Ramadan: Fact/Fiction

Now, with everything else, people have managed to come up with things just to confuse and mislead everyone else. These are some of the things that I have heard/been told about Ramadan.

1) Showering (excessively) is makruh, especially close to the time at which one can break his fast.

I read up and this is what I found: Abu Dawood (2365) narrated that one of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pouring water over his head when he was fasting, because of thirst or heat. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

2) Stop eating 10 minutes before Fajr.

One of the reprehensible innovations that have appeared in our times is giving the second adhaan approximately twenty minutes before Fajr in Ramadaan, and extinguishing the lamps which indicate that it is haraam to eat and drink for those who want to fast. Those who introduced this innovation claim that they are erring on the side of caution with regard to an act of worship.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about some timetables which give the time of imsaak as being approximately one-quarter of an hour before Fajr. He said:

This is a kind of bid’ah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite, because Allaah says in His Holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):

“and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)”

[al-Baqarah 2:187]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Bilaal gives the adhaan at night, so eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.” This imsaak which some of the people do is an addition to that which Allaah has enjoined, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2670

And Allaah knows best.

3) Saying "I'm hungry" or counting down the minutes to iftar invalidates the fast.

Praise be to Allaah.

The time of iftaar is the time when the fast ends, which is the time of Maghrib prayer. There is no sin on the one who asks about the time of iftaar so that he may enjoy the things that Allaah has permitted to him of food, drink and intercourse, and to feel the joy of having completed his worship. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The fasting person has two moments of joy: when he breaks his fast he rejoices at breaking his fast, and when he meets his Lord he will rejoice at his fasting.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805; Muslim, 1151.

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Al-Qurtubi said: What this means is that he rejoices at the disappearance of his hunger and thirst when it becomes permissible for him to break his fast. This joy is something natural and this is the first meaning that comes to mind. And it was said that his joy when breaking the fast is because he has completed his fast and finished his act of worship, and his Lord is allowing him now to eat and drink, which will help him to fast more.

Taken from Islam QA: Issues of Fasting