Spring Break
Some facts about Ramadan
Besim Gjonbalaj/Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/5/01 Section: Focus
Those who are travelling are given the option of fasting or not. Those who choose not to fast during their journey must make it up after reaching their destination. This applies to all types of travel: business, personal or because of one's job (e.g., long distance haulers).
Actions That Affect One's Fast In Islam, there are specific guidelines that must be followed for the fast to be valid. Sometimes, however, these guidelines may be violated unknowingly.
Examples of these are given below.
Actions That Do Not Nullify One's Fast:
Eating or drinking something by mistake, without one's knowledge (e.g., he is
asleep or unconscious), or being forced to do so.
In the words of God
(Allah):
. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error ...
(Qur'an 2:286)
. Except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith ...
(Qur'an 16:106)
. But there is no blame on ye, if ye make a mistake therein. [What counts
is] the intention of your hearts ...
(Qur'an 33:5)
As seen in the above verses, one's intention is critical. Thus, if a person
forgets momentarily that he is fasting and eats or drinks something his fast
will not be broken provided he did not do so intentionally. This is also
true for one who believes that the sun has set or that the sun has not yet
risen and so begins to eat. His mistake is not held against him if he
believed sincerely that the fast was already over or had not yet begun. An
unintentional swallowing of water while gargling or a discharge of semen
while sleeping are also viewed as not violating one's fast.
Actions That Nullify One's Fast:
There are several actions that immediately nullify one's fast. Among these
are the following:
Engaging in sexual intercourse with one's wife or husband during the daylight
hours of the month of Ramadan. If a person is guilty of this, he or she has to
Actions That Affect One's Fast In Islam, there are specific guidelines that must be followed for the fast to be valid. Sometimes, however, these guidelines may be violated unknowingly.
Examples of these are given below.
Actions That Do Not Nullify One's Fast:
Eating or drinking something by mistake, without one's knowledge (e.g., he is
asleep or unconscious), or being forced to do so.
In the words of God
(Allah):
. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error ...
(Qur'an 2:286)
. Except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith ...
(Qur'an 16:106)
. But there is no blame on ye, if ye make a mistake therein. [What counts
is] the intention of your hearts ...
(Qur'an 33:5)
As seen in the above verses, one's intention is critical. Thus, if a person
forgets momentarily that he is fasting and eats or drinks something his fast
will not be broken provided he did not do so intentionally. This is also
true for one who believes that the sun has set or that the sun has not yet
risen and so begins to eat. His mistake is not held against him if he
believed sincerely that the fast was already over or had not yet begun. An
unintentional swallowing of water while gargling or a discharge of semen
while sleeping are also viewed as not violating one's fast.
Actions That Nullify One's Fast:
There are several actions that immediately nullify one's fast. Among these
are the following:
Engaging in sexual intercourse with one's wife or husband during the daylight
hours of the month of Ramadan. If a person is guilty of this, he or she has to