He should give `Fidiyah` in compensation of the same.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Dear
Brother,
As-Salam-o-Alikum,
As
there is no topic by the name of `Fasting` in your index, therefore, I have
selected this topic for my question.
I have
read in the `Quran` written that if one has the strength to Fast and one do not
`Fast` he should give `Fidiyah` in compensation of the same.
Nowhere
in the `Holy Quran` have I come across that this `Aiya` is abrogated from the
`Quran` neither have I come across any authentic Hadith of our Prophet Mohammed
(SAW) that this `Aiya` is no more valid.
Can
this be practiced. Would like to have your comments on it.
Best
regards,
I.
Hussain
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Atonement for missed fasts
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Your Question: Nowhere
in the `Holy Quran` have I come across that this `Aiya` is abrogated from the
`Quran` neither have I come across any authentic Hadith of our Prophet Mohammed
(SAW) that this `Aiya` is no more valid.
Dear and beloved brother in Islam, it is not that whenever
a newer and clearer Command of the Lord on a particular subject was Revealed,
it specifically declared that the older Command was abrogated….but from the
tone and the context of the Command in the Revelations, the Messenger of Allah
(saws) would guide the believers to what exact extent the newer Commands
superceded the previous Revelations on that particular subject.
A good example is the gradual prohibition of the
consumption of intoxicants….the first Revelations regarding discouraging its
consumption are found in the Surah Baqarah, which was revealed in the first two
years after Hijrah in Madinah….
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 219:
219 They ask thee concerning intoxicants (wine, alcohol, etc.) and
gambling. Say: "In them is great
sin and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They
ask thee how much they are to spend; say: "What is beyond your
needs." Thus doth Allah make clear
to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.
Then in Surah Nisaa, which was Revealed four to five years
after Hijrah, further clarification of the discouragement and prohibition are
found…..
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah
Nisaa verse 43:
43 O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged (in a
state of intoxication) until ye can understand all that ye say….
And finally in Surah Maidah, which was revealed six to
seven years after the Hijrah, the complete and categorical probation of the
consumption of intoxicants is declared….
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah
Maidah verses 90-91:
90 O ye who believe! Intoxicants, and gambling, (the dedication of) stones,
and (divination by) arrows are (all) an abomination of the Shaytaan's
handiwork: eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper.
91 The Shaytaan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you
with intoxicants and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and
from prayer: will ye not then abstain?
Upon the community of the first generation of believers,
Islam proceeded step by step and in gradual formation by degrees in the
imposition of most of its obligatory rites of worship; and the same was done in
the case of fasts. At first the Prophet
(saws) guided the believers to observe the fasts for three days in a month, but
these fasts were not obligatory. Then in
the 2nd year after Hijrah in Madinah, the Command regarding the
obligatory fasts for a fixed number of days was Revealed in verses 183-184 of
Surah Baqarah…
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verses 183-184:
183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed
to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.
184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on
a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For
those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is
indigent. But he that will give
more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye
fast if ye only knew.
In the very beginning when the fasts were made an
obligatory rite of worship, there was an option for those who could fast but
did not, that they could atone for their missed fasts by feeding one who is
indigent.
Then after some time, the final Command of the obligatory
fasts of Ramadan was Revealed in verse 185 which modified the previous Commands
pertaining to obligatory fasts, and the concession given to the able-bodied and
healthy to leave their obligatory fasts was withdrawn; but retained only for
those believers who were terminally ill and the travelers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 185:
185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide
to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and
wrong). So everyone of you who is
present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone
is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does
not want to put you to difficulties. (He
wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has
guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
There are several authentic narrations to that effect
found in the authentic Sunnah:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.34 Narrated by Salama
When the Divine Revelation: "….for those
who can fast, they had a choice either fast, or feed a poor for every
day," (2.184) was revealed, it was permissible for one to give a ransom
and give up fasting, till the Verse 185 succeeding it was revealed and (partially)
abrogated it.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.33 Narrated by Nafi
Ibn 'Umar recited:"….they had a choice,
either fast or feed a poor for every day..." (2:184), and added,
"This Verse is (partially) abrogated (by the Revelation of Verse 185)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.32 Narrated by Ata
That he heard Ibn 'Abbas reciting the Divine
Verse: "….for those who can fast
they had a choice either fast, or feed a poor for every day..." (2.184) Ibn 'Abbas said, "This Verse is not (completely)
abrogated, but it is meant for old men and old women who (are terminally ill
and) have no strength to fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day
of missed fasts."
Your Question: Can
this be practiced. Would like to have your comments on it.
Allah Says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 184:
184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on
a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For
those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is
indigent. But he that will give
more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye
fast if ye only knew.
If one is indulged in a permanent or terminal form of
illness and has absolutely no hope of recovering from that illness whereby one
is unable to even make up the missed fasts at a later date….then the atonement
for such terminally ill believers is the feeding of (at least) one poor
indigent person for each fast missed.
This form of atonement of feeding (at least) one poor person for each
fast missed is only for those who are terminally ill and have no hope of
recovery, and not for the temporarily ill….for the temporarily ill (pregnant
woman, etc.), they are not eligible to atone their missed fasts by feeding the
poor, but they have to make up their missed fasts by fasting on other days of
their convenience.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 185:
185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent
down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and
judgment (between right and wrong). So
everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in
fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period
(should be made up) by days later.
Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to
difficulties. (He wants you) to complete
the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and
perchance ye shall be grateful.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan