Lesson No 100

17. What situations, if and when they arise, make it necessary for a person to redeem the missed fast at a later stage?

Ans. The situations are as follows:

1. Missing commanded or ordained fasts which have stipulation of time attached with them;
2. Missing fasts under some valid excuse;
3. Intentional or unintentional break in the middle of a fast due to one exigency or the other.

Anyone of the above mentioned situations shall make it necessary for a person to redeem a missed fast at a later stage.

Q. When must one redeem the missed fast?

Ans. He must do it in the first available convenience Delaying the redemption of such fasts without a valid excuse is undesirable.

17. Is it necessary to redeem all the fasts missed by a person in one continuation?

Ans. No, we are free either to keep such fasts in one continuation or with gaps in between.

17. What should one do in the event of the approach of the next Ramadan while fasts missed in a previous Ramadan have not been redeemed so far?

Ans. In this case fasts for the month in progress must be completed first. till the conclusion of the month. Those missed in the past may wait till the conclusion of the month.

Q.   What is the injunction in Shariah about a Nafl fast broken by a person in the middle?

Ans. It is ordained to redeem these fasts at a later date. It is because even nafl fasts and prayers become ordained once they are started.

Q.  What must one do if one does not have strength enough to redeem the missed fasts?

Ans. If a person being too old is not able to fast at all or he is so seriously ill as to have no chances of survival, Fidyah (compensation money) for the same may be given.

Q.  How much compensation money is to be given for a missed fast?

Ans.  A quarter short of two seers of wheat or double this measure of barley or an equivalent amount of any other foodgrain e.g. rice, millet etc., is the compensation for each missed fast.

          The same amount of compensation holds good for each commanded prayer missed. But resort  to compensation for Salat should not be taken to unless one is no longer in a position to say it even by the sign of the head. If a person is not in a position even to say it by sign till his death, or more than six prayers have elapsed in this state, Salat is no more a command for him. So, the provision for the compensation of Salat is like this that if missed Salats relate to a period when one had the ability to say them, compensation in the event of death may be paid only in respect if such Salats.

Q.  Is it permissible for one person to fast on behalf of another person who missed a certain number of commanded fasts and died without redeeming them?

Ans.   No, fasting by another man will not absolve the dead person of his accountability. The surviving member of the family can nevertheless pay the compensation money for him.

EXPIATION (Kaf-Farah)

Q. What is the Kaffara (expiation) for the deliberate breaking of fast?

Ans. The actual expiation is freeing a slave. But as slaves are no longer found in this part of the world, expiation could take two forms: either to fast continuously for two months or if one does not have strength enough to stand two months’ fasting, he should feed sixty poor and hungry persons to their fill two times a day or in lieu give compensation to sixty persons at the rate of one seer and three quarters of wheat or price there of or some other foodgrains as rice, millet etc. (Seer here means a seer equal in eight to eighty English one-rupee coins).

17. Is it permissible to give the entire quantity of food grain (2 maunds and 25 seers) meant for sixty destitute to a single needy person?

Ans. Yes, it is allowed provided one seer and three quarters of wheat is given to a single individual each day for sixty days, or he is fed twice a day for as many days. But if more than the measure of food grain or the price prescribed for one day is given to a person in one lump, it shall still be counted as expiation for one day, and no more.

17. How is it if less than one seer and three quarters of wheat is given to a needy person?

Ans. It is permissible neither to give more nor less that the measure prescribed for one day to a person in a single day.

17. What is the injunction about a person of sorrow or grief become audible to others; who breaks several fasts of Ramadan in the middle?

Ans. Only one expiation will be due from him.

I’TIKAF (Seclusion in a Mosque)

Q. What do we mean by I’tikaf (seclusion)?

Ans. I I’tikaf means staying in a mosque as a mode of worship with the intention to please Al-lah. The stay should be in a mosque where prayer is said in congregation.

17. Why is it considered a form of worship to stay in the mosque?

Ans. It is but natural that stay in a mosque should be considered as an aspect of worship and a source of Al-lah’s pleasure because by doing so a person ensures his staying away from his wanderings, his amusements, his revelries and his daily vocation.

17. At which place should a woman sit in seclusion?

Ans. She should sit in seclusion in her own house at the place used by her for offering Salat. With the intention to sit in I’tikaf, she should remain there all the time. She should not leave the place or go to the courtyard or any part of the house, except for easing the call of nature. If, however, no place is fixed for worship in the house, she should earmark a spot for the purpose and sit there.

Q. Enumerate some of the benefits accruing form I’tikaf.

Ans. The following are some of the benefits of I’tikaf.

1. a person in I’tikaf in a way dedicates his entire body and time to the worship of Al-Al-lah ;
2. such a person keeps away from involvement in worldly affairs and therefore many possible acts of sin ;
3. being in a state of seclusion makes him as though he were all the time busy, saying his prayers. For he is in effect all the time sitting in wait for Salat and congregational prayers ;
4. while in seclusion a person emulates the morals of angels because he is constantly worshipping and glorifying Al-lah ‘

1. talking things pious and decent ;
2. busying oneself in the recitation of the Qur-an ;
3. studying and teaching to others the things of religion ;
4. exhorting others to do good ;
5. sitting for seclusion in the main mosque (with arrangements for the Jum’ah prayer).

17. What is the minimum required duration for I’tikaf|?

Ans. As fasting is a precondition for Wajib itikaf, it must needs be for a minimum period of one day. Thus, it is not correct to intend for I’tikaf for part of the day, say, two, three or four hours or for the night.

The time stipulated for the emphasized Masnun seclusion is the last ten days of Ramadan. There is no stipulation of time for the Nafl I’tikaf. It could even be for five or ten minutes. If we make intention for I’tikaf each time we enter the mosques we will get reward for seciusion for several times every day cept of the Prophet (Peace be in him). Which means that even if a few people do it, all the rest are absolved of their responsibility.

17. What are the conditions for itikaf to be in order?

Ans. Preconditions for I’tikaf are:

1. one’s being a Muslim ;
2. being clear of major uncleanness, or manstruation (in the case of women);
3. sane state of mind ;
4. having the intention to sit in seclution
5. sitting for seclusion in a mosque where congregational prayer is regularly held.

All these are conditions of general nature which hold good for all kinds of seclusion. In case of Wajib I;tikaf, however, the person concerned must also be fasting.

17. What things are desirable in Itakaf?

Ans. These are:

1. talking things pious and decent ;
2. busying oneself in the recitation of the Qur-an ;
3. studying and teaching to others the things or religion ;
4. exhorting others to do good;
5. sitting for seclusion in the main mosque (with arrangements for the Jum;ah prayer).

17. What is the minimum required duration for I’tikaf?

Ans. As fasting is a precondition for Wajib I’takaf, it must needs be for a minimum period of one day. Thus, it is not correct to intend for I’tikaf for part of the day, say, two, three of four hours or for the night.

The time stipulated for the emphasized Masnun seclusion is the last ten days of Ramadan. There is no stipulation of time for the Nafl I’tikaf. It could even be for five or ten minutes. If we make intention for I’tikaf each time we enter the mosques we will get reward for seclusion for several times every day.

PERMISSIBLES OF I’TIKAF

Q. Under what circumstances can a person observing I’tikaf come out of the mosque?

Ans. He can come out of the bounds of the mosque for anyone of the following reasons:

1. for easing the call of nature ;
2. for having the commanded bath ;
3. on a Jum’ah day well in time to be able and reach the Jum’ah mosque and say four Masnun Rak’ahs before the start of the Imam’s address;
4. for calling the Azan from the spot fixed for it.

17. How far can one go to ease the call of nature?

Ans. One can go to his house for the purpose however far it is. In case he has two houses; he must go to the one that is nearer the mosque.

17. Can a person in I’tikaf come out of the mosque to join the funeral prayers?

Ans. If he had affirmed the intention to move out of his seclusion for such a purpose, he can do so. Otherwise, he cannot leave the mosque.

17. What other things are permissible during the period of Seclusion?

Ans. Eating, drinking and buying things of necessity provided these things are not available inside the mosque. Solemnization of one’s Nikah (marriage contact) is also permissible during I’tikaf.

UNDESIRABLES & NULLIFFIERS OF I’TIKAF

17. What things are undesirable in I’tikaf?

Ans. Things undesirable in I’tikhaf are ‘

1. going completely speechless regarding it as a form of worship ;
2. bringing and trading merchandise within the premises of the mosque ;
3. indulging in quarrels or saying unseemly things.

Q. What things nullify the I’tikaf?

Ans. The following acts nullify the I’tikaf:

1. coming out of the mosque intentionally or through forgetfulness;
2. having sex act during I’tikaf ;
3. overstaying in the house after the valid excuse for which one had come out of the mosque (such as easing the call of nature etc.) was over ;
4. coming out of the mosque because of sickness or fear.

All the above circumstances will terminate the I’tikaf instantly.

17. Is it ordained to redeem a broken I’tikaf at a later date?

Ans. Redeeming an ordained I’tikaf that has been disturbed is ordained. Masnun and Nalf seclusion’s, if disturbed in the middle, need not be redeemed.

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