What are the pillars, fundamental stipulations, of fasting? A - There are three pillars of fasting and without these mandatory elements, fasting is not valid. They are as follows: • The fist pillar is abstaining from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse with one's wife. • The second pillar of fasting is making intention, that is, the person must make the intention that he will observe fast from before the rise of the dawn. Intention is a pillar of fasting, especially the obligatory one, because this is required for distinguishing what is performed as an act of worship from what is done as a habit. • The third pillar of fasting is that a woman must not be menstruating or be in postnatal period. Q- Why is it prohibited for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, including Christian and Jewish men, while a Muslim man is permitted to marry a Christian or Jewish woman? A - It is prohibited for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, regardless of whether he is from among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) or not. Almighty Allah says, “And do not marry Al-Mushrikat (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikun till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you…” (Qur'an, 2:221) Also Allah says concerning the emigrant Muslim women, “O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine (and test) them: Allah knows best as to their Faith: if you ascertain that they are true believers, then send them not back to the disbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers, nor are the (disbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them.” (60:10) Thus while a Muslim man is permitted to marry a Christian or a Jewish woman, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a Christian or Jewish man. There are many sound reasons for this difference in treatment. First, the man is the head of the household, the one who maintains the family, and he is responsible for his wife. And while Islam guarantees the freedom of belief and practice to the Christian or Jewish wife of a Muslim, safeguarding her rights according to her own faith, other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, do not guarantee the wife of a different faith freedom of belief and practice, nor do they safeguard her rights. Being so, how can Islam leave the future of Muslim women to chance by placing them into the care of people who neither honor their religion nor are they concerned about protecting their rights? And Allah knows best. – Extracted from 500 Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence, compiled and translated by Muhammad Abdul
