THE VIRTUES AND BENEFITS OF FASTING
ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
https://web.facebook.com/abba.abana
emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com
SATURDAY 9th RAJAB 1440 AH- 16th MARCH
2019 CE
(Part 6 of 11: THE VIRTUES AND BENEFITS OF
FASTING)
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu
Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.
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 (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.
PREAMBLE
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: ÙˆَبَÙŠِّÙ†َاتٍ (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 (Sallalahu Alaihi wa Salaam)
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 (Sallalahu Alaihi wa Salaam) 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.
To be
continued
Part 7 of 11: The Punishment Of Breaking Fast And
The Fidya (Expiation) For Breaking The Fast
Fataawa al-Lajnah
al-Daa’imah, 10/114
[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).
No comments:
Post a Comment