Question:
Asalaam Alaykum .
I have a question for Sheikh Hisham.
My husband and i have different views on Ramadan and Fasting. My husband believes that the main purpose of fasting is to stay hungry so we know how the poor feel when they are hungry, thus encouraging you to give money to the poor. He also does not belive in waking up for Suhoor/Sehri to eat and beleives he will be rewarded more if he fasts without eating anything. Furthermore, he does not give much importance to ibadah and belives he will still receive all reward for fasting despite not waking up for Suhoor and missing some of his Salat/Prayers.
Please advise if he is correct and what is the correct ettiquette and reasoning for fasting. Thank you.
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani said, in a khutbah:
…when you are fasting you will remember your Lord and you will remember how much favors He gave you during the year, at any time of day and night you are able to eat and drink. But in this month you are not able to eat and drink except certain hours in order to feel with the poor.
In another suhbat:
The Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad (s) said that prayer is the pillar of our religion. And he (s) “Between kufr, unbelief, and iman, faith is only prayer.” Allah has made the prayers an obligation, and demands that we all teach that and insists on it.
Regarding the pre-dawn meal, suhoor:
The Prophet (s) said: “Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing (baraka).” (Bukhari, Fath, 4/139).
And “Suhoor is blessed food, and it involves being different from the people of the Book.”
What is Baraka?
A well-known da`ee explains baraka as follows:
والبركة: هي ثبوت الخير الإلهي في الشيء؛ فإنها إذا حلت في قليل كثرته، وإذا حلت في كثير نفع، ومن أعظم ثمار البركة في الأمور كلها إستعمالها في طاعة الله عز وجل.
“Baraka is the attachment of Divine Goodness to a thing, so if it occurs in something little, it increases it. And if it occurs in something much it benefits. And the greatest fruit of baraka in all things is to use it in the obedience of Allah, Exalted and Majestic.”
On the other hand, one of the many blessings of Ramadan is to bring the family closer and increase love and affection. If disputing with your husband regarding such details causes friction and division, it is best not to bring them up, but rather focus on what is positive and on what you agree upon, and then Allah will increase the blessings, insha-Allah.
Taher Siddiqui
