Ramadhaan & Fasting

Missing out the fasts of Ramadhaan due to playing soccer professionally

Q: My son plays soccer for South Africa PSL soccer.This is his profession and he earns his rozi from this. He lives on his own, as I reside in Asia and he is responsible for all his living expenses. Every year he fasts during Ramadaan even though he is training daily and also playing matches with his team. This sets him back physically from his peers at least two months. This year, Ramadaan falls in the pre-season period, during which his team will be doing intensive training and drills, it is a crucial period for him as the coach chooses players for the next season which commences early august immediately after pre-season. He is 20 years old and this is not considered young in the world of sport, he does not have time or room for slacking behind the other players anymore. He has been playing since the age of 14 and age will soon be against him. Is there an Islamic ruling/law/fatwa that can excuse him from Ramadaan fasting this year seeing that his career depends on his performance during June and July this year? Maybe some kind of penalty he can pay?

Being unable to give fidyah for not fasting due to illness

Q:

  1. A person who cannot fast in ramadhan due to a sickness, also cannot give fidyah as he is out of a job, what must he do?
  2. What is the fidya?
  3. Does it have to be given only to Muslims?
  4. If he cannot find as many Muslims can he give to kuffar as well?
  5. Can the fidya be given in the form of a meal?
  6. Can the person giving the fidya partake of the meals as well?

Sadaqatul fitr

Q: Is it permissible to give money (Cash) as Zakaatul Fitr instead of dates or barley? Because it is very difficult to find a poor muslim who to take actual food to in the locality in which I live. Also, is it permissible to give Zakaatul-Fitr in the middle of Ramadan instead of waiting till Eid?

Nafil fasts

Q: Besides the Monday and Thursday fast, what are some other days that one should keep Nafl Fast? I have heard people say that one should fast on Ashura, and 15th of Shaban (Shab-E-Baraat), and on the birthday of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)? Are any of these correct or should these be avoided?

I'tikaaf in Musjidun Nabawi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)

Q: My question is regarding this year ramadaan. I intend on spending the sunnah ithikaaf in musjid un nabawi (17th-27th July - According to the saudi calendar). I would like to know if my ithikaaf would be valid if I leave on the eve of eid from Madinah and arrive in South Africa on the 28th, just to find that South Africa would be fasting on the 28th and celebrating eid on the 29th.What should I do in this regard? From calculations, its seems that the above scenario is most likely to occur?