VIRTUES OF RAMADAN

 

The Holy month of Ramadan is full of blessings. During this month, Muslims spend more of their time in worshipping Allah. Man was created for worship only. As Allah says in Quran:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلاَّ لِیَعْبُدُوْن

Meaning: “And I created the jinn and human beings solely to adopt My servitude.’’ [51:56] Al-Dhāriyāt

Saum or Fast is bodily worship which was also obligatory on the previous ummah. Its obligation can be gauged from the following verses.

فَمَنْ شَھِدَ مِنْکُمُ الشَّھْرَ فَلْیَصُمْہُ

Meaning: ‘’Therefore, he who witnesses this month (Ramadan) must fast (in) it.’’ [2:185] Al-Baqarah

It is clear from this verse that Allah Almighty is commanding His servants to fast.

Purpose of Fasting in Ramadan

Allah says in Quran:

یٰٓاَیُّھَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا کُتِبَ عَلَیْکُمُ الصِّیَامُ کَمَا کُتِبَ عَلَی الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ. اَیَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدَاتٍ

Meaning: ‘’O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for the people before you so that you may become pious. (These are) a fixed number of days.’’ [2:183,184] Al-Baqarah

Saying of Hasan of Basra

Shaikh Hasan of Basra says: “When you hear Allah addressing people as ‘O you who believe!’, So clear your ears for it because it is for a command or prohibition of some act.’’

Saying of  Ja’far al-Sadiq

Ja’far al-Sadiq says, “The pleasure of voice (of Allah calling to His servant) removes the hardship and pain of worship. This voice refers to the secret that lies between the caller and the addressee. As if to say, O my servant who knows my Divine secrets. (Ghunyat-tut-Talibeen)

Fasting in Ramadan Develops Piety

The purpose of fasting is very remarkable. The reward of this rigorous struggle is that the Muslim becomes pious and completely renounces all vice and evil deeds. During fasting, Muslims abandon even lawful things to follow the command of their Lord. So, how can they commit those things which their Lord has forbidden (theft, backbiting, dishonesty, bribery, lying, etc.)?

The purpose of this month of hard work and practice is to fear Allah Almighty for the remaining eleven months of the year. And to become pious so that the real purpose of fasting may be achieved. The purification of innerself (soul) begins after observing saum according to orders & manners as mentioned in Quran and Hadith. The next Ramazan comes before the innerself becomes desirous to evil deeds. Being pious brings one closer to Allah.

Someone asked the Holy Prophet (pbuh) about piety. The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) pointed to his heart and said, ‘’Piety is here.’’

The closer the heart is to Allah, the more pious a man will be.

The Virtue of Saum (Fasting in Ramazan)

Fasting is a form of worship which reduces the desires of the soul in a person. It decreases the desire for lusts and pleasures. These fasts last for a few days. If we keep following the outward and inward commands, we will become pious by the grace of God.

The month of Ramadan is full of blessings and mercies. Muslims are blessed with Suhoor. Allah says in Quran:

وَ بِالْاَسْحَارِھُمْ یَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ

Meaning: “And used to (get up and) seek forgiveness in the later part of the night.’’  [51:18] Al-Dhāriyāt

The time of dawn is the best time for purifying the heart.

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said:

“Allah Almighty descends to the lowest heaven every night when there is a third of the night left. He calls: “Is there someone who prays to Me so I may accept. Is there someone who asks me so I may grant. Is there someone who seeks forgiveness from me so I may forgive him?”

Saying of Junayd of Baghdad

Junayd of Baghdad said, “Fasting is half mysticism. ‘‘ (Kashf al-Mahjub)

Saying of Ali Hujwiri

The fasting person should control all five senses. (Kashf al-Mahjub)

Health Benefits of Fasting

Health care professionals explain that fasting has a beneficial effect on physical health. Everyone experiences that during Iftar (time of breaking fast), number of delicious food enters an empty stomach. The stomach which is empty for twelve to fifteen hours and no harm or discomfort happens to it. This is only due to the blessing of fasting. Fasting is as beneficial for physical health as for purgation of innerself.

Hafiz Mandri has quoted a saying of Prophet Mohamamd (pbuh) in his book “Al-Targheeb wal-Tarheeb’’.

 “Do jihad, you will gain booty. Fast, you will gain health. Travel, you will become rich. ”

Fasting Protects from Sins

If one observes fasting according to all the orders and etiquettes, then of course it becomes easier to be safe from sins.

There is a saying of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh):

الصوم جنۃ ما لم یخرقھا

Meaning: “Fasting is a shield (from sin), until it is torn.”

Hadiths of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) Narrated by Abu Hurairah

1. “Whoever does not give up lying and doing wrong in condition of fast. Then Allah does not need him to give up eating and drinking (without forsaking sins).” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
2. When one of you is fasting, he should not say inappropriate things or make noise. If a person starts abusing or fighting, do not answer but say that I am fasting.’’ (Sahih al-Bukhari).
3. The Prophet (pbuh) said to one of his Companions, “When you fast, your ears, eyes, hands, tongue and every part of your body should be fasting.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
4. “Many fasting people are such that their fast brings nothing but hunger and thirst.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
5. “There are many fasting people who get nothing but thirst and hunger (because of haram/forbidden food or haram deeds). There are those (who pray at night), for whom there is nothing but waking up (because of hypocrisy).”

Lesson:

This means that fasting is not perfected by avoiding eating and drinking and abstaining from sexual intercourse. It is also necessary to keep the fast safe from fornication, prohibited things and all kinds of sins. The fasting person should not utter bad words.

Reward for Fasting (Especially in Ramadan)

Allah Almighty has kept a great reward for the fasting person. Abdullah ibn Umar narrates that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:

‘’The silence of the fasting person is Tasbih. His sleep is worship. His prayer is accepted and his (good) deeds are doubled.’’

What is the reward from Allah for fasting one day?

1.     Fasts of Normal Days:

The Holy prophet (pbuh) said:

‘’Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will take him away from the fire of Hell as far as a person can reach after walking for seventy years.” (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

This Hadith does not specify supererogatory or obligatory fasting.

2.     Fasts of Ramazan:

Regarding the fasts of Ramadan in particular, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“If a person who is not allowed to break the fast according to sharia does not suffer from a debilitating disease. If he leaves one fast of Ramadan, then fasting for the rest of his life will not compensate him for that one day. Even if (as qada) he fast for the whole of his life.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)

Lesson:

Everything has a season. The price of a commodity rises up and down according to the season. The month of Ramadan is reserved for fasting. If a person misses a single fast of Ramadan due to his misfortune, then a major sin has been written in his book of deeds. Even if he fasts for a lifetime in return for this one fast, he will not gain the blessing of fast of Ramadan.

A Special Reward of Fast

Abu Hurairah narrated from Holy Prophet (pbuh):

“(During fasting) the reward for every good deed of a person is increased (at least) tenfold.” Allah says especially about fast that, “Fasting is for me and I will reward it. Because the man gives up his desire, food and drink because of me.” (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

 True Seeker of Allah

The true seeker of Allah fulfills fast with all the manners and rules and ultimately reaches the proximity of Allah. That is why He said  الصوم لی (fasting is for me [Allah]). The reward of the deed which is pure from hypocrisy is also distinguished. Therefore, God Almighty bestows the reward of other acts of worship through angels and bestows the reward of fasting by Himself.

A Special Door to Paradise for the Fasting Person

Sahl ibn Sa’d narrates that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said, “There are eight gates of Paradise. One of which is Rayyan, through which only the fasting person will enter.”

There is one more saying, “There are two joys for the fasting person. One is at the time of Iftar and the other is when he meets his Lord.”

In fact, meeting the Lord (Allah) is the real purpose of worship. What about the joy of the time when the humble servant will meet his God. May Allah bless us all with this union. Ameen

This blog is an English translation of the Urdu article رمضان المبارک کی برکتیں which appeared in the April 2021 edition of the Mahnama Sultan ul Faqr Magazine, Lahore. Dr. Mohammad Waseem Akram has translated it in English.  If you wish to read the original article in Urdu, please click here.

https://www.mahnama-sultan-ul-faqr-lahore.com/april-2021-ramzan-ul-mubarak-ki-barkatain/

 

Why Holy month of Ramadan is so important in Islam?

Allah says in Quran:

فَمَنْ شَھِدَ مِنْکُمُ الشَّھْرَ فَلْیَصُمْہُ

Meaning: ‘’Therefore, he who witnesses this month (Ramadan) must fast in it.’’  [2:185] Al-Baqarah

The month of Ramadan is reserved for fasting. If a person misses a single fast of Ramadan due to his misfortune, then a major sin has been written in his book of deeds. Even if he fasts for a lifetime in return for this one fast, he will not gain the blessing of fast of Ramadan.

What is the importance of fasting? How this changes our lives?

The purpose of fasting is very remarkable. The reward of this rigorous struggle is that the Muslim becomes pious and completely renounces all vice and evil deeds. During fasting, Muslims abandon even lawful things to follow the command of their Lord. So, how can they commit those things which their Lord has forbidden (theft, backbiting, dishonesty, bribery, lying, etc.)?

The purification of innerself (soul) begins after observing saum according to orders & manners as mentioned in Quran and Hadith.

What are the spiritual and health benefits of fasting?

If fasting is observed according to all the orders and etiquettes, then of course it becomes easier to be safe from sins.

There is a saying of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh):

الصوم جنۃ ما لم یخرقھا

Meaning: ‘’Fasting is a shield (from sin), until it is torn.’’

Health care professionals explain that fasting has a beneficial effect on physical health. Everyone experiences that during Iftar (time of breaking fast), number of delicious food enters an empty stomach. The stomach which is empty for twelve to fifteen hours and no harm or discomfort happens to it. This is only due to the blessing of fasting. Fasting is as beneficial for physical health as for purgation of innerself. It also creates patience and gratitude.