Ramadan : A few words on Merits of Fasting

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:183)

Islam is built on five pillars. Each represents a unique utility, an institution, if you will, through which the believer builds his relationship with the Creator and the creation. Of all the pillars of Islam, none is more special than siyaam, Fasting. While there may be an appearance of Riya, eye service, or show, in all other pillars – Salaat, Zakat, Hajj, and even the Kalimah – there is no such possibility in fasting. The only One who knows that you are really abstaining is Allah, the Almighty. It is easy to pretend to be fasting; while in hiding, you may eat or drink. Thus, fasting is considered a special worship, as Hadith reports from the Messenger of Allah (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) have detailed.

It has been reported by the way of Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) reported that Allah (Subhanahu ta’ala) said in a Hadith:

“‘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.’

The Prophet added, ‘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 Allah 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.” [Sahih Bukhari : Book# 31 : Hadith # 128]

Among the points this incisive hadith revealed is that fasting is Allah’s. Certainly, there is only one reason why a believer will put himself or herself through this trying physical exercise that – to seek the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu ta’ala). The fast is the single most important device to test the Iman, faith, of the believer and the depth of his sincerity and commitment to the concept of Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah.

The hadith also states that fasting is a shield, an armor protecting the believer from sinful acts. Do you not know that nourishment is the first culprit in the propagation of sins? For when you eat, the blood flow increases considerably, and the energy level increases, making it easier for Satan to use your own energy level to tempt you to commit sins. In another hadith, the Prophet states:

“Satan runs in the circulatory system of the son of Adam in the same way blood circulates in our system; so tighten his passages with hunger.” (Bukhari/Muslim)

Now you see why fasting becomes a shield. Fasting enables the believer to guard against his arch enemy. It also helps him against human evil by putting the patience and perseverance gained from fasting into use with forbearance and forgiveness of the attacker – that is, of course, when the safety of ones life is not involved. Otherwise, in this case, Quran allows the believer to repel evil without transgression.

Kinds of Fasting

Fasting is divided into two kinds:

• Fardh, the obligatory fast, and
• Tatau’u, any non-obligatory fast.

The obligatory fast is categorized as three kinds:

• fasting the month of Ramadan
• fasting to expiate for religious offenses
• fasting to fulfill a vow

Of the three, fasting the month of Ramadan is the most important.