Ramadan 1441-2020 Announcements

Ramadan Mubarak!

• Blessed Month of Ramadan starts Friday April 24th insha’Allah. First taraweeh on Thrusday April 23rd (Prayed at home).
• Imam Fathi will broadcast a live nightly lecture on ICBR Facebook page starting at 9:30pm.
• Imam Zahed is broadcasting daily Qur’an Recitation on ICBR Facebook page starting at 4:00pm
• Ramadan prayer calendar can be downloaded from this link.
• Prayer time (Athan in Boca Raton) for Friday April 24th, 2020 are as follow: Fajr: 5:42am; Shoroq: 6:49; Duhr: 1:19pm; Asr: 4:50pm; Maghrib: 7:49pm; Isha: 8:56pm
• The five daily and Jummah prayers continue to be suspended this month of April and throughout the entire month of Ramadan.
• There will be no daily Iftar for Ramadan. However, Food Baskets for Muslim families in need will be provided, click here to reserve a food basket or to enter the info of someone you know who is in need.

We ask Allah the Exalted to help us all fast the days of this month and pray its nights. We also ask Him to lift this pandemic, to keep us safe and healthy and to allow us to return to His houses.

Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh,

ICBR’s leadership continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic situation with local authorities and faith leaders, and prays to Allah for the safety and wellbeing of our community and the entire humanity at large.
Unfortunately we have reluctantly decided to keep the Masjid closed, except for few designated individuals for essential reasons.

الحمد لله والصلاة و السلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن والاه أما بعد: فالسؤال الذي يطرحه كثير من إخواننا في هذه الأيام هو كيف نصلي صلاة التراويح في البيت ؟ ثم هل يجوز الإقتداء بالإمام والصلاة معه عبر البث المباشر ؟

الجواب:

يجوز للمسلم أن يصل بزوجته وأولاده التراويح في البيت. وصلاة التراويح ليست واجبة في المساجد لأن الصلاة التي أوجبها الشارع في المساجد هي الصلاة المفروضة فقط. قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: أفضل صلاة المرء في بيته إلا المكتوبة. رواه البخاري ومسلم

فإذن يصلي المسلم في بيته مع زوجته وأولاده و يحتسب الأجر عند الله تعالى خاصة في هذه الأوقات والظروف التي نمر بها.

وننبه إلى جواز حمل المصحف في صلاة التراويح ، فقد ثبت عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها أمرت مولاها ذكوان أن يؤمها في قيام رمضان، وكان يقرأ من المصحف. (رواه البخاري معلقاً).

أما الإقتداء بالإمام عبر البث المباشر في صلاة التراويح فهذا لا يصح و مخالف لأقوال الأئمة الأربعة وجماهير أهل العلم.

فالعلماء يشترطون لإئتمام المأموم بالإمام الإتصال المكاني أو إتحاد المكان.

 و لا يضر الفاصل اليسير كطريق أو حائط أو غيره من الأمور اليسيرة التي يذكرها أهل العلم.

والله تعالى أعلم

Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah Mohammed, his family and companions.
The question that many of our brothers and sisters ask these days is how do we pray Taraweeh prayer at home?  Then is it permissible to follow the imam and pray with him via live broadcast?
The answer:
It is permissible for a Muslim to pray with his wife and children Taraweeh at home. Taraweeh prayer is not obligatory in Mosques, because the prayers that are required for the Muslim to pray at the Mosque are the obligatory prayers only. The Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best of prayer is a man’s prayer in his house, apart from the prescribed prayers.” (Reported: Bukhari and Muslim). The Muslim should pray in his home with his wife and children, and expect the reward from Allah Almighty, especially in these times and circumstances that we are going through. It should be noted that it is permissible to carry the Mushaf (Qur’an) during Taraweeh prayers, as it was reported from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she ordered Dhakwan to perform Taraweeh prayer during Ramadan, and he used to recite from the Mushaf. (Bukhari).
As for following the imam through the direct broadcast of Tarawih prayer, this is not valid and contradicts the statements of the four imams and the masses of scholars. Scholars required the union of the place in order to follow the imam during prayer. They indicated that it does not harm the easy separator like a road, a wall, or other easy things that they mentioned in their books.
Allah knows best.

May Allah protect us all and keep our children and communities safe, Ameen.
ICBR Imam and Shura

Importance of Ramadan

Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month of fasting, prayer and blessings, during which the doors to gain Allah’s Mercy will be wide open. Muslims around the world await the coming of Ramadan because, as the Prophet has stated,

“When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise will be opened, the gates of Hell will be shut closed, and the devils will be chained.” [An-Nasaii].

It is the month in which the Quran was revealed,

[The Month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind, and a clear proof of guidance and criterion (of right and wrong).] [2:185].

Also, Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of the Decrees), which is better than a thousand months, falls in Ramadan. Furthermore, it is the month of Jihad, and the first decisive battle in Islam, the Battle of Badr, occurred during Ramadan. Additionally, the Messenger of Allah victoriously entered Makkah during this blessed month. Fasting is ordained by Allah upon the Muslims as a means of increasing At-Taqwa (fear) of Him in their hearts,

[O you who believe, Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have Taqwa.] [2:183].

Therefore, Allah has ordained fasting so that Muslims can acquire At- Taqwa and act upon it. At-Taqwa protects Muslims from Allah’s punishment by encouraging them to be obedient to Him, and also reminds them to remember Allah so that He is not forgotten. Furthermore, it is an honorable way of thanking Allah for His Bounties. Fasting creates in Muslims the strength to disobey their desires by erecting a barrier between them and shameless speech and sinful acts. The Prophet said, what translated means,

“When it is the day when any of you is fasting, he should avoid shameless speech and neither behave in an obscene manner nor quarrel (with others).

Fasting also helps Muslims to restrain themselves from anger, and changes their behavior and attitude to the better. Muslims refrain form eating, drinking and sexual intercourse while fasting, thus demonstrating their effort to please Allah. Also, while fasting, Muslims abandon all sins, big and small, whether committed in public or in private. The Prophet said, what translated means,

“If one does not abandon uttering falsehood and abiding by it, then Allah does not need that (such a person) fasts from (consuming) food and drinks.” [Al-Bukhari].

This does not mean that those who sin while fasting do not have to fast at all. Rather, it means that one cannot perfect his fast unless he realizes in his behavior the goals behind Allah ordaining the fast, that is achieving Taqwa and refraining from all types of evil. The Prophet said, what translated means,

“There are those who fast but gain nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst.” [At- Tabari].

Some of the Salaf have used to say: “Indeed Allah, the Most High, has made the month of Ramadan as a competition for His creatures, in which they may race with one another to His pleasure, by obeying Him. Thus, one group comes first and so they prosper and another group comes last and so they fail.” Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif of Ibn Rajab
Dear brothers and sisters: Protect and preserve your fast from the evil deeds that may adversely affect it. Ask Allah for forgiveness at all times, but especially while fasting. Teach yourselves the habit of reading the Quran, especially during Ramadan. Try to achieve Taqwa and then preserve it by performing righteous, good deeds. Fear Allah and preserve His Law. And be certain that Allah’s Reward is not far from those who truly worship Him, and that His Punishment is not far from those who disobey Him. We ask Allah that He helps us to always stand firm on His Path and to continue performing righteous, good deeds throughout our lives. He is the One Who hears the supplication and the only Who can answer it.

The Rules of Fasting

The Essential Elements of Fasting

1. Intention: The Prophet said, what translated means,

“Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and every person shall earn that which he intended.” [Al- Bukhari & Muslim].

The intention to fast must be made before Fajr and during every night in Ramadhan, during any part of the night. The intention must not be announced or uttered aloud, as it is an act of the heart and does not involve the tongue.
2. Abstaining from the acts that break the fast, from dawn until sunset: Allah said, what translated means,

[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.] [2:187].

Manners of Fasting

1. Eating Su’hur (predawn meal), for the Ummah has agreed that it is a Musta’hab (preferred) act, although many people are unaware of its reward. The Messenger of Allah said,

“Eat Su’hur, for Su’hur is Barakah (a blessing).” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].

The Barakah in the Su’hur originates from it enabling the person to gain strength and in lessening the effects of fasting. The Sunnah is to delay eating the Su’hur as much as possible.
2. Breaking the fast as early as possible, for the Prophet said,

“People will still have some goodness as long as they rush to break the fast.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].

It is better to break the fast on some dates. The Messenger of Allah used to break his fast on some Rutab (fresh dates) before he prays. If Rutab were not available, then some dried dates before he prays. If there were no dates, then some sips of water. [Ahmad & Abu Dawood]
3. Using Siwak (middle eastern tree branch used to clean the teeth), which is encouraged for those who fast, whether during the day or the night. The Prophet said,

“If it was not for fear that I make it hard for my Ummah, I would order them to use Siwak before every prayer.” [Al- Bukhari & Muslim].

4. Discouraging exaggeration in Istinshaq (inhaling water in the nose and then exhaling it during Wudhu’). Laqeet ibn Saburah narrated, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about Wudhu.’ He said,

‘Perform it perfectly, clean between the fingers, and exaggerate in Istinshaq, except when you are fasting.’” [Ahmad and As-Sunan]

. Ibn Qudamah said,

“There is no harm if, while gargling or rinsing the nose for the sake of purifying one’s self, water reaches the throat unintentionally and without exaggeration.”

5. Swallowing saliva: No specific ruling was mentioned with regards to this subject, since no one can avoid doing this. Similarly, no one can avoid breathing the dust that is in the air. Therefore, such matters are among the permissible. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “None of these acts breaks the fast. Fasting is a part of the religion of Islam, and both the ignorant and the learned need to know its rules. If the preceding actions were forbidden by Allah and His Messenger to the fasting person because they would break his fast, then it would have been obligatory upon the Messenger to inform us of such.”

Permissible Acts

1. Pouring water over the head or the body: Several companions reported that they saw the Prophet pour water over his head while he was fasting, due to thirst or extreme heat.
2. Applying Ko‘hl or eye drops to the eyes: Anas reported that the Prophet applied Kohl (middle eastern eye liner that has some medicinal benefits) while he was fasting.
3. Kissing the wife for whoever can control himself: The Prophet’s wife, ‘Aaishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “The Prophet used to kiss and embrace while he was fasting, for out of all of you, he had the most control over his desires.” Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
4. The fasting person can eat, drink and perform sexual intercourse from sunset until Fajr (sunrise): The Prophet said, what translated means,

“Bilal makes the (first) call to prayer while it is still dark. Therefore, eat and drink until he makes the (second) call to the prayer.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim].

5. Eating and drinking while forgetting that you are fasting: The Messenger of Allah said,

“Whoever eats and drinks, forgetting that he is fasting, then he has to complete his fast (it is not broken), for it was Allah who fed him and gave him something to drink.” [At- Tirmithi].

Actions that Void the Fast

Actions that void the fast can be divided into two types:
1. Those which void the fast and require that the day be made up for later:

a. Intentional vomiting: The Prophet said, what translated means,

“Whoever is overcome and vomits, does not make up the day. Whoever vomits intentionally, must make up that day.” [Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi & An-Nasaii].

b. Ejaculation of sperm: Ejaculation voids the fast even if it was just due to kissing, hugging, or masturbation; and the day must be made up for.
c. If, while fasting, one has the intention to break the fast, then his fast is void even if he does not actually eat anything. The intention is one of the pillars of the fast, and if one changes his intention, he will have nullified his fast.

2. Those which void the fast and require expiation: The only action in this category is having sexual intercourse with the spouse during the day in Ramadhan. Once, a man came to the Messenger of Allah, Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam, and said to him, “I am destroyed, O Messenger of Allah!” The Messenger asked, “What has destroyed you?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife during the day in Ramadhan.” The Prophet asked, “Are you able to free a slave?” He said, “No.” The Prophet asked, “Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?” He said, “No.” The Prophet asked, “Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?” He said, “No.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Then sit (and do nothing).” [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi & An-Nasaii].

Ramadan Mubarak!