Ruling on Optional Fasts Without Performing Suhoor

Dār al-Iftāˈ Ahl al-Sunnah

Mufti Abu Muhammad Ali Asghar Attari Madani

Making intention to keep an optional fast but not performing suḥūr

Question: What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following: Zayd made intention in the evening to keep an optional fast the next day, irrespective of whether he wakes up to perform suḥūr (pre-dawn meal). Zayd did not wake up to eat but completed the fast, nonetheless. Is his optional fast valid?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: Yes, in the scenario of the question, Zayd’s fast is valid. The intention of an optional fast can be made from the evening prior until ḍaḥwā kubrā. If intention is made in the evening, it is necessary to not retract it. In the presented scenario, Zayd makes intention in the evening to keep an optional fast, and he acts upon it. His fast is valid. Keep in mind that eating a pre-dawn meal is a Sunnah, but not a condition for fasting. Keeping a fast without eating this meal is valid. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Revoking an oath immediately

Question: What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following: if someone swears an oath but retracts it immediately, is it still necessary for him to fulfil the oath?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: Yes, it is still necessary for one to fulfil the oath, as it cannot be retracted once it is sworn.

In Baḥr al-Rāˈiq: لا رجوع عن اليمين – “An oath cannot be revoked.”^[5]

In Majmaʿ al-Anhur: لا يصح الرجوع عن اليمين – “It is not correct to revoke an oath.”^[6]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

How is it for a supplier to pay a shopkeeper to not sell products from another supplier?

Question: What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following: we sell bakery items (biscuits, cakes etc) to shopkeepers, and we pay them extra to only sell our products. The money is sometimes returned to us and other times not. Is it lawful to give money to a shopkeeper for this purpose?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: In the described scenario, it is forbidden to give money to the shopkeeper for this purpose. When the money is given; if at any point it is explicitly or implicitly implied that the money is returnable, said money is considered a loan by Islamic law. This loan has a condition that the shopkeeper must only sell items from a specific supplier, and this is a way of taking benefit from a loan. This makes it forbidden, as this is now interest.

If it is not stipulated whether the money can be returned, and you give this money only to ensure your products are being sold; this is a bribe. Principles of Islamic law inform us that paying someone money to have your way is bribery, and this is also haraam.  

As narrated in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: لعن رسول اللہ صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم الراشی والمرتشی – “The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم cursed those who give and accept bribes.”^{[7] [8] [9]}

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Earnings from playing snooker and پٹی

Question: What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following: what is the ruling regarding giving and taking money to play snooker and پٹی? What is the ruling regarding their earnings?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: Paying and taking money to play snooker and پٹی is impermissible, and the earnings accumulated are not halal. This is employment for playing useless games, and this is impermissible and a sin. The salary earned is also unlawful.^{[10] [11] [12]}

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم