•Ramadan
To the Muslims partaking in the ongoing Ramadan fast, there are things to stay away from while at it.
Below are things to note to further guide devoted Muslims on abstinence, reports The Nation:
1. Food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset, In accordance with the verse of the Quran : “Now therefore go unto them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn be comes distinct from the black thread, then observe the fast till nightfall”.
The black thread means the darkness of night and the white thread means the light of day at dawn.
Every Muslim may, during the night, satisfy his needs with regard to food, drink and women, when dawn comes he must abstain till sunset.
Smoking, drug taking and the injection of nourishing solutions into the body (e.g. calcium or vitamins) are strictly forbidden.
Sexual intercourse must be followed by complete ablution, i.e. a bath covering all parts of the body.
2. Obscene speech. The Prophet said: “While fasting, you shall not indulge in obscene speech or boisterous talk. If someone insults you or quarrels with you, tell him : `I am one who fasts. “
3. Falsehood in speech or action. The Prophet said : “He who does not abstain from false- hood in words or deeds, God has no need for him to abstain from his food and drink.”
4. Slander. One day the Prophet passed by women who, while fasting, were gossiping.
He said : “These two women abstained from what God had ordered them to do and indulged in what God had forbidden them to do”.
5. Lying, lustful looks, false oath, slander and calumny. The Prophet said : “Five things spoil a man’s fast – lying, slander, calumny, the false oath and the lustful look.”
Some ulama believe that those forbidden things spoil one’s fast. They base their verdict on the Prophet’s warning that “five things spoil a man’s fast… etc.” and other ravings mentioned earlier. They also base their verdict on a definite quotation. The Prophet said :”there may be a man whose gain from his fast is confined to hunger and thirst” These `ulama include Ibn Hazm and the late rector of AI-Azhar, Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltout,
A second group of `ulama believe that these forbidden things do not spoil the fast, but abstention from them makes one’s fast more complete.
