Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Lessons In The Month Of Ramadhaan # 2

Virtues of Fasting
(Revised on March 18, 2017)
بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

All praises are for Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions and all those who follow their path.

My brothers! Know that Fasting is from one of the best forms of `Ibaadaat (acts of worship) and from the highest types of obedience. There are many Texts (from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah) about its virtues.

One of the virtues of Fasting is that Allaah تبارك وتعالى had enjoined it upon every nation and made it obligatory upon them.

﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
[البقرة: 183]

{O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 183]

Were it not one of the greatest forms of worship, the creation would not have been in need of worshiping Allaah with it, nor would such (great) rewards (be promised) for its doers, nor would it have been made compulsory on all the nations.

And from the virtues of Fasting in Ramadhaan is that it is a means of forgiveness of sins and wiping-off of bad deeds. In al-Saheehain (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) it is mentioned on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«مَنْ صَامَ رمضان إيماناً واحْتساباً غُفِرَ لَهُ ما تقدَّم مِن ذنبه»

“Whoever observes Fasts during the month of Ramadhaan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allaah's rewards; then all his past sins will be forgiven.”[1]

Meaning: having Imaan (Faith) in Allaah and being pleased with the obligations of Fasting, and hoping to be rewarded; and not being displeased with its obligation nor having doubts about its rewards – for them it is that Allaah will forgive them their past sins.

In Saheeh Muslim it is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«الصَّلواتُ الخَمْسُ والجمعةُ إلى الجمعةِ ورمضانُ إلى رمضانَ مُكفِّراتٌ مَا بينهُنَّ إذا اجْتُنِبت الْكَبَائر»

“Five prayers and from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer, and from one Ramadhaan to (the next) Ramadhaan, is an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals) if major sins are not committed.”[2]

Another virtue of Fasting is that that its reward is not confined; rather the one who Fasts will receive the reward without measure. In al-Saheehain it is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«قال الله تعالى: كُلُّ عَمَل ابن آدم لَهُ إلاَّ الصومَ فإِنَّه لي وأنا أجزي بهِ. والصِّيامُ جُنَّةٌ فإِذا كان يومُ صومِ أحدِكم فَلاَ يرفُثْ ولا يصْخَبْ فإِنْ سابَّهُ أَحدٌ أو قَاتله فَليقُلْ إِني صائِمٌ، والَّذِي نَفْسُ محمدٍ بِيَدهِ لخَلُوفُ فمِ الصَّائم أطيبُ عند الله مِن ريح المسك، لِلصائمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهما؛ إِذَا أفْطَرَ فرحَ بِفطْرهِ، وإِذَا لَقِي ربَّه فرح بصومِهِ»

“Allaah تعالى said: {All the deeds of Aadam's sons are for them, except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.} Fasting is a shield (or protection from the fire and from committing sins). If one of you is Fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am Fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a Fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the Fasting person, one at the time of breaking his Fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his Fasting.”[3]

And in another narration in Muslim it is reported:

«كُلُّ عملِ ابنِ آدمَ لَهُ يُضَاعفُ الحَسَنَة بعَشرِ أمثالِها إلى سَبْعِمائِة ضِعْفٍ، قَالَ الله تعالى: إِلاَّ الصَومَ فإِنه لِي وأَنَا أجْزي به يَدَعُ شهْوَتَه وطعامه من أجْلِي»

“All the deeds of Aadam’s sons are rewarded ten times to seven hundred times. Allaah تعالى said: {Except Fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it, for he has avoided his desires and food for my sake.}[4]

And in this magnificent Hadeeth there are many virtues of Fasting from different perspective:

First: Allaah تعالى singled out Fasting for himself from all the other deeds, because of its lofty status with Him, and because of His love for it, and because it is a demonstration of sincerity towards Him, as it is a secret between the slave and his Lord which no one can see except Allaah. The Fasting person can be in a place where no other people are around (to see him), and he can intake therein from the things (i.e. food and drink) which Allaah has forbidden him to consume while the person is in the state of Fasting; but he does not do so. This is because he knows that he has a Lord who is seeing him and that He has forbidden that to him. So he forsakes it for the sake of Allaah, fearing His punishment, and hoping for a reward from Him. And because of this sincerity, Allaah appreciates him; and that is why, from amongst all the other deeds, He تعالى singled out Fasting for Himself (to personally reward for it). And that is why He said: ‘for he has avoided his desires and food for my sake.’ The benefit of this sincerity will be apparent on the Day of Judgment, as Sufyaan Ibn `Uyainah رحمه الله said: “When the Day of Resurrection comes, Allaah will bring His slave to account and will settle any scores outstanding from the rest of his deeds, until when there is nothing left but fasting, Allaah will settle the matter and will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his fasting.”[5]

Second: Allaah تعالى said about Fasting: “and I will give the reward for it.” He has taken upon Himself to reward it personally. The reward for good deeds are multiplied - from ten times to seven hundred times, and many more times. But as for Fasting, then Allaah تعالى will reward for it from Himself without limiting its reward to a certain number (i.e. it will be without measure), all Glory be to Him, for He is the Most Kind, and the Most Generous of those who are generous; and the gift reflects the generosity of the giver. So, the reward of Fasting will be enormous without measure. Fasting is patience upon obedience to Allaah; and patience (for refraining) from what Allaah has prohibited; and patience upon what Allaah has decreed from pangs of hunger, thirst, and the physical and mental weaknesses. So Fasting combines all three types of patience, thus the one who is Fasting deserves to be counted as one of the Saabireen (those who are patient). Allaah تعالى said:

﴿إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّـابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ [الزمر: 10]

{Those who endure with patience will be rewarded without measure.} [Surah al-Zumar (39): 10]

Third: Fasting is a shield, i.e. it protects the person who is Fasting from idle and obscene (speech and action). That is why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If one of you is Fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice”. It is also a protection from the Fire. Imaam Ahmad reported with a good chain on the authority of Jaabir رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«الصيام جُنَّةٌ يَسْتجِنُّ بها العبدُ من النار»

“Fasting is a shield, which protects the person from the Fire.”[6]

Fourth: “the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a Fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk” because it is from the result of Fasting, and this is why it is better in the sight of Allaah and beloved to Him. This shows the high status that Fasting has with Allaah, to the extent that a thing which the people dislike and abhor is beloved to Allaah because it arose in His obedience through Fasting. 

Fifth: There are two pleasures for the Fasting person, one at the time of breaking his Fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord.” As for the pleasure at the time of breaking the Fast, then this is the blessing of Allaah which one receives upon being able to complete a great act of worship in the form of Fasting. And how many have been prevented from Fasting?[7] So, the Fasting person is pleased with what Allaah has permitted for him from the food and drink and enjoying his wife, which was prohibited for him in the state of Fasting. As for the pleasure when he will meet his Lord – he will be pleased to see the reward of his Fasting with Allaah تعالى which he will be receiving in full, at a time when he will (badly) need it; and it will be said:

«أينَ الصائمون ليَدْخلوا الجنَّةَ من بابِ الرَّيَّانِ الَّذِي لاَ يَدْخله أحدٌ غيرُهُمْ»

“’Where are those who used to observe Fasts?' So that they can enter the Jannah through the gate al-Rayyaan, and none except them will enter through it.”[8]

And in this Hadeeth, there are instructions for the person who is Fasting that if someone abuses him and quarrels with him, then he should not retaliate in the same manner as this might increase the cursing and fighting, nor should he show weakness by keeping quiet. Rather, he should inform him that he is Fasting; indicating to him that he will not retaliate - not because that he cannot take revenge - but out of respect for Fasting. And with this (further) cursing and quarreling can be prevented.

﴿ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ * وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ ذُو حَظِّ عَظِيمٍ [فصلت: 34، 35]

{The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allaah orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient – and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter, i.e., Paradise, and of a high moral character) in this world.} [Surah Fussilat (41): 34-35]

And from the virtues of Fasting is that it will intercede for those who Fast on the Day of Resurrection. On the authority of `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr (Ibn al-`Aas رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

«الصيام والقرآن يشفعان للعبد يوم القيامة يقول الصيام أي رب منعته الطعام والشهوات بالنهار فشفعني فيه ويقول القرآن منعته النوم بالليل فشفعني فيه قال فيشفعان»

“The Fast and the Qur’aan are the two intercessors for the servant of Allaah on the Day of Resurrection. The Fast will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the Day. Let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’aan will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.’ And their intercession will be accepted.”[9]

My brothers! One cannot attain the virtue of Fasting until he establishes its etiquette. So, strive in fulfilling its obligations and rules, and guard its limit; and seek repentance of your Lord in your shortcomings.

O Allaah! Protect for us our Fasting and make it our intercessor (on the Day of Judgment). And forgive us and our parents and all the Muslims. And Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.




[1] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (38) and Saheeh Muslim (760)

[2] Saheeh Muslim (233)

[3] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree (1904) and Saheeh Muslim (1151)

[4] Saheeh Muslim (1151)

[5] al-Baihaqee in Shu`ab al-Imaan (3309) and Sunan al-Kubraa (8335, 8510)

[6] Musnad Ahmad (14840), and graded as “Hasan” (good) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb (981) and in Saheeh al-Jaami` (4308)

[7] Many people are prevented from Fasting either because of sickness, or traveling, or ignorance, or due to lack of Imaan (Faith) i.e. Kufr.

[8] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1896) and Muslim (1152)

[9] Musnad Ahmad (6589), and authenticated by Shaikh Ahmad Shaakir. And garded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb (984, 1429) and in Saheeh al-Jaami` (3882)

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