It is known that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) would observe more nafl fasting in the months of Rajab and Shaban than in the other months (Bukhari, Sawm, 52; Muslim, Siyam, 173-179). However, considering this practice of the Prophet (saw) as welcoming Ramadan is not correct. There is no religious basis for fasting to welcome Ramadan. It is makruh to fast one or two days before Ramadan as a precaution in case Ramadan has started. As a religious term, this day is called “yawm al-shakk” (the day of doubt). Yet, one may fast on the day of doubt without the intention of welcoming Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 14; Muslim, Siyam, 21)
What is imsak? When does it start? May one continue to eat and drink for a short while when the adhan for Fajr prayer starts to be recited?
Imsak, which literally means “to refrain, restrain, resign and abstain from”, as a religious term, means to refrain and abstain from eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, and other things that invalidate fasting from dawn (fajr al-sadiq) until sunset (the time of iftar). Iftar is the opposite of imsak. Among the people, “imsak” is used to mean the time when fasting begins. In this regard, imsak is the time to begin fasting. The time to begin and finish fasting is described in the Qur’an as: “(You may) eat and drink until you see the light of dawn breaking the darkness of night, then complete the fast until nightfall.” (Baqarah, 2:187) The imsak time shown on calendars describes the time to begin fasting. Imsak is also the moment when the night ends, the time for ‘isha prayer ends, and that of fajr prayer begins. The adhan starts to be recited with the beginning of imsak time. Therefore, one needs to stop eating and drinking at the beginning of adhan. Yet, one may swallow the piece in the mouth when the adhan starts to be recited.
Is it a must to observe the crescent to start fasting in Ramadan?
The beginning and end of lunar months are determined according to the movements of the moon. To begin fasting, the beginning of the month of Ramadan needs to be determined, and Ramadan changes every year according to the lunar calendar. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can’t see it) then regard the month of Ramadan as of 30 days.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 5, 11; Muslim, Siyam, 3-4, 7-9) At first glance, this hadith leads to the opinion that one may not begin to fast and observe the Eid until seeing the crescent with bare eyes. Evaluating the other hadiths regarding the matter, it is understood that these hadiths aim to teach the most appropriate practice of the conditions of the day. As a matter of fact, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 13; Muslim, Siyam, 15; Abu Dawud, Sawm, 4) and indicated that calculating may be used as the method to determine the beginning of lunar months. The moon continues in its usual movements regardless of being seen with the bare eyes or not. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an that the sun and the moon move according to a certain order (Rahman, 55:5); that they were created also as a calculation system apart from the other functions (An’am, 6:96); phases were determined for the Moon for us to know the number of years and the count of time (Yunus, 10:5); when skies and earth were created, an order was assigned as twelve months (Tawbah, 9:36); it is a time measurement for people and hajj that the moon begins to be seen as a crescent from the earth and later seen in different forms gradually (Baqarah, 2:189). Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (saw) advised seeing the moon with bare eyes to determine the start of lunar months, probably because it was the most reliable way for the time, not because it is the only way to use. The purpose of watching the crescent is to determine whether the month of Ramadan has started or not. For this reason, it is possible to benefit from other methods to serve the purpose apart from watching the moon with the bare eyes. Today’s technological advancement makes it possible to watch even the slightest movements of the moon in detail. Today, it is even possible to prepare calendars with prayer times for several years ahead by detailed astronomical calculations. Therefore, it is legitimate to determine the beginnings of lunar months by calculation method.
What is Dawud’s fasting?
“Dawud’s Fasting” means fasting every other day; one day you perform, and the other day you do not. It is called as such because Prophet Dawud (as) fasted this way. This fasting was named by Prophet Muhammad himself, and he stated its importance as: “The best fasting is the one Dawud performed; He fasted one day and gave up fasting for a day.” (Bukhari, Sawm, 56; Muslim, Siyam, 181) Also, Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “The most beloved fast to Allah is the one Dawud performed.” (Bukhari, Tahajjud, 7)
When is the fasting of ayyam al-beed (white days) and what is its importance?
Ayyam al-beed (the White Days) are the 13th, 14th, and 15th nights of the hijri months when the moon is brightest (Bukhari, Sawm, 60). This name was given because the moon is seen as full on these nights and brightens the night more than usual. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) advised to fast on these days in every month (Abu Dawud, Sawm, 69; Tirmidhi, Sawm, 54) and stated that fasting on these days is considered like fasting for the whole year (Ibn Majah, Siyam, 29).
