THE VIRTUES
AND BENEFITS OF FASTING
ASSEMBLED BY
MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
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Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam
Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Amma Ba’d.
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge
with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever
Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no
one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear
witness that Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His slave and Messenger.
THE VIRTUES AND BENEFITS OF
FASTING[1]
1 CHARACTERISTICS AND VIRTUES
OF FASTING
Ramadaan
is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished
from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the
following:
1 –
Allaah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says (interpretation
of the meaning): “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the
Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the
criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on
the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must
observe Sawm (fasts) that month…”[Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:185]
and
it was narrated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the
hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no
god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing
prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).”
2 –
Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above
(interpretation of the meaning): “The month of Ramadan in which was
revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance
and the criterion (between right and wrong)…”[ Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah
2:185]
And
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have sent it
(this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).”[ Holy Quran
Chapter al-Qadr 97:1]
3 –
Allaah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand
months, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We
have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).And what will
make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr
(Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that
night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4
months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by
Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and
goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn”[
Holy Quran Chapter al-Qadar 97:1-5]
“We
sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in
the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are
ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our
Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]”[ Holy Quran Chapter
al-Dukhaan 44:3]
Allaah
has blessed Ramadaan with Laylat al-Qadr. Explaining the great status of this
blessed night, Soorat al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahaadeeth which
also speak of that, such as the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month which Allaah
has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the
gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there
is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of
its goodness is indeed deprived.”
Narrated
by al-Nasaa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Targheeb, 999.
And
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat
al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his
previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
4 –
Allaah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith
and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn
(al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to
which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever
fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will
be forgiven.” And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu
Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope
of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The
Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyaam at night in
Ramadaan. Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadaan is to
pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyaam by praying
Taraaweeh.
5 –
In this month, Allaah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell,
and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari,
1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah who said that the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When
Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are
closed, and the devils are chained up.”
6 –
Every night Allaah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256)
narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allaah has people
whom He redeems.” Al-Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnaad; and
it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 987.
Al-Bazzaar
(Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has people whom He redeems every
day and night – i.e., in Ramadaan – and every Muslim every day and night has a
prayer that is answered.”
7 –
Fasting Ramadaan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the
previous Ramadaan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh
Muslim (233) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one
Ramadaan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as
you avoid major sins.”
8 –
Fasting in Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the
hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari:
“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be
like fasting for a lifetime.” Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is
like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the
year.”
9 –
Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadaan with the imam until he finishes, it will be
recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report
narrated by Abu Dawood (1370) and others from the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he
finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.”
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Salaat al-Taraaweeh, p. 15
10
– ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj. Al-Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim
(1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansaar, “What kept
you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used
for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and
he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadaan
comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.” According
to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.”
11
– It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in
Ramadaan, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
always did that, as it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be
pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away,
then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922;
Muslim, 1172.
12
– It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadaan to
study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal. You may study the
Qur’aan together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else
recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibreel
used to meet the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) every
night in Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6;
Muslim, 2308.
Reading
Qur’aaan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadaan.
13
– It is mustahabb in Ramadaan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because
of the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani (may Allaah be pleased with him)
who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his,
without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 647[2]
2 THE VIRTUE OF RAMADAN AND
THE REVELATION OF THE THE QURAN IN IT
Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says; The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the
Qur'an, Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)
praised the month of Ramadan out of the other months by choosing it to
send down the Glorious Qur'an, just as He did for all of the Divine Books He
revealed to the Prophets.
Imam Ahmad reported Wathilah
bin Al-Asqa that Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)'s Messenger said: The Suhuf (Pages) of
Ibrahim were revealed during the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was
revealed during the sixth night of Ramadan. The Injil was
revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) revealed the
Qur'an on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan.
3 THE VIRTUES OF THE QURAN
Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said: ‘’a
guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion
(between right and wrong)’’. Here Allaah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) praised the Qur'an, which He revealed as guidance for the
hearts of those who believe in it and adhere to its commands. Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said: وَبَيِّنَاتٍ
(and clear
proofs) meaning, as clear and unambiguous signs and unequivocal proof for those
who understand them.
These proofs testify to the
truth of the Qur'an, its guidance, the opposite of misguidance, and how it
guides to the straight path, the opposite of the wrong path, and the
distinction between the truth and falsehood, and the permissible and the
prohibited.
4 GREAT VIRTUES OF FASTING
1) The virtues of fasting are
great indeed, and one of the things reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth is that
Allaah has chosen fasting for Himself, and He will reward it and multiply the
reward without measure, as He says [in the hadeeth qudsi]: “Except for fasting
which is only for My sake, and I will reward him for it[3].”
3) The fasting person has two
moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord and
rejoices over his fasting[6].
4) Fasting will intercede for a
person on the Day of Judgement, and will say, “O Lord, I prevented him from his
food and physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him[7].”
5) The smell that comes from the
mouth of a fasting person is better with Allaah than the scent of musk[8].
6) Fasting is a protection and a
strong fortress that keeps a person safe from the Fire[9].
7) Whoever fasts one day for the
sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove his face seventy years’ distance from the
Fire[10].
8) Whoever fasts one day seeking
the pleasure of Allaah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter
Paradise[11].
9) In Paradise there is a gate
called al-Rayyaan, through those who fast will enter, and no one will enter it
except them; when they have entered it will be locked, and no-one else will
enter through it[12].”
10) Ramadaan is a pillar of
Islam; the Qur’aan was revealed in this month, and in it there is a night that
is better than a thousand months.
11) “When Ramadaan begins, the
gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils
are put in chains[13].”
12) Fasting Ramadaan is
equivalent to fasting ten months[14].
13) “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out
of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven[15].”
14) At the breaking of every
fast, Allaah will choose people to free from Hellfire[16].
5 WHAT ARE THE REWARDS FOR
FASTING?
1) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allaah's Apostle (SAW) said, " Allaah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for
them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.'
Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If
one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and
quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I
am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out
from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) than the smell
of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of
breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then
he will be pleased because of his fasting[17]."
2) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allaah's Apostle (SAW) said, "Fasting is a shield (or a
screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual
relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if
somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am
fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the
smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight
of Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) than the
smell of musk. ( Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says about the fasting person),
'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I
will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is
multiplied ten times[18]."
3) Narrated Sahl: The Prophet
said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe
fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them
will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe
fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After
their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it[19]."
6 THE BENEFITS OF FASTING[20]
There
is much wisdom and many benefits in fasting, which have to do with the taqwa
mentioned by Allaah in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “… that
you may become al-muttaqoon[21].
1) The interpretation of this is
that if a person refrains from halaal things hoping to earn the pleasure of
Allaah and out of fear of His punishment, it will be easier for him to refrain
from doing haraam things.
2) If a person’s stomach is
hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties from feeling hunger or
desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, eye, hand and private
parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the defeat of Shaytaan; it
controls desires and protects one’s faculties.
3) When the fasting person feels
the pangs of hunger, he experiences how the poor feel, so he has compassion
towards them and gives them something to ward off their hunger. Hearing about
them is not the same as sharing their suffering, just as a rider does not
understand the hardship of walking unless he gets down and walks.
4) Fasting trains the will to
avoid desires and keep away from sin; it helps a person to overcome his own
nature and to wean himself away from his habits. It also trains a person to get
used to being organized and punctual, which will solve the problem that many
people have of being disorganized, if only they realized.
5) Fasting is also a
demonstration of the unity of the Muslims, as the ummah fasts and breaks its
fast at the same time.
6) Fasting also provides a great
opportunity for those who are calling others to Allaah.
7) In this month many people
come to the mosque who are coming for the first time, or who have not been to
the mosque for a long time, and their hearts are open, so we must make the most
of this opportunity by preaching in a gentle manner, teaching appropriate
lessons and speaking beneficial words, whilst co-operating in righteousness and
good deeds.
8) The dai’yah should not be so
preoccupied with others that he forgets his own soul and becomes like a wick
that lights the way for others while it is itself consumed.
[1] Book by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
[2] Islam Q&A, https://islamqa.info/en/13480: The virtues
of Ramadaan
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/114
[3] (al-Bukhaari, al-Fath,
no. 1904; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/407).
[4] (al-Nisaa'i, 4/165; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/413)
[5] (reported by
al-Bayhaqi, 3/345; al-Silsilat al-Saheeh, 1797).
[6] (reported by Muslim,
2/807).
[7] (Reported by Ahmad,
2/174. Al-Haythami classed its isnaad as hasan in al-Majma’, 3/181. See
also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411).
[8] (Muslim, 2/807).
[9] (Reported by Ahmad,
2/402; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3880).
[10] (Reported by Muslim,
2/808).
[11] (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; Saheeh al-Targheeb,
1/412).
[12] (al-Bukhaari, Fath,
no. 1797).
[13] (Reported by
al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 3277).
[14] (See Musnad Ahmad, 5/280; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/421).
[15] (Reported by
al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 37).
[16] (Reported by Ahmad,
5/256; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/419).
[17] (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128)
[18] (Sahih Bukhari,
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 118)
[19] (Sahih Bukhari,
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120)
[20] Book by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
[21] (the pious).”
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
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