There are some matters that some people are unaware of: From them is that it is obligatory upon the Muslim to fast with faith and hoping for reward and not to be seen or heard of the people or follow the customs of the people or follow his family or the people of his country. Rather, it is obligatory upon him that that which has caused him to fast be his belief that Allah has made it a duty upon him. He should fast hoping for the reward with his Lord in that. Likewise for standing in prayer at night, it is obligatory that the Muslim does it with faith and hoping for reward, and not for any other reason. This is why the Prophet
said:
"Whoever fasts Ramadhan with faith and hoping for reward, he will be forgiven for all of his previous sins. And whoever stands for prayer (at night) during Ramadhan with faith and hoping for reward, he will be forgiven for all of his previous sins. And whoever stands for prayer (at night) during Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) with faith and hoping for reward, he will be forgiven for all of his previous sins” (AI-Bukhari no. 2014 and Muslim nos. 759-760) From the matters which some of the people are unaware of, their ruling is when the fasting person happens to have wounds or a nose bleed or vomiting or the passing of water or gasoline fumes to his throat unintentionally. All of these things do not break the fast. However, whoever intentionally vomits, he breaks his fast. This is due to the statement of the Prophet
“Whoever is overcome by vomiting, he does not have to make up for the day, and whoever causes himself to vomit, he must make up for the day.” (Abu Dawud no. 2380.) From this is that which happens to the fasting person of delaying the bathing for sexual impurity until the Fajr time begins and what some women experience of delaying the bathing for menses or postnatal bleeding until the time of Fajr begins if she thinks she is pure before Fajr. She is still obligated to fast and her delaying her bathing until after the Fajr time begins does not prevent her fasting. However, she should not delay the bathing until sunrise. Rather, she must bathe and pray the Fajr prayer before sunrise. Likewise is the case for the sexually impure person. He should not delay bathing until after sunrise. Rather, he must bathe and pray the Fajr prayer before sunrise. The man must make haste in this so that he can catch the Fajr prayer with the congregation.
From the matters that do not nullify the fast is having blood tests or an injection, as long as that is not intended to provide nourishment (i.e., like an IV). However, it is better and safer to delay this until nighttime if that is easy, due to the statement of the Prophet
"Leave whatever causes you to doubt for that which does not cause you to doubt.” (Al-Bukhari no. 2518.) It is also due to his
statement:
"Whoever avoids the doubtful matters, then verily he has freed his religion and his honor (from blame).” (Al-Bukhari no. 52 and Muslim no. 1599.)From the matters which some of the people are unaware of their rulings is lacking tranquility in the prayer, regardless of whether it is an obligatory prayer or voluntary prayer. The authentic Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah
prove that tranquility in the prayer is a pillar from the pillars of the prayer. The prayer is not correct without it. This means to have stillness and humbleness in the prayer and not rushing. In this manner each joint returns to its place (in the positions). Many of the people pray Salatut-Tarawih during Ramadhan in a manner such that they do not understand it (the recitation), nor are they tranquil in it. Rather, they peck it out like pecking (of a chicken). The prayer performed in this fashion is not valid and the person who prays like this is a sinner who is not rewarded.
From the matters which some of the people are unaware of their ruling is some people's thinking that it is not permissible to pray less than 20 Rak'ahs (units) of Salatut-Tarawih. Also, some people mistakenly think that it is not permissible to pray more than 11 or 13 Rak'ahs of Salatut-Tarawih. All of this is incorrect thinking, and it is a mistake that is opposed to the evidences.
Verily, the authentic Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah
prove that the night prayer is an easy matter. There is no fixed limit that is impermissible to oppose concerning it. Rather, it is confirmed from the Prophet
that he used to pray 11 Rak'ahs during the night and sometimes he might pray 13 Rak'ahs. Sometimes he would pray less than that, both during Ramadhan and in other times. When he was asked about the night prayer he
said:
"In sets of two, in sets of two. Then when one of you fears the coming of morning, he prays one (Rak'ah) that will serve as a Witr (i.e., make the number odd) of what he has prayed.”(Al-Bukhari no 990 and Muslim no 749) The authenticity of this Hadith has been agreed upon.
He (the Prophet
) did not fix a specific number of Rak'ahs, neither in Ramadhan nor in any other time. For this reason, the Companions (Radhi Allahu Anhum) sometimes prayed 23 Rak'ahs, and sometimes 11 Rak'ahs in the time of 'Umar
. All of that has been confirmed from 'Umar
and the Companions in his time.
Some of the Salaf used to pray 36 Rak'ahs during Ramadhan and then pray three Rak'ahs of Witr prayer. Some of them prayed 41 Rak'ahs. Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah mentioned this from them and that the matter concerning this is broad (i.e., easy). He also mentioned that it is better for whoever lengthens his recitation, bowing and prostrating, to lessen the number of Rak'ahs, and whoever lightens (shortens) the recitation, bowing and prostrating, to increase the number of Rak'ahs. This is the meaning of his statement, may Allah have mercy on him.
Whoever pays close attention to his (the Prophet's
) Sunnah will know that what is best in regard to all of this is to pray 11 or 13 Rak'ahs during Ramadhan and other times. This is because that is in agreement with the practice of the Prophet
in most of his situations (i.e., what he usually did). Also, this is easier for those who are offering prayer and better for humility and tranquility (in the prayer). Whoever prays more, there is no harm in that nor any dislike, as was mentioned previously. What is best for whoever prays with the Imam (of the Masjid) in the night prayer of Ramadhan is that he does not stop until the Imam stops praying. This is due to the statement of the Prophet
"Verily, if the man stands for night prayer with the Imam until he finishes, Allah will write for him (the reward of) standing the entire night (in prayer).” (Abu Dawud 1375, At-Tirmidhi no 806, Ibn Majah no 1327 and Ahmad 5:159) It is legislated for all of the Muslims to strive hard in the various types of worship during this noble month. They should strive to pray voluntary prayers and recite the Qur'an with reflection and thinking. They should increase in the glorification of Allah, declaring his right to be worshipped alone, praising Him, declaring his greatness and seeking His forgiveness. They should say legislated supplications, command the good, forbid the evil, invite to Allah, be generous to the poor and needy, strive to be kind to parents, keep good family ties, honor the neighbor, visit the sick and other types of good deeds. This is due to the Prophet's statement in the aforementioned Hadith:
''Allah looks at your competing for good works during it and He tells proudly to the angels about you all. Therefore, show Allah goodness from yourselves. For verily, the wretched person is the one who is deprived of Allah's Mercy during it (Ramadhan)” (Majma'uz-Zawa'id 3:142 and Kanzul-'Ummal no. 23692. ) This is also due to what is reported from him
that he said:
"Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadhan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.”( Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah no. 1887. ) This is also due to his
statement in the authentic Hadith:
''An 'Umrah performed during Ramadhan is equal to a performance of Hajj - or he said - a Hajj with me.” (Al-Bukhari no. 1863 and Muslim no. 1256.) The Hadiths and narrations that prove the sanctioning of competing and being aggressive in performing the various acts of goodness in this noble month are numerous.
Allah is the One Who is asked to help us and the rest of the Muslims to do all that contains His Pleasure and to accept our fast and standing for night prayer. We ask Him to correct our situations and protect us all from the deviations of trials and temptations. Likewise, we ask Him to make the leaders of the Muslims righteous and unite their word upon the truth. Verily, He is the Guardian of that and He is capable of doing it.
As-Salamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmtullahi wa Barakatuhu.
(May peace be upon you, the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings)
His Eminence, Ash-Shaykh 'Abdul-'Aziz bin 'Abdullah bin Baz
General President for the Administration of Scientific Re¬searches, Religious Verdicts, Preaching and Guidance
Reference: Fatawa Islamiyah Volume 3 Pages 211-221