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It is sunnah to fast on the occasion of Aashura i.e. 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram. [1]
It is mustahab to fast on the following days:
1. The 13th, 14th and 15th of every Islamic month [2]
2. Six fasts during the month of Shawwaal [3]
3. Mondays and Thursdays [4]
4. The first nine days of Zul Hijjah. As far as the ninth of Zul – Hijjah is concerned, it is only mustahab for the one who is not performing hajj [5]
5. To fast every alternate day for the one who has the ability to do so. This fast is called Saum-e-Dawood, on account of Nabi Dawood (‘alaihis salaam) fasting in this manner [3]
21. On the Night of Qadr, recite the following dua:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ
O Allah, Indeed You are most forgiving, You love to forgive, so please forgive me.
16. It is best to break one’s fast with dates and water.
Hazrat Salmaan bin Aamir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “At the time of iftaar, one should break his fast with dates as this is full of blessings, and if one does not have dates, then he should drink water as this is a means of purification.” [1]
11. There is abundant barakah (blessings) in waking up for sehri. Hence, one should fulfil the sunnah of sehri before commencing the fast. [1]
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Sehri contains abundant blessings. Hence, do not omit the sunnah of sehri, even if one is only able to have a sip of water at the time of sehri (one should do so in order to fulfil the sunnah of sehri). Certainly, Allah Ta‘ala showers His special grace upon those who wake up for sehri and the angels make special dua for them.” [2]
6. During the month of Ramadhaan, try to maximize in doing good deeds. It is reported in the Hadith that any nafl ibaadah (voluntary good deed) carried out in the month of Ramadhaan earns one the reward of doing a fardh act, and the reward of a fardh act carried out in Ramadhaan is multiplied seventy times.
Hazrat Salmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) delivered a khutbah on the last day of Sha’baan (wherein he mentioned), “The one who draws near to Allah Ta‘ala by performing any nafl deed, he will receive reward equivalent to the reward of the one who performs a fardh deed at any other time. The one who performs a fardh deed during this month shall be blessed with the reward of the one who performs seventy faraaidh at any other time.” [1]
1. When the month of Rajab commences, recite the following dua:
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْ رَجَبٍ وَّشَعْبَان وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان
O Allah! Bless us in the months of Rajab and Sha’baan and take us forth to the month of Ramadhaan. [1]
In the Ahaadith, great rewards have been promised for the one who fasts. The fasting person has a very high status in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala.
The Smell Emanating from the Mouth of the Fasting Person is Beloved to Allah Ta‘ala
Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The smell which emanates from the mouth of a fasting person is more beloved in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala than the fragrance of musk.” [1]
Fasting is a Shield against Sins
Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that Allah Ta‘ala says, “Fasting is for My sake and I will give the reward for it. He (the fasting person) leaves out his desires (i.e. eating and drinking and having relations) for My sake. Fasting is a shield (from sins). For the fasting person, there are two times of happiness; one is at the time of iftaar, and the other is at the time he meets his Rabb. The smell which emanates from the mouth of a fasting person is more beloved in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala than the fragrance of musk.” [2]
Fasting is a great pillar of Islam. The person who does not fast in the month of Ramadhaan without a valid excuse commits a major sin.
Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who misses a single fast in the month of Ramadhaan without a concession (from the side of Shari’ah) or illness, he will not be able to compensate for (the blessing of) that one day even if he fasts for the rest of his life.” [1]
The fast of Ramadhaan was made fardh (obligatory) upon the Ummah in the 2nd year after hijrah. [1] Allah Ta‘ala says in the Quraan Majeed:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ
“Fasting has been ordained upon you as it was ordained upon those before you so that you may attain taqwa.” [2]
7. Ensure that you do not give less than the amount that is obligatory upon you. If you give more, it will be better. [1]
8. Zakaat is payable upon the expiry of one lunar year from the time one becomes the owner of nisaab (the minimum amount of wealth upon which zakaat is compulsory). Hence, one should calculate the zakaat upon one’s zakaat date. [2]
9. From the zakaat date, Shari’ah gives one a complete year to discharge the zakaat. Hence, one should ensure that he discharges his zakaat before the next year’s zakaat date. If any zakaat is outstanding, until the next year’s zakaat date arrives, one will be sinful for delaying in discharging the zakaat. [3]
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4. One should not give zakaat to those who are not eligible to receive zakaat. If one gives zakaat to people, knowing that they are not eligible to receive zakaat, the obligation of zakaat will not be fulfilled. [1] However, if one gave zakaat to a person, considering him to be eligible for zakaat, but later came to know that he was not eligible, his zakaat will be fulfilled. [2]
5. When discharging zakaat, ensure that tamleek takes place (i.e. the recipient is made the owner of the wealth). If tamleek is not found, the zakaat will not be discharged. [3] For example, if one invites a poor person for a meal and allows him to partake of the food, the zakaat will not be discharged as he was not made the owner of the food. [4]
1. Shari’ah has made zakaat compulsory upon the person who possesses the amount of nisaab. The amount of nisaab will be calculated from all zakaatable wealth. One will not include the basic necessities of life in his zakaat calculation. The basic necessities of life are the house, car, furniture, items in use, etc. [1]
2. It is not permissible for one to give zakaat to his ascendants (e.g. parents, grandparents, etc) and descendants (e.g. children, grandchildren, etc). [2]
3. Zakaat has to be given to a recipient of zakaat. A recipient of zakaat is a poor Muslim who does not possess the nisaab of zakaat. [3] Hence, zakaat cannot be given to a musjid or madrasah, or to pay for the burial of a deceased, etc., as these are not recipients of zakaat. [4]
Tamleek
Tamleek is a fundamental requirement in the discharging of zakaat. Tamleek refers to transferring ownership of the wealth to the recipient of zakaat. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the zakaat will not be discharged.
Hence, zakaat cannot be used to pay for the building of a musjid, or for the lights and water of the musjid, or for the burial of a person, as in all these cases, the aspect of tamleek (giving ownership of the wealth to a poor person) is not found. [1]
After possessing the nisaab amount, if a person receives any additional wealth during the course of the year, then on the completion of the zakaat year, this additional amount will be included in his zakaatable assets, on condition that the additional wealth remained with him until his zakaat date. Hence, zakaat will be calculated and discharged on the entire amount that he possesses at the time of his zakaat date.
E.g. Zaid possessed R100 000. Zaid’s zakaat year ends on the 1st of Ramadhaan. A few days before the 1st of Ramadhaan, he received a lump sum of R1 000 000 in inheritance. Zaid will have to pay zakaat on the R100 000 as well as the R1 000 000.
Similarly, if his wealth decreased before his zakaat date, he will not have to pay zakaat on the amount that decreased. Rather, he will only pay zakaat on the amount which he possessed on his zakaat date.
E.g. Zaid possessed R100 000. Zaid’s zakaat year ends on the 1st of Ramadhaan. A few days before the 1st of Ramadhaan, he spent R50 000. Zaid will not have to pay zakaat on the R50 000 that he spent. Rather, he will only have to pay zakaat on the remaining R50 000.