Taleem al Quran 2021 J02-025B Tafsir Al-Baqarah 183-184

Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim Yeah, a you Hello Dina Amano katiba la como si animal como katiba Isla Levine I'm in Cabo de con, la la quinta de Khun, oh, you will have believed, decreed upon you as fasting, as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. As I mentioned earlier that in this part of Surah, Al Baqarah, we learn about various commands various laws that Allah subhanaw taala is giving to this ummah. And if you notice the sequence earlier on, we learned about some dietary laws, what kind of food is permissible for us what kind of food is not permissible for us, and now we are being taught about fasting. So, yes, pay attention to what you're

eating, but also realize that you shouldn't be eating all the time, right? Because eating is something that has an impact on you. And this is why we see that we have been commanded to fast because when it comes to eating, there must be healthy boundaries. Not that a person is, you know, eating just anything. No, there is food that is lawful, there's food that is unlawful. And just like that, don't be eating all the time, there are times when you should give your body a break, because your body is in need of that. But again, refrain from extremes. So we're not supposed to fast, you know, continuously for days and days. No, there is a particular way of fasting, and then we're not

required to fast all year round, you know, fasting is obligatory on certain days of the year. So the idea begins with yet a you Halina Avenue or you who have believed and this is such a beautiful, you know, expression, the way that Allah subhanaw taala addresses the believers, that all you who have believed any as a human being you have many characteristics, you have many traits. Allah subhanaw taala is referring to you is addressing you by your characteristic of Eman and whenever you hear ye or you hear Lilina Amanu in the Quran, you should be happy Allah subhanaw taala is addressing you so honorably and he is telling you something that is related to your iman that is going to strengthen

your faith or he is telling you to refrain from something that is going to weaken your faith. So Ibn was Rudra de la Horne who he said that when you hear ye or you hear Latina Ave in the Quran, then pay attention pay attention listen attentively because it is either something good that Allah is commanding you to do or it is something that our last panel TARDIS forbidding you from because it is bad for you. So be happy when you hear your uh you are Latina Amano and also pay attention. So what is it that Allah subhanaw taala is telling us over here that kuti virally co mausoleum fasting has been decreed on you it has been prescribed on you, meaning you are required to fast. And this is not

just something for you. This is not the first time that Allah subhanaw taala is giving people the command to fast. Rather, this is something that has always been there, come up cootie Barella, laudanum and Kubla Khan, just as it was decreed on the people who were before you, and why is it said that fasting has been prescribed on you just as it was prescribed on the people before you This is to, first of all reassure us

that you have not been commanded to do something that is extremely difficult, or that is very burdensome on you know, this is possible because people before you did it, and you can also do it. And when you know, when you realize that you're not the only one doing it, then you know, it makes the action easy on you. Right? And it almost makes you eager to do it, because why should you be left behind others? Right. And then secondly, this has been mentioned over here, that fasting has been prescribed a new just as it was prescribed in the people before you because this shows us the perfection of this religion that Allah subhanaw taala has revealed upon his last messenger

sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, because if there was anything beneficial that the previous nations were commanded to do, then this nation has also been commanded to do it. So fasting is a very virtuous deed. It's an extremely beneficial deed. So this Deen this religion is perfect the Sharia is perfect. And because fasting is virtuous, Allah subhanaw taala has commanded this law

ask Allah to fast as well. Now when it comes to a cm when it comes to fasting I mentioned to you earlier that Siyam means to refrain from something. Right. Now when you look at the Arabic language you see sawmill fosu Salman sawmill follow so far says a horse and the horse abstained from eating, or the horse was made to abstain. Okay? Why? Because life in the desert is extremely difficult. And in order to build resilience and strength, the Arabs would train their horses by keeping them hungry. And sometimes by making them stand for long hours. Because the longer they were able to stand, the longer they were able to stay without eating and drinking. You know, it meant that they

could survive harsh conditions, they were able to travel long distances, they would be able to go without food and drink when it was not available. And they would have that endurance, that strength to fight in battle and things like that.

So see, I'm fasting to refrain from something this is not just refraining from something for no good reason. No, this is refraining from something in order to build resilience. Right? And when we're talking about fasting in Islam, fasting isn't one of the five pillars of Islam, then this is to refrain from eating and drinking and sexual relations from the time of Fudger until the time of sunset. All right. Why, in order to worship in order to show servitude to Allah azza wa jal. So, when you're fasting, you're not just refraining from any random thing that you choose to refrain from? No, you're going to refrain from all the things that break the fast which is eating, drinking,

even drinking water, drinking black coffee, drinking, zero calorie drinks, whatever it is, you don't eat or drink at all. All right, and a person is not allowed to engage in any sexual activity either. So refraining from that, but from when to when, from LuLaRoe Fudger. From the time that Virgil begins until the sun sets, okay, not sunrise to sunset. No, from the time that fetcher begins until the sun sets until the time of Maghrib. Okay, this is what fasting is, this is what a CEM is, right? And you're doing this with a certain intention. What is that intention? The intention is a dark Boadilla it is to show servitude to Allah. Intention is not that you are now keeping yourself

hungry, you're not eating and drinking so that you can lose some weight. Okay, the weight loss is not the objective, the objective is to show servitude to Allah. So there is the NIA the intention has to be correct. And then the method the manner also has to be correct. Okay. So fasting has been obligated on you, just as it was obligated on the people before you, meaning just as they were required to fast, you are also required to fast. And it's possible that, you know, the way in which the previous nations were required to fast the manner of fast was slightly different. That is possible. But the concept of fasting certainly existed before. And it's not just the concept of

fasting, if you look at all the five pillars, you know, for example, shahada declaration of faith, then Salah All right, then fasting, za cat, all right, also Hajj pilgrimage, these rituals, the people before us were also required to observe them. So for example, Ibrahim re Salam, we learned that Allah subhanaw taala commanded him whatever then Vanessi Bill had G, right that make the announcement among people for Hajj. So Hajj began from the time of Ibrahim alayhis salam, we learned about a smart eel or the Sunnah that will Cana yet model a little bit Salah T was the clarity that he used to command his family to pray and also to give the cat okay, we learned about rissalah his

sunnah, that we're all Sani Bisola it was Kathy, that Allah subhanaw taala has commanded me to observe prayer and also to give zakat so not just fasting but other acts of worship also, the people before us the different nations before us were required to observe them and

yes the manner the exact nature of those rituals, they may be slightly different. However, the concept of charity, the concept of fasting, the concept of prayer, the concept of even sacrifice the concept of pilgrimage, right? This is something that existed from the beginning. Okay? Now why, why is it that Allah subhanaw taala has commanded us to fast and he commanded the people before us too fast? What's the benefit? What's the reason Laurila contact the phone, in order that you may adopt the qua any, there is a purpose behind this command and this is something that we have to remember that all acts of worship have a certain objective or a goal. Okay? Meaning Allah subhanaw taala has

commanded us to do different things. Why? For different reasons, okay, so here, why fast, so that you can develop Dupois now, what is the quote we have discussed this concept many times earlier, which is that you are conscious of Allah, you are alert, you are aware that Allah is watching you, that Allah has power over you that Allah knows what you're doing, that Allah can punish you, that Allah can reward you. And so when you have this heightened awareness, right, then what happens? This awareness translates into carefulness. So when you're careful, that means you watch what you're saying, you watch what you're doing, you watch what you're looking at, you watch your thoughts, even

your responses. So this is what the quote is that out of the fear of Allah out of the consciousness of Allah, you will begin to guard your actions, your words, your behavior. So you refrain from things that would displease Allah, and you choose to do things that would please Allah. Now how, how does this develop when you fast? You see you need we know technically that Allah is watching us, we know that Allah subhanaw taala is able to punish us, we know that he will reward us for the good that we do in Shell. But what happens over time, you know, we tend to neglect this knowledge, we don't pay much attention, we become careless. So when you're fasting, what happens you become

careful about food and drink, that you can have water sitting next to you and you will not drink even a sip of it. Right? There are times when you put something in your mouth by accident, and then you realize you're fasting and you spit it out. An entire month you are practicing what you are practicing self restraint. You are becoming conscious of what you're putting in your mouth and when you are putting in your mouth. Right? And no matter how tired you are, no matter how hungry you are, no matter how thirsty you are, you don't allow yourself right to eat or drink. And fasting proves to you that you are stronger than you think you are. Because generally we make excuses that I can't

speak nicely, because that's just how I am or I can't leave the sun because too hard. What does fasting prove to you that you are able to refrain from drinking coffee all day long? Right? You are able to, you know, refuse that ice cream when someone offers it to you because you're fasting. So fasting proves to you that you are way stronger and way more capable than you think you are. You lower your standards all the time. But fasting shows you that you are way more capable. So fasting has been prescribed. Not because almost paneled turtle wants us to suffer hunger and thirst and be miserable. No, it is to raise our awareness, our levels of alertness, our levels of consciousness.

So there are lessons that we take from fasting that impact the rest of our lives. Right Laurel, Lakota, Dakota, and then Laura la quinta de Cohn also means you adopt the court as in literally you are protected. You safeguard yourselves because fasting is like a shield between a person and the fire of health. Okay, when a person fasts, then they earn the approval of Allah. And this act of worship this fast becomes a means of forgiveness for a person. So then it becomes a shield between them and Johanna Solara. Allah Contacta con in order that you safeguard yourselves meaning you are protected you are saved from the

Fire of Hell. So fasting brings forgiveness. And it also develops that strength in you that you leave so many bad habits, you develop so many good habits. You know, for example, if you not that consistent with Fajr prayer, you end up delaying it many days, what happens in the month of Ramadan, because you're up force or who you end up praying on time, right? And then you develop the habit of getting up for Fudger on time. So law law, contact the phone, when you're fasting, you know, you realize that, okay, I'm not eating and drinking, I should also guard what I'm saying, I should also be careful about my speech. So it helps you develop good habits, it helps you leave sin. Now, this

idea, first of all, it teaches us that fasting is obligatory, right? It is something that Allah subhanaw taala has made obligatory on us. Secondly, this ayah shows us that fasting is also something incredibly important. It's not just something obligatory, but it's actually very important. It is related to your Eman because Allah subhanaw taala says, Yeah, you Alladhina amanu when you fast properly, this is something that will strengthen your faith, it will make you a better believer. And this I also shows us that the quad is incredibly important. The cord is the key to success in this life and the next and think about it fasting for an entire month has been decreed so

that we developed a clock. So the clock comes with practice, okay, with training, it doesn't just pop into a person's heart. Okay, you're gonna fast the entire month and you will develop the core, you will worship Allah right as we learned earlier and so little Bacara that Yeah, are you a nurse or a Buddha or bacame will lead the Halacha welcome, well laudanum in public en la la quinta de Khun. So worship your Lord, Who created you and who created the people before you? Why worship Him La La Quinta de Coyne in order that you develop the club. So this is shows us that decoy is incredibly important. Allah subhanaw taala once wants us to have Taqwa because it is the key to

success. And we also see over here that the core doesn't just appear in the heart. It is developed through practice through worship. And fasting is a form of worship. Allah subhanaw taala says a yellow module that meaning fasting is prescribed on you for a limited number of days. Okay, and I mentioned to you earlier, that module that is general killer, meaning it's just for a few days, don't be scared. Because when it comes to any kind of restriction, that you have to observe any boundaries, now that you have to respect, there is a sense of lack of control, and that makes us a bit anxious. So we are consoled right away, that it's a Yamma Mardu, that you don't have to fast all

the time, you don't have to fast every day. No, it's just few and specific number of days, it's a limited number of days, okay. And this is something that makes the action easy on a person. How, you know, for example, if you're told that you have to take this medication, which tastes horrible, horrible, horrible, and has really negative side effects, but you have to take it for three months, for example, you have to take it for 10 days, you have to take it for two weeks, when you're given a number a period of time, then, even though it may be very hard on you, you push yourself to do it. Right, you say it's okay. It's just a few days, I can do it.

But on the other hand, if you're told that you just take something now and you deal with it for the rest of your life, and you don't know when it's going to end that is very difficult on a person even psychologically. So Allah subhanaw taala comforts us that a Yama might do that. You only have to fast for a few days. Okay, and these days are as we know, the month of Ramadan. Now, you see a yellow mark, do that a few days, initially, remember that at the beginning, because remember that the commands were given were revealed gradually. So initially, the Muslims were required to fast on our shoot up, okay, only on our shooter, and this is something that the Prophet salallahu Alaihe

Salam did even before he migrated to Medina, and we learned that little by a year been smarter with Hello de la hora and her she mentioned that we would fast on our shoot up, and we will also make our children fast. Okay, so fasting was obligatory only on our shoot up. Okay.

So literally a Yama Mardu that is one day. Okay. At the beginning, it was literally just one day. And then eventually, later on what happened in the second year after hijra, the Muslims were required to fast in the month of Ramadan. And when the fasting of Ramadan was obligated, then the fasting of our shooter became optional. Okay, it became optional. So there is great reward for fasting on our shooter, but you're not required to fast on our shoot up. And if you think about it, any even the recommended fasts that are, you know, throughout the year, whether it is the fast stuff show while or the fast of Muharram, the fast, you know, every month, the three white days, the fast

of Monday and Thursday, all of these recommended fasts. Again, they're not that many, right? First of all, they're not obligatory, but even if you were to put them all together and see how many days of the year it is, to keep these recommended fasts, these voluntary fasts, they're not that many. So in the week, Monday and Thursday, two days out of the week, right? The three white days it's three days in the entire month, right. So, a Yama margu that whether it is the optional fasts or it is the obligatory fasts, these are a few days right. And then it is said from uncanny min Kumari Ibn. So, whoever among you is sick or less suffering or on a journey, then what should they do for it

determine a yam in Ohara then they should complete the number in other days of the year meaning because of illness and because of travel, they will not fast but they will make up the fasts in other days of the year. Now, based on this even hasm said it was of the opinion that the sick person and the traveler are not allowed to fast. Why because it is said whoever is sick or traveling, then they should fast in other days of the year. Okay, so he was of the opinion that a sick person and the traveler is not allowed to fast they should not fast. Okay. But other element, they say that there is an implication over here that whoever is sick or on a journey, and as a result of that he

chooses not to fast, then he's going to make up those fasts in other days of the year. Okay, now, the question is, is it better to fast when you're sick or traveling? Or is it better to not fast? What is it that a person should do? So we see that he will have a Shafir, he was of the opinion that it's better to fast that even if a person is sick or traveling, you know, it's better for them to fast Well, my mother was of the opinion that it's better for a person to not fast if they're sick, or if they're traveling anywhere, Malik said that there's no issue of what is better a person has a choice, okay, a person has a choice they can do either and the reward will not be reduced because of

the choice that they make, because both options are there. And if you think about it, it really depends on the person on the nature of the sickness, the nature of the travel, you know, which will make a person decide whether they should fast or not, okay, but the fact that option is there, that a person due to travel or due to sickness is allowed to not fast, this teaches a very important rule in our religion, which is that Al Machelle, Katagiri Bucha, they said, that difficulty draws ease, meaning when a person is in difficulty, then ease will be created for them. Okay. So sickness creates difficulty. Likewise, travel creates difficulty. So when a person is in this difficulty,

then ease is created for them and what is that ease that they don't fast right now, and they can fast other days of the year, okay. And this is not just in the case of fasting. This is also in the case of Salah that for example, if a person is not able to physically, you know, for example, make such though, because they have a knee injury, it causes them extreme pain. A person has a back issue, they're unwell, they're feeling dizzy, then they're not required to stand and pray and make the such that et cetera. They can sit and pray they can literally pray with gestures. Right? So Allah Masha Katagiri bootay. See, so this is a general rule in our *tier Alright, now let's talk

a little bit about illness and travel when it comes to illness. There's different types of illness right and fasting can impact

illness and recovery. Okay, so sometimes a person is ill. And the nature of that illness is such that fasting really will not harm the person. Okay? And it's not really difficult for the person to fast. So for example, a person has had a cold for a week, okay? And now they're almost better. Okay? They're almost completely fine. It's just that maybe they have a runny nose, but their throat is not hurting, they don't have a headache. They're not, you know, in need of drinking tea constantly. They're fine. You know, maybe their voice is slightly changed. Maybe they have a slightly runny nose, but they're perfectly fine. Okay? They feel well. So if they fast, nothing's really going to

happen to them. It's not like they're going to faint. It's not like their sickness is going to get worse. No, fasting does not harm them. Okay? Likewise, a person has a fracture, let's say they fractured their arm, they're wearing a cast. And they are not in any pain medication anymore, because, you know, they're feeling better now. So if they fast, you know, it's not like, their recovery is going to be affected in any way. Okay, so in this case, a person will choose to fast. Okay. But then there's another kind of illness in which what happens is that if a person fasts, then fasting will actually harm them.

Okay? Fasting will harm them. Why? Because it will delay recovery, or it will worsen their condition and comes to worse, I mean, it can result in a severe consequence, like it can literally cause death. Okay, so in this case, what should a person do? A person should not fast, right? It is disliked for them too fast. Now who's going to decide who's going to decide for you, whether you should fast or not, you are the best judge because you know, your body. You know how your body responds, you know, what your body is in need of, you can feel that pain, right? So depending on your condition, and depending on what you're feeling, you have to decide whether you should fast or

not. Okay? But if you choose not to fast because you're worried that your illness is going to get worse, or it would cause your recovery to be delayed. You do not feel guilty about leaving the fast because you're not doing anything sinful. You are taking advantage of an option that Allah subhanaw taala has given you. Right, Allah subhanaw taala told us in Surah Nisa 29 that will talk to you and full circle in Allah cannot become Rahima that do not kill yourselves. Allah is Ever Merciful toward you. Okay? So this kind of illness is what this is a temporary condition where there is hope of recovery. So you can always make up the fasts later on. Another temporary condition that can prevent

a person from fasting is travel, what kind of travel this has traveled, because of which a person will shorten and combine their prayers. It could be in the same province, it could be to a different country, it could be through air, it could be through land, it could be any form of travel, the main thing is it's travel, because of which you would shorten combine your prayers. So this kind of travel also, you are the best judge, you know, how you feel while traveling, you know, your situation, you are allowed to fast and you're also allowed to leave the fasting. Okay, we learn that and as for the Longhorn, who reported that we used to travel with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa

sallam, and neither did the fasting persons criticize those who were not fasting, nor did the people who were not fasting, criticize the people who were fasting. So there were times when they would be traveling together, some people will be fasting, other people would not be fasting, and it was a matter of personal choice. Okay. However, we also learned about narrations in which people were fasting, and the fast became incredibly difficult. And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he broke his fast in front of everyone. And that meant that everyone should break their fast many people did, some people didn't, and those who did not break their fast, the Prophet sallallahu

alayhi salam called them or sought, you need those who disobeyed Him. So this shows us that when travel is hard, okay, it's causing extreme hardship. Like for example, it's extremely hot. All right, like for example, you sit on the plane, alright, and

And now you just as you look out the window, it's daytime for the next 18 hours, okay, you just don't see sunset at all. So, now you started your fast six hours before you got on the plane, and then you break your fast, you have to break your fast, maybe six hours after you land. This is like an incredibly long, fast. So it would make it very hard for a person to fast, then in a situation where fasting is difficult during travel than a person should not fast. You can also begin your fast, okay, and then begin your journey and then decide later on. If you want to break your fast there's nothing wrong. Same thing with sickness, you know, you think you're feeling better, you

begin your fast but then halfway through, you're like, I don't think I can carry on I need to break my fast and you can, there's nothing wrong with that. So you can leave the fast completely because of illness or travel or you can break your fast. Okay, any point during the day because of illness or travel. Okay. But what is important is that you keep count of the number of fasts that you miss. So for example, it's the Ramadan and you miss four days of fasting because of your sickness okay, then you keep that number in mind, you record that number somewhere, so that you can make up this number at some other time of the year. So this is about a temporary condition caused by sickness or

journey or travel because of which a person will not fast. What will they do? They will make up their fasts later on. All right.