Question:

This is the first time I will fast for Ramadan and I am bear learning Surah and I would like to know if you can help me in telling me if there is something I should do on the first day of Ramadan I don't know everything. I want to fast and gain Allah's love and forgiveness. I live in a part of Texas where Muslims are a rare thing and if any some are not true to Allah. I read that I should begin to fast by the sighting of the new moon the following morning but 2 or 1 trustworthy Muslim should tell me. I will look at a website so it can tell me when the birth of the new moon starts and look for it myself as well, I hope in doing that it will not be wrong in my part, as I said there is no trustworthy Muslims here in Harlingen, Texas. So basically I would like to know if what I should do the first day of Ramadan. My future plans is to read the Quran and learn Surah so I can pray but maybe I am not going about it the right way. Please help me I know it is coming soon and I would love to do my duty this month.

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We advise you to contact any Islamic center in your area or in your country, and they can help you in this matter.

However, you have to fast the first day of Ramadan besides fulfilling other religious duties like performing the five daily prayers etc. Fasting means refraining from eating, drinking, having sex with ones spouse, etc. from dawn till sunset. Allah Says (what means): {…So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), ….} [Quran 2:187].

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by:The Fatwa Center at Islamweb