The Virtues of fasting

Whoever fasts and stays up for worship during Ramadan shall be with the truthful and martyrs.

Fasting is the way to Paradise:

Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I leaned the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to my chest, and he said: Whoever says: "La Ilaha Illa Allah [There is no deity but Allah]" at the end of his life shall enter Paradise. Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah at the end of his life shall enter Paradise. And whoever gives in charity for the sake of Allah at the end of his life shall enter Paradise."

Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Allah granted Paradise for the one who fasts one day if he gives in charity along with fasting, follows a funeral procession, and visits a sick person. He held the following Hadith as a proof which he reported with his chain of transmission and also reported by Imam Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Who has observed fast among you today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you fed a needy today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you followed the bier today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you visited an invalid today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter paradise."
 

Al Bazzar reported on the authority of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who dies while fasting shall enter Paradise." [Sahih Al Jami`: 6224].

Al Munawy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: The one who dies while fasting or after breaking his fast shall enter Paradise with the former or enters Paradise without torture.

An-Nasa'y reported with his chain of transmission on the authority of Talhah ibn `Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: "O Allah's Messenger! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards Salah." He replied: "You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory Salahs in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray voluntarily." The bedouin further asked: "Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting." He replied: "You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil." The bedouin further asked: "Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me." Thus, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said: "By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise)."

Keep to fasting, for the Houris call you saying:

Do you want us without doing actions to obtain us?

The sleep is forbidden for lovers as we have been created for every person who prays and fasts frequently.

Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Abu Malik Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed in Paradise there are chambers, whose outside can be seen from their inside, and their inside can be seen from their outside. Allah prepared them for those who feed others, speak well, continue to observe (voluntary) fasting, and perform Salah at night while people are asleep." [Sahih Al Jami`: 2119].

Those chambers were prepared for those who observe fasting.

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from the Hadith of Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise)in the same way as one looks at stars in the sky."

Those who fast and stay up for worship during Ramadan shall be with the truthful and martyrs:

Al Bazzar and Ibn Khuzaymah reported with an authentic chain of transmission according to Al Albany on the authority of `Amr ibn Murrah Al Juhany (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, What will happen if I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah, offer the five daily Salahs, pay Zakah, fast Ramadan and stay up at night for optional Salah? He said: You shall be with the truthful and the martyrs."

The wordings of Ibn Khuzaymah are: "A man from Quda`ah came to the Messenger of Allah and asked him: What will happen if I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah, offer Salah, fast the Month (of Ramadan), stay up for optional acts of worship, and pay Zakah? Thereupon, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever dies while doing these shall be of the truthful and martyrs."

Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: A person shall be listed among the truthful and martyrs if he combines between fasting the day of Ramadan and staying up for worship during its night, offers obligatory Salah, pays Zakah, and bears witness to Allah with oneness and admitting the Prophethood of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

O people who observe fasting, stay away from the world and its desires and control yourselves until you hear the call of angels: "Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!" [Surat Al Haqqah: 24].

Mujahid and others said: It was revealed concerning fasting people.

So, whoever leaves food or drink for the sake of Allah even for a short period of time Allah shall reward him with endless food and drink, and whoever leaves out his lusts Allah shall make it up for him in Paradise with spouses who shall never die.

Al Hasan (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Houris will say to a pious servant while he is sitting with her at the beach of a river that is made of honey: Indeed, Allah looked at you in a scorching hot day while you were thirsty and boasted the angels of you saying: Look at My Servant who left his wife, his lusts, his desires, his food, and his drink for My Sake and seeking My Reward. Bear witness that I have forgiven him. On that day, he forgave you and made me your wife. [Lata'if Al Ma`arif: 167].

I ask Allah, the Great, the Lord of the Great Throne to accept fasting, Salah, and all acts of worship from us and to grant us Paradise. We ask Allah to accompany the Prophet (peace be upon him). May Allah send peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions. Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him. I bear witness that there is no god but You, I seek Your Forgiveness, and I repent to You.