Like every time, the holy month of Ramadan has returned to us. The blessed month of Ramadan comes to us with the endless mercy of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; that mercy begins to pour down like the rain of Shrawan. In this blessed month, people can suppress their brutality and accumulate the strength of sacrifice. And this is basically the basis of piety. Allah Almighty has named this month in accordance with one of His descriptive names. From this too, the dignity of this month can be understood.
The history of fasting is much longer. The fasting that was also observed by previous nations and that was also obligatory upon them can be understood from the following verse of the Holy Quran. Allah Almighty says, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 183)
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In the Tafsir books such as Ruhul Ma’ani, Al Bidayah and Aini, it is said that ‘Alladhina min Qablikum’ or ‘upon those before you’ means that the obligation of fasting for all the people of all eras, i.e. all the prophets from Hazrat Adam (a.s.) to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) was the same as prayer. In the era of Hazrat Adam (a.s.), there was a provision for fasting three times a month. Hazrat Dawud (a.s.) used to fast one day after another. Regarding Hazrat Maryam (a.s.), the Quran says, ‘Say, I am fasting for Allah, today I will not speak to anyone.’ (Surah Maryam: 26).
In Tafsir Haqqani, it is stated, quoting the Torah, the Old Testament of the Bible, that it was obligatory for the Jews to observe the fast of expiation on the 10th day of the seventh month. It is stated that the ancient Christians also observed that fast. Hazrat Musa (AS) fasted for 40 days on Mount Tur. Hazrat Daniel (AS) fasted for three weeks in a row. It is evident from the Bible that the Jews and Christians used to observe other fasts as well. Even in the present era, their pious people have been observing fasts at different times of the year.
Commentators and historians have different opinions on the question of whether 30 fasts in the month of Ramadan were obligatory in the previous Shariahs. Some say that fasting in the month of Ramadan was obligatory on the Christian community. But the Christians made two changes to it. First, they used to fast in the autumn instead of the summer, fearing hardship. Second, they used to fast more than thirty times to make up for this deficiency. However, others say that fasting was made obligatory only for the Ummah of Muhammad.
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Regarding the obligation of fasting in Islamic law, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “Before fasting in Ramadan became obligatory, fasting on the 10th of Muharram was obligatory upon Muslims. Then, when the command to fast in Ramadan was revealed, the obligation of fasting was abolished.”
Allama Ibn Kathir (may Allah be pleased with him) has mentioned a long narration from Hazrat Mu’adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) in his Tafsir from Musnad Ahmad. This narration states that fasting in the beginning of Islam passed through three stages. 1. When the Prophet migrated to Medina, he used to fast three days in each month. He also used to fast on Ashura.
Then fasting the month of Ramadan became obligatory. 2. When the command to fast the month of Ramadan came, Muslims were initially given the option to fast as much as they wanted and to offer a ransom as much as they wanted. Then Allah Almighty said, ‘Those who find the month of Ramadan, they must fast.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah: 185). As a result of this command, fasting became obligatory on every man and woman, except for travelers and sick people.
However, those who have reached extreme old age are allowed to give fidiya in lieu of every fast. 3. Previously, eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse at night were permitted until bedtime. All these activities were prohibited after lying down. Then, according to another verse of the Quran, these activities were permitted until dawn, and the command to fast after dawn until sunset came.
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Regarding the month in which fasting was made obligatory, Allama Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book ‘Al Bidya wan Nihaya’ that fasting Ramadan was made obligatory in the month of Shaban in the second year of Hijri before the Battle of Badr. The world-famous Muhaddith Allama Yusuf Bannuri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that fasting on the 10th of Shaban in the second year of Hijri was made obligatory and it was in that year that the commandment of Zakat-Fitr was revealed along with the change of Qibla.
