Ibn Baaz on the Blessing of Even Reaching Ramadaan
May 17, 2018 § Leave a comment
Questioner: Are there any particular legislated acts a Muslim should do to welcome the [arrival of the] month of Ramadan?
Ibn Baaz: Ramadaan is the best month of the year because Allaah سبحانه وتعالى singled it out by making it obligatory to fast during it and made it the fourth pillar of Islaam, and He legislated that the Muslims pray during its nights as the Prophet ﷺ said, “Islaam is built on five (pillars): testifying to (the fact) that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing the Prayer, paying the Zakaah, Pilgrimage to the House (Ka’bah) and fasting [the month of] Ramadan.” [Reported by Bukhaari and Muslim] And he ﷺ also said, “Whoever prays during the night in Ramadan out of sincere faith and seeking its reward from Allaah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Reported by Bukhaari and Muslim]
I don’t know of anything specific to welcome Ramadaan apart from the fact that a Muslim should do so with joy, happiness, delight and thanks [shukr] to Allaah that He has allowed him to reach Ramadaan, and that He has granted him success in allowing him to be from the people who are alive to see it and who are competing to perform good deeds during it—for [even] reaching Ramadaan is a tremendous blessing from Allaah and for this reason the Prophet ﷺ would give his Companions the joyous news of its advent, clarifying its excellence and the huge reward that Allaah has prepared for the people who fast and stand in prayer during it. And it is legislated that the Muslim welcomes this precious month with sincere repentance and by preparing to fast and stand to pray in it with a sincere intention and truthful resolve.
’Uthaimeen on the Du’aa for Finishing the Recitation of the Quraan During the Night Prayer
July 15, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “What is the ruling concerning the du’aa for finishing the recitation of the Quraan in the night prayer in Ramadaan?”
He replied, “I don’t know of any Sunnah from the Prophet ﷺ or the Companions either connected to finishing the recitation of the Quraan during the qiyaam al-lail in Ramadaan. The most that has been narrated about that is that Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, would gather his family and supplicate when he would finish reciting the whole Quraan, and that was not in the prayer.”
Fataawaa Arkaan al-Islaam, p. 354.
Also see Shaikh al-Albaani’s answer on the same topic here.
’Uthaimeen on Opening One’s Fast with an Odd Number of Dates
June 29, 2015 § Leave a comment
Shaikh ’Uthaimeen was asked, “I’ve heard that when opening his fast, a person must do so with an odd number of dates, i.e., five or seven and so on, so is that obligatory?”
He replied, “It is not obligatory, in fact it is not even Sunnah for a person to break his fast with an odd number of dates like three or five or seven or nine except for the day of Eed al-Fitr, for it has been established that the Prophet ﷺ would not go to the prayer on the day of Eed al-Fitr until he had eaten an odd number of dates. The Prophet ﷺ would not purposefully intend to eat an odd number of dates in other situations.”
Nurun ’alad-Darb, 354.
The Encouragement to Fast in Muharram
November 3, 2013 § Leave a comment
“Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that he (the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was the most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said, ‘Prayer offered in the middle of the night, and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in Allaah’s Month of al-Muharram.’” [Muslim]
Ibn Rajab said, “… And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called the month of Muharram, ‘Allaah’s Month,’ and its ascription to Allaah shows its distinction and excellence, for nothing is attributed to Him, the Most High, except the most elite of His creation, like His ascription of Muhammad, Ibrahim, Ishaaq, Ya’qoob and other Prophets to His ’Ubudiyyah, and He ascribed His House and His She-Camel to Himself.” [See Surah Shams, verse 13 for a mention of the She-camel.]
Lataa’iful-Ma’aarif, pp. 68-70.
Uthaimeen on The Intention to Fast Ramadaan
July 9, 2013 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The correct [opinion] is that an intention [to fast] Ramadaan is not required except on the first night alone because the rest [of the month] follows on from that, unless he intends to break it due to the presence of something which allows him to do so, and so he does break it and then resumes fasting again during the month, here he must renew his intention.”
At-Ta’leeq ’alaa Haqiqatis-Siyaam, p. 170.
Uthaimeen on Fasting in Sha’baan, the Month Before Ramadaan
June 10, 2013 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The people of knowledge said, ‘Fasting Sha’baan is like the Rawaatib Sunnahs in relation to the prescribed prayers, they act as an introduction to Ramadaan,’ i.e., they are like a raatibah [Sunnah] for Ramadaan, that’s why fasting in Sha’baan has been established as a Sunnah.
And the six days of fasting in Shawwaal [i.e., the month after Ramadaan] have been established as a raatibah [Sunnah] before the prescribed fast [of the coming year’s Ramadaan] and after [the Ramadaan that has just passed].
And fasting in Sha’baan has another benefit which is to settle the soul and prepare it for fasting so that it is ready for the fast of Ramadaan and so that it is easy for it to perform it.”
Fatawaa Arkaanil-Islaam, p. 491.
Which is Better, Fasting the Six Days of Shawwaal or Fasting Mondays and Thursdays?
August 26, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “Which is better, fasting the six days of Shawwaal or fasting Mondays and Thursdays?” So he replied, “Each of these days has its merit. So fasting the six days of Shawwaal–when a person fasts Ramadaan and then follows it up with these six days he will be like someone who has fasted a lifetime, and this is a merit which is not obtained by fasting Mondays and Thursdays. But if a person fasted the Mondays and Thursdays of the month of Shawwaal and through that intended that it was part of the [fasting of] the six days of Shawwaal too, he will obtain the reward.”
Fataawaa Nurun-alad-Darb, CD.
Uthaimeen On Zakaatul-Fitr
August 18, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Zakaatul-Fitr is obligatory and like all other obligatory actions each individual person him/herself is being addressed with this order. So you give the Zakaatul-Fitr on your own behalf even if you have a father or brother [who could give it for you] and likewise the wife gives it on her own behalf even if she has a husband, but if the family’s guardian wants to give it on behalf of his family then there is no harm in that. So if there is a father who wants to spend on his son’s behalf and who wants to give the Zakaatul-Fitr for him, there is no harm in that.”
Fataawaa Fiz-Zakaati Was-Siyaam, p. 221.
Uthaimeen on the Obligation Upon Everyone, Male or Female, to Go and Pray the Eed Prayer
August 18, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Regarding the two Eed prayers the Shaikh of Islaam IbnTaymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, chose [the view] that it is obligatory [fard ain] on everyone and that all Muslims must pray it and that whoever remains behind is sinful, and in my opinion this is the closest opinion [to the truth] and the strongest one.”
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti, vol. 5, pp. 114-116.
Uthaimeen on Specifying the 27th Night to Perform Umrah
August 12, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him said, “I want to point out a mistake that many people in the present time fall into when they seek out the twenty-seventh night [of Ramadaan] to perform umrah, for you will find that on it the Masjid al-Haraam is crammed with people. Singling out the twenty-seventh night for Umrah is an innovation since Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم did not, in his actions or statements, earmark it for [performing] umrah.”
Tafseer Juzz, p. 278.
Going to Pray Tarawih in the Masjid al-Haraam if One is an Imaam in Another Mosque
August 11, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “There’s no harm in a person going to the Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] to pray tarawih in it, since it is one of the places that one is allowed to travel to, but if someone is employed as an Imaam in a mosque then he is not to leave his job or his position as Imaam to go to pray in the Masjid al-Haraam, since praying in the Masjid al-Haraam is a sunnah and performing the compulsory duties of one’s job is obligatory, so it is not possible that an obligatory action can be left in order to perform a Sunnah one.”
48 Su’aal fis-Siyaam, p. 22.
Why is it Called Lailatul-Qadr?
August 10, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Lailatul-Qadr is given that name for two reasons. The first is because the actions of the children of Aadam and other things that will happen in that year are decreed, due to His Saying, the Most High, “Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct every precise matter …” [Dukhaan 44:3-4] i.e., explained in detail and made clear. The second reason is that it is a night of honour because of its immense value/rank, and His Saying, the Most High, shows that, “Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Quraan] down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” [al-Qadr 97:1-3]
Riyaadus-Saaliheen, vol. 1, p. 1367.
Uthaimeen Asked About Seeking Knowledge During I’tikaaf
August 9, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “Does someone who is performing i’tikaaf negate its spirit by seeking knowledge?” He replied, “There is no doubt that seeking knowledge is obedience to Allaah the Most High, but i’tikaaf is for specific forms of worship like prayer, dhikr, reciting the Quraan and things like that.”
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti, vol. 6, p. 501.
Uthaimeen Asked When I’tikaaf Starts?
August 8, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked when i’tikaaf starts so he replied, “The majority of the people of knowledge are of the opinion that it starts from the night of the twenty-first and not from fajr of the twenty-first, even though some scholars held the view that it starts from fajr of the twenty-first using the hadith of Aishah as proof, ‘So when he prayed the morning prayer he entered his place of i’tikaaf,’ but the majority [of the people of knowledge] answered that by saying that the Prophet عليه الصلاة السلام withdrew himself from the people in the morning but that the intention for i’tikaaf was from the start of the night.”
Fataawaz-Zakaati was-Siyaam, p. 855.
Uthaimeen on the Last Ten Nights of Ramadaan
August 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The last ten nights of Ramadaan are the best part of Ramadaan and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to single them out for i’tikaaf seeking Lailatul-Qadr and he صلى الله عليه وسلم [also] used to single them out by standing to pray all night. So during these ten nights a person should be eager to stand for prayer at night and should extend the recitation, bowing and prostration in it, and if he is [praying] with an Imaam he should stay with him until he departs.”
Fataawaa Nurun alad-Darb.
Uthaimeen on a Person Who Eats While Being Doubtful as to Whether Fajr Has Emerged
August 5, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The fast of a person who eats something while being doubtful as to whether fajr has emerged is correct, and this can be of five types:
1) That he is sure that fajr has not emerged in which case his fast is correct.
2) That he is sure that fajr has emerged in which case his fast is spoiled.
3) That he eats while being doubtful as to whether fajr has begun or not and he thinks that it is more likely that it has not, such a person’s fast is correct.
4) That he eats and drinks while thinking that fajr is emerging, here his fast is also correct.
5) That he eats and drinks whilst having an uncertainty which does not give him a view as to which is more likely, in this case his fast is correct.”
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti, vol. 6, pp. 394-395.
Women Whose Periods Finish at the End of the Night Should Fast Even if They Take a Ghusl After the Emergence of Fajr
August 3, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Some women’s periods finish at the end of the night and they know that they have become clean but they don’t fast that day under the assumption that if they do not take a ghusl their fast will not be correct–but that is not the case, their fast is correct even if they didn’t take a ghusl except after the emergence of fajr.””
Fiqhul-Ibaadaat, p. 254.
Ibn Baaz on How to Achieve Forgiveness and Freedom from the Fire During Ramadaan
August 3, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “It is obligatory for the fasting person to beware of everything that Allaah has forbidden for him and to safeguard everything that Allaah has made obligatory upon him, and by doing so it is hoped that he will be forgiven and freed from the Fire and that his fasting and standing to pray will be accepted.”
Vol. 15, p. 15.
Ibn Baaz on How Ramadaan Ought to Be Received
August 3, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “It is legislated that the Muslim receive this noble month with true and sincere repentance and by being prepared to fast and pray throughout it with a righteous intention and true conviction.”
Vol. 15, p. 9.
Ibn Baaz on Ramadaan and Seizing the Opportunity
August 2, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The believer should seize this opportunity, [this opportunity] being the favour that Allaah has given him in allowing him to come by the month of Ramadaan, so he should hasten to acts of obedience and beware of evil ones, and strive to execute what Allaah has made obligatory upon him—especially the five prayers, for they are the pillar of Islaam and the greatest obligation after the two shahaadahs.”
Vol. 15, p. 13.
Ibn Baaz on the Purpose of Fasting
August 2, 2012 § 3 Comments
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The purpose of fasting is to be obedient to Allaah, subhaanah, and to honour what He has forbidden, and to fight against the souls desires in obedience to its Patron [Mawlaa], and to make it accustomed to being patient regarding those things that Allaah has forbidden. The purpose [of fasting] is not just to leave food and drink … the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, and ignorance then Allaah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.’”
Vol. 15, p. 15.
Ibn Baaz on the Impetus for Fasting and Praying in Ramadaan
August 2, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “What is obligatory upon a Muslim is to fast out of faith and in the hope of receiving Allaah’s reward, not for showing off or to be heard or just to blindly follow the people or to follow his family or the people of his city, rather what is obligatory upon him is that the impetus for fasting be his faith that Allaah has made it obligatory upon him and [also] his hope for the reward that is with his Lord for doing so, and this applies to standing for prayer in Ramadaan [too], the Muslim should do it out of faith and hoping for Allaah’s reward from it, not for another reason.”
Vol. 16, p.15.
Ibn Baaz on Fasting During a Journey
August 1, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “The traveller has the choice of either fasting or not fasting, and what is apparent from the legislated proofs is that not fasting is better especially if the fast is difficult for him, due to the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, “Fasting during a journey is not righteousness.”
Vol. 15, p. 236.
Uthaimeen Asked About How To Know if You’re Too Ill to Fast
August 1, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked, “What is the scale/degree of harm according to which a fast becomes harmful for someone who is ill and after which it becomes forbidden?” He replied, “Indeed, harm is known through feeling and it maybe known by being informed of it. As for knowing it by feel then it is if an ill person feels that the fast is harming him and making his pain worse and delaying his recovery. And as for [recognising that] by being informed then it is if a knowledgeable, trustworthy, doctor tells him that [it is harmful], and it is not a condition that the doctor be a Muslim.”
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti, vol. 6, pp. 328-329.
Why did Allaah specify fasting by saying, ‘Fasting is for Me and I will reward [the fasting person] for it?’
July 29, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him was asked, “Why did Allaah, the Most High, specify fasting in His Saying, ‘Fasting is for Me and I will reward [the fasting person] for it?’” So he replied, “Because the fasting person leaves his food, drink and desires for the Sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, in all those places where only his Lord can see him, so Allaah, the Most High, specified it for Himself because of the manifestation of total sincerity in it.”
Fataawaa Nurun-alad-Darb.
Uthaimeen on Not Wasting Ramadaan Looking for Different Types of Food and Being Excessive
July 27, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “If the people have no concern except to have a variety of food, to sleep during the day, and to talk during the night about things which will not benefit them–then there is no doubt that this is a squandering of a priceless opportunity which may not come again to that person in his lifetime. So the resolute man is the one who progresses in Ramadaan according to [an amount of] sleep that is fitting at the first part of the night, and by standing to pray in Tarawih, and standing to pray at the end of the night if he can, and likewise he is not excessive in his food or drink.”
48 Su’aal fis-Siyaam, pp. 19-20.
Uthaimeen’s Encouragement to Feed the Fasting
July 24, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Whoever has the ability should be keen on providing people who are fasting with iftaar, either in the mosques or in any other place, because, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person.” So when a person feeds his fasting brothers he will have a reward like theirs, thus whoever Allaah the Most High has enriched [from His Bounty] should seize the opportunity to attain this great reward.”
48 Su’aal Fis-Siyaam, p. 20.
Gifts of Knowledge 