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Law of Ramadan Fasting Without Doing Taraweeh Prayer

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

The month of Ramadan will arrive soon and we as Muslim must be happy to welcome it because Ramadan has some special-ness and virtues than other months.

In the month of Ramadan, we must fast or we know as Ramadan fasting and in the night, we should do Taraweeh prayer. So, how is the law if we are fasting but we do not do Taraweeh prayer at night? Before we discuss about that, we should check out the explanation about Ramadan fasting and Taraweeh prayer below.

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Ramadan Fasting

Ramadan fasting is done during the month of Ramadan and the law of Ramadan fasting is obligate for Muslim, except those who have hindrances or senile. As the word of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183 – 185 which reads :

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah : 183)

أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

“[Fasting for] a limited number of days, So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah : 184)

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Q.S. Al-Baqarah : 185)

From dalil above, we can conclude that the law of Ramadan fasting is obligate to be done by Muslims, except those who have hindrances, such as ill person, travelers, the elderly, pregnant women and breastfeeding mother. They are allowed to leave fasting, but they must qada or change it in the next days.

We have to know the valid requirements of Ramadan fasting, so we can do fasting well. The valid requirements of Ramadan fasting are Islam, baligh, sensibly, clean from menstruation and lochia, intend fasting and afford to hold back from temptations.

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[AdSense-B]

Taraweeh Prayer

Taraweeh prayer is done in the night of Ramadan and it is finished by Witr prayer. Taraweeh prayer is different with Tahajjud prayer because we do not need to sleep and wake up in the third of night to do Taraweeh prayer.

The law of doing Taraweeh prayer in the month of Ramadan is sunnah muakkad or very recommended according to Al-Qur’an, Hadiths and some Ulama’s opinions. Taraweeh prayer can be done in congregation or alone at home because the law of doing taraweeh prayer alone at home is allowed.

The law of doing Taraweeh prayer in congregation and alone are mentioned in the hadith below :

Dalil of doing Taraweeh prayer in congregation

“Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam in one night came out and prayed in the mosque, people followed to prayed with him, and they talked about that prayer, until there are many people gathered, they talked about it again, when he prayed, they also prayed with him, they talked it again, until become many the resident of mosque in the third night, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam went out and prayed, in the fourth night, the mosque cannot accommodate Jamaah, so he was only out to did Fajr prayer.

After prayed, he met people and said shahada, then he said (which means) : “Amma ba’du. Indeed I knew your action last night, but I am afraid that it is obligated for you, so you can not apply it.” Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam died in the condition, he never did Taraweeh prayer in congregation.” (Narrated by Bukhari Muslim)

Dalil of doing Taraweeh prayer alone

“You should do prayer (sunnah) at your house because the best prayer is a prayer of someone who do it at his house except obligatory prayers.” (Narrated by Bukhari Muslim)

Taraweeh prayer has very good virtues if we do it and it will be valid if we fulfill the valid requirements of prayer.

How is the law of fasting without doing Taraweeh prayer?

[AdSense-A] Maybe we often think about this question and we have not known more about laws in Islam. As it is explained before that the law of Ramadan fasting is obligate and the law of doing Taraweeh prayer is sunnah muakkad where if we leave it, we do not get sins.

So the fasting of someone who do not do Taraweeh prayer is valid. It is strengthened by the following hadith :

Rasulullah only led Taraweeh prayer during three nights of Ramadan

From Abu Dzar, in Rasulullah’s time, it was known that Rasulullah only did Taraweeh prayer in congregation during three nights.

صُمْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَمَضَانَ، فَلَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا شَيْئًا مِنْهُ، حَتَّى بَقِيَ سَبْعُ لَيَالٍ، فَقَامَ بِنَا لَيْلَةَ السَّابِعَةِ حَتَّى مَضَى نَحْوٌ مِنْ ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ، ثُمَّ كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ السَّادِسَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، فَلَمْ يَقُمْهَا، حَتَّى كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، ثُمَّ قَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى مَضَى نَحْوٌ مِنْ شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَفَّلْتَنَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِنَا هَذِهِ. فَقَالَ: «إِنَّهُ مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الْإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ، فَإِنَّهُ يَعْدِلُ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ» ثُمَّ كَانَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، فَلَمْ يَقُمْهَا، حَتَّى كَانَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، قَالَ: فَجَمَعَ نِسَاءَهُ وَأَهْلَهُ وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ، قَالَ: فَقَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى خَشِينَا أَنْ يَفُوتَنَا الْفَلَاحُ، قَالَ: ثُمَّ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا شَيْئًا مِنْ بَقِيَّةِ الشَّهْرِ

“We fasted with Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alahi wa sallam in the month of Ramadan. He never led night prayers at all, until in just seven days of Ramadan. In the last seven day, he led us at night prayer, until a third of the night gone. Then in the last six day, he did not lead us. Until the last fifth day, he led us at night prayer until a half of the night gone.

We asked him, “O Rasulullah, how about we add Taraweeh prayer until the end of the night?” Then he said, “Whoever do Taraweeh Prayer in congregation with imam until it finished, then he get rewards of Tahajud prayer all night.”

Then the last fourth day, he did not lead Jamaah of Taraweeh prayer, until the last third day, he collected all of his wives and companions. Then he led us until the end of the night, until we was afraid, we did not get sahoor. Next, he did not lead us until the month of Ramadan was finished.” (Narrated by Nasai Ibn Majah, Al-Albani)

Rasulullah said that Taraweeh prayer is not obligate

Rasulullah also said that :

إِنِّي خَشِيْتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ.

“Indeed I am afraid this is (considered) obligatory upon you.” (This statement refers to Taraweeh prayer)

That hadith explains that fasting of someone keep valid, although he does not do Taraweeh prayer and if he leaves Taraweeh prayer, he is not recommended to qada or change it. Nevertheless, Taraweeh prayer is very recommended because we will get big rewards. As it is explained in the hadith below :

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيْمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ.

“Whoever do qiyam Ramadan with full of faith and hope rewards, then he will be forgiven his past sins.” (Narrated by Bukhari Muslim)

Thus the explanation about law of Ramadan fasting without doing Taraweeh prayer. Hopefully, this article is useful for you and help you to do Ramadan fasting well.