Virtues and importance of Fasting
THE Almighty said in Qur‘an: O believers! Fasting has been made obligatory upon you as it was made obligatory upon people before you, so that you may become pious. The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, is this verse for the people, and there are proofs distinguishing between truth and falsehood in every verse. Whoever comes to this month should fast.(Qur‘an 02:183)
The Almighty said: Every action of the son of Adam is twofold. The reward of goodness goes from ten to seven hundred times. The Almighty said: Fasting is for me and I will reward it, because in it my servant would give up his lust and food and drink because of me. The smell of his mouth at the time of meeting is more pleasing to the Almighty than the smell of musk.
- Fasting is expiation for past sins: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: A person who fasts Ramadan with faith and accountability, his past sins are forgiven. (Bukhari:38)
In this hadith, the condition of faith and accountability is attached to fasting and staying in Ramadan, that is, in this state, he fasts in Ramadan and stays up all night to confirm all the things that have been confirmed by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and to fulfil the obligation of fasting. If you have faith, it will be called the fast of faith. The meaning of accountability is that one fasted for seeking reward from the Almighty or because of his sincerity and showed patience while fasting and kept one’s self accountable.
- There are two joys on the part of the fasting person: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: There are two joys for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking the fast and the other at the time of meeting his Lord. (Bukhari:1805)
A joy is available to every fasting person when he is satisfied with the pleasure of food after a long day of hunger and thirst. The second happiness, according to the words of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)will be when he will be blessed with the great blessing of the Almighty sight in the Hereafter.
- Rewards of fasting: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: The reward of the good deeds of the son of Adam is increased as much as the Almighty wills. The Almighty said that fasting is necessary because it is for me. And I will also reward him.
From this hadith, it is clear that the reward of some actions is tenfold to seven hundredfold, sometimes even more, because of sincerity, but the reward of fasting is limitless and immeasurable. It does not require any measurement and calculation. No one knows its quantity except Allah.
- Fast is shield: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: Fasting is a shield from the fire of Hell, just as someone with you has a shield for fighting. Just as a shield is in the hands of a warrior on the battlefield, so it is as if fasting will become his shield as a metaphor.
In another hadith The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: Whoever fasts and does not give up falsehood and wrongdoing then the Almighty has no need for him to just give up eating and drinking (without giving up sins).Fasting is not complete by abstaining from eating and drinking, but it is also necessary to avoid obscenity, debauchery and all kinds of sins while fasting.
The fasting person should refrain from lying, backbiting, backbiting and bad words by fasting. Protect the eyes from evil and abominations and everything that distracts from the remembrance of the Almighty. Protect the ear from hearing every inappropriate sound. If there is backbiting in a gathering, then he should forbid it, otherwise he should get up from there. It is in the hadith that both the backbiter and the listener are participants in the sin. So protecting the limbs from sins is actually the protection of fasting.
- Breath of the fasting person: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: said: In whose possession is my life. The breath of the fasting person’s mouth is better in the sight of the Almighty than the scent of musk on the Day of Resurrection. (Muslim: 1151)
- The opening of the gate of heaven and the closing of the gate of hell: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: When Ramadan enters, the gates of heaven are opened and there is a tradition that the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. (Bukhari:1800)
- Door of Al Ryan is reserved only for the fasting person: The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: There is a gate in Paradise called Al Ryan. On the Day of Judgment, those who fast will enter it, and no one else will enter it except them. (Bukhari:1797)
There are many gates in heaven according to the deeds of human beings. So the person who does any deed in this world will enter the gate of this deed in Paradise because many streams flow towards it. Fresh and lush fruits are abundant near it. On the Day of Resurrection, people’s thirst will be quenched through it, and they will be refreshed and refreshed forever. Therefore, not only the one who fasts in Ramadan, but also the one who fasts posthumously will be deserving of it. May the Almighty grant us the ability to fast in this blessed month of Ramadan. Ameen.
