بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Translation of Dr. Shams Jilani “Roshni Hira Say”
Section: 122
The compulsory obligation of Zakat & Fasting
In previous section, we were discussing a narration that
came from Imam Ahamd (RA) where it has been cited that
fasting became obligatory in three steps. At the very first
moment when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came to
Madinah Al Munawwara, he used to observe three days
fasting. And then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started to
observe fast on 10 th of every month. And then fast became
compulsory by Almighty Allah on all the believers. The first
condition that came as a command from Almighty Allah that
fasting for a month is compulsory for every Muslim. As
stated in Holy Quran,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it
was decreed upon those before you that you may
become righteous
(2:184)
أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ
يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ
كُنْتُم تَعْلَمُونَ ْ
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among
you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal
number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who
are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as
substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And
whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is
best for you, if you only knew.
(2:187)
This is how the observance of the fasting was made in three
stages. However, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had stopped
to observe fast in continuation. One person who belonged to
the family of Ansar was brought to Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) who used to fast from dawn to dusk & then
remained awake from Isha prayers till morning. Even he
didn’t go close to his wife during the time of night. In this
manner, he used to pass the complete night in state of
fasting. When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came to know
about this, he was called in the court of Prophet. When he
came at the same time, this verse was revealed to Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَائِكُمْ (Surah Baqrah, 187).
Going to the wives during the nights of fast is made
lawful for you.
After this Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) concluded this verse
as
ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ
This narration has been cited in Sunan by Abu Daud, by
Hakim in Al Mustadrak, & in Sahih Al Bukhari that Hazrat
Ayesha (RA) said, that before the compulsory month of
Ramadan fasting, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to
observe three fast & also on the tenth day of every month.
Cont’d for the next week
