The Rulings of Fasting (Ahkam Al-Siyam)
Conditions for the Obligation of Fasting:
- Islam: Non-Muslims are not obligated to fast.
- Sanity: The mentally insane are not obligated to fast.
- Puberty: Children who have not reached puberty are not obligated to fast.
- Ability: Those who are unable to fast due to illness, travel, or other valid reasons are not obligated to fast.
Conditions for a Valid Fast:
- Intention (Niyyah): One must have the intention to fast from the night before.
- Abstaining from Nullifying Actions ( مفطرات): This includes eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset.
- Purity from Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding: Women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding cannot perform a valid fast.
Pillars of Fasting:
- Intention (Niyyah): Having the intention to fast from the night before.
- Abstaining from Nullifying Actions ( مفطرات): This includes eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset.
- Purity from Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding: Women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding cannot perform a valid fast.
Actions that Invalidate the Fast:
- Deliberate Eating and Drinking: Anyone who deliberately eats or drinks during the day invalidates their fast.
- Sexual Intercourse: Engaging in sexual intercourse during the day invalidates the fast.
- Induced Vomiting: Intentionally vomiting invalidates the fast.
- Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding: Women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding cannot perform a valid fast.
- Seminal Emission: Ejaculation invalidates the fast.
- Traveling: Travelers are permitted to break their fast during Ramadan, but they must make up the missed days later.
- Illness: Those who are ill are permitted to break their fast during Ramadan, but they must make up the missed days later.
Practices Recommended During Ramadan:
- Suhoor: It is recommended to eat Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) before dawn.
- Iftar: It is recommended to break the fast at sunset.
- Taraweeh Prayer: Performed after Isha prayer during Ramadan.
- Zakat al-Fitr: A mandatory charity given to the poor before Eid al-Fitr.
- Laylat al-Qadr: A blessed night in Ramadan, believed to be better than a thousand months.
Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power)
** فضل (Fadl) – Merit of Laylat al-Qadr:**
- Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.
- The angels and the spirit descend on this night with Allah’s permission.
- The destinies are decreed on this night.
- It is a night of peace and blessings.
Time of Laylat al-Qadr:
- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) informed us that it occurs in the last ten days of Ramadan.
- Most scholars believe it is on one of the odd nights of the last ten days.
- Ahadith (sayings of the Prophet) indicate it might be on the 27th night.
Signs of Laylat al-Qadr:
- It is a calm night with a gentle breeze.
- It has a pleasant scent.
- It feels longer than usual nights.
- The sun rises the next morning with a weak light.
** فضل (Fadl) of Reviving Laylat al-Qadr:**
- Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward from Allah, will be forgiven for their past sins.
- The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, the ninth, seventh, fifth, third, and first.”
How to Revive Laylat al-Qadr:
- Increase prayer and supplication.
- Recite the Quran.
- Give charity.
- Remember Allah تعالى (Ta’ala – The Most High).
- Contemplate Allah’s creation.
Absolutely! Here’s the update with the best Dua for Laylat al-Qadr included:
The Rules of Fasting and Laylat al-Qadr
The Rulings of Fasting (Ahkam Al-Siyam)
…(rest of the previous content about fasting rulings)…
Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power)
…(rest of the previous content about Laylat al-Qadr)…
The Best Dua for Laylat al-Qadr:
While there isn’t a single, universally designated “best” dua for Laylat al-Qadr, there is a powerful dua narrated by Aisha, the Prophet’s (PBUH) wife, that is highly recommended for this night.
Here it is in Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ ، فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
(Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni)
Here’s the translation:
O Allah, You are the Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.
Additional Duas for Laylat al-Qadr:
While the dua mentioned above is particularly recommended, there are many other beautiful supplications you can recite throughout the night. Here are a few examples:
- “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar” (Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of the Fire).
- “Allahuma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatika” (O Allah, help me in remembering You, thanking You, and worshipping You in the best manner).
- “Allahuma inni a’outhu bika min al-jahannam” (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the Hellfire).
Remember, the most important thing is to be sincere and heartfelt in your supplications.