Ramadhan - Rabetah

Islamic Teachings
Eid was named as such
because it returns every year
with renewed happiness.
Eid days are thus named
because Allah renews His
bounties in them, and He
distributes His blessings to
His worshippers. Thus, on Eid
al-Fitr, He permits them to eat after having been
restrained from food, and He requires paying
Sadaqat al-Fitr (the charity of breaking the fast) to the
needy, as well as because the custom in Eid is joy,
happiness, cheerfulness, and gladness.
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is an obligation for every Muslim,
male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or
its equivalent, either in the form of money,
ornaments, stock-in-trade, or in the form of some
goods or commodities beyond one's normal needs.
Every person who owns such an amount has to pay
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr, not only on behalf of himself but also
on behalf of his minor children. The prescribed
amount of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is 1.75 Kilograms of wheat
or its value in money. This amount is prescribed for
paying Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for one person only. If a
person has young children, the same amount has to
be paid on behalf of each one of them separately.
The following points must be remembered with
regards to the payment of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr.
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is compulsory on each adult male and
female separately, and each person himself is
responsible to pay it. A husband is not required to
pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf of his wife nor his adult
children. However, if the head of the family, by his
own free will, wishes to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for each
one of the members of his family, he should seek
their permission for this purpose. In this case the
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr paid by him will be valid on their
behalf. If he did not pay the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on behalf
of any of the adult members of his family, he will not
be responsible for it.
It is a Sunnah that the Sadaqat-ul-Fitr be paid before
performing the 'Eid prayer. It can also be paid before
the 'Eid day, but it is not advisable to delay it up to
the performance of Eid prayer. However, if a person
has failed to pay before its proper time, he should
pay it as soon as possible, whereby the obligation will
stand discharged.
The Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is not necessary on behalf of a
child who was born after the break of dawn in the 'Eid
day, nor is it necessary to pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr on
behalf of a person who dies before the dawn of the
Eid day.
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr should be paid only to a person who
is entitled to receive Zakah.
Taraweeh Salah
The Prophet Muhammad, , has regarded the Taraweeh Salah
as a means of the forgiveness of sins. He has said:
"The one who observes the Taraweeh Salah at night during
Ramadhan with complete faith and devotion only for the sake of
the recompense of the hereafter, will have all of his previous sins
forgiven by Allah." (Bukhari, Muslim)
Scholars have regarded the collective offerings of the Taraweeh
Salah as a compulsory Sunnah. According to consensus of the
Companions, the Taraweeh Salah consists of twenty raka‟ah
which are to be offered two at a time with one salutation and after
every four raka‟ah a short pause of rest has to be observed for the
convenience of the people. The worshipper has the option to sit
quiet during the pause after each four raka‟ah, or recite the
Tasbeeh, or offer a voluntary Salah.
The witr Salah is allowed to be offered collectively only during
Ramadhan.
It is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, , to complete recital of the
whole Quran, from the beginning to the end. One must understand
that the Taraweeh Salah is a compulsory Sunnah of the Prophet,
, and has to be observed regularly until the end of the month of
Ramadhan, no matter whether the Quran has been recited once or
more than once in the Masjid.
Issue 31 www.rabetah.com Sept/Oct 2010
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