The virtue of fasting

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

One of the best righteous actions in the sight of Allah (may He be Exalted) is fasting, where the Shari`ah exhorted to and made it one of the great pillars of Islam. Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) informed the people that nations cannot do without it because it cultivates manners, purifies the souls, and trains them for patience. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fast) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 183]. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "It is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know." [Surat Al Baqarah: 184].

Allah (may He be Exalted) said after mentioning those who hasten to goodness from men and women: "The men and the women who observe Sawm (fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadân, and the optional Nawâfil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allâh much with their hearts and tongues - Allâh has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)."[Surat Al Ahzab: 35]. Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Everyone observes Sawm (fasting) for one day for the sake of Allah, Allah shall draw his face farther from Hell-fire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy autumns[1]." [2]

Of the Virtues of fasting is that it protects a person from the torment of Allah on the Day of Recompense.

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting is a shield by which a servant protects himself from Hell, it is for Me and it is Me who reward for it." [3]

Of these benefits: It is a great way to Paradise.

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allah: "Tell me of such a deed as will make me enter Paradise. He said: You should stick to fasting for nothing is equal to it. The sub narrator said: Thereupon, people did not see a smoke [of cooking] coming out from the house of Abu Umamah in daytime unless they have a guest." [4]Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Aryan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it." [5]

Of these benefits: Fasting intercedes for the fasting people on the Day of Recompense.

`Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting and Qur'an intercede (i.e. for the Muslim) before Allah on the Judgment Day. Fasting says: O my Lord! I prevented him from eating and lust, so accept my intercession for him! And the Qur'an says: I prevented him from sleeping as he stayed up at night reciting me, so accept my intercession for him! He (the Prophet) said: So, Allah accepts their intercession." [6]

Of these benefits: The fasting person shall be given his reward without measure. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The reward of every (good) deed of a person is multiplied One good deed shall be ten good deeds to seven hundredfold. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: 'The reward of observing Sawm is different from the reward of other good deeds; Sawm is for Me, and I Alone will give its reward. The person observing Sawm abstains from food and drink only for My sake.' The fasting person has two joyous occasions, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time of meeting his Rubb. Surely, the breath of one observing Sawm is better smelling to Allah than the fragrance of musk.'' [7]

Of these benefits: It is an expiation for many faults. Of which are the following: It is an expiation for breaking the oath and killing the game in the state of Ihram. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Allâh will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten Masâkîn (needy persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn."[Surat Al Ma'idah: 89]. Allah (Exalted be He) says:"O you who believe! Kill not the game while you are in a state of Ihrâm [for Hajj or 'Umrah (pilgrimage)], and whosoever of you kills it intentionally, the penalty is an offering, brought to the Ka'bah, of an eatable animal (i.e., sheep, goat, cow, camel) equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or, for expiation, he should feed Masâkîn (needy persons), or its equivalent in Sawm (fasting), that he may taste the heaviness (punishment) of his deed. Allâh has forgiven what is past, but whosoever commits it again, Allâh will take retribution from him. And Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 95].

Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard of the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: "The trial of man in his family and money is expiated by Salah,fasting, and charity."[8]

Of which: Whoever fasts Ramadan and performs other obligatory duties shall be of the truthful and the martyrs. `Amr ibn Murrah Al Juhany (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: What will be the case if I bear witness that there is no god but Allahand bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah, offer the five daily Salahs, pay Zakah, observe the fast of Ramadan and offered the Voluntary Night Salah, with whom shall I be? He said: with the truthful and the martyrs."[9]

Of which is that the fasting of Ramadan expiates sins and evil deeds. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 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." [10]

Allah gave preference to some times over others and singled them out with more virtue.

Fasting the six days of Shawwal. Abu Ayyub (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan, and also observes the fasting of the six days of Shawwal,it is as if he has observed the fasting of the whole year." [11]

Of these benefits: Fasting the month of Al Muharram, particularly the tenth day. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The best month for observing Sawm (fasting) after Ramadan is Al Muharram,and the best Salat after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night [voluntary Night Salah]." [12]

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked about the fasting of the Day of `Ashura' (10^th of Muharram), thereupon he said: "It expiates the sins of the preceding year." [13]

Of which: Fasting the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah). Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah was asked about the fasting of the Day of `Arafah, thereupon he said: I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura' may atone for the sins of the preceding year and the coming year." [14]

Of which: Fasting three days every month. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "My friend (the Prophet (peace be upon him)) advised me to do three things: "Fasting three days every month, offering the Forenoon Salah (Duha), and offering Witr before sleeping." [15]

Of which: Fasting every Monday and Thursday. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Deeds are reviewed before Allah on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my actions are reviewed while I am fasting." [16]

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. And peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.