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What is the meaning of Laylatul Qadr?

Fasting, Irfan (Islamic Mysticism), ,

Question:

What is the meaning of Laylatul Qadr?

Answer:

In order to answer this question, we must consider Surat al-Qadr, chapter 97 of the Holy Quran.

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ‘We revealed it in the Night of Qadr’ (97:1)

In this Surah Allah (swt) does not disclose what He revealed. ‘إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ’, the ‘hu’ is the pronoun, and therefore it is translated as ‘We revealed it…’.

The interpreters of the Quran are unanimous however, that the pronoun of ‘hu’ refers to the Quran itself. In the beginning of Surat ad-Dukhan (chapter 44), Allah (swt) mentions that إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ ‘We have revealed it in a blessed night’. Again here, we have the same problem of ‘Innaa anzalnaahu’. But what we understand from these Ayaat is that something is revealed in the Night of Qadr, and that Night is a blessed night.

As the Ayaat of the Quran interpret each other, in Surat al-Baqarah (chapter 2), we find that when Allah (swt) talks about the obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadan, He says that شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ ‘The month of Ramadan, (in which) the Quran was revealed’ (2:185). So when you put the so-called pieces of the puzzle together, it becomes meaningful. One of the conclusions we derive is that the Night of Qadr must be in the month of Ramadan.

A question arises here though: what is the meaning of Laylatul Qadr? Laylah means night, but what does Qadr mean?

Very often in English translations of the Quran, they write the Night of Power. That is one of the seven possible meanings that I will list here, but it is not the best translation. According to the narrations and supplications of Ahlul Bayt (a.s), there is a better translation for al-Qadr. The term ‘al-Qadr’ in the Quran is used in different contexts with different meanings.

1) The Night of Power

One of the meanings of ‘al-Qadr’ in the Quran is power, there is no doubt about this. إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ‘Surely God has the power to do all things’ (24:45 and others). قَدِيرٌ ‘Qadeer’ is from the same root of قَدْرِ ‘Qadr’. So it is possible to translate Laylatul Qadr as ‘the Night of Power’.

2) The Night of Decree/Destiny

Another meaning of Qadr used in the Quran is when the Almighty God is decreeing the destiny of humans. E.g. نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ (It is Us (referring to God’s majesty) that is decreeing death among you) (56:60). No matter what you do, eventually we are all mortal beings and thus destined to die. So the final destination that I will meet (i.e. death) is decreed by God. This ordainment by God is called ‘al-Qadr’ or ‘Divine Decree’ and ‘Destiny’.

In the beginning of Surat Dukhan Allah (swt) emphasises that فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ (in it (this night) every matter of ordainment is decreed). That is why I said that according to the narrations and supplications of Ahlul Bayt (a.s) – which are numerous and unique on this issue –Laylatul Qadr means ‘The Night of Decree’ or ‘The Night of Destiny’, the Night when all our destinies will be determined. This is the best translation of Laylatul Qadr.

The question here is: what is the meaning of The Night of Destiny? What if I fall asleep on Laylatul Qadr and miss out on the worshipping acts that have been recommended? It raises issues related to determinism and free will. Is our destiny in our hands or is God decreeing and determining it on Laylatul Qadr? The Quran clearly states: فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ (in it (this night) every matter of ordainment is decreed). In addition, the narrations of Ahlul Bayt (a.s) are very clear about this, so what is meant by The Night of Destiny?

In a nutshell, the answer is that the Almighty God, due to His wisdom and knowledge, determines all matters, whether you like it or not. Someone came to Imam Sadiq (a.s) and asked the same question, attempting to be philosophical to the Imam during the Night of Qadr. He said ‘O’ dear son of the Messenger of God, you said that matters will be decreed, but isn’t this determinism, you tell us there is no absolute determinism?’ The Imam replied that ‘that’s how the reality of the matter is, and tonight is not the night for debates’.

However, it can be said that yes, the Almighty God determines the affairs, but at the same time, He has favoured the believers by introducing them to Laylatul Qadr, letting us know that there is a very blessed and holy night in the month of Ramadan – which is either on the 19th, 21st, or 23rd of Ramadan – in these nights, seek Allah’s forgiveness, seek whatever you need and want from God. So God is saying that yes, I am the One that decrees all matters, but I have also introduced to you Laylatul Qadr. Take the opportunity to worship Me and ask for forgiveness and your needs, before I decree your affairs. If one falls asleep, takes a nap, and does not ask God for his needs, then he has no one to blame but himself. The Merciful God has reserved a place for every person in Paradise, but unless you ask Him, it may not be given to you!

3) The Valuable Night

‘Qadr’ in the Arabic language is something that has ‘qeemah’ or value. So Laylatul Qadr means ‘The Valuable Night’.

SubhanAllah, look at the beauty of God’s work. The whole month of Ramadan is a beautiful excuse to get use to waking up for suhoor, to train and show us that we can also be like those friends of God. Some of the youth tell me that they find it too difficult to wake up for the Night Prayers (Salatul Layl), yet when the month of Ramadan comes even many children are awake during that time! Eating Suhoor is only an excuse to get us into the good habit of waking up at dawn. So, if you can get up for suhoor, surely you can get up for the night prayer – especially since this prayer elevates your status.

Why is the night of Qadr a valuable night? Because it is the night in which the Quran was revealed, or it is the night of the commencement of the revelation of the Quran.

It is also a valuable night because Allah (swt) says that: إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ ‘Surely we have revealed it in a blessed night’ (44:3). Because Allah (swt) is the Source of all blessings, the words of God are also blessed, and so is the night in which the words of God were revealed.

Consider this example: a cup with water in it has no smell, but if that same cup is filled with perfume instead, then surely that cup will now emit a fragrance. Similarly, the Night of Qadr is no different to other nights – in the normal sense of the term night – yet the difference is in what happens in it. Because in the Night of Qadr the Quran is revealed, then this night has a different fragrance and smell. It becomes a blessed and valuable night, because of what happens in it.

Another proof for the great value and importance of Laylatul Qadr, hence consistently attracting the believers to the mosques and houses of God, can be seen in the way Allah (swt) converses with the Prophet (s): وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ‘And what will make you comprehend what the Night of Qadr is?’ (97:2).

God is talking to the Prophet (s) who receives the revelation – the knowledge of the Prophet (s) is of no comparison to anybody else, yet the Quran says وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ‘And what will make you comprehend what the Night of Qadr is?’. That means that it is such a wonderful, blessed, and important night. The narrations say that after the Prophet (s) received that revelation, he said ‘(Indeed) I do not know what it means’.

Another reason why Laylatul Qadr is so important and valuable is because – again referring to Surat al-Qadr – Allah (swt) refers to it as the only night of the year in which angels – not one but many – and ‘al-rooh’ descend to Earth for every matter. In other words, if you seek something this is your opportunity on this night.

And finally, it is also ‘The Valuable Night’ because it is the night of peace (salam).

4) The Night of the Quran

It is for this reason that on Laylatul Qadr, we put the words of God; the Quran, on our heads out of respect. We then ask Allah (swt) by every letter and sentence of the Quran.

Why the Night of Quran though? Because the Quran is revealed in this night. Think of the cup and perfume example I gave earlier.

There is a bit of calculations behind this as well. The words of Surat al-Qadr are 30 words, the same number of the Ajzaa’ or sections of the Quran. In addition, the letters of Surat al-Qadr are 114, the same as the number of chapters in the Holy Quran. Mind you, the interpreters of the Quran disagree on the counting of the various words and letters of the Quran, but when it comes to Surat al-Qadr, there is amazingly no dispute: 30 words and 114 letters!

5) Laylatul Qadr is the Night of Wilayah

Whatever Allah (swt) decrees in this night, He does it through the means that He has introduced to us, that is, the Ahlul Bayt (a.s), who are the direct link between us and the Almighty God.

My teacher Ayatollah Hassan-Zadeh Amuli said in one of his lessons:

‘I spent so much time trying to understand the meaning of Laylatul Qadr, and I could not come across something convincing. I asked my teacher about the meaning of Laylatul Qadr, and he told me to consider the hadith that is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) about Laylatul Qadr, in which the Imam introduces the Night to mean Fatima (a.s)!’

The narration referred to by Ayatollah Hassan-Zadeh’s teacher is in a one-volume Tafsir compiled more than 1,000 years ago, Tafsir Furat al-Kufi. Under the interpretation of Surat al-Qadr, it is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) that ‘whoever comprehends the status of Fatima al-Zahra (a.s) as she deserves to be known, he/she has comprehended Laylatul Qadr.’

So the Night of Qadr is the Night of Wilayah as well. It is for this reason that after we place the Holy Quran upon our head and ask Allah (swt) by every word and letter (to grant us our needs), we go to the 14 Ma’sumeen, ‘Bi Muhammadin, Bi Alliyyin, Bi Fatima…’, because nothing comes to us and our prayers will not be elevated to the Almighty God unless the Ahlul Bayt (a.s) have endorsed it.

6) Laylatul Qadr means Qadrul-Laylah

In other words, the Almighty God found an excuse to call all of us to the mosque, so that we value the nights of our lives. I have made a bit of calculations according to Surat al-Qadr:

If someone lives for 80 years or more, I’m sure you would agree that he/she has been lucky and lived a long life. When the Quran says that Laylatul Qadr is better than 1,000 months, 1,000 months equals about 83 years. Let’s assume it is 80 years. If I live for 80 years in this world, half of it are days, the other half are nights on average – 40 years of days, 40 years of night. As for the days, we are busy with our own affairs. So for 40 years, we spend it on worldly matters or other things that have to be carried out. As for the nights, we said that they are on average 12 hours (12 hours per night over 40 years). Now ask any doctor, you don’t need more than 6 hours sleep. If you sleep for a good six hours, your body will be rejuvenated and you will be alright. More than that is laziness and habit. Surely you can reduce it to six hours. I tell you that you can also reduce it to less than 6 hours if you want, but 6 hours is good average sleep. So if 6 hours are spent on sleeping, then that is 20 years all up from the 40 years of night. What about the other 20 years of night in my life? What have I been doing in those 20 years?

So Laylatul Qadr is meant to get me to think: am I valuing the nights of my life or not? Some people spend it on chatting on the net, browsing on different sites, some just watch movies. Just killing time, with no plan for their lives. Hanging around with their friends, wandering around in the city – they have to somehow pass time and they don’t know what to do with it. Laylatul Qadr has a message for us: my friend, we are talking about 20 years! You can do so much with this time! Students who succeed at school or university know that the difference is made at night. When his classmates are asleep, he is up studying, and that is how he can make a difference.

Whether for worldly gain or the hereafter, those who are awake at night can make a difference, and they can proceed faster. So in a nutshell, Laylatul Qadr is to teach us to value the nights of our lives, and not to allow them to pass by and go to waste.

7) Laylatul Qadr as in ‘Dheeq’ (lack of space)

Finally one of the possible meanings of the Night of Qadr is the Night of lack of space. According to some narrations so many Angels are descending to Earth for every matter during that night, which will make it as if there is the congestion of Angels!

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

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Should I stop fasting during pregnancy?

Fasting, Women,

Question:

I have a question regarding fasting while pregnant. I am a pregnant lady. Two days ago I started to notice the baby kicking more than usual while I’m fasting, and I’m also feeling hungry and thirsty more than usual (I didn’t feel that way in my other pregnancies while fasting).

I am not sure whether I should stop fasting for a couple of days a week to maintain hydration for the baby’s sake? Would you be able to help me with this issue?

Answer:

Fasting, especially in the long days of summer, is risky for pregnant women, particularly during the first and last three months of pregnancy. Therefore, you are exempt from fasting if:

1) you are sure you can’t fast
2) It is too difficult for you to fast
3) you have a sensible concern that it harms yourself or your baby
4) your doctor professionally advises that fasting may harm the baby due to the lack of required nutrition and protein.

You should however keep the record of the days you didn’t fast to make them up in the future. Also, you need to pay an amount equal to 750 grams of wheat or rice to the poor Muslims.

God willing you will have a safe pregnancy and easy delivery, and please don’t forget to increase your spiritual diet during your pregnancy, especially reading or listening to the holy Qur’an.

For more info. on Fasting: 28 FAQs on Fasting in Month of Ramadan

Answered by: Sheikh Mansor Leghaei

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28 FAQs on Fasting in Month of Ramadan

Fasting, Islamic Laws (Fiqh),

Question 1: My daughter is only 9 years old and she is small – she gets very weak.  Am I able to decide for her not to fast?

As long as there is sound concern- not just merely emotional sympathy- for her health then yes, you can. If she is following Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi and she finds it too difficult to fast, or you know for sure it’s too difficult for her to fast, then she is exempt from fasting and instead she has to pay for every day of Ramadhan a Fidyah which is 750 grams of wheat or barley, and there is no Qadha on her. The Fidyah must be given to the poor Shi’a.

If she is following Ayatollah Khamenei or Ayatollah Sistani, then in the situation that she can’t fast during the month of Ramadhan, she needs to make it up throughout the year (and) even in the next years of her life.

Question 2: Can I have dental work done which requires injections?

In general, dental work when fasting is Makrooh.

Dental work during fasting is not permissible if you know you will be swallowing water or blood. But if you are confident that you won’t swallow anything then it is fine and your fasting is in order, even if you do accidently swallow something. If you really wish to attend to your teeth during the month of Ramadan, I suggest you drive away in the morning from your city for about 24 kilometres, break your fast there, and (then) when you are not fasting you can attend your dental appointment.

Otherwise, the one who is in severe pain because of say a toothache, or for example, if one does not attend to his tooth as soon as possible then his health will worsen, then he/she will be considered as exempt from fasting in such circumstances.

Question 3: Can I have a vitamin injection?

According to Ayatollah Khamenei: for obligatory precaution it should be avoided while fasting, but according to Ayatollah Sistani it’s permissible as he does not consider injections an example of eating or drinking. Therefore, the followers of Ayatollah Khamenei either avoid vitamin injections while fasting or refer to Ayatollah Sistani on this issue. By the way, please note that Ayatollah Khamenei only has an issue with vitamin or nutritional injections, and not injections like anaesthetics and the like.

Question 4: Will botox injections break my fast?

According to all Maraje’ botox injections do not affect the fast.


Question 5: If I accidentally eat after fajr time, do I keep my fast?

It depends. If you assumed that the Fajr time has not arrived yet, and hence you eat or drink something, after which you became sure that you had mistakenly consumed food or drink after Fajr time, in this situation you have lost the fast of that day but there is no Kaffarah on it. You just need to make it up any time after the month of Ramadhan.

Alternatively, sometimes you accidentally eat or drink (this usually happens during the first days of the month of Ramadhan). In this case your fasting is in order and there is no problem at all.

Question 6: Could you please specify the rules regarding travelling and breaking of the fast?  Do different marajah have different fatawa regarding the distance or where it begins from i.e. from the outskirts of my suburb or outskirts of my city as in Sydney? And does the ruling differ whether I travel in the morning or in the afternoon?

All Maraje’ – except the late Imam Khomeini who believed if you live in big cities like Sydney your journey begins from where your suburb ends – are of the opinion that the beginning of your journey begins from where the local residents consider it the end of the city. Once you travel away from that point for over 22.5 kilometres (almost 14 miles) then you are a traveller.

As for the time of travelling here are different situations and your duties accordingly:

1. If you travel after Noon Prayer: you must keep the fasting of that day.

2. If you travel in the morning but return before Noon time, or are flying back home and you know you will be landing home before Noon time: you have the option of breaking your fast while you are away or if you haven’t done anything that would break your fast you may refrain from eating, drinking etc. until you arrive in your city before Noon time and make intention for fasting of that day.

3. If you travel in the morning with no intention of returning before Noon: you can break your fast once you passed 22.5 kilometres (almost 14 miles).

Question 7: I travel as a routine part of my job every couple of months to another city for 4-5 days.  If it is routine can I continue to fast? Do all maraje have the same ruling regarding this?

The rule of Kathirul-Safar (frequent traveller) doesn’t apply to you unless you at least travel 3 days per week for over six months. Yes, if your job in the other city is indefinite such that you consider that city your second home, then you can pray normal and fast while you are there. Almost all Maraje’ have the same ruling.


Question 8: I have a baby under one year.  What is my obligation to fasting and breastfeeding?

If your fasting affects your baby’s milk then you shouldn’t fast. You however need to make them up throughout the year (and) even in the coming years, and pay Fidyah for every day.


Question 9: I am breastfeeding my baby and my doctor who is not a Muslim has advised me not to fast.  I feel that I am okay with fasting but my doctor says that my baby is not receiving the nutrients it needs because I am not eating and drinking.  What do I do? My only difficulty is that I feel thirsty after feeding my baby.

You have to judge on the situation yourself. The advice of the doctor – whether Muslim or not – is not counted unless you believe them. In general, if you have a sound concern that fasting harms your baby or yourself, then you shouldn’t fast. By the way, a bit of feeling of thirst is natural and it does not justify not fasting unless it’s excessive.

Question 10: How sick do you need to be to not fast?

Any sickness that fasting either harms it or delays its healing justifies breaking the fast. The same rule applies if you have a sound concern about it.


Question 11: What do I do if I have not made up all of my lapsed fasts due to illness, breastfeeding, and menstruation from the previous year?

You have to make them up asap, and if you did not make up fasting of the previous years due to negligence, then there is also a Fidyah due for every day.


Question 12: Does an elderly person who requires medication throughout the day such as insulin injections have to fast?

Insulin injection does not break the fast, but if an elderly person cannot fast due to their illness or age, then they are excused, but they have to make them up during the same year, and if they are unable then they have to pay the Fidyah.


Question 13: Does the asthma puffer/inhaler break the fast? Does it make a difference if I am using a DPI (dry powder inhaler).

Asthma puffers are accuhalers and turbuhalers that deliver a powder to the lungs. There are capsules inside, they get pierced and when you inhale the device, the powder is supposed to be inhaled. So if they are used correctly they will be inhaled into the lungs, otherwise it may end up at the back of the throat.

Therefore, in general, asthma puffers do not break the fast. However, according to Ayatollah Khamenei if it enters the throat as a powder it breaks the fast as an obligatory precaution. Although, according to Ayatollah Sistani as long as it does not go to your throat as a liquid its fine. So, in the worst case scenario that the powder may mistakenly enter the throat, the followers of Ayatollah Khamenei can follow Ayatollah Sistani on this issue.

Please note that the above ruling does not apply to vaporiser/diffuser/steam machines that release oils to inhale such as vicks or eucalyptus. So, the use of Vicks and the like is fine whilst fasting.


Question 14: Can I use eye drops whilst fasting, whether for medication or just moisturising dry itchy eyes?

As long as it does not go to your throat or even if you feel it in your throat but can spit it out, then it is fine.


Question 15: What is the difference between kaffarah and fidyah?

Kaffarah is a bigger penalty. For example, if one deliberately – and without any valid excuse – did not fast, they have to pay a Kaffarah of fasting for 60 days or feeding 60 poor people, whereas Fidyah is a small penalty of 750 grams of wheat or barely or the like. It applies in certain situations, for example, you were travelling during the month of Ramadan and didn’t fast. If you could make them up throughout the year yet you didn’t, then besides making up those days, you have to pay Fidyah for every day too.The same rule applies if a pregnant woman or a breast feeding woman didn’t fast because fasting would harm herself or her baby.


Question 16: Do I have to pay my Fidyah for the previous year by any specific time?

You have to pay it asap, but if you don’t pay it before the next month of Ramadan arrives, the amount won’t be increased.

Question 17: If I have guests on the last night of the fasting month, am I obligated to pay their Zakatul-Fitr? What is the ruling if they insist to pay their own or if they don’t mention anything, does the obligation lie on the host? (at what point does it become obligatory on the host?)

According to Ayatollah Sistani if you have invited someone on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr (the evening of the last day of the month of Ramadan) for Iftar and you took it upon yourself to feed him, then his Zakatul-Fitr is on you. However, if he confirms that he will be paying it himself there is no obligation on you anymore.

According to Ayatullah Khamenei a person who is your guest only on that night has to pay his Zakatul-Fitra himself and there is no obligation on the host.


Question 18: Does one have to pay the recommended amount by their local Islamic Centre or Mosque? 

If they are confident that the amount specified by them is correct then yes, otherwise they have to find out for themselves.


Question 19: What does one do if there are many in the family and it becomes too expensive?  Is the amount advertised obligatory and the family should by any means pay the exact amount, or can they pay as much as they can afford?

Those who can afford it must pay the full amount, otherwise, if they are poor they can even receive the Zakat.


Question 20: Do I have to give my Zakatul-Fitr to the local mosque or centre or can I send it overseas to poor relatives/people?

You don’t have to pay it to your local Mosque or Centre. As long as you have paid it to poor Shi’a you have met your obligation. Of course, relatives have the priority as long as they are not your direct family, i.e. parents, children, wife.


Question 21: My son says he can’t fast on sports days at school as sports is compulsory, but it’s too difficult to fast.  What do we do?

Advise him that the obligation of fasting is more important than playing sport, and the consequences of not fasting is more severe than missing his sport.

Question 22: What is the penalty for not fasting one day in the holy month of Ramadhan without a valid reason?

If one breaks his fast with something that is normally Halal like food and drink, then the penalty is fasting of that day plus 60 days of fasting or feeding 60 poor people. And if one breaks his fast with something Haraam like masturbation, then the penalty is both fasting for 60 days and feeding 60 poor people.

Question 23: Is my fast accepted if I don’t pray?

Your fasting is valid, each to their own. However, remember that Allah accepts it only from the pious people. It is not an act of piety to obey God on some issues but disobey Him in others.


Question 24: Is it okay to use a mouthwash whilst fasting?

As long as you don’t swallow anything its fine.


Question 25: Is it okay to brush my teeth with toothpaste whilst fasting?

It’s fine as long as you don’t swallow anything.


Question 26: Can I chew gum (mastik) without flavour whilst fasting?

There is a problem in that, so please avoid it.


Question 27: What do I do if I have had a wet dream and wake up just in time for fajr prayer? Do I need a ghusl?

Wet dream does not void fasting, but you need to do your Ghusl as soon as possible.


Question 28: If I am in a state of junoob and wake up at fajr time without time to perform ghusl, can I still shower and fast? Is the fast accepted?

In that situation you just need to do your Ghusl and your fasting is in order.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

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Is my fast valid if I inhale a natural oil or apply it on my skin?

Fasting, Islamic Laws (Fiqh)

Question:

I’ve been using natural oil based medication such as oregano oil and eucalyptus oil, which require being rubbed onto the skin (bottom of feet, stomach, forehead etc) to treat ailments and sometimes it is recommended to inhale them. Does this invalidate fasting? I don’t taste them, but I smell them.

Answer:

No, it doesn’t affect your fast as it is not eating or drinking.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

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I’m sick & unable to fast, what do I do?

Fasting, Medicine, ,

Question:

I am speaking on behalf of my mother. She still has to fast some days from Ramadan that she missed in the past. She is now chronically sick  so she has to take her medicine every day (10 times). During the month of Ramadan she didn’t take her medicines because she felt strong enough to manage without them. But now she has to take a higher dose and it is not possible to skip that much. This will indeed have an impact on her. My questions are:

– How does she compensate this? Does she have to give a certain amount of money (and how much or what percentage)? I live in a wealthy western society so it is quite hard to find a real “poor” person.. maybe this could be compensated with giving some money?

– And finally, my mother doesn’t have a monthly income because she doesn’t work. If she has to pay something, does she have to pay it from her own possessions?

Answer:

The famous opinion among the scholars is that a person who cannot fast due to extreme hardship (as in the case of your mother) and is not expected to recover later should not fast, and should instead pay fidyah (expiation) of one ‘mudd’ of food. A ‘mudd’ of food is 750 grams of ordinary food that a person may eat (e.g. bread, rice). If you are living in a country where you cannot find a poor person, you should approach your local scholars or Islamic centre who may be able to transfer the money for the food overseas and organise for it to reach a poor and needy person.

The Fidyah does not have to be from her own wealth. Her husband or children can also pay for her. However, in case she is poor then saying Istighfar (‘Astaghfirullah Wa Atoobo Elayh’ even once for every day) will suffice.

However, according to Sayed Sistani, if your mother is elderly, she does not need to fast AND she does not need to pay the fidyah described above. But if she is not elderly then she does need to pay the fidyah if fasting causes her extreme hardship.

An authentic narration of Abdullah ibn Sinan reads: “I asked him (peace be upon him) about an elderly man, who has become too weak to fast the month of Ramadhan. He (peace be upon him) said: ‘For every day (that he does not fast) he should pay as charity an amount that would feed a poor person.”

For more info. on Fasting: 28 FAQs on Fasting in Month of Ramadan

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

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