Question
My friend who lives in another country started fasting a day earlier than us. Towards the end of Ramadhaan he came to our country. When it was our 29th day of Ramadhaan, it was his 30th fast. The next day when it was our 30th, he did not fast, saying that there is no 31 day month in Islam. Since he had fasted a full 30 days, he did not fast when it was the 30th of Ramadhaan for us. The next day which was Eid for us, he fasted for Shawwaal. Was he correct in his decision?
Answer
Your friend was supposed to have celebrated Eid together with the community in your country where he had arrived. Eid cannot be celebrated by one person. Since it was still Ramadhaan in your country, your friend was supposed to have fasted. The fast for him too was Fardh. The Islamic month does not have 31 days. Even if fasting on the 30th in your country would mean that your friend would have fasted 31 days, it does not matter. Of significance is the fact that he was present in a country when it was the 30th of Ramadhaan, hence he was supposed to have fasted on that day. It was not Eid for him despite it having been Eid in his country. In matters of Eid and Ramdhaan, the individual has to follow the community. He had sinned for not fasting. He has to make qadha of one fast. He was not supposed to fast for Shawwaal when it was Eid in the country where he was.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 21 No 02
- PDF page
- 2
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).