Fasting in Ramaḍān: Its Virtues & Rulings – By Abu ‘Iyād Amjad Rafīq

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation—and may He extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels, and grant him peace and security—likewise to his family, Companions, and true followers.

[08/04/2024] Fasting in Ramaḍān: Its Virtues & Rulings – By Abu ‘Iyād Amjad Rafīq حفظه الله. Lesson for Islam Tees, Middlesbrough, UK.

Some points discussed during this lesson:

• Virtues of the month of Ramaḍān.
• Twenty points of guidance from the Messenger ﷺ regarding fasting:
• 1. He would anticipate Ramaḍān and not fast until seeing the ḥilāl (new moon).
• 2. He would never fast a day or two days before Ramaḍān.
• 3 He would command the believers to establish their intention on the night of every fast (before Fajr).
• 4. He would not withhold from eating or drinking until the actual break of dawn.
• 5. The adhān of imsāk (15-20 minutes before Fajr) is not from his guidance.
• 6. He would delay the suḥūr and hasten the breaking of the fast. 
• 7. His ifṭār would be something very simple and would consist of fresh, ripe dates.
• 8. He would encourage making du’ā at the time of breaking the fast.
• 9. He would never abandon suḥūr.
• 10. The saḥūr would consist of dates. 
• 11. He would sometimes fast and sometimes not fast when travelling.
• 12. His striving in worship would be multiplied in Ramaḍān.
• 13. He would increase in his generosity.
• 14. He would pray at night and strongly encourage the people to do so. 
• 15. He would encourage his Companions to perform ‘umrah in the month of Ramaḍān.
• 16. He would be the best of people in his akhlāq and command his ummah with that as well.
• 17. He would have marital relations with his family and would not abandon or prohibit it.
• 18. The manifestation of mercy in Allāh’s concessions to many categories of people [regarding the fast]. 
• 19. The person who became sick/vomited does not have to make up his fast.
• 20. He made Zakātul-Fiṭr obligatory at the end of the month of Ramaḍān. 
• Manifestations of Allāh’s Tawḥīd in the act of worship of fasting:
• 1. Veneration of the symbol of Allāh (i.e. fasting), and feelings of hope and fear.
• 2. Allāh alone has the right to legislate.
• 3. The fasting person is in servitude to Allāh.
• 4. Fasting inculcates taqwā.
• 5. There is comprehensive guidance in all of the specific details and rulings.
• 6. Allāh has made certain concessions in His Sharī’ah regarding fasting.
• 7. We see a combination between Allāh’s Rubūbiyyah and ‘Ubūdiyyah.  
• 8. Being informed of certain things from the unseen we would not have known except by way of revelation.
• 9. Our belief in the revelation of the Qur’ān, which is the speech of Allāh.
• 10. Ramaḍān is a month of making sincere, truthful du’ā to Allāh.