Ramadān - Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada

TheDefinitionof JourneyIn this regard,the PromisedMessiah as said:“I believe thatone shouldnot createtoo manyh a r d s h i p sfor himself.Whatever is commonlyconsidered a journey, (even if itinvolves only a few miles) oneshould follow the injunctionsmentioned regarding travel.As it is said, Innamā al a`amālobinniyyāt. (This means thatactions are judged accordingto one’s intent). Sometimes wego for a walk for 2-3 miles withbrothers and no one considersit a journey. But when someonepacks up his luggage and setsout with the intent of traveling,then he will be considered atraveler. The Sharī`ah doesnot intend to inflict hardship.According to religion, aconventional journey shouldbe considered as travelling.One should enjoy the leavegranted by Allāh and he will beobeying His commandments.Obligations are from Allāh asare facilities granted by Him.”(Al-Hakam, Vol. 5, Feb. 17, 1901)The Promised Messiah as wrote thefollowing to Hadrat Sahibzada PeerSirajul Haq Naumani ra :“Man kāna minkum marīzanau `alā safarin faiddatum minayyamin ukhar, meaning, ‘ifyou are sick or on journey(short or long) then fast thesame number of days at othertime’. Allāh has not put limitfor the journey neither onefinds any limit mentioned inAhadīth. Whatever distance isOne who fasts in Ramadān, having sincere faith, and hopingfor a reward from Allāh, then all his previous sins will beforgiven.Sahih Al-Bukharīnormally considered journeyshould be regarded as journey.Any distance which is less thannormal should not be calledjourney.” (Maktūbat, Vol. 5, pg.81)Fasting of a LabourerFor some labourers, it seemsdifficult to fast while doing manuallabour. Are they allowed to notfast on this account? The HolyQur’ān has not mentioned anyexception about it, neither dowe find any mention about it inAhadīth, although people in thosedays used to do manual labour. Ofcourse if someone is very weak andfasting is unbearable, then such aperson may be considered sick andfasting and is not mandatory forhim during his sickness.The question was presented to thePromised Messiah as that sometimesRamadān falls during weatherwhen farmers perform hardmanual labour like sowing seeds orharvesting the crop and it becomesimpossible for them to fast. Whatshould they do? He replied,“Innamā al a`amālo binniyyāt(Actions are judged accordingto intent). These peoplekeep their condition a secret.Everyone should evaluate his/her condition with piety andfear of God. One should hire alabourer if he can afford,otherwise such a person is tobe regarded as sick and shouldfast when betterc o n d i t i o n sprevail.” (Al-Badr, September26, 1907)Fasting forWomenA woman whois menstruatingwill not fast.In this regardHadrat Ayesha ranarrates that when we did not fastduring the time of our menstruation,the Holy Prophet sa told us to fast onother days. (Ibn Mājāh)The same applies to ladies whohave recently given birth. But whenthey are clean, they must make upfor those missed fasts. We find thefollowing in the Hadīth about suchwomen:“The Holy Prophet (peace andblessings of Allāh be upon him)said that Allāh has forgivenhalf of Salāt (ritual prayer) forthe man on a journey. Both, anursing mother and pregnantwoman are given leave fromfasting.” (Tirmidī)A Hadīth by Hadrat Anas ra isrelated as follows:“The Holy Prophet sa has givenleave to pregnant women andnursing mothers from fasting.”(Ibn Mājāh)This means that these womenshould complete the number offasts when their condition haschanged. (i.e. they are not pregnantor nursing mothers). They shouldalso pay Fidya if they have themeans, otherwise making up for thelost fasts will suffice as expiation.In the case of a woman who iseither pregnant or nursing, shedoes not have to fast. Paying Fidyawill suffice for her. In the case ofthose who are chronically ill for28 Fasting and Its Obligations