The fast
has two essential elements that must be fulfilled
for it to be valid and acceptable. They are:
1.
ABSTAINING FROM THOSE ACTS THAT BREAK THE FAST
This point
is based on the Qur'anic verse "Eat and
drink until the white thread becomes distinct to
you from the black thread of the dawn. Then
strictly observe the fast until nightfall."
This is
also based on the following hadith "When the
verse 'Eat and drink until the white thread
becomes distinct to you..' was revealed, I took a
black thread and a white thread and placed them
underneath my pillow. During the night I looked
at them to see if you could distinguish between
them. In the morning I went to Rasulullah and
mention that to him and he said 'It is the black
of the night and the white of the day.'"
2. THE
INTENTION
Allah
tells us in the Qur'an "And they are
ordained nothing else than to serve Allah,
keeping religion pure for Him." Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said "Actions
are judged according to the intention behind them,
and for everyone is what he intended."
The
intention must be made before fajr and during
every night of Ramadan. This point is based in
the Hadith of Hafsah which reported that
Rasulullah said "Whoever does not determine
to fast before fajr will have no fast" (that
is it wont be accepted). This is related by Ahmad,
an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.
Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Habban have classified it
as sahih.
The
intention is valid during any part of the night.
It need not be spoken, as it is in reality an act
of the heart which does not involve the tongue.
It will be fulfilled by one's intention to fast
out of obedience to Allah and for seeking His
pleasure.
If one
eats one's pre-dawn meal with the intention of
fasting and to get closer to Allah by such
abstinence, then one has performed the intention.
If one determines that one will fast on the next
day solely for the sake of Allah, then one has
performed the intention even if a pre-dawn meal
was not consumed.
According
to many of the jurists, the intention for a
voluntary fast may be made at any time before any
food is consumed. This opinion is based on A'ishah's
hadith "The prophet came to us one day and
said 'Do you have any food?' We said 'No.' He
said 'Therefore I am fasting.' [Muslim and Abu
Dawud]
THE
CONSEQUENCE OF BREAKING THE FAST OF RAMADAN
Abu
Hurairah radi Allahu anhu reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said
"Whoever breaks the fast of Ramadan without
having any excuses that Allah would excuse him
for, then even a perpetual fast, if he were to
fast it, would not make up for that day." [Abu
Dawud, ibn Majah, at-Tirmidhi, Al Bukhari reports
this hadith in marfu' form, also reported by Ibn
Masu'd]
Adh
Dhahabi says "According to the established
believers, anyone who leaves the fast of Ramadan
without being sick is worse than a fornicator or
an alcoholic. In fact, they doubt his Islam and
they suspect that he might be a zandiqah an one
of those who destroy [Islam]." [zandiqah are
those who claim to be Muslim so that they could
destroy it from within.]