Fiqh of Fasting: Obligations of Fasting

8. Obligations of Fasting
Just like any other act of worship fasting also has furoodh (obligations):

a. Abstention from fajr till sunset from that which breaks fast.
The Prophet (sall Allâhu’ alayhi wa sallam) described two fajrs, one that sits laying across the horizon with a dim glow and the other which shoots up. And the one that shoots up is the second fajr. You can usually notice these two distinctly when you live in a place where there aren’t many lights around. As for those who live in the city this is not easily seen. Allah said,

…وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ…

“….and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night),..” [Surat al Baqara (2) V. 187]

`Adyi bin Hatim (radi Allâhu’ anhu) told the Messenger of Allah (sall Allâhu’ alayhi wa sallam) that he placed two threads, one black and the other white, under this pillow as he sat to eat his sahuur. He continued to eat while glancing at the thread under his pillow to see whether he can differentiate between them. By the time he could differentiate between them, it was already daybreak. When he finished this story, the Messenger of Allah commented and explained: `Your pillow must be very vast (to cover the spaces of white and black threads)’ What is really meant is the whiteness of the day and the darkness of the night.’

Also the Prophet (sall Allâhu’ alayhi wa sallam) said that “Don’t stop eating suhoor by hearing the adhaan of Bilaal (radi Allâhu’ anhu). It is not the fajr that lays across the horizon rather it is the fajr that slides up.” And we know that during the time of the Prophet (sall Allâhu’ alayhi wa sallam) they made two adhaans for fajr, the first was early which was done by Bilaal (radi Allâhu’ anhu) And the second adhaan was done by Abdullah Ibn Umm Makhtoom (radi Allâhu’ anhu). We will explain as to what breaks the fast later on.
And the time when one breaks his fast is the time of sunset or Maghrib. Maghrib time is the time when you see the red in the sky not when its complete darkness. It is recommended for the person who is fasting to break the fast as soon as it is time for Maghrib and not delay it.

(Chapter 4 & 5 – Insha’Allah comming soon around Eid al Fitr)

IBN AL HYDERABADEE