Ruling on one who breaks the fast because he is working in intense heat
Question: 11539
I do very hard work, working in construction in Saudi with fifteen other men. When the month of Ramadaan came, we fasted the first and second days of Ramadaan, then they all did not fast for the rest of Ramadaan, and I did likewise, because I came from Egypt and this was the first time I experienced such weather. In the following year, I fasted Ramadaan. What is the ruling on this, knowing that when the second Ramadaan came I fasted although I had not made up the days I had missed in the previous Ramadaan. Please advise me, may Allaah reward you.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
This
is haraam. It is not permissible for you to do this, because fasting
Ramadaan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“O
you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you
as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon
(pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]
What
excuse will you give to Allaah when you stand before Him on the Day
of Resurrection, when He had given you good health, yet you did not
obey His Commandments and follow His aayaat? For Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“O
you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you
as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon
(pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]
The
phrase “prescribed for you”
means made obligatory upon you, as it was made obligatory upon those
who came before you, so that you may become pious. Taqwaa (piety) is
described as the aim of fasting, and fasting is a means of attaining
taqwa. It is a sin on you for doing that, and you have to repent
and seek forgiveness, and regret what has happened in the past. The
fact that you are working is not an excuse. You could work at night,
or if that is not possible, you could stop working because your work
is not essential. You could stop working until the month is over, or
do some lighter work which you can do whilst fasting. Not fasting
during Ramadaan because you are working is not permissible. If there
are days from the previous Ramadaan which you have not made up by the
time the next Ramadaan comes, you have to make them up and feed the
poor; for each day that you missed you must give a measure (madd)
of wheat or half a saa’ of another staple, and you must not do something
like this again. Seek the forgiveness of Allaah and remember when you
will stand before Him and when He will call you to account. May Allaah
help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.
And
Allaah knows best.
Source:
Samaahat al-Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Humayd, p. 172
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