What is the meaning of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “If he is fasting, let him pray”?
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The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, you have spoken well. “If he is fasting, let him pray” means that if your brother invites you and you are fasting, you pray for him. That is, you make du'a' for him. So the intended meaning of “pray” here is “make du'a'.” Perhaps someone would say, “Do you not say that the legal meaning takes precedence over the linguistic meaning in the tongue of the Lawgiver?” We say, yes, but if there is evidence that the intended meaning is the linguistic one, we adopt it. As in His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He)[At-Tawbah 9:103] Does this mean pray over them the funeral prayer? Absolutely not, but rather make du'a' for them. So the meaning of “let him pray” is “let him make du'a'.” It remains to be asked: Is it obligatory to eat? If a person is invited and he responds, is it obligatory to eat? There is a detail in this. If the food was prepared specifically for him, such that the entire walimah is in honor of the invitee, then he must eat, because his brother made an effort for him and prepared food for him. It is not befitting for a person, or for one of good character, yes, it is not befitting for a believer or for one of good character to come and not eat. However, if he is among a group of people, eating is not obligatory, because whether he eats or not, no one will notice. Eating is not... Now, if he is fasting, we said he makes du'a' and leaves. But is it not said that it is recommended to combine making du'a' with sitting at the table without eating? The answer is yes. He makes du'a' and sits at the table without eating, and he serves the eaters. He cuts some meat and places it... for one person and for another, and he serves the side dishes to this one and occupies himself as if he is eating. Yes?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : ... if it is for the sake of benefit ... if there is a benefit, and that is by pleasing his companion's heart, or if there is a benefit in order to encourage people to fast, as if it were a Monday or one of the white days, then that is good. Three, three, three ...
The Shaykh : Yes, you have spoken well. “If he is fasting, let him pray” means that if your brother invites you and you are fasting, you pray for him. That is, you make du'a' for him. So the intended meaning of “pray” here is “make du'a'.” Perhaps someone would say, “Do you not say that the legal meaning takes precedence over the linguistic meaning in the tongue of the Lawgiver?” We say, yes, but if there is evidence that the intended meaning is the linguistic one, we adopt it. As in His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He)
Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah 's blessings] upon them
خذ من أموالهم صدقة تطهرهم وتزكيهم بها وصل عليهمThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : ... if it is for the sake of benefit ... if there is a benefit, and that is by pleasing his companion's heart, or if there is a benefit in order to encourage people to fast, as if it were a Monday or one of the white days, then that is good. Three, three, three ...