Things That Are Makruh in Fasting and Its Verses

Fasting is a worship that must be done when Ramadan comes. However, fasting is not only holding hunger and thirst, but also all deeds that can nullify fasting. Including the things that are makruh in fasting and its verses.

Makruh is a deed that if it is done, it does not cause sin or nullify a worship, however it decreases the value of the worship. So, the things that are makruh should be avoided so that a worship that we do can be more perfect.

Then, what are considered makruh in fasting? Check out below!

From the companion of Abu Hurairah, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

«كَمْ مِنْ صَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ إِلَّا الْجُوعُ، وَكَمْ مِنْ قَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ إِلَّا السَّهَرُ

“How many people are fasting, however there is nothing that he gets except only hunger, and how many people do night worship get nothing except only staying up late.” (Hadith Ahmad)

• Wishal Fasting

Wishal fasting is fasting all day long without any pause to break the fast. This fasting is done outside of Ramadan. However, it is not highly suggested because it is not in accordance with the sunnah fasting in general.

If we want to do this sunnah fasting, then we can choose the suggested sunnah fasting, such as Monday Thursday fasting, dawood fasting and etc, that do have the guidance.

• Sleep All Day

There is a hadith that says,

نَوْمُ الصَّائِمِ عِبَادَةٌ ، وَصُمْتُهُ تَسْبِيْحٌ ، وَدُعَاؤُهُ مُسْتَجَابٌ ، وَعَمَلُهُ مُضَاعَفٌ

“The sleep of fasting people is worship. The silent is tasbih. The prayer is a mustajab prayer. The reward of the deeds will also be multiplied.”

The perawi of the hadith above is ‘Abdullah bin Aufi. That hadith was delivered by Al Baihaqi in Syu’abul Iman 3/1437. In this hadith, there is Ma’ruf bin Hasan and he is a dho’if (weak) perawi. In this hadith, there is also Sulaiman bin ‘Amr that is more dho’if than Ma’ruf bin Hasan.

In another narration, the perawi is ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr. The hadith was delieverd by Al ‘Iroqi in Takhrijul Ihya’ (1/310) with the hadith sanad that is dho’if (weak).

Conclusion: The hadith above is a dho’if hadith. Syaikh Al Albani in Silsilah Adh Dho’ifah no. 4696 said that this hadith is a dho’if (weak) hadith.

If sleeping all day, someone can be neglectful and not do fard prayers or make his fasting become imperfect, then it is clear that sleep is not only makruh, but also it is haram because it causes sin.

If you are really sleepy, it is better to utilize the sleep time in the afternoon according to Islam. With notes, in that time, you are not working or carrying any mandate that is more preferred to be done.

• Tasting Food

This thing is usually done by women (an-nisa), especially housewives after cooking to ensure whether the taste of the food is right or not. Know about the law of tasting food when fasting before you practice it. Because it is worried that the food is swallowed and has the potential to nullify fasting.

It will be better if those who taste the food are the family members that are not obliged to fast.

• Excessive in Gargling and Putting Water into the Nose in the Afternoon

In the manners of wudu’ that are in accordance with the guidance, there are steps to gargle and clean the nose or which is called istinsyaq. If it is done at night, it is okay. However, if it is done in the afternoon, it is worried that there will be water that is swallowed or gets into the nose.

Ibn Taimiyah rahimahullah said,

أَمَّا الْمَضْمَضَةُ وَالِاسْتِنْشَاقُ فَمَشْرُوعَانِ لِلصَّائِمِ بِاتِّفَاقِ الْعُلَمَاءِ . وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالصَّحَابَةُ يَتَمَضْمَضُونَ وَيَسْتَنْشِقُونَ مَعَ الصَّوْمِ . لَكِنْ قَالَ لِلَقِيطِ بْنِ صَبِرَةَ : ” { وَبَالِغْ فِي الِاسْتِنْشَاقِ إلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ صَائِمًا } فَنَهَاهُ عَنْ الْمُبَالَغَةِ ؛ لَا عَنْ الِاسْتِنْشَاقِ

“There are also gargle and istinsyaq (breathe water in the nose) that are sharia (allowed) for people who are fasting and this thing is agreed by the theologians. The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and the companions also gargled and istinsyaq when fasting. However, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to Laqith bin Shabirah, “Be serious in istinsyaq (breathe water in the nose) unless you are fasting.” What is forbidden in fasting here is from excessive when istinsyaq.” (Majmu’ah Al Fatawa, 25: 266)

Therefore, the law of gargling when fasting is allowed but makruh, which should be avoided.

Those are the things that are makruh in fasting and its verses that are in accordance with Islamic sharia. Hopefully it is able to improve our insight as well as avoid those things to keep our fasting better. Aamiin.