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sitting. If he cannot manage this either, he may perform it by îmâ,
(that is, by signs). It is farz for Muslims to fast in the month of
Ramadân. Yet if a person becomes ill or sets out for a journey of
more than three days’ walk, obligation of fasting is temporarily
deferred. Later, whenever he finds convenience, he makes qadhâ
of the fasts which he could not perform in their proper time, (that
is, he pays his debt of farz by fasting a day for a day).
As for people living in polar countries with days and nights
lasting two, three, or more months; these people shall fast, too. In
such countries, as well as in any country where daytime continues
for more than twenty-four hours, times of beginning and breaking
fast are set in hours. The criterion to be taken (for the length of
each fasting period) is the duration observed by Muslims living in
the closest city where daytime is not so long, (that is, shorter than
twenty-four hours). [By the same token, a Muslim who goes to the
moon, for instance, follows the same rule, if he has not intended to
be safarî, or if he decides to live there. These priests apparently
know nothing of Islam.]
As it is known, manifestations, blessings, injunctions of Allâhu
ta’âlâ upon His born slaves are not equal on every individual.
Giving riches to some of His believing born slaves, He commands
them to make hajj. And giving poverty to some believing born
slaves of His, He does not enjoin hajj on them. He bestows power,
energy and health upon some, and commands them to fast. On the
other hand, He grants permission that those who are not strong or
healthy enough to fast (in Ramadân) may fast later. Bestowing the
nisâb [1]
amount of property upon some of His born slaves, He
commands them to give zakât and to help with the subsistence of
their needy relatives. He gives poverty to some born slaves of His,
on the other hand, and enfranchises them to take zakât. [All these
are thoroughly compatible with the divine justice of Allâhu ta’âlâ.
He bestows many blessings upon some of His born slaves. And
they, in turn, thank for these blessings, thus attaining the high
grade of gratefulness. To other born slaves of His, He gives few
blessings. And these people are patient, thus attaining the high
grade of patience. Allâhu ta’âlâ does not nullify the good deeds of
any of His born slaves.]
[1] Boundary between poverty and richness prescribed by Islam.
Muslims whose wealth has reached this boundary have to pay the
obligatory alms called zakât. Please see the fifth fascicle of Endless
Bliss.
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