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The Effects Of Sins On Fasting
Question: What is the ruling regarding the fasting person, during Ramadhaan, who backbites, lies, or looks at an ajnabiya woman with desire. Is his siyaam still correct or invalidated?
Answer by Sheikh Yussuf Al-Qaradawi:
The beneficial accepted siyaam is that which refines the soul, strengthens ones ability to do good, and brings out the fruit of taqwa which has been mentioned by the saying of Allah: “Oh you who believe. Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, that you may be Godfearing.” (2:183)
What is obligatory on the fasting person is that he refrains from all types actions that would negate his siyaam so that his lot from siyaam is not mere hunger, thirst, and abstinence. There is a hadeeth:”Fasting is a prevention, so if it is a day on which anyone of you fast,then do not curse or say bad things. And if anyone curses you or fights
you then you are to say, 'I am fasting'.” (Collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet (pbuh) also said: “It may be that a fasting person attains nothing from his fast except hunger. And it may be that one who stands (for night salaah) attains nothing from his standing excepted staying up late.” (Collected by An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn MaaJah, and A]Haakem who said: “It is authentic on the conditions of Al-Bukhari.”)
The Prophet (pbuh) also said: “Whosoever does not leave false speech and acting upon it, then Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.” (Collected by Al-Bukhari, Ahmad, and the Sunan) Ibn Al-Arabi said: “The meaning of this hadeeth is that a person will not get a reward for his siyaam. This means that the reward of siyaam will not be given for false speech and whatever is mentioned with it.”
Ibn Hazm’s opinion is: “That these things nullify siyaam just as eating and drinking nullify siyaam.” He narrated from some companions and successors the same thing that he understood from it.
Although we are not with the opinion of Ibn Hazm, we view that sins waste away the fruits of siyaam and corrupt the intended purpose of its legislation. This is why the righteous predecessors of this nation cautiously stayed away from vain talk and forbidden things while
siyaam.
Omar Ibn Khattab said: “Fasting is not only from food and drink, but it is from lying, falsehood, and vain talk.” Something similar to this has also been narrated fromAli Bin Taalib. And from Jaabir is that he said: “If you fast, then your hearing, sight, and tongue fast from falsehood and bad actions, and do not harm the servants. On the day of your fast, sobriety and tranquility should be upon you. And you should not make the day that you eat and the day that you fast, equal.” Abu Dharr said to Taleeq Bin Qays: “If you fast, then guard against whatever you can.” So then whenever it was a day that Taleeq would fast, he would enter his home and would not leave it except for salaah. Also, whenever Abu Hurairah and his companions would fast they would sit in the mosque and say: “We are purifying our fast” And from Maimoon Bin Mahraan : “The easiest type of siyaam is siyaam food and drink.”
Whatever it may be, siyaam has its effects and rewards, and backbiting, lying, etc. have their punishments with Allah: “Everything with Him is in due proportion.” (13:8) Every action will be counted and placed on a scale. “My Lord is never unaware or forgets.” (20:52)
The following prophetic hadeeth concerning the precision of the Divine Judgment in the Hereafter has in it a sufficient answer for this question and the two questions before it. Imam Ahmad and At- Tirmidhee
narrated from A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that a man from the companions of the Allah's Messenger (pbuh) sat directly in front of him and said: “Oh Messenger of Allah, I have two servants who lie to me and disobey me. So I beat them and curse them. What is my position concerning them?” (meaning on the Day of Resurrection) The Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said to him: “He (Allah) will measure how much they betrayed you, disobeyed you, and lied to you, and the punishment that you gave to them. If the punishment that you gave them is lower than their sins, then this is an advantage for you. And if the punishment that you gave them is equal to their sins, then there is nothing for you or against you. And if the punishment that you gave them is higher than their sins, then any advantage which you had from before will be reduced and given to them.” So the man began crying in front of the Allah's Messenger (pbuh). The Messenger of Allah said: “Does he not read the Book of Allah?”
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“And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We as Reckoners.” (12:47) So the man said: “Oh Messenger of Allah, I find nothing better than releasing them (meaning his slaves). Be a witness that all of them are free.”
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