Fasting is an age-old act of worship. It was practised by previous nations (umam) before Islam. Allah (SWT) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Allah informs us that when He arranged a day for Musa (AS) to meet Him, Musa had to fast 30 days. After he completed these 30 days, he had to fast an additional 10 days. Allah says:
وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَى ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً
We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten (more): thus was completed the term (of communion) with his Lord, forty nights. (Al-A’raf, 7:142)
So the People of the Book, Jews and Christians, used to fast before us.
Fasting was prescribed and obliged upon Muslims in the 2nd year after hijrah. And there is consensus that the Prophet (SAW) observed nine Ramadans (of fasting) in his life.
The month of Ramadan is the month of fasting, and anyone who is Muslim, mature and sane is obliged to fast that month. Allah says:
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
“So whoever witnessed the Month (of Ramadan) must fast it.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:185)
This means whoever witnessed it in the state of Islam, maturity and sanity. However, Allah (SWT) also gave some individuals a permit not to fast:
وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
“But if anyone is ill or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:185)
Whoever is ill or travelling has a permit not to fast; however, they must make up their fast on another day. Allah makes it easy in such circumstances; He makes things easy for us and does not want to make things difficult. Removing hardship is one of the main goals of the Sharia.
Virtues of Ramadan
It is only for Allah
Allah says, in a hadeeth qudsi:
كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصيام. هو لي وأنا أجزي به
“Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.” (Riyad us-Saliheen, No. 1215)
Scholars have explained this to mean that fasting is the only action which is done only for Allah and is not done to show off. All other actions can be done for people or to show off, such as praying, pilgrimage, supplication, charity, and so forth. The scholars used to say:
الصيام سر بين العبد وربه
Fasting is a secret between the slave and his Lord.
But nobody knows when you are fasting – you can secretly eat something and no one will ever know except Allah. So what stops you is the knowledge that Allah is watching. In another similar hadeeth, it is narrated:
كل عمل ابن آدم يضاعف الحسنة بعشر أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف، قال اللَّه تعالى: {إلا الصوم فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به، يدع شهوته وطعامه من أجلي} للصائم فرحتان: فرحة عند فطره وفرحة عند لقاء ربه؛ ولَخُلُوف فيه أطيب عند اللَّه من ريح المسك
“Every action of the son of Adam is multiplied. A good action receives from ten to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty said, “Fasting is Mine and I repay it. He leaves his appetites and food for My sake. The faster experiences two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk.” (Riyad us-Saliheen, No. 1215)
Hence, fasting cannot be seen by anyone but Allah. It is a hidden act of worship, unlike zakat, for example, which people can see. You cannot have riya’ (i.e. show off) with this action, unless you start boasting about it, “I’m fasting today, did you know? I haven’t eaten all day. Smell my breath!”
Fasting requires sabr (patience), and the reward for patience is Jannah. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
“Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” (Az-Zumar, 39:10)
There are three stages of sabr:
1. You must have sabr (steadfastness) while doing the obligation (as-sabru ‘alat-taa’ah)
2. Sabr (firm resolve) while abstaining from the prohibition (as-sabru ‘an al-ma’siyah)
3. Sabr (patience) upon the outcome or what Allah has destined (as-sabru ‘alal-qadr)
All these three can apply to fasting: You must remain steadfast while fasting, have a strong will to abstain from what is prohibited (forbidden speech, food and drink), and you must be patient during the hardship or suffering.
Fasting will intercede on the Day of Judgement
The fasting which is done correctly will intercede for you on the Day of Judgement; and this should be one of our goals. The Prophet (SAW) said:
الصيام والقرآن يشفعان للعبد يوم القيامة يقول الصيام أي رب منعته الطعام والشهوات بالنهار فيشفعني فيه ويقول القرآن منعته النوم بالليل فشفعني فيه قال فيشفعان
“Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.’ And the Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.’ He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘And they will (be allowed to) intercede.’” (Musnad of Imam Ahmad, Musnad of Abdullah bin ‘Amroo bin al-‘Aas)
There is a special gate or entrance to Jannah for those who fast
من أنفق زوجين في سبيل اللَّه نودي من أبواب الجنة: يا عبد اللَّه هذا خير. فمن كان من أهل الصلاة دعي من باب الصلاة، ومن كان من أهل الجهاد دعي من باب الجهاد، ومن كان من أهل الصيام دعي من باب الريان، ومن كان من أهل الصدقة دعي من باب الصدقة> قال أبو بكر رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنهُ: بأبي أنت وأمي يا رَسُول اللَّهِ ما على من دعي من تلك الأبواب من ضرورة فهل يدعى أحد من تلك الأبواب كلها؟ فقال: Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The one who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be summoned from the gates of the Garden and told, ‘O slave of Allah this is better.’ All the people who did the prayer will be called from the gate of the prayer. All the people who did jihad will be called from the gate of jihad. All the people who fasted will be called from the gate of Rayyan. All the people who gave sadaqa will be called from the gate of sadaqa.” Abu Bakr said, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, Messenger of Allah. No one called from those gates will feel distress. Will anyone be called from all those gates?” He said, “Yes, and I hope that you will be among them.” [Agreed upon]
A “pair” could mean a pair of good deeds, such as fasting two days or offering two prayers.
Fasting moves you away from Hell
ما من عبد يصوم يوماً في سبيل اللَّه إلا باعد اللَّه بذلك اليوم وجهه عن النار سبعين خريفاً
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “No slave fasts one day in the way of Allah without Allah putting his face seventy years’ journey away from the Fire on account of that day.” [Agreed upon]
All previous sins will be forgiven
من صام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Anyone who fasts Ramadan motivated by belief and in expectation of the reward will be forgiven his past wrong actions.” [Agreed upon]
The devils are locked up
إذا جاء رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب النار، وصفدت الشياطين
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of the Garden are opened, the gates of the Fire are closed and the shaytans are chained up.” [Agreed upon]
Imam an-Nawawi says in the explanation of the above hadeeth that Al-Qaadee ‘Iyaad said: “It is possible that this is literal, and that the opening of the gates of paradise, the closing of the gates of the Hell-Fire, and the locking up of the Shayateen, are signs of entering Ramadan and magnification of its sanctity, and that they (the Shayateen) are locked up to prevent them from harming the believers and inciting them”. And he said: ‘And it is possible that what is intended is a figurative meaning, and that it means an abundance of reward and forgiveness, and that the temptation and harm of Shayateen is decreased so they become as if they are locked up, and that they are locked away from some things as opposed to others, and some people as opposed to others…”
Another explanation given by scholars is that it is the major and most evil of shayateen that are locked up, and the reason why we still sin is because our qareen is always with us. Qareen is the individual shaytan that is assigned to every person. The qareen never leaves our side. But in general, more people return to Allah in the month of Ramadan and they want to change and want their fasts to be accepted, knowing that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Perhaps a person will fast, yet he will obtain nothing from it but hunger and first.”
It is the month of Qur’an
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong).” (Al-Baqarah, 2:185)
The Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan on the Night of Power. Jibreel then revealed it to Muhammad (SAW) over a period of 23 years. Why was the Qur’an revealed in this month? We don’t know. All we know is that this is what Allah willed.
For this reason, Ramadan is known as the month of Qur’an. In this month people develop a strong relationship with the Qur’an; they befriend it; and they increase their recitation and knowledge of it.
It contains the Night of Power
This night is better than a thousand months (83 years) of continuous worship – who can do that? We should search for it in the last ten days. If you stay up on those days you cannot miss it. Engage in any act of worship. Worship is not just praying. You do not want to miss this night for the world.
Wisdom of fasting
Fasting is worship. Therefore, it is something we are all capable of doing because Allah created us for worship. And Allah says that He does not burden a soul with what it cannot bear. So our bodies were made and designed to fast as well as fulfil all other ritual acts and obligations.
Allah did not legislate fasting, as well as many other ritual acts, without good reason. There are great reasons, benefits and wisdoms behind the legislation of all ritual acts, which reflect in the individual, Ummah and society. Sometimes the wisdom has been explained and sometimes it isn’t.
The reason why fasting was made obligatory is so that may acquire taqwa (fear of Allah). Allah says:
لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“…That ye may (learn) self-restraint.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
So the purpose of fasting is to increase our taqwa and Iman so that we may become closer to Allah. Taqwa is to be mindful of Allah and conscious of your actions. This will make you careful of what you say and do, and you will try your best to avoid what is haram.
However, there are also a number of other benefits, such as:
Disciplining the nafs (oneself)
Fasting is a form of discipline. It is a way of disciplining your nafs and preventing it from having whatever it feels like (from the permissible things). Sometimes, you may feel like ice cream, meat, chicken, etc., and over time we get used to having whatever we want, whenever we want it. Ramadan will give you the ability to claim back that iraadah, or will.
Our fasting is not only about leaving some types of food, as is the case in other religions. Rather, all types of food and drink are not allowed. Hence, their fasting doesn’t have the same affect in terms of discipline.
In some countries people will be fasting up to 16-17 hours a day. And a man may have the desire to spend intimate time with his wives or he may desire food and drink. But whatever hardship you face, as long as you remember that you are worshipping Allah it will become easier for you.
Your body has a rest
Through fasting, your digestive system and organs (stomach, liver, etc.) are able to rest and your body is able to reset itself. How many diseases are caused due to overeating? Most people do overeat. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “The son of Adam never fills a bowl worse than his belly.” Overeating can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, respiratory problems, stroke, and many other health risks. If you fast properly you will lose some weight and lower the levels of cholesterol in your blood. Most people put on weight because they eat the wrong types of food.
Increase in charity
Another result of fasting is that you’ll feel hungry and thirsty; this in turn will make you remember, think about and empathise with the poor and needy, and this is a form of taqwa, because if you feel hungry you will ask Allah. It is reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:
عرض علي ربي ليجعل لي بطحاء مكة ذهبا. قلت: لا يا رب، ولكن أشبع يوما وأجوع يوما، أو قال ثلاثا، أو نحو هذا، فإذا جعت تضرعت اليك وذكرتك، فإذا شبعت شكرتك وحمدتك
“My Lord presented to me, that He would make the valley of Makkah into gold for me, I said: ‘No O Lord! I prefer to be filled for a day and hungry for a day. When I’m hungry I beseech You and remember You, and when I am full I would be grateful to you and praise you.’” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Abwaab uz-Zuhd, Hadeeth #2347. Fadaalah bin ‘Ubayd as well as Al-Hafiz Al-‘Iraqi said it is Hasan)
So when you feel hunger this will make you supplicate and beseech Allah. However, many people today try their best to avoid feeling hungry while fasting. Whenever they have iftar they have all types of food and eat throughout the night and then sleep until the afternoon. What is known is that the Sahabah ate a little, during iftar and suhoor.
Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet was the most generous man, and he was more generous in the month of Ramadan. So this is the month of increasing our charity and most people pay their zakat in this month so they receive more reward.
There are eight categories of zakat. One of them is to those fighting for the sake of Allah They are the most eligible for zakat today. A lot of these charity organisations are businesses and they take a percentage of your donations. If you really want to help the poor and needy, make sure your zakat goes to the ones fighting for the sake of Allah, His Deen and Ummah. They are not terrorists – they are those who fight in the way of Allah and defend the weak, poor and needy, and innocent women and children. They are the ones who are striving to establish the Islamic state which will rid the world of poverty. Charity organisations will never eradicate poverty.
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