Definition of Fasting.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : So, define fasting for me? What is fasting?
The student: Abstaining from things that break the fast from the rising of the sun...
The Shaykh : From the rising of the dawn?
The student: From the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun.
The Shaykh : That is incorrect. Your definition contradicts what you said. You said it is an act of worship, and then you said it is abstaining. A person can abstain from eating and drinking for health reasons; they told him, "You are sick today, do not eat."
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Well done. So, add to the abstaining from food and drink and all other things that break the fast from the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun the phrase "in worship of Allah." Is that right? This is necessary, and some students of knowledge miss this. They ask him, "What is prayer?" He says, "Prayer is known words and actions, beginning with the takbir and ending with the taslim." Is that correct? It is incomplete. Say: "Worshipping Allah with known words and actions, beginning with the takbir and ending with the taslim". Do you understand? Fasting is "Worshipping Allah by abstaining from food and drink and all other things that break the fast from the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun". Rest now.
The student: Abstaining from things that break the fast from the rising of the sun...
The Shaykh : From the rising of the dawn?
The student: From the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun.
The Shaykh : That is incorrect. Your definition contradicts what you said. You said it is an act of worship, and then you said it is abstaining. A person can abstain from eating and drinking for health reasons; they told him, "You are sick today, do not eat."
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Well done. So, add to the abstaining from food and drink and all other things that break the fast from the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun the phrase "in worship of Allah." Is that right? This is necessary, and some students of knowledge miss this. They ask him, "What is prayer?" He says, "Prayer is known words and actions, beginning with the takbir and ending with the taslim." Is that correct? It is incomplete. Say: "Worshipping Allah with known words and actions, beginning with the takbir and ending with the taslim". Do you understand? Fasting is "Worshipping Allah by abstaining from food and drink and all other things that break the fast from the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun". Rest now.