oppressed person.”<br> 4. Refraining from anything which conflicts with fasting: Fasting is one of the main acts of worship in Islam. God has decreed fasting for us as an exercise of self-discipline which helps us form good habits. It is essential, therefore, to guard against anything which is in conflict with fasting so that we gain its benefits and attain the quality of God-fearing people, which is the aim of this act of worship. God says in the Qur’an: “Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, so that you may be God-fearing.” (2: 183) Fasting is not merely an abstention from eating and drinking. It is an abstention from anything which God has forbidden. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet as saying: “Fasting is not merely to go without food and drink; fasting is to abstain from idle talk and obscene language. If anyone calls you bad names or insults you, answer him by saying: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’” (Related by Ibn Khuzaymah and others). It is also authentically reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet has said: “God does not need him who continues to indulge in telling lies and cheating to abstain from food and drink.” This means that God will not accept such a person’s fasting. The Prophet also says: “Many a fasting person will reap nothing but hunger, and many a night worshipper will reap nothing but staying up late.” (Related by Al-Nassaie and others). 5. Using a toothbrush: A fasting person is recommended to clean his teeth with the traditional toothbrush, i.e. miswak, which is a stick taken from the Arak tree. No toothpaste is used with such tooth stick. It may be used at any time throughout the day. It is also perfectly permissible to use an ordinary toothbrush, but without toothpaste, during the day of fasting.6. Charity and Recitation of the Qur’an: To give to charity and to recite the Qur’an are two actions encouraged at all times, but they are especially recommended in Ramadan. Al-Bukhari relates on the authority of Ibn Abbas: “God’s Messenger used to be the most generous of people. He was at his most generous in Ramadan when Gabriel, the angel, used to come to him every night and they recited the Qur’an in turn. During that time, the Prophet used to be more charitable than unrestrained wind.”<br> 7. Voluntary night worship especially during the last ten days: Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate on the authority of Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, that: “When the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet used to spend the whole night in worship, awaken the other members of his household for night worship, and exercise a high degree of self-control.” The last expression is understood to mean that he did not have sex in the last ten days of Ramadan. Muslim also relates: “The Prophet used to exercise more effort in worship during the last ten days of Ramadan than at any other time.”<br>
|
|