The Virtues and Benefits of Fasting
Posted by: "Adil Khan" ahmad_adil@yahoo.com
ahmad_adil
Date: Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:39 pm
In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
Fiqh: Sawm or Siyaam (Fasting)
The Virtues and Benefits of Fasting
By Dr. Aboo Ameenah Bilal Philips
Edited by Imran Ayub
Alhamdulilah. Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His
help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from our souls’ evil and our
wrong doings. He whom Allaah guides, no one can misguide; and he whom He
misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no (true) God except
Allaah – alone without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be
upon him) is His ‘Abd (servant) and messenger
1. Definition
The Literal meaning of Sawm is to restrain oneself from something. For example,
Allaah tells us in the Qur’an that Maryam said, “…Verily! I have vowed a fast
unto ar – Rahmaan [the Most Beneficent (Allaah)]….” [1]
The fast here means to be silent, that is, to abstain from speaking.
Islamically, Sawm means to abstain from food, drink and sexual relations
between dawn and sunset.
2. Classification of Sawm
Sawmis wajib (compulsory) on Muslims, according to the Qur’aan and Sunnah
(tradition of the Prophet), during the night month of the Hijri calendar,
called Ramadaan, every year. Allaah, the Most High, said in the Qur’aan, “The
month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'ân, 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
Ramadaan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that
month,...”[2]
Narrated Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaah's Apostle
said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and Muhammad
is Allaah's Apostle.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) .
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.[3]
Narrated Talha bin 'Ubaid-Ullah (may Allaah be pleased with him): A bedouin
with unkempt hair came to Allaah's Apostle and said, "O Allaah's Apostle!
Inform me what Allaah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers."
He replied: "You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a
day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil." The bedouin
further asked, "Inform me what Allaah 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 Allaah has enjoined on me."
Thus, Allaah's Apostle informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of
Islam. The bedouin then said, "By Him Who has honoured you, I will neither
perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allaah has enjoined on me.
Allaah's Apostle said, "If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he
will be granted
Paradise)."[4]
3. The Purpose of Fasting
The ultimate goal of the fast is to develop taqwaa (consciousness of God) in
people, as Allaah said in Soorah al – Baqarah of the Qur’aan, Verse 183, “…[so]
it may produce Taqwa in you.” Taqwaa is amongst the highest moral qualities
that a Muslim can attain. It is achieved by placing a shield between one’s self
and Allaah’s wrath, as the root meaning of the word implies (i.e. taqwaa comes
from the verb waqaa, which means “to safeguard”). This is achieved by being
conscious of Allaah and all His commandments at all times, which means avoid
the Haraam (prohibited) as well as the Makrooh (undesirable) and even some of
the Halaal (permissible), wherever doubt arises.
4. Virtues and Benefits of Fasting
4.1 Fasting is a Shield
Fasting provides protection from evil for those who sincerely fast. Aboo Hurayrah
(may Allaah be pleased with him) reported Allaah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: “Fasting is a shield.”[5]
Narrated Uthamn ibn Abil – ‘Aas and Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with
them): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting is a shield with which a
servant protects himself from Fire.”[6]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting is a protection and a strong
fortress that keeps a person safe from the Fire.”[7]
Narrated 'Abdullah ibn Masood (may Allaah be pleased with him): We were
with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allaah's
Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry,
because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts
from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to
marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."[8]
4.2 Fasting Causes one to enter Paradise
Narrated Aboo Umaamah (may Allaah be pleased with him): I said. “O Messenger of
Allaah, tell me of an action by which I may enter paradise.” He said, “Take to
Fasting, there is nothing like it.”[9]
Narrated Aboo Sa’eed (may Allaah be pleased with him): I heard the
Prophet saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allaah's
Pleasure, Allaah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance
covered by a journey of) seventy years."[10]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts one day seeking the
pleasure of Allaah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter Paradise.”[11]
4.3 The People who fast are rewarded with immense reward
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting has no equal.”[12]
Narrated AbooHurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaah's Apostle
(peace be upon him) said, “Allaah said, '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
quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say,
'I am fasting.' 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 Allaah 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.”[13]
Narrated AbooHurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaah's Apostle (peace
be upon him) said, "…By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming
out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than
the smell of musk. (Allaah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his
food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the
fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten
times."[14]
4.4 Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a person
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Messenger of
Allaah (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for the
servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O my Lord I prevented
him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him,’ and the Qur’an
will say: ‘I prevented him from sleep a night, so accept my intercession for
him,’ so their intercession will be accepted.”[15]
4.5 Fasting is an expiation for various sins
Narrated Hudhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaah's Apostle (peace be
upon him) said, “A man's afflictions (i.e. wrong deeds) concerning his relation
to his family, his property and his neighbours are expiated by his prayers,
giving in charity and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is
evil.”[16]
4.6 Ar – Rayyaan is for those who fast
Narrated Sahl(may Allaah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe
fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them
will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe
fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After
their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."[17]
4.7 Makes us appreciate the provision of food (from Allaah)
Fasting gives the individual a real taste of hunger and thirst which helps him
to realize the experience of the poor. This experience should instill a desire
to want to help those who are less fortunate by sharing food and wealth with
them.
When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he experiences how the poor
feel, so he has compassion towards them and gives them something to ward off
their hunger. Hearing about them is not the same as sharing their suffering,
just as a rider does not understand the hardship of walking unless he gets down
and walks.
4.8 Helps improve Moral character
It is required that the individual gives up not only food, drink and sexual
relations, but also all forms of lying (e.g. backbiting, slander, etc). This is
confirmed by the Prophet (peace be upon him)’s statement: Narrated Aboo
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allaah is
not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allaah will not accept his
fasting.)"[18]
He (peace be upon him) also said, Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him): Allaah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said, "Allaah said,
… If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and
quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say,
'I am fasting.' …."[19]
So, if one observes the fast according to the above principles, it should
improve his morale character, making him more truthful and more careful about
what he says and does.
If a person’s stomach is hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties
from feeling hunger or desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue,
eye, hand and private parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the
defeat of Shaytaan; it controls desires and protects one’s faculties.
4.9 Health benefits
It has also been noted by medical experts that fasting improves the physical
health in numerous ways. For example, during the fast, the body uses up stored
cholesterol (fats) which are often deposited in the blood system, as well as
other fatty areas of the body. Thus, it helps to keep the body firm and
minimizes the danger of heart attacks.
4.10 Training for Jihaad
Fasting trains the will to avoid desires and keep away from sin; it helps a
person to overcome his own nature and to wean himself away from his habits. It
also trains a person to get used to being organized and punctual, which will
solve the problem that many people have of being disorganized, if only they
realized.[20]
Fasting trains the individual for Jihaad (fighting in the way of Allaah) by
giving him a good course in self – control. During war, the desires of the
stomach and the private parts often lead soldiers of war to either commit
excesses or to unnecessarily expose themselves to danger.
4.11 Du’aa’ will be answered
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The du’aa’ of the fasting person will
not be refused.”[21]
And It is Only Allaah Who grants success. May Allaah Exalt the mention of His
slave and Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), and render him, his household
and companion safe from Evil.
There's a Free 'Fiqh of Fasting' course by Dr. Bilal Philips available at http://islamiconlineuniversity.com/moodle/
-----------------------------------------------------
References:
- Fasting In Ramadaanby
Sheikh Saleem al – Hilaalee and ‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed, al – Hidaayah Publishers,
1999
- Islamic Studies Book 3,
by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, IIPH publishers, 2005 [http://www.bilalphilips.com/bilal_pages.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=277]
- Matters Related to
Fasting, by Muhammad Saalih al – Munajjid, IIPH publishers, 1999 [http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html]
________________________________
[1]The Noble Quran, Soorah Maryam 19:26
[2]The Noble Qur’an, Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:185
[3]Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 7; Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Number
18
[4]Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 115; Saheeh Muslim, Book 001,
Number 0007
[5]Saheeh Muslim, Book 006, Number 2565
[6]Musnad Ahmad, 3/241, 296; 4/22; Verified Saheeh (authentic) by Saleem al –
Hilaalee and ‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 3
[7]Ahmad, 2/402; Refer to Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411; Saheeh al-Jaami’, Number
3880; as quoted in http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting
[8](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 4; Saheeh Muslim
Book 008, Number 3233
[9]Sunan an – Nasaa’ee, 4/165; Ibn Hibban, p. 232 of al – Mawaarid; al –
Haakim, 1/421. Verified Saheeh (authentic) by Sheikh Saleem al – Hilaalee and
‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 3
[10](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 93; Saheeh
Muslim, Book 006, Number 2570
[11]Ahmad, 5/391; Refer to Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/412; as quoted in http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting
[12]Sunan an – Nasaa’ee, 4/165; Refer to Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/413; as quoted
in http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting
[13](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128; Saheeh
Muslim, Book 006, Number 2566
[14]Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 118
[15]Ahmad, Number 6626; al – Haakim, 1/554; Aboo Nu’aim, 8/161; its chain of
narrations is Hasan (good) [as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 5];
Ahmad, 2/174. Al-Haythami classed its isnaad as Hasan (good) in
al-Majma’, 3/181. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb by Sheikh al – Albaanee, 1/411
[as quoted in http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting]
[16](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 786; Saheeh
Muslim, Book 041, Number 6914
[17](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120; Saheeh
Muslim, Book 006, Number 2569
[18]Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127; Sunan Aboo Daawood, Vol. 2,
Number 2355
[19](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128; Saheeh
Muslim, Book 006, Number 2566
[20]http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20benefits%20of%20fasting
[21]al – Bayhaqi, 3/345; Refer to al-Silsilat al-Saheeh, 1797; as quoted in http://www.sultan.org/fasting.html#The%20virtues%20of%20fasting
Compiled from various sources.
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