OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 1 OF 5]

 

OBLIGATION AND EXCELLENCE OF FASTING [PART 1 OF 5]

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

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SUNDAY 24th RAJAB 1442 AH- 8th MARCH 2021 CE

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 (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

Preamble

All Praise is for Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds and may the Peace and Security of Allaah be upon the Noble Prophet, his family and upon all of his companions.

Alhamdulillaah before you is a Summarized version of the Arabic book Sifah Sawm an-Nabee by two of the foremost students of Shaikh al-Albaani rahimahullaah. It will In-shaa-Allaah serve as a beneficial We have included Voluntary fast and Eid Prayers for all those who do not give precedence to anyone above Allaah and His Messenger (ﷺ).

Title: Ramadhaan as observed by the Prophet is a book of [English; Paperback : 128 pages ].

Author: Shaikh Saleem al-Hilaalee & Shaikh ‘Alee Ḥasan al-Ḥalabee

Summarized by: Shaikh Taariq Saudaagar Madani

In this article, we have as indicated in the contents.

 

CONTENTS OF THE ARTICLES FOR DAWAH BEFORE RAMADAN:

1) Who is shaytan?

2) introduction

3) definition of saum (fasting)

4) obligation of fasting

5) excellence of fasting

i. virtues of fasting in general

ii. virtues of fasting in ramadhaan

6) warning against failing to fast in ramadhaan

7) at the approach of ramadhaan

8) Counting the days of sha’baan

9) Forbiddance of fasting on the day of doubt

10) sighting the moon

11) the intention

12) the time for beginning and ending the fast

13) suhoor – the pre-dawn meal

14) actions that are to be avoided while fasting

15) actions that do not affect or break the fast

16) those exempted from fasting

17) breaking the fast (iftaar)

18) actions which nullify the fast

19) atonement (al-qadaa) -making up for the missed fast

20) expiation (al-kaffaarah)

21) recompense (al-fidyah)

22) lailatul-qadr (the night of decree)

23) taraaweeh prayers

24) the witr prayer

25) generosity in ramadhaan

26) recitation of the qur’aan

27) zakaatul fitr

28) some weak ahaadeeth quoted often in the month of ramadhaan

29) Voluntary fasts

30) The ‘eid prayer

 

WHO IS SHAYTAN?

THE REAL SHAYTAN IS INSIDE YOU; IF YOU ARE NOT STRONG BELIEVER

Don’t feel content that ‘SHAITANS’ have been chained during Ramadan, You are not aware ,the real one is moving freely inside yourself (the Qarin); Banish the malice, the greed, the hatred, and the rancor Turn them all into a stream, known as ‘love for humanity.’

Then you would say Satan is chained!!!!

(According to hadith of Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasalam.), at the sighting of Ramadhan moon, the most mischievous ‘shaitans’ are put under chains)

The Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi wa Salaam) said, “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinns are put in chains and the door of hell are closed, none of them remains open. The doors of heaven are open and none of them remains closed. And a caller calls, ‘O the seeker of goodness, come forward and o the seeker of evil, desist. And Allah has (many) who will be freed from Hell.’ This announcement is made every night. (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 618)

 

INTRODUCTION

My brothers and sisters, May Allaah unite us upon love of Him and upon following the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ).

 The status of fasting and its place in Islaam will become clear to us and also the great reward awaiting the one who fasts seeking the Face of Allaah [1], and how that reward increases or decreases depending on its closeness to the Sunnah of the Messenger (ﷺ).

As was indicated by the best of the children of Adam [AS] who said:

“Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst. [2]”

Therefore, we must know the characteristics of the Prophet’s fast; its obligatory duties, its manners and related supplications - and then put that into practice (in order to achieve the desired benefits of fasting).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan due to Eemaan (correct belief) and hoping for reward (from Allaah) will have his previous sins forgiven?” [3]

DEFINITION OF SAUM (FASTING)

The literal meaning of Saum is ‘to abstain from something’ and according to the Shari’ah  [4] it is ‘that a Muslim abstains from eating, drinking, sexual acts and all evil actions with the intention of pleasing Allaah, from True Dawn to Sunset’.

OBLIGATION OF FASTING

Fasting is the 3rd most important pillar of Islaam. It was made obligatory in the 2nd year of Hijrah. Allaah [SWT] said:

‘The month of Ramadhaan [5] in which was revealed the Qur’an, 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 Ramadhaan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month....’[6]

 

EXCELLENCE OF FASTING

I. VIRTUES OF FASTING IN GENERAL

1. Fasting acts like a shield from desires in this world and from the Hell-fire in the Hereafter.[7]

2. Fasting enters a person to paradise.[8]

3. The people who fast are rewarded with an immense reward.[9]

4. For the fasting person there are two times of joy; when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord (in the Hereafter).[10]

5. The smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allaah than the smell of musk.[11]

6. Fasting intercedes for a person on the Day of Judgement. [12]

7. Fasting is an expiation for various sins. [13]

8. A gate in paradise ‘Ar-Rayyaan’ is exclusively for those who fast. [14]

II. VIRTUES OF FASTING IN RAMADHAAN

Along-with these, (i.e. the above-mentioned virtues), fasting in Ramadhaan has additional excellence and virtues like:

1. FORGIVENESS OF SINS

It has been related on the authority of Abu Hurairah [Ra] that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan due to Eemaan (correct belief) and hoping for reward (from Allaah) will have his previous sins forgiven.”[15]

2. SUPPLICATIONS ANSWERED AND FREEDOM FROM THE HELL-FIRE

The Prophet said: “There are in the month of Ramadhaan in every day and night those to whom Allaah grants freedom from the fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.”[16].

3. A PERSON WILL BE AMONGST THE SIDDEEQEEN (TRUTHFUL FOLLOWERS OF THE PROPHETS) AND SHUHADAA’ (MARTYRS)

‘Amr bin Murrah al-Juhanee [Ra] said: ‘A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said:

“O Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ), what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that you are the Messenger of Allaah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the Zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhaan, then amongst whom shall I be?” He said, “Amongst the Siddeeqeen and the Shuhadaa.” [17]

Notes

1 Meaning: seeking to see Allaah on the Day of Judgement. cf. Al-Qur’aan 75:22-3 and 76:9

 2 Ibn Maajah # 1/539

3 Bukhāree # 1951

4. The Islamic Law

5 The 9th month of the Islaamic Calendar

6 Al-Qur’aan 2:185

7 Bukhaaree # 1904, Ahmad # 396, 397

8 Ibn Hibbaan # 3425

9 Bukhaaree # 1904

10 Bukhaaree # 1904

11 Bukhaaree # 1904

12 Ahmad # 6626

13 Al-Qur’aan 2:196, 4:92, 5:89

14 Bukhaaree # 1896

15 Bukhaaree # 1901

16 Ahmad # 4/254

17 Ibn Hibbaan # 19 of Az-Zawaaid

 TO BE CONTINUED FROM PART 2 OF 5 IN SHAA ALLAHU