Whereas fasting is primarily a method of subduing Satan, blocking his path, and placing obstacles in his way, it deserves a special place in relation to Allah, since subduing the enemy of Allah is an aid to Him and His Aid is not forthcoming unless men aid Him. Thus He said, "If ye aid Allah, He will help you, and will set your feet firm". The servant should take the initiative and commence his efforts so that Allah will crown him with success by guiding him into His ways. For this reason Allah said, "And whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways will We guide them." Allah also said, "Verily Allah changeth not what a people hath until they change it for themselves". Change increases temptation and strengthens the appetites, which are the grazing grounds of the devils and their pasturing land. As long as they are fertile the devil will continue to frequent them, and as long as he frequents them the Majesty of Allah will not be revealed to the servant and (His Glory) will always remain concealed from him.
The Muslim fast is not meant for self-torture. Although it is stricter than other fasts, it also provides alleviations for special circumstances. Even if it were merely a temporary abstention from food and drink, it would promote better health to many people, who habitually eat and drink, to excess. The instincts for food, drink, and sex are strong in the animal nature of man and temporary restraint from all these enables the attention to be directed to higher things.
1. Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory on every sane, adult Muslim, male or female.
2. The time of fasting is from pre-dawn until sunset.
3. Temporary excuse from fasting may be given to those who are:
A. suffering sickness and liable to be more ill by fasting;
B. traveling a distance of more than 50 miles;
C. women pregnant or breast nursing children and fearing harm from fasting. But they must re-fast any time after Ramadan (not during feast days) the number of days in which they did not fast.
4. Permanent excuse from fasting may be given to those who are unable or find it difficult to fast in Ramadan or after, because of:
old age,
chronic disease,
or hard continuing labor;
but they should substitute the days they did not fast by feeding a poor person two normal meals for each day.
5. Menstruant and confined women are forbidden to fast while still under such conditions; but they should fast after Ramadan when they regain their normal condition, the number of days they did not fast.
6. One must have the intention to fast and should abstain during the day (from pre-dawn to sunset) from eating, drinking, or practicing sexual relations. One is expected when fasting, to abstain also from evil deeds and shun bad conduct and behavior.
7. The fast will be broken and invalid if one;
during the day, deliberately and conscientiously eats, drinks, vomits, satisfies sexual desire by any means, swallows through mouth any object,
or intends to break the fast before the prescribed time;
and as for those who break it by sexual intercourse or by enjoying eating and drinking heedlessly,
they should do both: re-fasting after Ramadan the number of days in which they broke the fast, and
atonement (seek forgiveness) by either;
fasting sixty (60) consecutive days
or by feeding sixty (60) poor persons two normal meals of food usually eaten by their families;
as for others, they shall only do the re-fasting.
8. The fast shall not be broken during the day if one forgetfully eats, drinks, satisfies sexual desire, or vomits by a compulsory act beyond his control.
9. Pouring medical drops into the eye, taking an enema or injections of any kind, bathing or washing the body, cleaning the mouth and rinsing it with water (taking care not to swallow it), using perfume and exercising guiltless kissing, will not break the fast. [The source of these articles are unknown to the editor.]
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