Aspects of Ramadan

Virtues of Fasting

Virtues of Fasting 

We’ve covered many different aspects of Ramadan over the past couple of weeks and as this book draws to a close I’d like to cover one last topic.

Increasing Taqwa

"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa"  al-Baqarah, 2:183

+As Muslims we seek to increase out Taqwa or bealif in Allah, and what better way to increase it than by fasting? When fasting we are distracted from any harmful outside influences, we hold our anger and we try to be more patient. As a result we have more time to focus on praying to Allah, reciting the Qur’an and reading the stories of the blessed companions of the Prophet (SAW).

A Great Reward

In a hadith narrated by Abu Huraria (RA): The Prophet said, "Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures (moments of happiness or joys) for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk."

+Allah knows that we as humans are not perfect; we have many flaws and commit many sins. That is why he has given us so many ways to accumulate just as many rewards as sins. Fasting is just one of those chances to gain reward in this life and in the next.

Intercession on the Day of Judgment

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, (SAW), said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah 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'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted."

+ Subhanallah, Allah loves the fasting Muslim so much that even if he doesn’t do any extra prayers or dua’aa he still rewards him by making his fast intercede for him on the Day of Judgment.

The Description of the people of Janah

Verily, the Muslim men and women, the believing men and women, the men and women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and women who are patient, the men and women who are humble (before their Lord), the men and women who give charity, the men and women who fast, the men and women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and women who remember Allah much. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)." al-Ahzaab, 33:35

+Amongst the description of the people of Janah is the Muslim man and woman who fast. And notice that Allah say’s at the end of the ayah: And I have prepared for them a great reward.

Forgiveness

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said : "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven."

+As I said before, none of us are perfect and Allah gives us a chance to make up for that by forgiving all our past sins if we fast sincerely during the month of Ramadan.

I conclude with a hadith narrated by Abu Huraria (RA):  The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times it’s like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said: 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me'. For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of Musk."

 Authors Note: This will be the last chapter of "Aspects of Ramadan", I'd like to thank all my readers for being so supportive and reading each chapter of my book and I pray that you all have a blessed and happy Ramadan. Ameen.