BOOK 6. KITAB AL-SAWM
(The Book of Fasting )

• Introduction

1. Excellence of the month of Ramadan
2. Fasting in Ramadan should necessarily be commenced with the sight of the new moon and finished with the sight of the new moon. If the whether is cloudy at the beginning or at the end, then complete thirty days
3. Do not fast for a day or two days ahead of Ramadan
4. The month may consist of twenty-nine days
5. There is a sighting of the moon for every town; the sighting at one town cannot be held valid for the other town situated at a considerable distance from it
6. It is immaterial whether the new moon is large (on account of appearing after thirty nights) or small (on account of appearing on the thirtieth night): and Allah defers it to make it suitable for sighting and if the sky is cloudy, then thirty (fasts) are to be completed
7. The months of Id are not incomplete
8. The timing of fast begins with the dawn
9. Excellence of taking meal before dawn, stress on giving It preference and preference for deferring it (at the fag end of the night) and hastening in breaking it
10. The time for breaking the fast and ending of day
11. It is forbidden to observe uninterrupted fasting
12. Kissing is not forbidden while fasting if one is not urged by sexual lust
13. There is no harm in observing fast if one is Junbi even after dawn
14. Sexual Intercourse is completely forbidden during the day in the month of Ramadhan.
15. Permissibility of observing the fast or not observing it in the month of Ramadan for a traveller
16. The reward of one who does not observe fast because of a religious duty
17. Choice for observing fast and breaking it on a journey
18. It is preferable for the pilgrim not to observe fast in 'Arafat on the day of 'Arafa
19. Fasting on the day of 'Ashura (1Oth of Muharram)
20. On which day the fast is to be observed in Muharram
21. He who ate on the day of Ashuara should abstain (from eating) for the rest of the day (as a mark of respect)
22. Forbiddance to observe fast on 'Id-ul-Fitr and 'Id-al-Adha
23. Disapproval of fasting on Friday alone
24. Abrogation of the words of Allah: "And as for those who can fast (but do not) the expiation is" by the words: "Whosoever witnesses it he shall have to fast the whole month" (ii. 184)
25. Permissibility of completing the fasts of Ramadhan before'the commencement of the coming Ramadhan
26. Completing of the fast on behalf of the dead
27. When an observer of fast is invited to a feast or someone fights with him, he should say: "I am fasting"
28. Excellence of fasting
29. Permissibility of making an intention for voluntary fasting before noon and permissibility of breaking voluntary fast without reason
30. Eating and drinking (and sexual intercourse) in forgetfulness does not break the fast
31. The fasts observed by the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) besides Ramadhan
32. Forbiddance to observe perpetual fast and excellence of observing fast on alternate days
33. Excellence of observing fast for three days during every month, and fasting on the day of 'Arafa, and 'Ashura and Monday and Thursday
34. Fasting in the month of Sha'ban
35. Excellence of the fast of Muharram
36. Excellence of observing fast for six days in the month of Shawwal after Ramadhan
37. Excellence of Lailat-ul Qadar and exhortation to find it
38. Observing of I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadhan
39. When should a person enter the place of I'tikaf as he intends to observe it
40. One should exert more (in devotion and prayer) in the last ten days of Ramadhan
41. Fasting on the 10th Dhu'l-Hijja