Thursday, September 25, 2008

Ruling on watching movies and TV, and playing cards, during the day in Ramadaan

Q) Some people who are fasting spend most of the day in Ramadaan watching movies and soap operas on video and TV, and playing cards. What is the Islamic view on that?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

Those who are fasting and other Muslims should fear Allaah with regard to what they do and what they refrain from doing at all times, and they should beware of that which Allaah has forbidden of watching indecent movies which show things which Allaah has forbidden, such as pictures of naked and semi-naked people and evil words; the same applies to things that appear on TV which go against the laws of Allaah, such as images, songs, musical instruments and misleading advertisements.

Every Muslim, whether he is fasting or not, should be beware of playing with cards, because of what that involves of witnessing evil and doing evil, and because it also leads to hard-heartedness, sickness in the heart and lack of respect for Allaah’s laws and finding what Allaah has made obligatory to be burdensome, such as praying in congregation and other obligatory duties, and falling into many haraam things. Allaah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah without knowledge, and takes it (the path of Allaah, or the Verses of the Qur’aan) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell‑fire).

7. And when Our Verses (of the Qur’aan) are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not — as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment”

[Luqmaan 31:6-7]

And Allaah says in Soorat al-Furqaan, describing the slaves of the Most Merciful (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity”

[al-Furqaan 25:72].

Falsehood includes all kinds of evil, and what is meant by “[they] do not bear witness” is that they are not present. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be among my ummah people who regard adultery, silk, alcohol and music as permissible.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh in a mu’allaq, majzoom report. What is meant by music is singing and musical instruments. Allaah has forbidden to the Muslims the means that cause them to fall into evil. Undoubtedly watching evil films and the evils that are shown on television are means that cause one to fall into evil or to become careless and not denounce it. And Allaah is the One whose help we seek. End quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (15/315).

These sins detract from the reward of fasting, and may erase it altogether.

See also the answer to question no. 50063.


Islam Q&A

Shaking hands with women in Ramadaan

Q) What is the ruling on touching women with one's hand only during Ramadaan and the emission of semen as a result?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

The ruling on touching non-mahram women is that it is haraam, during Ramadaan and at other times, whether that is touching with the hand only or actions that are more serious than that, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle, that would be better for him than his touching a woman who is not permissible for him.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5045.

See also question no. 2459, 21183

Sins in general – including touching women – are more serious in Ramadaan. They detract from the reward of fasting, and may even spoil the fast altogether so that the fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger and thirst. Hence the fasting person is told most emphatically to avoid sin.

The believer should make the most of Ramadaan to set himself straight, to repent from sin and to turn to Allaah. The day when he fasts and the day when he does not fast cannot be the same.

Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When you fast, then let your hearing, sight and tongue fast and abstain from lies and haraam things, and refrain from harming your neighbour. Be tranquil and dignified on the day when you fast, and do not let the day when you fast and the day when you do not fast be the same.

Narrated by Ibn al-Mubaarak in al-Zuhd, 1308.

See also Question no. 37658

If a man shakes hands with a woman during the day in Ramadaan, and he ejaculates, his fast is invalidated, and there is no difference of opinion among the scholars on this point. He has to repent to Allaah from this sin, refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and make up that day’s fast later on.

See al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, 4/361

With regard to emission of semen whilst fasting, if that happens without desire, e.g. because of sickness, then it does not affect the fast.

The Standing Committee was asked:

I suffer from seminal discharge during the days in Ramadaan without any wet dreams or engaging in the “secret habit” (masturbation). Does this have any effect on the fast?

They replied:

If the matter is as described, the emission of semen without any feelings of pleasure during the day in Ramadaan does not affect your fast, and you do not have to make up that day.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/278.

But if the emission of semen is accompanied by desire, one of two scenarios applies:

1 – That happens because the man does something that provokes his desires, such as kissing his wife, shaking hands with a woman with desire, etc. This invalidates the fast and he must make up that day later on.

2 – The semen is emitted without the man doing anything, such as simply thinking about desire, or because of a wet dream. This does not invalidate the fast and his fast is still valid.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to the emission of semen as the result of desire, this invalidates the fast whether that happened because of touching or kissing or repeatedly looking, or any other reason that provokes desire, such as masturbation etc. With regard to wet dreams and thinking, these do not invalidate the fast even is semen is emitted as a result.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/135

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

Giving zakaah to one who is seeking worldly knowledge

Q) My sister is married to a man who only works sometimes but he is also stingy and does not spend on her or her children. She works and pays for all the household expenses, and now she is being forced to complete her studies so that she can get a higher certificate, otherwise she will lose her job, but she needs money to do these studies. Is it permissible for me to give the zakaah of my wealth to her?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

It is permissible to give zakaah to a seeker of worldly knowledge who does not have enough to support him, if the knowledge that he is studying is permissible and is needed, so that he will be able to work and find a job, because getting these certificates has become a real necessity without which one cannot usually find employment.

Al-Mardaawi says in al-Insaaf (3/218): Shaykh Taqiy al-Deen favoured the view that it is permissible to take zakaah in order to buy books that he needs including books of knowledge that is indispensable for his religious and worldly affairs. End quote. And this is the correct view. End quote.

Based on this, there is nothing wrong with your giving the zakaah of your wealth to your sister.

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

Does he have to refrain from eating on the day he becomes Muslim?

Q) If a kaafir becomes a Muslim during the day in Ramadaan, does he have to refrain from eating during the day on which he becomes Muslim?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, he has to refrain from eating for the rest of the day on which he becomes Muslim, because he is now one of the people who are under this obligation. This is different from the case when an impediment to fasting ceases to apply; when an impediment to fasting ceases to apply, the person does not have to refrain from eating for the rest of that day, for example, if a woman’s period ends during the day and she becomes pure, she does not have to refrain from eating for the rest of the day. Similarly if a sick person who didn’t fast because of sickness recovers during the day, he does not have to refrain from eating, because it was permissible for him not to fast on this day, even though he is one of those who come under this obligation – i.e., a Muslim. This is different from the case of one who becomes Muslim during the day; he has to refrain from eating but he does not have to make up that day. But those people – menstruating women, people who are sick and so on, do not have to refrain from eating but they do have to make up that day. End quote.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him).


Al-Ijaabaat ‘ala As’ilat al-Jaaliyaat, (1/7)