The Virtues of Fasting
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Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
Sheikh Nada Abu Ahmad
Whoever fasts and stays up for worship during Ramadan shall be with the
truthful and martyrs.
Fasting is the way to Paradise:
Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with
him) who said: "I leaned the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to my
chest, and he said: Whoever says: "La Ilaha Illa Allah [There is no deity but
Allah]" at the end of his life shall enter Paradise. Whoever fasts a day for
the sake of Allah at the end of his life shall enter Paradise. And whoever
gives in charity for the sake of Allah at the end of his life shall enter
Paradise."
Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Allah granted
Paradise for the one who fasts one day if he gives in charity along with
fasting, follows a funeral procession, and visits a sick person. He held the
following Hadith as a proof which he reported with his chain of transmission
and also reported by Imam Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be
pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said: "Who has observed fast among you today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with
him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you fed a needy
today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet
again) said: Who among you followed the bier today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased
with him) replied: I am. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you visited an
invalid today? Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am. Thereupon,
the Messenger of Allah said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined
will certainly enter paradise."
Al Bazzar reported on the authority of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who dies while fasting
shall enter Paradise." [Sahih Al Jami': 6224].
Al Munawy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: The one who dies while
fasting or after breaking his fast shall enter Paradise with the former or
enters Paradise without torture.
An-Nasa'y reported with his chain of transmission on the authority of Talhah
ibn 'Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a bedouin with unkempt
hair came to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and said: "O Allah's
Messenger! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards Salah."
He replied: "You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory Salahs in a day
and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray voluntarily." The bedouin
further asked: "Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards
fasting." He replied: "You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan,
unless you want to fast more as Nawafil." The bedouin further asked: "Tell me
how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me." Thus, Allah's Messenger (peace be
upon him) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The
bedouin then said: "By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any
Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah's Messenger
(peace be upon him) said: "If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he
will be granted Paradise)."
Keep to fasting, for the Houris call you saying:
Do you want us without doing actions to obtain us?
The sleep is forbidden for lovers as we have been created for every person who
prays and fasts frequently.
Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Abu Malik Al Ash'ary (may Allah be
pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said: "Indeed in Paradise there are chambers, whose outside can be seen from
their inside, and their inside can be seen from their outside. Allah prepared
them for those who feed others, speak well, continue to observe (voluntary)
fasting, and perform Salah at night while people are asleep." [Sahih Al Jami':
2119].
Those chambers were prepared for those who observe fasting.
Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from the Hadith of Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be
pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The
people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a
superior place in Paradise)in the same way as one looks at stars in the sky."
Those who fast and stay up for worship during Ramadan shall be with the
truthful and martyrs:
Al Bazzar and Ibn Khuzaymah reported with an authentic chain of transmission
according to Al Albany on the authority of 'Amr ibn Murrah Al Juhany (may
Allah be pleased with him) who said: "A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon
him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, What will happen if I bear witness that
there is no deity but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah, offer the five
daily Salahs, pay Zakah, fast Ramadan and stay up at night for optional Salah?
He said: You shall be with the truthful and the martyrs."
The wordings of Ibn Khuzaymah are: "A man from Quda'ah came to the Messenger
of Allah and asked him: What will happen if I bear witness that there is no
god but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah, offer Salah, fast the Month
(of Ramadan), stay up for optional acts of worship, and pay Zakah? Thereupon,
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever dies while doing these shall be
of the truthful and martyrs."
Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: A person shall be
listed among the truthful and martyrs if he combines between fasting the day
of Ramadan and staying up for worship during its night, offers obligatory
Salah, pays Zakah, and bears witness to Allah with oneness and admitting the
Prophethood of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
O people who observe fasting, stay away from the world and its desires and
control yourselves until you hear the call of angels: "Eat and drink at ease
for that which you have sent on before you in days past!" [Surat Al Haqqah:
24].
Mujahid and others said: It was revealed concerning fasting people.
So, whoever leaves food or drink for the sake of Allah even for a short period
of time Allah shall reward him with endless food and drink, and whoever leaves
out his lusts Allah shall make it up for him in Paradise with spouses who
shall never die.
Al Hasan (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Houris will say to a pious
servant while he is sitting with her at the beach of a river that is made of
honey: Indeed, Allah looked at you in a scorching hot day while you were
thirsty and boasted the angels of you saying: Look at My Servant who left his
wife, his lusts, his desires, his food, and his drink for My Sake and seeking
My Reward. Bear witness that I have forgiven him. On that day, he forgave you
and made me your wife. [Lata'if Al Ma'arif: 167].
I ask Allah, the Great, the Lord of the Great Throne to accept fasting, Salah,
and all acts of worship from us and to grant us Paradise. We ask Allah to
accompany the Prophet (peace be upon him). May Allah send peace and blessings
upon Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions. Glory be to Allah and
praise be to Him. I bear witness that there is no god but You, I seek Your
Forgiveness, and I repent to You.
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