Fatawa
by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani
Question: How should one fast if he/
she has asthma and cannot complete a
fast without using an inhaler?
Answer: Using an inhaler will break
the fast. If a person suffers from
asthma and needs to use an inhaler
throughout the day in Ramadan, he/
she would be permitted to miss the
fast and make qada in winter season
when the days are shorter. If even that
is not possible, he/she should pay fidya
in lieu of fasting.
Question: Due to the short nights, is it
okay for one to pray a shorter tarawih
at home since they have work the next
day?
Answer: One should try their utmost
to pray tarawih in congregation in the
masjid since this is the most virtuous
method of praying tarawih. However,
if one is unable to do so due to the
long duration in tarawih and praying
in the masjid would make it difficult
for work the next day, they should
make a separate congregation with
other believers in a similar situation
and may read the shorter surah
therein.
Question: Does smoking break the fast?
If one smokes, will they have to make
kaffara (expiation)?
Answer: In principle, ingesting any
substance would break one’s fast. Thus,
smoking would break the fast although
it would not necessitate kaffara.
Question: There is no Jum‘ua taking
place due to the shutdown and
restrictions on large gatherings.
Should I pray Zuhr individually?
Answer: In such a scenario, one
should gather a couple of others in the
community and establish their own
smaller congregations of Zuhr in their
homes.
Question: If the corona virus
pandemic continues into Ramadan
and the masjids remain closed, would
it be okay to offer tarawih at home?
Answer: Although it is preferable to
offer tarawih prayer in the masjid with
congregation, if one is unable to do so
due to the masjid being closed, they
should have a congregation at home.
If one is unable to pray tarawih in
congregation (e.g. due to quarantine),
then they may offer their tarawih
individually.
Question: Many masjids have closed
due to the ongoing pandemic of
Covid-19. Is it wrong for the masjids to
be closed when we should be using this
time to get closer to Allah? Wouldn’t
the Prophet of Allah a frequent the
masjid during times of fear?
Answer: It is true that during times
of fear the blessed Prophet a would
spend even more time in the masjid
and that this should also be our
general practice in such situations.
However, in the case of the ongoing
pandemic there are also other
factors to consider, such as the law
and the overall health impact to the
community at large.
While it is difficult to issue a general
fatwa since the exact situation of each
area is different, we would advise for
each person to follow the guidance of
the ‘ulama of their respective localities.
If the ‘ulama in one locality differ,
then one should follow the opinion
of whichever scholar he/she trusts the
most while being respectful to others
who differ since both views are valid
and are backed by proofs.
Question: If the masjid in my locality
is still open during the pandemic,
should I be going for congregation? Or
is it still better for me to pray at home?
Answer: If a masjid is still legally
open in an area (i.e. the government
and health officials have not deemed
it necessary to close), then those
who are healthy should still go for
prayers while exercising all other
means of caution to avoid catching
and spreading the virus. However,
if a person is high-risk, has been
diagnosed with the virus, or is showing
symptoms of the virus, they should
pray at home and would be excused
from going to the masjid. Likewise, if
government and health officials have
deemed the closure of the masjid
or the limitation of congregants
necessary, one should abide by such
laws and pray at home. In such a
situation, a person will, inshallah, also
get the reward of attending the masjid.
Question: Many disinfectants are
of 60% alcohol. I have been told by
doctors that if the alcohol content
is less than that, it is not effective
against the Corona virus. Would it be
permissible to use such sanitizers and
disinfectants?
Answer: In principle, it is permissible
to externally apply any product which
contains alcohol (regardless of the
amount of alcohol content) provided
28 May - June 2020 | AL-MADINAH