Calculating Subh Sadiq

Q: How do I calculate what time Subuh Sadiq (true dawn) starts?

A: Subuh Sadiq is about 1 hour 25 minutes before sunrise in Port Elizabeth. This is a basic and safe way to calculate subu sadiq or true dawn.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Fasting on Friday

Q: I would like to know the reason for one not to fast on a Friday alone.

A. There is a difference of opinion among the jurists regarding fast on a Friday. Some say it is permissible. Others say it will be permissible if a day before (Thursday) or a day after (Saturday) is added. Those who say that it is Makrooh to fast on only a Friday base their argument on the following:

It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallaahu Anhu): The day of Jumu'ah is (like) the day of Eid. Do not make your day of Eid your day of fasting unless you add a day before or a day after.

Sayyidina Ali (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) says: Whoever among you wishes to keep a Nafl fast should fast on a Thursday. Do not fast on a Friday because it (Friday) is a day of eating, drinking and Zikr.

According to Imam Abu Haneefah (Rahmatullaahi Alayh) it is not Makrooh to only fast on a Friday. (Umdatul Qaari V17 P101 – 108).

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Keeping Missed Fasts on Alternate Days

Q: Is it necesary for my wife to keep missed fasts in continuity or can she keep fasts on alternate days?

A: She can keep the qadha on alternate days. It is not necessary to keep all qadha consecutively.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Fasting on Fridays

Q: Can one fast a qada (missed) fast or any optional fast on a Friday?

A: One should not keep a nafl or optional fast on Friday alone. Either keep fast on Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday, or else choose any other week day.

If one did already observe a fast on Friday alone, then it is valid. There is no need to repeat it. However, it is better to do as explained above.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Six Fasts of Shawwal or Ramadaan Qadha

Q: Which fasts have priority: the six days sunnah fasting of Shawwal, or missed fasts of Ramadaan due to menstruation?

A: It is necessary to first pay in the missed fasts of Ramadaan, then do the six of Shawwal, if one has the strenght and the time.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Days One Can't Fast

Q: What are the 5 days that you are not permitted to fast?

A: One is not allowed to fast on Eidul-Fitr, Eidul-Adh Haa (Bakri Eid) and 3 days after Eidul Adh-Haa. Five days in total.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Spotting in Menopause and Fasting

Q: I am 52 years old and went into menopause last year. I started to spot (brown) last night after Eshaa. This morning almost nothing. What do I do as I do not want to miss a fast unneccessarily?

A: You continue fasting until you see red/blood colored discharge. If that last for three days, then it is considered as haidh.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Cutting Hair In Ramadaan

Q: Can a male or female cut their hair during the month of Ramadaan while fasting?

A: A male is allowed to cut his hair at any time, whether it is during Ramadhaan or not. A female is not allowed to cut her hair at any time, whether Ramadhaan or not.

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Fasting in First Trimester of Pregnancy

Q: If you in your first trimester of pregnancy, is it ok to fast? If not, do you pay fidyah and repay the fast missed?

A: Consult with your doctor as to whether you should fast during this time or not. If the doctor advises you not to fast, then you have to keep Qadhaa of the fasts missed. Fidyah will not suffice.
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Cutting Hair While Fasting

Q: Can I get a hair cut while fasting?

A: Yes, you can take a haircut while fasting.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Cutting nails While Fasting

Q: Can we cut our nails when we are fasting?

A: It is permissible to cut nails while fasting.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Sex in Ramadaan

Q: Can I have sex in Ramadaan while fasting or after fasting with my wife?

A: To have sex with the wife during the day in Ramzaan while fasting is haraam. If one did this knowingly and while remembering the fast then the fast breaks and one qazaa plus 60 days kaffara become waajib. Kaffara means that after Ramadaan one must fast 60 days consecutively, one after the other, as a punishment for breaking the fast of Ramzaan. so the compensation for this is that one must fast one day as qazaa, and another 60 days as a penalty.

If one has sex forgetfully, then the fast will not break. Forgetfully means that when the man did this with his wife, he did not remember that we was fasting.

If you had sex with your wife, you must be honest with Allah Ta'ala. He knows what is in your heart. If you knew that you were fasting, but are saying that you had forgotten, then Allah knows the truth. We have mentioned the Islamic ruling above. It is now up to you to do what is right.

May Allah Ta'ala guide you and help you in your predicament, aameen.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Fasting Without Sehri

Q: Can we fast without eating anything? Will a glass of water do?

A: To fast without having any Sehri is permissible. However, having at least a glass of water will earn one the reward of Sehri.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Eating Past Sehri Time

Q: I have been fasting but just discovered that there is such a thing as sehri time. Does that mean all the days I have fasted and eaten after sehri time has passed are not valid? Even if I was not aware of this. I converted to Islam about 2 years ago but am very alone and know no Muslim to guide me in these things. I really need to know if what I have done has been for nothing and what I need to do next.

A: Ignore the past mistakes you made with regard to eating pass the sehri time. In future, make sure that you stop eating before Sehri time (approximately one hour thirty minutes before sunrise). Your fast will be accepted.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Fasting Without Sehri

Q: Is fasting without taking sehri is allowed?

A: Fasting without Sehri is permissible. In fact, one cannot miss the fast even if Sehri was missed.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Delaying Iftaar While Driving

Q: Does one have to break the fast immediatley at the time of Maghrib Athaan? If I am driving, and I don't have anything to break my fast, can I break my fast 5 minutes later when I reach my destination?

A: If you don't have anything to break your fast immediately, you are allowed to delay your Iftaar by a few minutes.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Pap Smear and Fasting

Q: If a female has a pap smear during Ramadaan, does the fast break? Is ghusl fardh upon her?

A: Having a pap smear while fasting will break the fast but ghusl is not fardh.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Using Drip While Fasting

Q: If a drip is ministered to a patient while he is fasting, does the fast break?

A: This will not break the fast. A drip is an intravenous method of introducing substance into the body, like an injection. It does not break the fast, regardless of what type of drip is used.

Using Nasal Spray

Q: If one uses a nasal spray while fasting, is the fast broken?

A: Using a nasal spray will break the fast.

Muslim Customers Eating in Takeaway in Ramadaan

Q: I own a takeaway and in Ramadaan some Muslim customers purchase food to eat at the shop saying they are musaafir or sick. Should I allow them to eat in the shop?

A: You should not allow Muslims to eat at the shop in the day during Ramadaan. Even if they are musaafirs, respect for the month should lead one avoid eating in public.