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Fasting During Ramadhan?
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Fasting During Ramadhan?

The allegation raised from the non Ahmadi Muslims is that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) did not observe the blessing of fasting during the month of Ramadhan. They try to quote a passage of Seeratul Mahdi, which states:

 

“Used to keep very few fasts during Ramadhan whose redemption was paid; and because of the suffering of an attack he broke one fast exactly at Maghrib (sunset) time”

 

This citation of the non Ahmadi Muslims is just another lie of there’s, used as an attempt to spread falsehood and deceive innocent people. They report such incidents out of context to mislead people into having false beliefs, in regards to the Prophet of Allah. They have also taken out a large part of what the context is in reality saying. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) did not fast throughout the period of Ramadhan for only a number of years which was during the years of him having bad health and attacks of headaches, and cold feet syndrome. They take only a few lines out and randomly create a huge different story. In reality, the passage states:

 

“Hazrat Amajan(ra) narrated to me that when Hazrat Masih-e-Maud(as) began to have attacks, (these attacks have been further qualified in the context of the statement as of headache and cold feet syndrome) in that year, he did not fast throughout the Ramadhan and paid the fidya. On the commencement of the Ramadhan during the second year, he started to observe the fast but after eight or nine days, the attacks began again and therefore he stopped and paid the fidya. The following year, he had fasted for ten or eleven days but on account of these attacks, he had to stop fasting again and he paid the fidya. The year after, it was the thirteenth fast when he had an attack around the time of Maghrib and he had to break it. He did not fast during the rest of the Ramadhan that year but he paid the fidya. After this, he observed all the fasts during Ramadhans, except during the last two or three years before his death” (Ahmad, Mirza Bashir, Seeratul Mahdi, Volume 1, Pages 51-52)

 

It seems as if the anti Ahmadis do not read the Qur’an. How can they accuse Ahmad(as) of such a false allegation? Once we read the context it becomes clear that Ahmad(as) would try his best to keep the fasts. Allah has stated in the Qur’an:

2184

2185

 

O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or is on a journey shall fast the same number of other days; and for those who are able to fastonly with great difficulty is an expiation — the feeding of a poor man.And whoso performs a good work with willing obedience, it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew.(Chapter 2 Verses 184-185)

 

It shocks me when I come across such allegations of the non Ahmadi Muslims and really shows their lack of knowledge and their dishonesty. Allah Has Clearly told us we should not fast when we are sick and Ahmad(as) was a true follower of the Qur’an which is why he would pay fidya during the days he was ill.

 

It is also further stated:

 

“I also state that when in the beginning, Hazrat Masih Maud (as) began to get attacks of headache and cold syndrome, then in those days he became very weak and his health used to be generally poor. That is why when he used to stop fasting, it would appear that he may not be able to recover his strength sufficiently to complete these fasts before the next Ramadhan. But when the next Ramadhan would commence, he would gladly become engaged in this form of worship and begin to observe the fast” (Ahmad, Mirza Bashir, Seeratul Mahdi, Volume 1, Page 52)

 

A beautiful saying of Ibn Abbas(ra) which is recorded in Bukhari is as follows:

حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا رَوْحٌ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقْرَأُ ‏{‏وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطَوَّقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ‏}‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لَيْسَتْ بِمَنْسُوخَةٍ، هُوَ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعَانِ أَنْ يَصُومَا، فَلْيُطْعِمَانِ مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِسْكِينًا‏.‏
 Narrated ‘Ata:

 

That he heard Ibn `Abbas reciting the Divine Verse:– “And for those who can fast they had a choice either fast, or feed a poor for every day..” (2.184) Ibn `Abbas said, “This Verse is not abrogated, but it is meant for old men and old women who have no strength to fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day of fasting (instead of fasting).(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith #32)

 

This hadith makes it clear that one should not fast if they are sick. Another hadith states:

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ، فَصَامَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ عُسْفَانَ، ثُمَّ دَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى يَدَيْهِ لِيُرِيَهُ النَّاسَ فَأَفْطَرَ، حَتَّى قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ، وَذَلِكَ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ قَدْ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَفْطَرَ، فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ‏.‏
 Narrated Tawus:

 

Ibn `Abbas said, “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) set out from Medina to Mecca and he fasted till he reached ‘Usfan, where he asked for water and raised his hand to let the people see him, and then broke the fast, and did not fast after that till he reached Mecca, and that happened in Ramadan.” Ibn `Abbas used to say, “Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (sometimes) fasted and (sometimes) did not fast during the journeys so whoever wished to fast could fast, and whoever wished not to fast, could do so.”(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith #169)

 

Some narrations have also showed us that the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) allowed his companions to not fast while they were on journeys, even though he would fast. Would the anti Ahmadis now mock at the Holy Prophet (saw) as well and say why did he not fast in every journey or why did he give the companions the option of not fasting during these journeys? It has been made clear according to authentic ahadith that the aged can pay fidya if they are unable to fast.

 

Another narration from Bukhari states:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، سَلَمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، – رضى الله عنها – تَقُولُ كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَهُ إِلاَّ فِي شَعْبَانَ الشُّغُلُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏
 Abu Salama reported:
I heard ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) as saying: I had to complete some of the fasts of Ramadan, but I could not do it but during the month of Sha’ban due to my duties to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).(Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith #2549)
Would the non Ahmadi Muslims now accuse Hazrat Aisha(ra) for not completing the fasts in the month of Sha’ban as well? Furthermore, there is no harm is opening your fast if needed, because of a attack. There is no statement which forbids this from the Holy Prophet (saw). It is reported:

 

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، – رضى الله عنهما – قَالَ سَافَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ عُسْفَانَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ شَرَابٌ فَشَرِبَهُ نَهَارًا لِيَرَاهُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَكَّةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ – رضى الله عنهما – فَصَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَفْطَرَ فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ ‏.‏
 Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) journeyed during the month of Ramadan in a state of fasting till he reached ‘Usfan. He then ordered a cup containing drinking water and he drank that openly so that the people might see it, and broke the fast (and did not resume it) till he reached Mecca. Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) fasted and broke the fast, so he who wished fasted and he who wished to break it broke it.(Sahih Muslim. Book 6, Hadith #2470)

 

The Holy Prophet(saw) did this because he understood the Qur’an unlike the anti Ahmadi Muslims. Allah has clearly stated in the Qur’an in the ayah quoted above, from Chapter 2 Verse 186:

 

“Allah desires to give you facility and He desires not hardship for you, and that you may complete the number, and that you may exalt Allah for His having guided you and that you may be grateful”

 

This clearly proves that one is allowed to break the fast if needed because of health or other issues. Holy Prophet(saw) has done this himself and has ordered others to as well. One famous example is he ordered his wife, Hazrat Juwairiya Bint Harith(ra) to break her fast. The narration is as follows:

 

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح‏.‏ وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ جُوَيْرِيَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَهْىَ صَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَصُمْتِ أَمْسِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِي غَدًا ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَأَفْطِرِي ‏”‏‏.‏
وَقَالَ حَمَّادُ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ سَمِعَ قَتَادَةَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أَيُّوبَ أَنَّ جُوَيْرِيَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُ فَأَمَرَهَا فَأَفْطَرَتْ.

 

 Narrated Abu Aiyub from Juwairiya bint Al-Harith:

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) visited her (Juwairiya) on a Friday and she was fasting. He asked her, “Did you fast yesterday?” She said, “No.” He said, “Do you intend to fast tomorrow?” She said, “No.” He said, “Then break your fast.” Through another series of narrators, Abu Aiyub is reported to have said, “He ordered her and she broke her fast.”(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Hadith #207)

 

It has become clear that the anti Ahmadis, in reality, have no allegation against Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). What they do have, are lies and misquoted quotations which they have used to misguide people.

 

Ahmad(as) stated:”Insofar as I am concerned, I do not leave a fast unless it is likely to cause my death; I do not feel inclined to leave a fast. These are blessed days and are the days of the showerings of mercy of God’s blessings and Mercy (Al Hakm 24/1/1901)