Fasting is a Magnificent
Righteous Deed
By Umar Suleiman Al-Ashqar
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālameen.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad,
Sallallāhu alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.
Prologue: Siyām or fasting is a deed that elevates and sublimes
the soul, a deed that motivates toward gaining virtue and protects against
corruption; a deed that strengthens the will power, rectifies the intention,
reforms the body, heals weakness and brings the ‘abd (worshiper) closer to his
Lord (Rabb); a deed by which sins are forgiven, evil doings are reconciled,
merit is increased, and the rank of its performer is elevated before Allāh
Subhānahu wa ta’ala - a deed whose performer will be among the closest and the
chosen upon Resurrection.
1. Fasting implants Taqwa
The Qur’ān and the Sunnah define the merits of Siyām.
Allāh Subhanahu wa ta'ala Says:"Believers!
Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that
you may have taqwa (piety)." Al-Baqarah, 2:183]
Allāh has ordained Siyām in order to develop piety
in our hearts and it is only for piety that
Allāh honors the ‘abd (worshipers). Allāh
does not regard the physical beauty of the ‘abd, but He rather looks into their
hearts (where piety resides) and into their deeds that they have performed on
the basis of piety.
Allāh distinguishes between people according to their piety:"The most honored by Allāh amongst you are those with the
highest (Taqwa) piety [Al-Hujurat
49:13]
This is also the goal of all other acts of obedience and worship,
as is stated by Allāh:"Mankind! Worship your Lord Who created
you and those before you, that you may have Taqwa"[Al-Baqarah
2:21]
Taqwa is all what concerns Allāh of our deeds:"The sacrifices' flesh and blood reaches not Allāh,
but the taqwa is what reaches Him from you"[Al-Hajj
22:37]
The true meaning of taqwa is that the ‘abd knows
his Lord by His Names and Attributes, knows His Greatness, His Omnipotence and
His Power and this leads him to fear Him, and to beware of disobeying Him. The ‘abd realizes Allāh's Mercy, Forgiveness,
countless bounties, and the great rewards that He has in store for the believers, and this makes him
hasten to please Him.
The ‘abd will only attain taqwa by being persistent in obedience,
fulfilling the required acts of worships, and increasing the voluntary ones -
always keeping within the boundaries established by Allāh, and acting in
compliance with the Sunnah of Rasūlullah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam).
1.1. Definitions of Taqwa
One of the best definitions of taqwa is that of Talaq bin Habib (rahimahullāh) who said:"At-Taqwa is to act in obedience to Allāh, on a light (guidance) from Allāh seeking Allāh's reward, and to refrain from disobeying Allāh, on a light from Allāh, fearing His punishment."
1.2. Al-Ihsan
As for the means of attaining taqwa, it is through Ihsan (perfection of deeds), which means:"... To worship Allāh as if you see Him, for even though you do not see Him, He truly sees you"[Muslim]
The Qur’ān stated that those who have piety are the successful.
Allāh proclaims: "These
(who possess the qualities of taqwa) are on (true) guidance from their Lord,
and it is these who will be successful" [Al-Baqarah, 2:5]
Siyām demonstrates compliance with the orders of Allāh,
promptness to please Him, and renunciation of the desires and the needs of the
individual. It is done without any supervision except that of Allāh. This act
implants taqwa in the heart. Once the heart is rectified, the deeds will be
righteous. With this goodness of the heart and deeds, the Ummah (Nation) appointed
by Allāh to lead humanity will then be righteous and will provide guidance to
the path of integrity and righteousness.
2. The Reward of Fasting.
Since fasting is kept secret between the ‘abd and
his Lord, his sincerity in this deed is
known only to his Creator. Therefore the reward is not based on the general
recompensation rule mentioned by the Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam): "The good deed is multiplied tenfold" [Al-Bukhari]
Only Allāh is capable of appraising the reward for the fasting
person. The Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, quoting his Lord, in
a Qudsi hadith: "All the doing of the son of
Adam is for himself except for fasting: it is for Me and I reward it
accordingly” [Al-Bukhari]
This is because fasting is a form of perseverance, and those who
persevere will be rewarded with no limits, as Allah states in the Qur’an: “Say, ‘O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For
those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious.
Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account’." [AZ-Zumar 39:10]. On the basis of this verse the Salaf
(Early Righteous Muslims) used to name the
Month of Fasting as the Month of
Patience.
3. Fasting is a Shield
Siyām is a shield and a protection. It protects the
`abd from committing sins or disobeying Allāh it
prevents him from uttering obnoxious words and from doing evil deeds. This way
the `abd protects himself from the Fire.
The Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:"Fasting is a protection when one of you is fasting, he
should avoid disgraceful speech and indecent behavior, and he should avoid
quarreling"[Al-Bukhari]
Thus Siyām is a strong fortress sheltering the person from the deception of Syaitān, and
protecting him from slipping into dirt and sins. Furthermore, if someone
behaves toward the fasting person in an evil manner, the Messenger (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) directs him to the excellent behavior of not to respond
similarly he says: "If someone should fight or quarrel with him, he
should say: I am a fasting person - twice -" [Al-Bukhari]
This reveals the misunderstanding of many Muslims who ignorantly
think that fasting is a good excuse for bad behavior and short temper. This is
indeed a drastic mistake resulting from ignorance about the Deen
(Religion) of Allāh.
4. The Wisdom
During the rest of the year, the body gets accustomed to a certain
frequency and norm of meals. A person drinks water whenever he feels the need,
and copulates with his wife at all times permissible by Allāh. These habits, in
the long run, make him a slave of his desires and passions they cause him to
forget the ultimate objective of his creation: to worship Allāh only. Allāh
provides for him the food, drink, and intimacy to help him accomplish this
objective. However, when these things preoccupy him and become his obsession,
he becomes their captive and humiliated slave. He becomes truly pictured by the
Hadith: "Miserable is indeed the slave of the
dinar (a gold coins), and miserable is the slave of the dirham (a silver coin,
about one tenth of a dinar) ... miserable and vanquished is he! Let there be no
one to help him in as much as pulling a thorn that he would step on" [Al-Bukhari]
The great scholar al-Manawi (rahimahullāh), in his book
entitled “Faydh ul-Qadir”, beautifully explained this wisdom as follows:
Fasting was only legislated to shatter the desires of individuals
and to eliminate the causes of captivity, slavery, and worship of created
things. If they ceaselessly pursue their physical needs, they soon become
enslaved to them and this would detach them from Allāh. Fasting would eliminate
the motive to be enslaved to anyone else. It frees the person from the slavery
of his desires, because true freedom is to possess material things without
letting them possess him. Allāh appointed the human being as the honored
khalifah in His Kingdom. If he lets his desires enslave him, he would be
opposing Allāh's wisdom, making his desires superior to him, and making himself
inferior to them: "Am I to seek for you a god
other than Allāh, although He has favored you above all other creatures?" [Al- A‘raf, 7:140]
Many people worship their desires and fasting frees them from this
imprudent slavery and devotion to other than Allāh.Thus in this month, a person
breaks his habits and rejects many of his desires this may be hard, but it is
of definite benefit and value. Allāh Says:"You may
hate a thing that is better for you" [Al-Baqarah 2:216] and: "That
you fast is better for you if you did know" [Al-Baqarah,
2:184]
Siyām, therefore, fortifies the will power. Furthermore,
physicians prescribe it in many cases because it helps remedy some severe
illnesses.
5. The Virtues of Fasting
5.1. The Smell of their
Breath
One of the wonders and virtues of fasting is that, contrary to
people, Allāh loves the smell of the breath of fasting people: "By Him in whose Hand is my soul, the smell of the breath
of a fasting person is better to Allāh than the smell of musk"[Al-Bukhari]
5.2. Ar-Rayyan
Allāh Subhanahu wa ta’ala honors the fasting people by reserving a
special gate for their entrance to the Jannah.
The Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:"In the Jannah is a gate called Ar-Rayyan (Thirst
Quencher) through which only the fasting people will enter. Once they all get
in, it will be shut forever" [Al-Bukhari]
They suffered from thirst in this life, and they will be rewarded
by permanent thirst-quenching in the Hereafter.
5.3. Opening the Gates of
Good
Ramadhān is the best of all months, and good deeds are better in
it (they earn more rewards). When this month arrives the Messenger (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said: "The gates of the Jannah
(the Garden of Paradise) are opened wide, the gates of Hell are shut and the
devils are chained down" [Al-Bukhari]
Chaining the devils reduces the influence of evil, and this allows
the heart to seek its way to light and guidance with little interference. This
explains why many wrong-doers repent and come back to their Lord in this month.
5.4. The Month of Forgiveness
Glad tidings for one of the best rewards for fasting as the
Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:"He who fast Ramadhān out of Imān (Belief in Allāh and His
promises) and ihtisab (Expectancy of Allāh's reward), all his past sins will be
forgiven"[Bukhari]
5.5. The Conditions for
Forgiveness
We should notice though that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) has set two conditions, Belief and Expectancy without which
one would not deserve this reward of forgiveness. Belief and Expectancy are
what distinguishes between habits and acts of worship. Without these two
conditions, fasting would be a mere custom and an imitation that would hardly
push one to do good or prevent him from committing evil. Fasting will not
benefit the one whose fasting is based neither on Belief nor on Expectancy, but
on show-off and customs, and Allāh does not need it: "Whoever does not give up lying and practicing falsehood,
Allāh is in no need of his giving up food and drink" [Al-Bukhari and others]
One the other hand, the one who fasts because he believes that his
Lord has ordained fasting, and who hastens to obey Him expecting His reward,
will certainly be granted the forgiveness, and his sins will be atoned.
The Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:"The five daily prayers, the
Jumu‘ah prayer to the following Jumu‘ah, and Ramadhān to the following Ramadhān
will all atone the sins committed in between as long as one avoids The Major
Sins (Kaba'ir)"[Muslim]
So, let those who fast with true Belief and Expectancy have the
good tidings of a pleasant ending, and a happy meeting with Allāh the Almighty
on the Day of Judgment.
As Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:"A fasting person is happy twice: when he breaks his fast
he is happy for completing his fast (successfully), and when he meets with his
Lord he will be happy with his fast (because of its great rewards)"[Bukhari and Muslim]
6. The Solah Tarawīh (The Qiyam of Ramadhan)
6.1. He who observed Tarawīh his Sins is forgiven.
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wassalam) used to
encourage us to offer Qiyam of Ramadhān, as is available only during Ramadhān
and who observed Tarawīh (Qiyam of Ramadhān) with merit that his sins is
forgiven; without making it an obligatory prayer.
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu anhu) reported that Allāh's
Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “He who observed prayer at night (Tarawīh) during Ramadhān,
because of faith and seeking his reward from Allāh, his previous sins would be
forgiven.” [Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
6.2. The stand that is
equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer
If whoever stands with the imām until he has completed Solāh
al-Tarawīh it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.
The hadith was narrated that Abu Dzarr Al-Ghifari (radiyallāhu
anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, it is
equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.”
[Narrated by al-Tirmidzi, 806; Abu Dawud, 1375; al-Nasā’ie, 1605;
Ibn Mājah, 1327; Classified as sahih by al-Tirmidzi, Ibn Khuzaymah (3/337), Ibn
Hibban (3/340) and al-Albani in Irwa’ al-Ghalil, 447]
As the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said this reward (the
reward of spending the whole night in prayer) is not attained by anyone except
the one who stands with the imām for the whole prayer, until he completes it.
As for the one who prays as much as he can and then leaves before
the imām has completed his prayer, only what he has prayed will be recorded for
him, but it will not be recorded as if he spent the entire night in prayer.
Allah says:“So whosoever does good equal to
the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil
equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it” [Al-Zalzalah, 99:7-8]
7. Seeking The Lailatul-Qadar
Lailatul-Qadar is the Most Blessed Night and indeed a great amount
of value. It falls on one the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhān [21,
23, 25, 27, and 29].
The
Night Is Better Than A Thousand Months:
Allah Says: “Verily, we have sent it [this Qur’an] down in
the Night of Al-Qadar [Decree].And what will make you know what the Night of
Al-Qadar [Decree] is. The Night of Al-Qadar [Decree] is better than a thousand
months [i.e. worshiping Allah in that night is better than worshiping Him a thousand
months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months]. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh
[Jibril] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees; [All that night] there is
peace [and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves] until the appearance of
dawn.” [Al-Qadar, 97:1-5]
‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported:“When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi
wa sallam) would tighten his izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order
to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and
wake up his family.” Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) also said:“Allah’s Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to exert
more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.”[Muslim]
The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:“Seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.”[Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Messenger (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever stands (in qiyam) in Lailatul-Qadar [and it is
facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will
have all of his previous sins forgiven.”
[Al-Bukhāri and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated
for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the report of ‘Ubadah Ibn As-Samit (radiyallāhu`anhu);
it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that
blessed night]
‘Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported that she asked Allah’s
Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), “O Messenger of
Allah! If I knew which night is Lailatul-Qadar, what should I say during it?”
And Rasulullah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) instructed her to say:
“Allahumma innaka ’afuw wun
tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ’anni” (O Allah! You are
Forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me)
[Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Mājah, and At-Tirmidzi; verified to be
sahih]
And Allāh Almighty Knows best.
[Via Allāhuakbar As Translated By Muhammad Al-Jibaly]
