Page 79 - Demo

What is the ruling if a person starts fasting while in doubt of the fajrtime or breaks their fast while in doubt of the maghreb time because they are in an area where they cannot verify the time?If a person whose current state is that of one who is not fasting yet and he/she thinks that it is still sahoor time, then their fast is still valid if they continued eating for several more minutes. However, if a person whose current state is that of one who is fasting and he/she thinks that maghrib time has arrived, when in fact it has not, then that person's fast is invalid. The fasting person has the burden of performing due diligence and verifying the time before breaking the fast.What is the kaffara for someone who breaks the fast without a legitimate reason?According to the Hanafi and Maaliki schools, the kaffara of fasting 60 consecutive days would need to be applied in this case, in addition to making up the missed days. If the person is unable to do this, then they need to pay the kaffara of feeding 60 poor Muslim people per missed day. This is the same penalty that applies to spouses that have sexual intercourse during the day in Ramadan. However, even though in the case of sexual intercourse there is a hadith which is applicable, there is no specific hadith which applies this type of kaffara for someone who breaks the fast with no legitimate reason. According to the Shafi%u2019i and Hanbali schools, they believe that this is a major sin which requires regret, repentance and the promise of not breaking the fast without a legitimate reason again. The person would need to make up each missed day in addition to paying a kaffara for each day missed. These scholars do not believe that the heavier kaffara applies in this case because there is no specific evidence to support that.The stronger opinion is that of the Shafi%u2019i and Hanbali schools. A person who misses a day of fasting for no legitimate reason should make up the missed day, as well as pay the kaffara of feeding a poor Muslim for that day.If a person is eating and drinking at suhoor and hears the adthan, does the person have to stop eating at that moment or is it permissible to continue eating for the entirety of the adthan?According to the majority of the scholars, fajr arrives the moment that the adthan starts. If following Copyright %u00a9 2023 Islamic Association of Raleigh. All rights reserved. 79