Fasting is the duty of every Muslim and Allah commands as in QS Al Baqarah.
“O you have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those bef! You are obligated to fasting as it is was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Al-Baqarah: 183).
Fasting is part of the pillars of Islam and becomes an obligation for Muslims. It would be sinful if it is abandoned and not executed. Of course, the reward will be given by Allah for those who do not do the command of fasting. For those who run it, especially fasting in the month of Ramadan Allah will also give rewards in the form of an abundant reward.
Fasting has been ordered since the days of the early Prophets. It is not only the Prophet Muhammad. For that, Allah says by doing fasting is to make us be obedient. Surely the one who is taqwa is a man who does not neglect Allah’s command, his heart adheres to Allah and constantly directs himself to the path of truth.
It is also said in a hadith,
“The fasting man abandons the lust, the eating and drinking” (Bukhari and Muslim).
For the people who are fasting are commanded to do worship a lot and control their lusts. This lust is the enemy of man but it also should not be eliminated. Do fasting is a kind of self-control. So Allah does not want people to not eat at all and do not distribute their biological needs. This is not allowed when we do fasting.
Before discussing whether it may or may not to swim when do fasting, then we must know first about things that can break the fasting, to know whether the swimming can break the fasting or not.
Do Swimming While Fasting
Judging from the things that break the fasting above, it can be understood that there is no prohibition to do exercise or swimming. Exercising or swimming is not prohibited while it does not insert or drink water until it breaks the fasting. Likewise as well as entering the body into the water like take a bath, certainly not forbidden.
The note is to worry if it is possible when exercising, it makes the body weak, lethargic, or tired, so that it makes fasting is not optimal. But, while we are still strong and has fit body of course this is not prohibited.
God does not want human difficulties, as in the Qur’anic verses,
“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.”(QS. Al-Baqarah: 185)
[AdSense-B]
Likewise if there are swimming athletes, swimming teachers, or we have to swim because of health needs or physical exercise for a soldier, then swimming is forbidden or prohibited when do fasting. The important thing is the fast-breaking does not happen, then the fasting is not canceled.
If you want to swim when do fasting, of course, it is allowed. In addition to refreshing, exercise when fasting can also increase our body more fit and not susceptible to disease.
Although we do swimming in Ramadhan or when we are fasting, there are certainly things that should not be forgotten and abandoned such as, carrying out the final prayer of Ramadan from Prophet Muhammad SAW, performing Ramadan End Rejoice (Good Deeds for Spreading Kindness), performing Dhikr in Ramadan and its virtue. (Read Virtues of Dhikr to Allah SWT)
Obviously the month of Ramadan must implement the activities in the month of Ramadan that produces reward, although when women experience menstruation but there is still good deeds in the month of Ramadan for them. They can also do the virtue of alms in the month of Ramadan, and the way to not be lazy to pray 5 Time during Ramadan.
Things That Cancel Fasting
Before fasting of course a Muslim should know the legal things like about:
- Prohibited Days to Fasting
- How to Diet in Islam
- Law of Cutting Hair During Menstruation
- Law of Men Making Women Cry in Islam
- Law of Washing Hair During Ramadhan fasting
- Tips of Ramadhan fasting for breastfeeding mom
As worship that God commanded others, fasting can also be canceled on a person. Things that can break the fast are among others as follows.
1. Eat and Drink
Eating and Drinking are definitely things that break the fasting. For that, eating and drinking during Ramadan is only held at dawn and fast-breaking after sunset. Of course when do fasting this is not allowed and can cancel the fasting.
For those who deliberately would have to pay it or replace it in another month, while for young children who have not baligh certainly are not sinful if this is done. This is because as a form of learning to them.
2. Do make love (for husband and wife)
“It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you, and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].
Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous“(Surah Al-Baqarah: 187)
In the verse it is explained that Allah forbids to do make love for husband and wife during fasting. But at night when after finishing fasting and fast-breaking, of course this is a halal thing. It is not a problem because after fast-breaking.
Thus, fasting is to make us able to control ourselves and lust instead of spreading it even with our husband and wife or our halal spouse.
It is quite clear that Allah really knows the ins and outs of human beings. Humans are surrounded by passions and humans of course require the distribution of the lusts. Regarding to fasting, Allah does not command man to fast all day for 24 hours.
There are times allowed to eat and drink, also to deliver the needs of husband and wife. Just be thankful that Allah is not about to torture people but to give guidance and to save from the errors of the real world. [AdSense-C]
3. The Exit of Maniy or Madzi Deliberately
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sholih Al ‘Utsaimin said,
“If one forces out the semen in any way either by hand, rubbing it to the ground or by any other means, until the semen exits, then the fasting is canceled.”
The same opinion also comes from the scholars of the madzhab , namely Imam Malik, Imam Syafi’i, Imam Abu Hanifa, and Imam Ahmad.
The fiqih scholars have an opinion and understand together that the intentional exit of semen is a matter that breaks the fasting. Because of that, do not ever when in a state of fasting, do stimulation or do something that has made madzi. This is in the exception of wet dreams that are in a state of unconsciousness.
4. Menstruation
Menstruation is a time when women experience their blood came out as a dirty blood. It is a form of fitrah and sunnatullah that Allah gives. Currently, women are not required to do fasting and are obligated to replace their fasting. So immediately the blood came out which is dirty or unholy blood, then the fasting is canceled.
This also applies if doing the sunnah fasting, such as the implementation of the Virtue of Fasting in the Month of Shawwal, the sunnah fasting of Eid al-Adha in Islam, and other Sunnah fasting to get the Sunnah Fasting Lesson. (Read Tips Fasting Ramadhan by Prophet Muhammad , Fasting Six Days of Shawwal)
Thus the explanation of the legal argument of swimming during fasting, May this article increases the insight about Islam for the readers.