Ramadan Rules & Regulations

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory
on every Muslim adult. The Arabic word sawm is used for fasting. The
word sawm (plural siyam) literally means 'to refrain', but as an Islamic
term, it means refraining from food, drinks and sexual activity from dawn to
sunset. Allah says in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183):
'O you who believe, siyam is
prescribed on  you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may
become  self-restrained.'
The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly
expressed in several sayings of the Prophet(S.A.W.). It is reported by Abu
Hurairah that the Prophet said:
'He who fasts during Ramadan with
faith and  seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who
prays  during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah
will  have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al- Qadr in prayer
with  faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins
forgiven.'
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Fasting in Ramadan is practiced by Muslims all
over the world. The most significant aspect of Siyam is the development of
Allah-consciousness (Taqwa) in the heart and the soul of a fasting Muslim. One
must abstain from immoral behavior and attitude as well. Refraining from food
and such is essential during fast but it is not sufficient. The Prophet of Allah
is reported to have said:
'If one does not abandon falsehood
in words  and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and
drink.'
(Al-Bukhari)
WHO IS EXEMPT FROM
SAWM?
Fasting is mandatory on every Muslim who is
sane, adult, able and resident. The following exemptions apply:

1. the insane;
   
2. children who are not adolescent yet;
   
3. the elderly and chronically ill for whom   
   fasting is unreasonably strenuous; Such persons are required to feed at    least
   one poor person every day in Ramadan for which he or she has missed   
   fasting.
   
4. pregnant women and nursing may postpone the   
   fasting at a later time;
   
5. the ill and the travellers can also defer   
   their fasting.
       Allah says in the Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara:
   
   'But if anyone is ill, or on a journey,     
   the prescribed period should be made up by days later. Allah intends every     
   facility for you; He does not want to put you to
   difficulties.'
   
   
   
6. Women during the period of menstruation or   
   of post childbirth confinement. Fasting during these periods is forbidden    and
   should be made up later, a day for a day.

DURATION OF
SAWM:

Fasting starts everyday in
Ramadan at the break of dawn, which is also the start of the Salatul Fajr time.
Fasting ends at sunset or with the call of Salatul Maghrib.
  VALIDITY OF
FASTING:
The validity of fasting depends on the
following:

1. Abstaining from food, liquids and sexual   
   activity from dawn to sunset.
   
2. The intention to fast must be made every day  
     before dawn. The intention (niyyah) may be made during night before going to   
   sleep or it can also be made at the time of Suhoor before dawn. Suhoor is   
   eating before fasting. It should be as close to Fajr time as possible.   
   Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says:
   
   'Partake Suhoor, for there is
   blessing in      Suhoor.'(Bukhari, Muslim)It is desirable to break the fast as soon as    possible after
   sunset. Breaking the fast with dates or water is a tradition    of the Prophet.
   Following is one of the Du'a for breaking fast:
   Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala ridhqika 
        aftartu (O Allah! For You did I fast and with Your bounties did I break     
   the fast.)

The things
which invalidate fast are of two kinds. The first one requires Qada (only making
up missed days), the other one not only requires Qada but also Kaffarah(a
penalty).
The following are the things that require
Qada only:

1. Eating or drinking intentionally. This   
   includes non-nourishing items taken by mouth.
   
2. Deliberately causing oneself to throw
   up.
   
3. The beginning of menstruation or   
   post-childbirth bleeding even in the last moment before sunset.
   
4. Ejaculation for reasons other than sexual   
   intercourse.
   
5. Intending to break the fast before sunset   
   even if one changes his mind, since intention is one of the pre-requisites    of
   the validity of fasting.
   
6. Eating, drinking or having intercourse after  
     dawn on the mistaken assumption that it is not dawn yet. Similarly, engaging   
   in these acts before Maghrib on the mistaken assumption that it is already   
   sunset.

Things that not only
require Qada but also Kaffarah are the following:
Sexual intercourse during
fasting(dawn to dusk). The penalty is to fast an additional period of 60
continuous days. If one is not able to do so then he must feed sixty poor
people-one average meal each.
Before the days of the Prophet
Muhammad(S.A.W.), slavery was a common practice in the Arab world. Islam
eliminated slavery from the society in a very short period of time. A useful
approach was to allow people free a slave as a charity or as a penalty for a
sin. Thus during the time of the Prophet(S.A.W.), setting a slave free was the
penalty one must pay as a kaffarah, if he or she had a slave.
What does not break the fast:

1. If anyone forgets that he is fasting and   
   eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah who has    fed
   him and given him drink.  (A Hadith from Muslim).
   
2. Unintentional vomiting.
   
3. Swallowing things which are not possible to   
   avoid, such as one's saliva, street dust, smoke, etc.
   
4. Brushing the teeth.
   
5. Injection or intra-venous which is solely   
   medical and not nutritional.

Breaking of fast under exceptional
conditions:
Muslims are permitted to break the ordained
fast of Ramadan when there is danger to their health. In this situation a Muslim
should make up his fast later at any other time of the year.
 
Reference: "Every Day
Fiqh" by Maulana Yusuf Islahi, translated by Abdul Aziz Kamal.