Sawm (Fasting)

Fasting in Islam, (known as Sawm (صَوْم) or Siyām (صِيَام), also commonly known as Rūzeh or Rōzah (Persian: روزه‎)), is the practice of abstaining, usually from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan Sawm is observed between dawn and sunset when the evening adhan is sounded.

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Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He used to be a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa... Answered 7 years ago

You are a traveler in this case and you can't fast.
But if you intend to stay in one place for at least 10 days then you have to offer your prayers completely and also fast.
Note that if you prayed a 4 unit prayer and you changed your mind (not to stay there for 10 days, then you have to pray completely and fast as many days as you will be there, like the next 2 days...)

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Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He used to be a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa... Answered 7 years ago

Yes it is Mustahab(recommended) unless one is very weak, then it's better to do Iftar and pray afterwards

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Abolfazl Sabouri, Abolfazl Sabouri is based in New Zealand and has an MA in Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies. He is a graduate of Elmiyeh seminary in Qom with more than 15 years of study and research where he has... Answered 7 years ago

Yes your fast is valid. 

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If you have doubt as to whether there was something obstructing water from reaching your skin or not, after having performed the ghusl, you consider the ghusl as valid.

However, if you are sure it was there before the ghusl, and forgot during the ghusl, and then realised after the ghusl that it the obstruct was there, then as long as you kept your taharah, wash that part, based on the ruling of tarteeb (sequence). 

And Allah knows best.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

As far as the timings for prayers, there is a slight difference of opinion within the Sunni sects, and also between the Sunni and Shi'a point of view.

With the holy month of Ramadhan, and Iftar time, the Quran says to finish your fasting at "night time" (Surah al-Baqarah, verse, 187). Most Shi'ah jurists say this means it should be dark, including the fading of the redness in the eastern horizon. 

The rational argument for this is that it is far better that one observes the basic level of precaution and wait until it gets 'dark', and becomes 'night'. Being patient for a few more minutes will guarantee the entering into the correct time of Layl.

However, Sunni scholars say with the setting of the sun one is able to break their fast, even if there is still redness in the horizon.

Shi'ah jurists also support their view by numerous traditions from Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) clearly mentioning this particular view. 

And Allah knows best.

 

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

In Islam, masturbation is a sin and prohibited for both males and females. It is also one of the invalidators of fasting, should it reach sexual peak. If what you mean by no vaginal discharge that she did not have an orgasm, then her fast would be valid. However, if she had reach to that, and if Ghusl Janabah becomes wajib on her, then it would invalidate her fast. She will hence need to repent, re-do that day as Qadha', and also pay Kaffarah of intentionally breaking fast. 

Ways of avoiding such an act are:

1. Focus on your level of taqwa and become more consciously wary of Almighty God in everything you do and wherever you are, especially when you are alone.

2. Increase in your practice of Dhikr of Allah ta'ala, especially when you wake up, and before you sleep.

3. Marriage.

4. Stay away from anything that provokes lust, and anything that brings about sexual excitement.  

And Allah knows best.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If you did not do the Qadha' of the previous holy month of Ramadhan, and entered into the next Ramadhan, and you were capable of re-doing those days, you will need to pay a Kaffarah.

The Kaffarah is 750grams of flour, or bread, or rice, or dates, or something similar to these items for each day. You select the amount (750grams) of only one of these items, of your choice. 

You will also still need to do the Qadha' of those passed days.

And Allah knows best.

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Masuma Jaffer, Dr Masuma Jaffer is a qualified dentist, with a Masters in Islamic Studies and has also attended Hawza in Qum. She obtained a PGCE - teaching qualification – and has taught Hawza studies at the... Answered 7 years ago

If a person who is fasting eats or drinks by mistake, and not intentionally his fast is in order.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answer updated 7 years ago
Thank you for your question. If this is a one off one day travel then if your outward and return journey together amounts to 44 Kilometres and you do not return before zuhr, without doing anything to invalidate your fast, then you must not fast on the day of your journey. But you must not also break your fast if you travel after fajr and before zuhr until you have passed the permitted limit (definition below). 
Below are the applicable rules according to the verdicts of Ayatullah Sistani. If there is still any confusion regarding your specific circumstances plz refer to the book Islamic Laws translated by Mohammad Ali Ismail in the sections of prayer for a traveller and  laws of fasting for a traveller where the rulings are explained in greater detail.
May you always be successful 
Ruling 1683. A traveller must not fast if his obligation on a journey is to perform the four unit (rakʿah) prayers as two rakʿahs [i.e. in qaṣr form]. A traveller who performs his prayer in its complete (tamām) form - such as someone whose work is travelling, or someone whose journey is a sinful one - must fast on his journey.
Ruling 1690. If a fasting person travels after ẓuhr, he must, based on obligatory precaution, complete his fast; and in such a case, it is not necessary for him to make up that fast; and if he travels before ẓuhr, then based on obligatory precaution, he cannot fast on that day, particularly if he had made the intention to travel the night before. In any case, he must not do anything that invalidates a fast before reaching the permitted limit (ḥadd al-tarakhkhuṣ), otherwise kaffārah becomes obligatory on him. 
Ruling 1691. If a traveller in the month of Ramadan - whether he travelled before sunrise or he was fasting and then travelled - reaches his home town (waṭan) or a place where he intends to stay for ten days before ẓuhr, in the event that he did not do anything that invalidates a fast before reaching that place, he must, based on obligatory precaution, fast on that day and it is not obligatory on him to make it up; and if he did something that invalidates a fast before reaching that place, the fast of that day is not obligatory on 
him and he must make it up.
PRAYERS OF A TRAVELLER 
If the following eight conditions are fulfilled, a traveller must perform ẓuhr, ʿaṣr, and ʿishāʾ prayers in their shortened (qaṣr) form; i.e. he must perform them as two rakʿah prayers. 
First condition: the journey must not be less than eight farsakhs (approximately forty-four kilometres) [which is equal to approximately twenty-seven and a half miles]. 
Ruling 1304. The permitted limit is the place where the people of a town - including those who live on its outskirts and are considered to be residents of the town - cannot see a traveller; and its sign is that he cannot see the people of the town. 

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Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He used to be a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa... Answered 7 years ago

Taraweeh is an innovation according to Shia jurisprudence so you MUST not go for it

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Abolfazl Sabouri, Abolfazl Sabouri is based in New Zealand and has an MA in Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies. He is a graduate of Elmiyeh seminary in Qom with more than 15 years of study and research where he has... Answered 7 years ago

You can break your fast immediately at the time of adhan, if you are sure it is the correct time of adhan. 

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 7 years ago

Thank you for your question. There is no problem with breaking your fast after the magrib prayers. In fact, in a tradition from Imam al-Sadiq (as) it is preferable to pray before breaking the fast.

May you always be successful.