Unity When Fasting and on the Day of the 'Eed
Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee
Source: Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah #224 (1/440-445)
Translated by Abul-'Abbaas for www.bakkah.net
[ In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, may His Salaah and Salaam be
upon his final Messenger Muhammad, and upon all his family members and
Companions, to proceed... ]
Regarding the hadeeth:
"Fasting begins on the day you all begin to fast, and Al-Fitr (the 'Eed) is
the day when you all have broken your fasts." [1]
At-Tirmithee, after mentioning this hadeeth, said, "And some of the people
of knowledge explained this hadeeth, saying that fasting and breaking the
fast are both to be done along with the main body and majority of the
Muslims."
And As-San'aanee said, "In it is evidence that proves that agreement of the
people is needed for establishing the 'Eed, and that the one who is alone in
his knowledge of the moon sighting must go along with the others, and their
decision regarding the prayer, the breaking of the fast, and the day of
slaughtering is binding on him." [2]
And Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allaah have Mercy on him, explained this, saying, "And
it has been said (by the people of knowledge) that there is a refutation in
this for those who say that a person can fast and break his fast based on
calculated estimations, without others having knowledge of this. And it has
also been said that if a lone witness sights the moon, and the judge does
not accept his sighting (for some reason), then he himself does not begin
his fast based on it, nor do the people begin their fasts based on it." [3]
And Abul-Hasan As-Sindee, after mentioning the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah
found in At-Tirmithee's Sunan, said, "And what is apparent from the
hadeeth's meaning is that these affairs are not for individuals, it is not
for people to act alone in these affairs. Rather, the decision is to be made
by the imaam and the main body of Muslims. It is obligatory for all
individuals to follow the imaam and the main body of Muslims. So therefore,
if one person sees the moon, and the imaam does not accept his testimony,
then he has no right to go off on his own in these affairs, rather he must
go along with the jamaa'ah." [4]
I say (Al-Albaanee): This is what seems to be understood from the hadeeth.
This understanding is supported by the way 'Aa'ishah used it (the hadeeth)
as a proof against Masrooq when he did not want to fast on the day of
'Arafah, fearing that it may actually be the day of An-Nahr (the 'Eed). She
clarified to him that his opinion has no weight, and that he must follow the
jamaa'ah. She said, "The Day of An-Nahr ('Eed Al-Adh-haa, the day of
slaughtering) is the day the people slaughter, and the Day of ('Eed) Al-Fitr
is the day the people break their fasts."
I say (Al-Albaanee): And this is what is befitting to the gracious Sharee'ah
that seeks to bring the people together and unite their ranks, keeping them
away from individual opinions that split their unity. So the Sharee'ah does
not give weight to the opinion of an individual regarding acts of community
worship like fasting, establishing the day of the 'Eed, and praying in
congregation, even when the individual is correct as he sees it.
Don't you see that the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to
pray behind each other, while some of them held that touching a woman or
bleeding nullifies one's wudhoo', and others did not understand that? And
some of them used to pray the entire prayer during their travels and others
would shorten theirs? Their differing in these affairs and others did not
prevent them from getting together to pray behind one imaam and being
conscience of its importance. This is because they knew that division in the
Religion is worse than differing over some opinions.
Some of them ignored opinions that contradicted the leader's position in
great gatherings like the one at Minaa, to the point that they would abandon
their own position totally in such a large gathering, to escape the fitnah
that might result in their actions based on their position. Aboo Daawood
narrated that 'Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, prayed four rak'ahs
(not shortening his prayer) in Minaa. 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood detested his
action, saying, "I prayed two rak'ahs behind the Prophet (sallallaahu
'alayhe wa sallam), two rak'ahs behind Aboo Bakr, two rak'ahs behind 'Umar,
and I used to pray two rak'ahs behind 'Uthmaan in the beginning of his
leadership, but then he began to complete the prayer (praying four rak'ahs),
and thus the paths became divided. I only with that I could have two of the
four rak'ahs accepted from me." Thereafter, Ibn Mas'ood prayed four rak'ahs!
So it was said to him, "You blame 'Uthmaan and then you yourself pray four
rak'ahs?!" He replied, "Differing is evil." [5]
And Ahmad narrated this exact account on the authority of Aboo Tharr [6],
may Allaah be pleased with all of them.
So let the Muslims reflect over what is found in this hadeeth and in the
other narration mentioned, especially those who never cease to differ over
their prayers, those who refuse to follow some imaams of some masjids,
especially with regards to Witr Prayer in Ramadhaan, claiming that the imaam
is not from their math-hab.
And some of those who have knowledge of astronomy even fast by themselves
and break the fast by themselves, before or after the main body of Muslims.
They give such great weight to their own opinions and knowledge, not paying
any mind to their khurooj (rebellion) against the Muslims.
So let them all reflect over the knowledge that has proceeded, as they may
find a cure to the ignorance and conceit within their selves. Let them join
with the united ranks of their Muslim brothers, as the Hand of Allaah is
over the jamaa'ah.
This article was taken from BAKKAHnet ( www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES
[1] Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee #697
[2] Subulus-Salaam (2/72)
[3] Tah-theeb As-Sunan (3/214)
[4] Haashiyatus-Sindee 'alaa Ibni Maajah (Al-Albaanee did not mention a page
number)
[5] Sunan Abee Daawood (1/307) with an authentic chain
[6] Musnad Imaam Ahmad (5/155)
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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