Fatwa ID: 08102

Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim

Question:

Fasting Reward when someone eats in front of you

Based on this, should a حائض during Ramadan eat discreetly—such as at a time or place where fasting males are not present—or is it fine/better for her to eat openly in their presence?

Similarly, if a Muslim man or woman is in a workplace where non-Muslims eat during lunch hours, can they attain the aforementioned reward in this context by sitting with them?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

The hadith mentioning reward for when someone eats in front of a fasting person is the following:

إِنَّ الصَّائِمَ تُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِذَا أُكِلَ عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى يَفْرُغُوا

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Surely, angels send blessings upon the fasting person when others eat in their presence until they finish.” – [سنن الترمذي، رقم الحديث: ٧٨٥]

It is recommended that a menstruating woman should carry on as a fasting person when in public—although not obligatory as she is from the category of excused individuals.

Nonetheless, it would be optimal that she eats in privacy as this frees her from any blame or ill-assumptions made by others.

As for the fasting Muslim man or woman who sits with their non-Muslim co-workers during lunch hours whilst they are eating, then yes, they will gain the rewards mentioned in the hadith.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] وهو الإمساك عن الأكل والشرب والجماع مع النيّة بشرط الطهارة عن الحيض والنفاس
[الاختيار لتعليل المختار، كتاب الصوم، صفحة ١٦٦، دار المعرفة]

[2] وأما إمساك بقية يومه لئلا يتهمه الناس والتحرَّز عن مواضع التهْم واجب
[الاختيار لتعليل المختار، كتاب الصوم، صفحة ١٧٥، دار المعرفة]