Fasting Rules from Islamic Laws by Ayatullah Seestani
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NIYYAT FOR FASTING
Niyyat for fasting during the month of Ramadan must be done before Dawn (Fajr), unless there are special cases as discussed above (e.g. Yamul Shak). Niyyat for fasting for the whole month of Ramadan can be done once at the beginning of Ramadan.
Niyyat for Qaza fast of Ramadan can be done before Dawn or anytime before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) on that day provided you have not done anything from Dawn to niyyat time which breaks fast.
Niyyat for any Mustahab fast can be done before Dawn or anytime before Maghrib on that day provided you have not done anything, which breaks fast.
Niyyat for Qaza fast of Ramadan can be done before Dawn or anytime before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) on that day provided you have not done anything from Dawn to niyyat time which breaks fast.
Niyyat for any Mustahab fast can be done before Dawn or anytime before Maghrib on that day provided you have not done anything, which breaks fast.
HARAM FASTS
Ten types of fasts are haram (forbidden) in Islam:
1. Fasting on Eidul Fitr Day
2. Fasting on Eidul Adha Day
3. Fasting on Tashreek Days (11 to 13 Zilhijj for those who will be in Mina)
4. Fasting on Yaumul Shak (30th Shaban)
5. Fasting by a Traveller in Ramadan
6. Fasting by a Sick Person in Ramadan
7. Fast of Silence
8. Fast of Visal (Fasting intentionally for 2 consecutive days including the night in between)
9. Fasting of thanks (shukr) for Haram Acts
10. Mustahab fast without permission from those of whom permissions are necessary
1. Fasting on Eidul Fitr Day
2. Fasting on Eidul Adha Day
3. Fasting on Tashreek Days (11 to 13 Zilhijj for those who will be in Mina)
4. Fasting on Yaumul Shak (30th Shaban)
5. Fasting by a Traveller in Ramadan
6. Fasting by a Sick Person in Ramadan
7. Fast of Silence
8. Fast of Visal (Fasting intentionally for 2 consecutive days including the night in between)
9. Fasting of thanks (shukr) for Haram Acts
10. Mustahab fast without permission from those of whom permissions are necessary
FASTING ON YAUMUL SHAK
30th day of Shaban is called Yamul Shak (doubtful day) if you do not receive news about Ramadan moonsighting on 29th evening or before the end of 30th day.
It is haram to fast on 30th Shaban with the intention of 1st of Ramadan.
It is Mustahab to keep fast on 30th Shaban but the Niyyat (intention) should be either
(a) with the Niyyat of Mafiz-zimma (to discharge my responsibility), or
(b) with the Niyyat of any Qaza fast of previous Ramadan, if any, or
(c) with the Niyyat of Mustahab Shaban fast.
If you do a double Niyyat of fasting (i.e. 30th Shaban or 1st Ramadan), then such a Niyyat is wrong according Ayatullah Khui, but it is OK according to Khomeini and Seestani.
If you are fasting on 30th Shaban, and if, at any time on that day, you get the news of moon sighting of 29th Shaban, then you must immediately change Niyyat to Niyyat of 1st of Ramadan.
If you have fasted on 30th Shaban (with any Niyyat), and afterwards you come to know that it was 1st of Ramadan, then your fast will automatically be counted as fast of 1st of Ramadan.
If you are not fasting on 30th Shaban, then following actions are necessary on you:
(a) If you get the news after sunset of 30th Shaban or later that the moon had been actually sighted on evening of 29th Shaban, then you have to keep Qaza of 1st Ramadan after the month of Ramadan.
(b) If you get the news of moon sighting after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then it is haram to eat or drink or do anything, which is not allowed during fasting from that time onward until Iftar time on that day, and you have to do Qaza of 1st of Ramadan later on.
(c) If you get the news of moon sighting before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then
(i) if you have not eaten or drunk anything or done anything which breaks fast, you must immediately do the Niyyat of fasting of Ramadan for that day,
(ii) if you have eaten or drunk something or have done anything which breaks fast, then you have to act as if fasting for the rest of the day, and then do Qaza of 1st of Ramadan later on.
It is haram to fast on 30th Shaban with the intention of 1st of Ramadan.
It is Mustahab to keep fast on 30th Shaban but the Niyyat (intention) should be either
(a) with the Niyyat of Mafiz-zimma (to discharge my responsibility), or
(b) with the Niyyat of any Qaza fast of previous Ramadan, if any, or
(c) with the Niyyat of Mustahab Shaban fast.
If you do a double Niyyat of fasting (i.e. 30th Shaban or 1st Ramadan), then such a Niyyat is wrong according Ayatullah Khui, but it is OK according to Khomeini and Seestani.
If you are fasting on 30th Shaban, and if, at any time on that day, you get the news of moon sighting of 29th Shaban, then you must immediately change Niyyat to Niyyat of 1st of Ramadan.
If you have fasted on 30th Shaban (with any Niyyat), and afterwards you come to know that it was 1st of Ramadan, then your fast will automatically be counted as fast of 1st of Ramadan.
If you are not fasting on 30th Shaban, then following actions are necessary on you:
(a) If you get the news after sunset of 30th Shaban or later that the moon had been actually sighted on evening of 29th Shaban, then you have to keep Qaza of 1st Ramadan after the month of Ramadan.
(b) If you get the news of moon sighting after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then it is haram to eat or drink or do anything, which is not allowed during fasting from that time onward until Iftar time on that day, and you have to do Qaza of 1st of Ramadan later on.
(c) If you get the news of moon sighting before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day), then
(i) if you have not eaten or drunk anything or done anything which breaks fast, you must immediately do the Niyyat of fasting of Ramadan for that day,
(ii) if you have eaten or drunk something or have done anything which breaks fast, then you have to act as if fasting for the rest of the day, and then do Qaza of 1st of Ramadan later on.
FASTING OF A TRAVELLER IN RAMADAN
According to Islamic sharia, a traveller is normally a person who travels from his home to another town or place with the intention of staying there for less than 10 days.
Fasting by a traveller during the month of Ramadan is haram.
If you start your journey after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, then it is wajib to complete fasting for that day.
If you start your journey before Zawal time in Ramadan, then it is wajib to start fast on that day, and then your fast will automatically break after you have travelled a certain distance from your home town.
If you were travelling, and you return to your home (or arrive at a place where you are going to stay for 10 days or more) after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, then you can not fast on that day, but it is Mustahab to respect fasting on that day. You have to do Qaza fast for that
day and all fasts missed during travelling.
If you were travelling, and you return to your home (or arrive at a place where you are going to stay for10 days or more) before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, and if you have not done anything which breaks fast, then it is wajib to keep fast for that day. However if you have
done anything which breaks fast, then you can not fast on that day, but it is Mustahab to respect fasting on that day, and you have to do Qaza fast for that day afterwards.
If you are a traveller during the month of Ramadan, and staying somewhere for less than 10 days, then you can not keep even any other fast (Mustahab fast or Qaza fast of previous Ramadan) during those days.
Fasting by a traveller during the month of Ramadan is haram.
If you start your journey after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, then it is wajib to complete fasting for that day.
If you start your journey before Zawal time in Ramadan, then it is wajib to start fast on that day, and then your fast will automatically break after you have travelled a certain distance from your home town.
If you were travelling, and you return to your home (or arrive at a place where you are going to stay for 10 days or more) after Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, then you can not fast on that day, but it is Mustahab to respect fasting on that day. You have to do Qaza fast for that
day and all fasts missed during travelling.
If you were travelling, and you return to your home (or arrive at a place where you are going to stay for10 days or more) before Zawal time (Islamic mid-day) in Ramadan, and if you have not done anything which breaks fast, then it is wajib to keep fast for that day. However if you have
done anything which breaks fast, then you can not fast on that day, but it is Mustahab to respect fasting on that day, and you have to do Qaza fast for that day afterwards.
If you are a traveller during the month of Ramadan, and staying somewhere for less than 10 days, then you can not keep even any other fast (Mustahab fast or Qaza fast of previous Ramadan) during those days.
