Fasting is Knocking* [[---- Episode 17 ----]]

 *Fasting is Knocking*

[[---- Episode 17 ----]]
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بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Alhamdulillah!!! We are gradually smelling the month of Ramadan for this year in a few weeks’ time - In Shaa Allah.. We pray Allah (swt) make us amongst those who will witness and fast the whole month of Ramadan and the ones of many many more years to come. Ameen!

Now,

*Intention:*

Islam attaches great importance to intentions since they determine the purpose of man and his direction in various matters. The Prophet [pbuh] said: "Actions are [judged] according to intentions and each person will be rewarded according to intention.." 📚 Authentic

*On the intention for fasting in the month of Ramadan:* The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who does not make the intention for fasting before dawn, there is no fast for him" 📚 Authentic

*How do we make the intention?*

The issue of the intention is very easy in Islam; simply resolving and planning to fast after finding out that the next day is the beginning of the month of Ramadan is the intention, and it is not necessary to utter it out loud or saying "Nawaitu bla bla bla bla" as many people do. Yes. This kind of Nawaitu bla bla bla bla is not recorded in shareeyyah.

*Scholarly opinions on whether to make the intention ONCE from the beginning of the month or renew the intention everyday:*

When Is It Made?

When it comes to the time of establishing intention for fasting, there’re two main opinions among the noble scholars of the major schools of thoughts.

▪️The majority of the schools, namely Ḥanafiyyah, Shāfi‘iyyah and Ḥambiliyyah are of the opinion that the Muslim must make a separate intention for every other day he’s going to fast in the month of Ramadan.

▪️On the other hand, Mālikiyyah are of the opinion that one intention established at the beginning of the month, to fast the entire month, is enough for the Muslim.

My People!

“Some scholars were of the view that in the case of a repeated act of worship, it is sufficient to form the intention once the first time one does, unless the sequence of repetition is interrupted, in which case a new intention must be formed. On this basis, if a person has the intention of fasting on the first day of Ramadaan that he will fast this whole month, that is enough to cover the whole month, so long as he does not have an excuse to break his fast and thus break this continuity, such as traveling during Ramadaan. In that case, when he wants to resume fasting he must form the intention of fasting again.

This is the more correct opinion, because all the Muslims, if you ask them, will say that they intend to fast the whole month from beginning to end. So even if the intention is not formed literally, it is there by implication, because the basic principle is that it does not stop. Hence we say that if the continuity is broken for some permissible reason, then one starts fasting again, the intention must be renewed. This is the view which brings peace of mind.”

So,

On the above basis, you’re free to choose either of the two provided opinions. Yes. But to play safe, follow your practical school of thought.

Ibn Taymiyah (r.h) said:

"Anyone who finds out that the next day is Ramadan and wants to fast it has intended to fast it, whether he spoke the intention out loud or not. This is the practice of the majority of Muslims; all of them intend to fast". 📚Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (25/215).

To play safe,

Renewing the intentions on daily basis, you may forget sometimes. So, the intention to fast the whole of the month of Ramadan, from the first day, suffices as the intention so long as the fast is not interrupted by travel or sickness or menses etc, in which case he should renew his intention.

*Note:*

I'm not forcing anyone to go with Maliki school of thought. You can choose to renew your intention on daily basis (if you like).

*Share this very write-up to remind others*

TO BE CONTINUED