It has been narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “All of the actions of the children of Aadam are for him and can be rewarded tenfold to seven hundred times, and Allaah, the Most High, said, ‘Except fasting, that is for Me and I Will Reward it. He leaves following his desires, food, drink all because of Me.’ The fasting person has two times where he is extremely happy; when he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord. Verily, the smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allaah than the perfume provided by musk.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1894) and Muslim (1151)]
It has been narrated on the authority of Sa’d [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Verily, in Jannah there are doors called ar-Rayyaan and this is allocated for those who fast, they will enter through them on the Day of Judgment. None other than them will enter it. It will be said on that day, ‘Where are the ones who used to fast?’ So they will stand up in response and enter through its gates, once they enter, the doors will be shut behind them and none will be allowed to enter it after them.”
[Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1896) and Muslim (1152)]
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Verily, when the fasting person breaks his fast has a supplication which will not be rejected.”
[Narrated by Ibn Maajah (1753) and Haakim in Mustadrak (1/422)]
It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] which can be attributed to the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] who said, “Even the sleep of the fasting person is worship, if he supplicates he is answered and his deeds are multiplied.”
[Narrated by Musnad Daylamee (3576)]
The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] also said, “Whoever fasts Ramadhaan, with Faith and Hope, his previous and forthcoming sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed Upon]
The Grand Muftee, the Shaykh Abdul-Azeez aal ash-Shaykh [May Allaah Preserve him] said;
It is for the Muslim, when he fasts to hope to gain the benefits of it, he should know that fasting is from the foremost ways that a believer can strengthen his heart. Taqwaa in its reality, it to follow what Allaah has Ordered you to do, so you fulfill this command based upon knowledge and staying away from what He has Prohibited us from based upon knowledge. He does all of this seeking the Reward of Allaah and fearing His Punishment.
When the fasting person is prevented from eating and drinking and fulfilling his desires with women, from the moment the sunrises until it sets, he is in a state of responding to Allaah. Therefore, he is in state of rectifying himself, he is accounting and cleansing his soul as he has left all these things which he can normally have, for the sake of Allaah. So he leaves all this to get close to Allaah, and Allaah says about those who fear Him and respond to his call;
“But for him who [the true believer of Islamic Monotheism who performs all the duties ordained by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad
[Rahmaan 55:46]
It can be that some people appear to be fasting but when he enters his home; he eats, he drinks and goes to his woman. In front of people he is fasting but when in private, he is not. However, for the believer fasting is more than this, so when the believer is called to rectify himself by leaving of food, drink and intercourse, he leaves it because he has full certainty that Allaah Knows his inner and outer-self.
“Say (O Muhammad
[Aal-Imraan 3:29]
Therefore, fasting increases one in having Ikhlaas with Allaah, it increases ones conviction in Allaah and it makes one humble in front of Allaah, the Exalted and the Glorified.
When the fasting person is asked to leave food and drink, he prevents himself from all of these things even though he is able to benefit from them. If he is asked to refrain, he will do so despite being starved at times. He does this to thank Allaah for the favours he has placed upon him; he does this by leaving what Allaah has told him to leave out of obedience to Him.
This is from the greatest of favours that Allaah has given the slave,
“And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily! Man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, - a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate, denies Allah's Blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others besides Allah, and by disobeying Allah and His Prophet Muhammad
[Ibraaheem 14:34]
And
“And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah”
[Nahl 16:53]
Dear Muslim, thank Allaah that you are alive and well and that you are Muslim, because these are the conditions for one to fast. Think about the virtues of these days and those who are lost within in them, think about those who are not able to fast. So thank Allaah that He has given you this great benefit, the chance to get close to Him by doing good deeds. This is an opportunity to return to Him and to regret over your sins. This is a chance for those who constantly sin and transgress; repent to Allaah, in these blessed days and nights.
This is an opportunity for those who fell short in doing good deeds; you know have a chance to make them up. So seek help in Allaah and seek to obey Him, return to Him and ask for sincere repentance for the sins you have committed and ask Allaah to help you do deeds that that are righteous and Pleased to Him.
[Taken from the Khutbah; ‘Verily, this is Fasting’]
Shaykh al-‘Allaamah Saaleh al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve him] said;
“From the virtues of Ramadhaan is that your deeds are multiplied, so fasting is multiplied, all your other righteous deeds will be multiplied from tenfold to up to seven hundred times.
From the deeds that are multiplied is when one has sincerity in his fasting, if he has this then his fasting will be multiplied like no other deeds, as Allaah says in the hadeeth, ‘He left his desires, drinking and eating because of Me.’”
Also from the virtues of fasting is that Allaah has made fasting only for him, unlike other deeds. So He says, “Fasting is for me and I will reward it.”
Also from the virtues of fasting is that one is filled with joy, joy that he will experience in the Dunya and the Aakhira. So he has joy when he meets his Lord, this is a joy that is reserved for the Hereafter as there is no greater reward than seeing your Lord.
“They said: "In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the folk who are Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doing) (i.e. do not make them overpower us).”
[Yoonus 10:85]
In addition from the virtues of fasting is that the fasting person is that Allaah has made an exclusive entrance to Jannah for those who fast, none will enter before or after them, this is from the greatest forms of honouring of them.
Also from the benefits of fasting is that the fasting person will meet his friend without causing any harm to him as the fasting people are protected from harming others and falling into following their desires. Therefore, they are protected from the fire. This has been narrated in a Hadeeth which states that, ‘Fasting is a shield’ meaning it is a protection from all forms of harm affecting him.
Also from the virtues of fasting is that the fasting person has his supplication accepted. As Allaah, the Most High, says within the context of fasting, to incite those fasting to supplicate to him;
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad
[Baqarah 2:186]
Also from the virtues of fasting is that it has a medical benefit, it helps one to remain healthy as it was narrated that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Fast and be healthy.” [Narrated by Nasaa’ee, Aboo Na’eem, Hindee in Kanz al-‘Amal (32605), Haafidh al-‘Iraaqee said in Takhreej of Ahyaa (3/75)]
Therefore, fasting protects ones limbs internally and externally. These are some of the benefits of fasting; of which there are many more, many that we may never even comprehend.
[Ithaaf Ahl al-Eemaan Bi Dars Ramadaan by Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan]
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