Following the ongoing atrocity and genocide taking place in the holy land of Palestine, many scholars as well as public influencer are sharing the stories on social media platforms to fast on a specific day for the people of Palestine.
As fasting is one of the beloved acts of worship, many people are putting forth the idea to fast on a specific day for the people of Palestine. The reason behind fasting is so that Allah SWT may ease their hardship following the on-going genocide.
Before jumping to conclusion whether is it permissible to fast worldwide on behalf of Palestinians, it is important to understand the Islamic ruling on bid’ah, an innovation.
What is meant by Bid’ah?
A newly created religious practice in the name of Islam or as a mean for drawing closer to Allah, which lacks specific mention in Islamic law (Sharee’ah), has no supporting evidence from the Qur’an or the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and was not practiced during the time of the Prophet and his Companions.
It is also clear from the following hadith that every innovation in Islam will lead to hell fire and it is not permissible at all to introduce any act of worship without reference from deen.
The worst of things are those that are newly invented; every newly-invented thing is an innovation and every innovation is going astray, and every going astray is in the Fire.
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 1578
Ruling on Fasting for the People of Gaza, Palestine:
According to the teachings and references mentioned above, it is not permissible to fast for a customized cause. Following are the stand point of two of the famous scholars in Islam.
Faris Al Hammadi:
According to Faris Al Hammadi, Shaitan never leaves stone unturned special in the high times like this when our brothers and sisters in Gaza are being slaughtered and murdered in front of our eyes. This is the time when shaitan finds it way to attack Muslims from wherever side he can and in our case, it is the bid’ah that is being spread on social media in the name of fasting for the people of Gaza.
In the video he shared on Instagram, he said when you customize your cause for fasting on a specific day it is considered bid’ah because such types of practice were never practiced in the time of prophet Muhammad SAW.
He also said during the period of revelation of Islam, our prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW faced numberless hardships and calamities but he never advised his companion to fast on a specific day. He never announced something like scheduling a fast for a certain cause on a certain day. When our Prophet Muhammad SAW has a mean to practice something like this but he never did in his life time than we should adhere to the teachings of Islam.
Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem:
According to Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem, he responded to this query saying that this is an innovation and we cannot achieve victory by practicing something like this. Victory can only be achieved by turning to Allah with clear intentions.
Final Words
In the time like this when our brothers and sisters in Palestine needs us the most, we should pray for them as much as we can. Because prayer is the only help which can help them to stay steadfast on their religion, give them strength and patience when they are losing their family in front of their eyes in the most inhuman way.
In the end, may Allah ease their pain, elevate the ranks of martyred brothers, sisters and children and may Allah send his ghazab on the oppressors ameen